- Increased appetite and greater interest in food.
By letting your child take part in cooking, interest in food can also increase. If the interest in food as a whole increases, the appetite can also grow. It is important to change the view of food from being somewhat foreign in some cases, to instead becoming something with which they are familiar. In connection with cooking, children get to use their senses and explore the food in a completely different way than when they only get it ready-made on a plate. They thereby create a relationship with food and hopefully also a greater interest.
- Responsibility & Self-esteem
In connection with children being allowed to participate in the kitchen, it can be given the opportunity to develop a sense of responsibility, which in turn can contribute to increased self-esteem. Many children love being able to take responsibility for themselves and feel that they can handle things, especially at home. The kitchen is a perfect place to practice these skills.
At first, it can be given simple tasks such as picking out ingredients, helping with cutting/portioning and being allowed to put their food on the plate. Taking responsibility can develop as the child grows until they are able to plan meals, write shopping lists, test their own recipes and dispose of food waste.
- Fine motor skills
In the kitchen, the child is given the opportunity to develop his fine motor skills. This is done, among other things, when the child practices cutting and dividing different ingredients with a knife, peeling fruit and vegetables, punching out cakes, decorating, pouring measurements, whisking and much more.
- Quality time
The kitchen is the perfect place to spend time together. By cooking together, children get to use their cooperative skills, show their skills and learn from each other. Perhaps you have a family tradition / family recipe that you, as a parent, want to tell about and pass on. Maybe you want to create a new tradition. Cooking together is also a good way for siblings to help each other, to communicate and cooperate.
