At the age of 9, my sister and I were already learning kitchen skills with my mom in the Dominican Republic. It is so traditional in our country to start teaching these skills to children especially little girls so they can start gaining homemaker skills. Today, children should learn how to cook as early as 3 years of age so they can start developing their taste, the value of food and making right food choices. At the same time, we can teach children how to have fun in the kitchen.
Cooking classes for children can help them gain skills of proper food handling and food safety. Participating in a cooking class can help increase their math skills through measuring, and reading skills by following the recipe’s ingredients and directions. It builds their confidence in the kitchen and helps with the development of positive character traits such as patience and communication. Cooking also helps grow their creativity by changing the recipe to taste and decorating their own plate with colorful ingredients. It’s a fun way to make new friends and start understanding a teamwork environment by taking turns with preparing a meal. At the end, they are amazed at their final products. They also learn about each other through socialization. We embrace diversity through cooking.
Mi Cocina School. www.micocinaschool.com
