A No-Bake Recipe + Video ... and ... 14 Reasons Why Cooking With Little Chefs Stir Up Success
- Jill Ross Nadler
- Jan 25, 2024
- 2 min read
When I was growing up, my exceptionally creative Mom would often make substitutions in recipes when she cooked. Sometimes the results were a great success…other times, welllll, a little less so.
One memorable event was when she used baking soda instead of baking powder and made a beautiful but completely inedible cake. No problem! She did what anyone would do. She shellacked the cake and, voila, created a new centerpiece for the table. It lasted for years! To be fair, I should let you know that she is now a wonderful cook and hasn’t shellacked any dessert since!
Cooking is a great way to connect with kids. There are so many STEM and Social Learning Concepts baked-in (sorry, I couldn’t resist) that I posted some of the benefits in this list.
Bonding Time: Cooking together is a family-friendly activity that provides an opportunity for quality time, mindful parenting, social skills development, and strengthening bonds with kids.
Life Skills: Cooking teaches children essential life skills like measuring ingredients, following recipes, and understanding the basics of nutrition and it's a fun learning activity.
Mathematics: Cooking is hands-on learning of math skills such as measurements, counting, and fractions. This uses and reinforces a child's math skills in a practical context.
Reading Skills: Following a recipe boosts literacy and improves reading skills kids learn to read, understand, and follow instructions.
Fine Motor and Gross Motor Skills: Child-friendly recipes promote coordination and dexterity. Activities like chopping, stirring, and pouring help develop a child's fine and gross motor skills.
Science Exploration: When cooking, STEM activities for young learners are baked in. Cooking introduces children to basic scientific concepts such as mixing ingredients, changing states of matter, and chemical reactions.
Healthy Eating Habits: Involving children cooking exposes them to a variety of foods and is a perfect moment to encourage them to make healthy snack choices.
Creativity: Cooking is creative play for children. It allows children to express their creativity by experimenting with flavors and presentation.
Confidence-Building: Successfully preparing a dish builds confidence and generates a sense of accomplishment. This empowers children and increases their self-esteem.
Patience and Time Management: Waiting for ingredients to cook and following a sequence of steps is interactive learning and teaches patience and time management.
Teamwork: Cooking promotes social skills development. When cooking with others, children learn the importance of working together to accomplish a task.
Sensory Exploration: Cooking engages multiple senses, including touch, taste, and smell, giving children a sensory-rich experience.
Independence: Cooking cultivates independence. Gradual skill-building activities increase confidence which, in turn, promotes independence.
Appreciation for Food: Involving children in the cooking process helps them appreciate the effort and care that goes into preparing meals and teaches gratitude and understanding of meal preparation efforts.
A RECIPE TO MAKE WITH YOUR KIDDOS
You can find more no-bake recipes in the Seven-Way Stories area at PageTurnerAdventures.com. Each Seven-Way Story is One Story Experienced 7 Ways…Read, Watch, Listen, Tell, Write, Craft, & Taste...and includes a no-bake recipe.
Look for THE GREAT PIZZA ADVENTURE if you are interested in a different no-bake pizza recipe.
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