Why I Let My Toddlers Help Cook and Why You Should, Too

I love getting in the kitchen and cooking with my kids!  It’s something that I loved doing with my mom and grandmother and I knew when I had kids that I would do the same thing with them. Unfortunately, in today’s culture, many don’t cook; and cooking is a lost skill that has been replaced by fast food, quick fix meals, and TV dinners.

Here are 6 reasons why I let my toddlers help cook and why you should too :

It teaches them a life skill!

There’s nothing more that I want for my kids than to be able to feed themselves good food when they move away from home. It will make this mama’s heart happy to know that they can cook a decent, healthy meal and not survive on Top Ramen and Chef Boyardee!

It develops fine motor skills!

Cooking involves the use of cooking utensils and techniques such as mixing with a spoon, rolling out dough with a rolling pin, measuring ingredients with a measuring spoon or measuring cup, etc. It’s the perfect opportunity to get those tiny hands moving!

It teaches them to try new foods!

A lot of times when my kids see a new food or one they haven’t seen in a while, they are more apt to try the new food while we are cooking than they are when it’s on their plate sitting at the table! I can not tell you how many times my kids will devour a new food while we’re cooking and then want nothing to do with it when it’s on their plate.

It builds relationships!

I cherished the times I spent cooking with my mother and grandmother. These are moments that I want my kids to cherish as they spend time cooking with me and my husband. And I already know they look forward to it because they beg to “help cook” every time I enter the kitchen, even if I’m not even going to cook. That makes me smile!

It teaches them about healthy foods and ingredients!

I love cooking from scratch! I teach my kids the names of the ingredients and give them a little taste as we go. This will mature their palate as well as create a love for fresh food and ingredients.

It teaches them to serve others!

Whether it’s making a snack for their sibling or making a meal for our small group, cooking is a fantastic tool to serve others. It will also be an amazing life skill to bring into a marriage. I know you must think I’m crazy for thinking this far ahead, but let’s face it, time flies! And before you know it, my toddlers will be married, grown adults. It would make me so proud knowing that my kids can cook for their spouses and future families.

Teaching your toddler how to cook will be messy and it will take much, much longer than usual. But it will be worth every piece of food on the floor and extra time spent.

Do you cook with your toddlers? I’d love to hear your favorite reason why you do!

You can read more from Kimberly on her blog Mom in the Go Lane or on IG @mominthegolane