Spending quality time with your children will always be something that you should prioritize and really dedicate yourself to. Studies show that children that spend time doing fun things with their parents become more stable, happy, and successful adults in the future, and that's something we all want for our kids.
There are many things you can do to spend some meaningful time with your little ones. From game and movie nights to theme parks and walks, it all falls into the category of quality time and will make your child happy.
However, quality time shouldn't be just about fun. Sure, the activities you choose should entertain your children and make them happy, but if you manage to slip a bit of education and a developmental aspect in there without them even noticing - you're really doing this whole thing right!
Things You Can Try
Instead of a children's movie maybe you can pick a kid-friendly documentary about a subject you and your kid are interested in. Instead of a fairytale, a book that will make them think and develop their imagination might be a better fit. Instead of game night, why not enter the kitchen and try to make a meal or bake something together?
With your parental supervision, being in the kitchen can turn into a fun weekly activity through which your child will learn a lot, have loads of fun, and might even develop a love for the culinary arts, setting them up for a career choice or a hobby later in life!
If this sounds like something you might want to try out, here's how to go about it. We'll also look closely at the benefits later on.
Cooking With Kids: What You'll Need
The first thing you'll really need to do is prepare yourself for the mess coming your way. Kids are messy by default and the kitchen is a place that is bound to get messy by default, but when you put these two together and combine them, an avalanche of mess is to be expected!
That's why, before you do anything, you'll need to make sure that you're going to be okay with spills and drips and will take care of them afterwards. Teaching your child about cleanliness is obviously important, but instead of lecturing them, maybe get them to help you clean up after you're done with your project.
This way they'll learn that creating and cleaning up afterwards are both equally important!
In terms of items you'll need, I'd recommend you buy a quality-made kids apron for the little chef. Aprons are a very necessary item in the kitchen, so by getting your child their very own you're showing them that you're taking this seriously and really want to include them in an activity you spend every day doing.
Kids love to mimic their parents, so if you wear an apron, make sure to get a childs apron too. This will signify that you're equals in the matter and that they are as important to the process as you are. It will also teach them about the importance of cleanliness and taking care of their clothing.
Kids aprons come in various sizes and colours and you can even go as far as to have their name embroidered on the side to really personalize the experience. You can also get matching aprons for you and them and tie the whole experience together nicely. You're a team, after all!
Next up, you'll need to find a kid-friendly recipe. Cookies and other baked goods are something that's easy enough to do. What's more, your children will be happy to help with it! In the end, the finished dish will be sweet and yummy and will feel like a great reward for the kid!
You can let them measure the ingredients, pour flour and other powders, crack eggs, add milk, and shape the dough into the desired shapes or pour the mixture into a pan. The childrens apron will really help here as this is going to be the messy part. Then, you can put the goodies in the oven yourself and just wait for them to be done.
The Benefits
By incorporating this activity into your weekly schedule and letting your kids really help out you'll be doing a lot of good for their mental and physical health and development.
The kitchen is all about the right measures and following rules, but it's also about creativity and imagination. By choosing recipes that can accommodate both of these polarities you'll be teaching your child important lessons about following rules while still being yourself.
It will also help develop their sense of measures and they'll gain a basic grasp on this part of maths, learning about quarts, thirds, halves, and so on. What's even better, they won't even see the whole thing as a learning experience, which is something that doesn't sit right with some children.
Furthermore, by letting them shape the cookies or decide on what shape the cake or brownie will be you're letting them explore their imagination and improve their decision-making skills. Offer them different cookie cutters or moulds and let them pick. Make sure there is diversity so they really have a choice to make.
After everything is done, you can also let them decorate the final product in their own way. It's a nice way to wrap the fun learning experience up. When everything is done, clean up together, put your aprons in the wash, and set up a little date where you eat the goodie that you made and reward yourselves.
It will be a nice finishing touch on the whole quality learning time spent together and it will inspire your kid to be open to the possibility of cooking together again.