What do children learn from cooking projects?

We might think that young children aren't interested in cooking, but most are ready and eager to learn.  They can do many things, from stirring, to cutting (give them plastic knives for safety).  They often become deeply absorbed in these new and interesting tasks.

What do children learn from cooking projects?:


Following Directions: Teach children what a recipe is and that one must "follow the directions" in order for the recipe to work. Children learn that you must read directions and follow them in a certain order to get the result you want.

Simple Arithmetic: Compare amounts. Are we putting in more flour or more baking powder? What is bigger, a half cup or a whole cup? How many half cups do you need to equal a whole cup? Develop their sequencing skills. Ask them, "What do we do first...second...last?"

Sensory Awareness: Use ingredients with a variety of textures, smells, and tastes. Let them feel the difference between rice and beans. Let them taste the difference between sugar and salt. Have the children smell the differences between various spices and the sweet smell of vanilla.

Vocabulary Enrichment: Enhance the children's knowledge of ingredients and items found around the kitchen. Flour, sugar and eggs may seem like everyday words to you, but they are not basic to a child.

Concept Development: Improve the children's understanding of concepts: Hard vs. soft, liquid vs. solid, hot vs. cold, raw vs. baked, in the bowl vs. out of the bowl, fast vs. slow, etc.

Cause and Effect Relationships: Increase children's ability to answer questions like: "What happens if . . . (you add juice instead of water, you use bananas instead of strawberries)?" Children can learn how adding, leaving out or changing one ingredient can change the entire product.

Cooperation: Improve a child's ability to work together with you and with other children. This includes waiting for his turn, help in clean up,  and having fun in a joint activity.


Related Training:
Cooking Activities with Kids - 1 hour
Multicultural Cooking: A Taste of Jamaica - 3.5 hours
Multicultural Cooking: A Taste of Mexico - 3.5 hours