GET KIDS COOKING - HERE'S WHY
The benefits of cooking with your children are endless as many of us know. They love to participate, it eats up a chunk of time on a freezing Saturday, and it incorporates multiple domains of learning and development. Below I've outlined a few natural ways that cooking can be therapeutic too! Cooking benefits not only speech and language development but also motor skill development and it supports sensory skills.
Speech & Language:
Here are some great basic speech and language concepts to keep in mind while while cooking with little ones.
Following Directions - These can be simple ("give me the banana"), complex ("first cut the banana, then put the pieces in the bowl") or complex with embedded language concepts ("first cut the banana, then put the small pieces in the big blue bowl").
Sequencing - Using sequence words such as "first", "next", "then" & "last" help lay the foundation for narrative skills and story retell.
Recall - Ask your child if they can remember the steps included in the recipes or all the ingredients required.
Quantity Concepts - these include words like "all", "some", "full", "empty", "half", "quarter" & "the rest" as well as counting scoops & ingredients.
Brainstorming and Making Predictions - Let your child make guesses about what the end product will look and taste like. Cue them to use meaningful descriptive words such as hot, soft, chewy, mushy, crunchy, sweet as opposed to 'good' or 'yummy'.
Vocabulary - label new and less familiar vocabulary items such as "whisk", "grater", "spatula", "blender" etc.
Motor Skill Benefits:
Fine motor control through activities like scooping, mixing, pouring, cutting, utensil use and picking up small items (e.g., chocolate chips, sprinkles, shredded cheese).
Grading Skills - knowing how much force is necessary to successfully achieve a task (mixing in a way that doesn't result in flour on your ceiling
Sensory Benefits:
Exposure to textures, smells, consistencies.
Mess tolerance (batter or food on face, hands and clothes)
General Developmental Benefits:
Independence
Participation in activities of daily living
An understanding of where food comes from
Bonding and shared experiences with parents/caregivers and siblings
Task Completion (selecting ingredients, cooking/baking, waiting, finished product!)
If you're looking for more structured cooking activities, check out the books below. Let your child sequence the visual support cards, create their own recipe books and shopping lists! They make great birthday presents paired with kid friendly measuring cups and spoons!
(Some of the many) Kids Books that Support Cooking Concepts