5 fun cooking activities for kids

Do your kids like to spend time making amazing mud pies or are they constantly stirring up their best herb soup? Then maybe it’s time to let them loose in the kitchen with these fun kitchen activities for kids.

1. Let your children create a new recipe. Choose 5-7 ingredients that you think can go together and can be baked in a cake pan. For example, eggs, cheese, barbecue sauce, salt, flour, garlic powder, and corn chips can all go together. Kids can also try a combination of cinnamon, eggs, flour tortillas, caramel sauce, and plantains. You may need to help them determine “reasonable” amounts of each ingredient. There is no correct answer; just have fun with it.

2. Start a children’s cookbook. Everyone has recipes they love, including children. Have your child pick 10 of their favorite recipes. You or they can type the recipes on the computer in a cool font with borders and some clip art. Print them out and “laminate” them with clear contact paper. They can then put the recipes in their own cookbook.

3. Give your child an easy kid-friendly recipe to make on their own. Children love to spread their wings and do things “by themselves”. Give them a chance by giving them a super easy recipe and explaining how to make it. Depending on his age and ability, discuss kitchen safety and that you will be operating the oven/range as part of the task.

4. Have the kids take photos of themselves cooking. You can make a little scrapbook filled with photos of your proud moments in the kitchen. They will really enjoy this now, but also after they are grown. Looking through your child’s scrapbook and recipe book can remind you of good family times.

5. Decorate the cupcake challenge. Most kids have no problem creatively decorating a cupcake when given the right ingredients. Add a twist to the activity by taking out all the possible ingredients you can think of and asking them to decorate the cupcake to look like a cat or flower. You will come up with some decorative ingredients that you didn’t think of.

All of these cooking activities for kids give you the opportunity to teach your kids the ins and outs of cooking. Your children also have the opportunity to learn many things in a fun environment. Give your child every opportunity to be creative in the kitchen and your child will thank you one day.