Family Cooking Tips!

Cooking  is a necessity that can also be a chore, but it does not have to be that way. Cooking is also an art form in itself, and it can easily become a cherished family tradition. Teaching your children how to cook can prepare them for life emotionally, mentally, physically and even socially.

When teaching children how to cook the utmost priority has to be safety. Children should never be allowed to use scissors, knives or other sharp objects and they also need to be aware that food and objects can often get very hot and cause burns if handled incorrectly. Proper safety equipment such as utensils and hot pads should always be used.

It is also important to teach good hygiene practices to prevent the spread of germs while cooking. Teach your children to wash their hands using warm water and soap for a minimum of twenty seconds and discourage “double dipping” when cooking for other people.

Cooking lessons should be kept age appropriate, so that toddlers and very young children can learn to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, while older, more experienced children can try their hands at something a little more difficult.