During the COVID-19 pandemic, families spent more time together at home. Many parents found this to be a positive outlook on the otherwise dismal situation. They get the opportunity to be with their children while earning a living as they take part in a global shift to remote work setups. One way parents entertained their kids was by teaching them new cooking skills. They even took the opportunity of door-to-door ingredients, such as a specialty meat delivery service. Similar to how some adults turned to baking bread and pastries to cope with the stress brought by the COVID-19 virus, children were encouraged to cook their own food instead.
There are TikTok videos that show young kids baking with their parents, possibly exhibiting a new trend in children’s education while they spend time at home. Since children learn a lot better at a young age, they are likely to benefit from the experience in the long run. Though some parents might argue that the rise in fast-food chains and their demand among kids make this an unnecessary skill, there are still advantages that children can gain when they begin their culinary journey. In this blog post, you’ll learn why it’s essential to teach this life skill to children.
Gain New Life Skills
When children are in the kitchen, they do not just learn how to cook—they also become more attentive and practice the different skills needed to cook. For instance, kids become aware of the importance of following instructions because they will see the result (and possibly have to eat it). They can apply what they learned to their studies. They have to follow the instructions or their teachers can dock their scores for failing. Kids also become more careful when instructed to handle certain dangerous utensils such as a knife or a fork since they know what happens.
They can also become less afraid of the kitchen. The equipment used for cooking tends to be daunting if you are unfamiliar with the technology and how to use these pieces of equipment.
By showing kids there is nothing to fear when using a microwave, a hotplate, or a blender and teaching them the proper way to handle them instead, they become more careful and more self-assured. After all, they will eventually have to use the machinery someday. So it is better to teach them while they are still young rather than instilling an unnecessary fear.
Harness a Better Appreciation for Food
Cooking and, more importantly, cleaning up after you cook are two difficult chores in any household. Although they can seem fun, they can also be draining enough to make people tired. Once kids become aware of the challenges of preparing their meals, they can become more appreciative of what’s in front of them. Parents can also invite their children when they’re about to cook an elaborate meal or a traditional recipe. This will encourage them to learn more about other cultures, styles of cooking, and their family heritage.
Develop a Sense of Responsibility
When children learn new skills, they develop a sense of responsibility. For example, once they learned how to throw the trash, they became responsible for its regular disposal. In the same way, teaching children how to cook food passes on the responsibility to feed themselves whenever they feel hungry. As much as parents would like to be aware of when their kids want food, there are cases when they become too busy to notice their starving child.
In these cases, it makes sense for a child to learn how to fulfill the duty of feeding him or herself when the parents are unavailable. It can also be a way for the child to take care of their parents when the latter falls ill or needs help at home. As soon as kids learn how to cook, opportunities to cook for themselves and others can arise, and they should be able to step up to the plate.
Despite children’s growing interest in fast food, learning key life skills such as cooking will prepare them for the future. Aside from feeding themselves, they can also develop other cognitive skills while overcoming fears. They can also learn about different cultures and cuisines with the recipes you cook together in the kitchen. Moreover, spending time with kids in the kitchen can be a great way to bond with them without having to leave your home. Children are always looking for new ways to learn and cooking should be one of them.
