Bonding with Children Through the Magic of Cooking

Experience the beautiful parental bond of cooking with your children
My little cousins, who are three and five years-old, were mystified when I turned plain pancake batter into Mickey Mouse shaped creations. My cousin (their mom) does not like to cook so homemade pancakes on a blustery November Sunday morning were a special treat to the girls. Mickey Mouse pancakes were a part of my childhood and it was always so much fun to watch my mom create magical concoctions in the kitchen, and it was even more exciting when I was included in cooking adventures with her.

It is a detriment not to allow your kids to be included in the cooking process. Cooking with children opens a world of imagination and creativity for them(even younger children). Obviously, parents must use discretion and I would not condone allowing children to use sharp objects or handle pots. However, there are many cooking projects that are easy and fun (and MESSY!) that allows your children to walk on the wild side of cooking, and also bonds you and your children together, as you create yummy, magical culinary treats.

Here are a few fun, simple cooking projects that you and your child can enjoy making together:

Making bread or pizza dough: Your kids can help pour and measure the ingredients, and watch the project from start to finish. Don't worry if they get flour in their hair or on their face—that's part of the fun! Make sure you're down on your child's level so they can view the entire process and feel included. You can teach them about yeast and how it rises and you can laugh together when you see the dough plump to three times its size. Kids will have fun punching down the dough and helping you knead and roll out the dough. (It's also a great way to get out those extra wiggles, especially when they've been confined inside all day.) It's also fun for children to be part of the process of the cooking process--being included in a project from start to finish (for example: making the pizza dough, waiting for it to rise, adding the sauce and toppings, watching it bake, etc.)

Fun finger sandwiches cut outs: This is an especially fun project around the holidays or if you're hosting a birthday party. Dig out old holiday cookie cutters or buy some fun, interesting shaped cookie cutters at your local craft or home store. Consult with your children first and ask them what kinds of sandwiches they'd like. Peanut butter and jelly, tuna, and chicken salad are always a hit. If you're a vegetarian family, slices of cucumber and/or other vegetables (roasted red peppers, tomatoes, etc) and whole grain bread with a hummus filling makes for yummy finger sandwiches. Have fun experiencing with different kinds of breads and fillings. You can even include your children in the shopping process and you can create fun ideas together. Let your imagination run wild! You'll have fun filling the sandwiches and stamping out the bread in fun shapes. It will also make your kids more excited about their school lunches.

Crazy cake decorating: This project could get crazy but that's the fun of "crazy" cake decorating. The best cake I ever had as a child was a beautiful butterfly cake that my aunt made for me for my birthday. However, you don't need a special occasion to bake a cake. Enjoy perusing your local craft or party supply store for an interesting shaped cake pan. I was amazed at the selections ranging from bugs to princesses to cowboys! If you're a busy mom, you can cheat and buy a store bought cake mix but if you dare, make a cake batter from scratch, and once again, let your children help by pouring and mixing the ingredients. Go wild! The more outrageous the decorating the better! Buy/make wildly, vibrant colored frosting and let your child have fun decorating the cake. Buy fun sprinkles, chocolate chips, candies, etc. Don't hold your children back and if most of the frosting ends up on them rather than the cake, that's half the fun!

Cooking with children can be a beautiful and amazing bonding experience. However, remember the rules of safety when cooking around and with children. Adults need to handle any hot items and keep hot pans out of the reach of your little ones. Remember to talk to them about hot stoves and ovens, and remember to always cook on the back burners of stoves. Toddlers love to grab those shiny, metal handles.

My love for cooking was instilled in me when I was a child, and I love to watch and be around children when they cook. I'm amazed at their curiosity and their wonder about the cooking process, and how creative they can be with a spoon, bowl, and flour!

If you haven't allowed your children into the kitchen for fear they will wreak havoc, you might want to revisit your thought process regarding children and cooking. You will experience a beautiful bonding that will be part of your memories (and your children's) for a lifetime.

About the Author

Therese Pope is a non-profiteer fundraiser by day and a freelance writer and poet by night. Her works have been published in various e-zines and literary anthologies. She is a yoga fiend with a penchant for writing with latte in hand. She resides in Sacramento, Calif.

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