The kitchen is an exciting place for kids to be. There are so many flavors to taste and so many new things to learn! No matter what age they are, there’s always a role for kids in the kitchen. We’re looking at all the ways to help build your kids’ confidence in the kitchen with a few of our favorite Mother’s Day recipes.
Breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day is always a nice surprise, especially when your little ones help make it. Sure – the coffee is a little too strong or the toast might be a little more tanned than normal, and it’s a little too early in the morning. But the look of pride on a child’s face when serving a meal they’ve made themselves is part of what makes these moments so special.
Of course, breakfast on Mother’s Day isn’t the only time that kids can get crafty in the kitchen. Every meal of every day can be a new opportunity to help kids build their confidence in the kitchen (and introduce them to new fruits & vegetables!) Who knows – one day you might have your own personal chef.
We can dream, right?
Kids are naturally curious, especially when it comes to food. Children of all ages learn by watching and copying their parents – after all, they want to be more like you. By cooking with your kids, you can support this natural curiosity and foster skills that will last a lifetime.
There are so many benefits to cooking with your kids; here are just a few:
- It’s a great way to connect as a family: many parents find that kids of all ages open up while cooking. This quality time together gives parents the chance to hear about what’s happening in their lives while creating something delicious together. Cooking recipes you love from your own childhood is a great way to pass on family traditions and keep your own culture alive.
- They’ll learn to love fresh new foods: it’s no surprise that some kids can be picky eaters, but you can easily encourage them to try new ingredients when they help prepare the meal themselves. It’s a good idea to always keep some healthy snacking veggies nearby to munch on – your kids will quickly learn how fun and flavorful a balanced diet can be with these sweet and healthy snacking options!
- Cooking Helps Build Confidence: preparing a meal for the whole family is an important accomplishment for kids of all ages. It instills a sense of pride knowing that they can contribute in a meaningful way to the family.
- It’s a Great Way to Learn: you don’t have to turn tonight’s dinner into a lesson – kids learn a lot just by trying new things. Following a recipe can be a good way for kids to learn how to read, for example. Plus, cooking recipes from new cuisines is an opportunity for them to learn about different world cultures. Try playing music that matches the cuisine to get kids excited about exploring the wide world of flavor!
If you’re wondering how to start building your kids’ confidence in the kitchen, Pure Flavor® is here to help! We’ve put together a quick guide to help you remember at what ages kids can start learning new cooking skills.
Toddlers (2 to 3)
Even at this young age, kids can be very helpful in the kitchen. Kids aged two to three can help set the table, stir ingredients, sprinkle toppings and wash fresh vegetables.
Preschoolers (4 to 5)
Kids aged four to five are learning to share their opinions, so let them have a say! You can ask them questions like “Should we roast the veggies, or leave them fresh? Why?” or “What spice would go well with this?” By giving kids a bit of independence at this age, you can encourage them to make their own healthy choices.
Middle Childhood (6 to 10)
Between the ages of 6 and 10, kids develop new skills quite quickly – so start slow and you can add more cooking tasks as they get older. Around this age kids can start helping more with preparation and, to most parents’ joy, clean-up. With a small paring knife and a parents’ watchful eye, kids can start dicing vegetables. As they learn to read, kids can start reading out ingredients and instructions. Eventually, they’ll be able to follow simple recipes all by themselves.
Late Childhood and Early Teens (11 to 14)
There aren’t too many skills that kids can’t master on their own at this age, but you’ll want to supervise with anything that involves sharp knives or heat. This is a crucial moment for fostering a lifelong love of healthy food. School is getting busy and they want to spend more time with friends, so try to help them find recipes that are quick and allow for creative experimentation.
Any time is a great time to start teaching your kids how to cook and build their confidence in the kitchen. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, kids are eager to make something fresh and flavorful their Mom will enjoy.
So, Dad – this is your time to shine! We have some Mother’s Day recipes to help inspire you.
If you have toddlers at home, you can make this delicious Mother’s Day Sandwich Platter together. It’s really simple, making it easy for young children to help out, and has a lot of different flavors for Mom to enjoy.
For families with preschoolers experimenting in the kitchen, you can get their help putting together this delicious Weekend Brunch Board full of healthy snacking options, including a super sweet treat Mom will love: Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Fruity Tomatoes.
Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be all about breakfast, of course. In fact, letting mom put up her feet while you and the kids make dinner is a great way to reward her on this special day. “All-in-one” recipes like this Sheet Pan Stir Fry offer a lot of flavor with very little work or clean-up. This is a recipe your preteen or teenagers can make all on their own afterwards and it will give them the flexibility to get creative by swapping in new ingredients.
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