My girls and I our own little “baking club” that some of their friends have even joined. They love assisting and learning different techniques related to baking and they absolutely love eating the results. Even the mistakes! Not only do I get additional help in the kitchen, we get to spend quality time together meanwhile they are learning an important lesson- how to cook.
Getting Started
Have rules for children to follow when in the kitchen. A parent is the best judge of when their child is ready to participate in the kitchen and when they can be allowed to use the oven, microwave and other appliances and sharp utensils. Follow the general steps for getting started as provided in the Getting Ready to Bake article.
Plan to bake with children at a time that is good for you. It will be a lot more enjoyable. Also, anticipate a recipe taking a little longer to prepare and being a little messier when you have little hands helping. Keep ingredients on hand for “easy recipes”.
Have children tie up long hair so that it will not get in the way.
Have an area where young children can work supervised.
Wash and completely dry hands!
Cleaning Up
Take time to clean up as you bake. You’ll have less work to do when you finish and will be glad for it!
Keep a sink filled with soapy water and a sponge handy for "quick clean up". Wash sharp utensils separately.
Kitchen Safety
The first thing children should learn before assisting in the kitchen is how to be safe. Things that have become second nature to us will not be second nature to a novice cook.
Children and adults alike should wipe up any spills to avoid slippery floors and counters. A glass dish placed on a slippery counter could slide right off!
Use a cutting board to provide a sturdy firm surface. Place the cutting board on top a damp towel to keep it in place for extra security.
Make sure small appliances are turned off and unplugged when you finish using them.
Ever wondered why one pot wasn’t boiling then notice that another pot was smoking? Well, I have! The problem was I’d meant to turn on one burner and accidentally had ignited the opposite one. So make sure the burner that is lit is the one you meant to use.
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