Holiday baking with kids worth the hassle

By Kendra Raymond

Who can let the holiday season go by without incorporating some kind of special cooking into the festivities? The aroma of sweets in the oven, music and sparkly lights conjures pleasurable visions in our minds. Some people find kitchen time relaxing, while for others it can be more stressful. Enter - kids and you have added yet another challenging facet to the experience, and presumably a lot of mess!

A photo from previous years shows how much
fun parents can have baking with their children
over the holiday season.
PHOTO BY KENDRA RAYMOND

I remember receiving hand-written notes from my daughter which exclaimed, “Mommy, I want to cook with you so bad!” At the time, I had several of her siblings also under my care, so sadly our cooking moments were not as plentiful as I wished.

No kid-filled baking experience will ever go as planned in a spotless kitchen. If you decide to delve into this proverbial rabbit hole, just come armed with the proper attitude and ammunition, and everything will work out just fine.

Youth of any age will benefit from cooking with a responsible adult. Kathy Savoie, MS, RD, Extension Professor with University of Maine Cooperative Extension said, “It’s never too early to start. Kids can learn to meet their own food needs through cooking.”

Savioe stresses the importance of choosing age-appropriate tasks to set the little ones up for success. She says that time spent in the kitchen learning from an adult can instill confidence. The new skills learned can be empowering.

“I certainly believe that cooking with kids is an important activity to start,” Savoie said. “It helps instill lifelong curiosity about cooking.”

With so many benefits for kids, cooking is a worthwhile time investment for parents. Savoie outlined the most noteworthy.

Youngsters can hone fine motor skills while cooking. Stirring, supervised slicing and measuring are all tasks that keep little hands busy.

Kids can practice reading by following a recipe. They can exercise math skills with measuring tools. More advanced cooks can learn about multiplying a recipe if additional guests plan to attend.

Savoie reminds us that cooking is science. It is a great opportunity to see the changes that happen to the ingredients that are combined and baked or chilled.

Many cultures and families value the dining process with great momentousness. Sharing family recipes with children can strengthen the bond between generations. These dishes can become revered and passed from generation to generation.

Planning

According to Maine Snap-Ed, kids are more likely to eat food that they choose and prepare. Steer the little ones toward kid-friendly and healthy recipes. Discuss quantities and supplies you will need. Allow them to help make a shopping list and visit the supermarket with you.

Shopping

Take the time to discuss costs and considerations as you move through the aisles. It might be helpful to add the prices as you go along. Have the child read the list to you and let them fill the cart.

Math and Reading

Following a recipe is a great opportunity to practice math and reading. Explain how the various measuring tools work, and the importance of accuracy. The kids will have fun reading the recipe steps aloud.

Safety

Review safety in the kitchen with your little bakers. Everyone should wash their hands first. All surfaces should be clear and sanitary. A review of stove and oven safety is a great reminder each time you cook with kids.

Savoie emphasizes food safety steps to take. No one should consume raw dough, flour, eggs, or meat.

Final steps

Washing the dishes and countertops is part of the cooking process. Kids will enjoy playing with the dish bubbles, and you will welcome the “help”. Don’t forget gratitude; take a minute to thank your helpers and recognize how lucky you are to share these moments together.

My daughter is now 22 and is an accomplished culinarian. I can’t remember the last time she asked to cook with me. If I could turn back the clock, I would find the time to cook with that little girl every day. 

Here are some helpful links to get started:

Cooking with Children by the University of Illinois Extension: https://extension.illinois.edu/food/cooking-children

Maine Snap-Ed offers some great advice here: https://www.mainesnap-ed.org/cook/cooking-with-kids/

The Maine Secretary of State Kids’ page provides recipes for children using Maine ingredients: https://www.maine.gov/sos/kids/games/recipe <