Why Kids Belong IN the Kitchen

Today’s family is crazy busy as we hustle off to every activity under the sun, so trying to find quality family time can be really challenging. However, you may be overlooking an easy opportunity to spend time with your children each and every day. Cooking with your children has many benefits, besides an extra pair of helpful hands—a benefit that can last your kids a lifetime. Sure, the extra prep time, patience and messes might not sound very appealing, but consider all the benefits you will be giving your child.

• Real life lessons. The no-brainer here is that they are learning how to cook. Gender doesn’t dictate who belongs behind the stove anymore, and both sons and daughters need to learn this essential skill. An added benefit is that your future sons- or daughters-in-law will love you for it.
• Bonding time. I find some of the best conversations with my kids are in the car on the way home from school or practices. The same can happen while cooking. The more one-on-one time we give our kids, the more they tend to open up. Also, if you have more than one child, cooking is a great way to give each one some quality time. Perhaps you could designate a special day for each child to have with Mom and/or Dad in the kitchen. 
• More peas, please! This is a great opportunity to introduce some healthy choices in your meals. If kids help prepare items such as vegetables, as well as help you shop for them, they are more likely to try them during mealtime. And kids that learn to eat well are more likely to eat well as adults. Also, they will less likely snack on junk food when you are preparing a healthy meal. By reading labels together and showing them what goes into a healthy meal, you will be teaching them great life-long eating habits.

• A side of self-confidence. By letting your children help in the kitchen and try their hand at cooking, you are providing them with a healthy dose of self-esteem. Maybe they have been struggling in math. Maybe they’ve been striking out lately in Little League. Why not provide an opportunity for them to feel good about themselves? 
• Building traditions Wouldn’t Grandma be tickled that her grandchildren were being taught the old family recipes? Pulling out the family recipe book together is a great way to share important family traditions as well as build a good foundation for starting your own. It will also give you an opportunity to share some of your fondest memories with your children.
• Reducing their risk to use drugs This may seem far-fetched but it’s true. A report from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University says that kids who have open lines of communication with their parents, a strong bond and the support, praise, and acceptance by their parents decrease their chances of becoming drug abusers. Son, here’s your spatula.
• Scrapping the screen time Kids that are in the kitchen cooking will spend less time parked in front of the computer or television screen. Engaging in a more productive activity, they are actually contributing something to the household. Genius! Think about all the arguments you won’t be having!
• Foster their creativity As they become more confident in their way around the kitchen, cooking can give them an opportunity to flex their creative muscles. By fostering a creative spirit, you are giving your child another opportunity to explore who they are. 
• Teaching moments Kids get to see how things change through various processes in the kitchen: chopping, mixing, heating, freezing. Won’t their teachers be impressed when they come back to school with hands-on knowledge of their latest science lesson?
• Showing a little love Not that saying “I love you” doesn’t matter—it does, but sometimes actions do speak louder than words. What professes your love to your kids more than inviting them to completely make a mess in the kitchen? I don’t know about you, but whoever is willing to help cook a meal at my house gets lots of kisses and hugs.

Hallie Sawyer is a freelance writer based in Overland Park and a mom to three promising sous chefs. Someday she hopes to hand over the spatula on a regular basis.