This is why your kids should learn to cook
Cooking is an art, science and a survival tool, all combined together. On one hand it is an essential life skill and on the other, it is a great teacher. Yes, you heard us right. It teaches everything from mathematics and chemistry to reading skills and nutrition while offering a myriad psychological and cognitive benefits. Here are the top six benefits of teaching your child to cook.
Boosts motor skills
Cooking involves actions like stirring, scrubbing, rolling, sprinkling, cleaning, pressing and patting. These kitchen tasks help in the development of fine motor skills in your child.
Teaches mathematics
Starting from measuring ingredients and determining portion size to the number of servings to time calculations, cooking requires a lot of mathematics. While determining the quantity of ingredients, kids learn the concept of fractions and develop a sense of proportion. On the other hand, figuring out the cooking time will help them understand basic calculations and learn time management.
Develops healthy food habits
Cooking a new dish instils an interest in food in kids. Even if you have a picky eater, involvement in the kitchen is likely to make her try the dish she has prepped. This may not happen overnight. But as your child gets involved in shopping the ingredients for the dish she is going to prep, spends time in the kitchen in measuring and processing them, she will not only develop culinary skills, her food habits are certainly going to be healthy. Discussion the nutritional value of the ingredients during cooking will also help.
Kids learn to read and follow instructions
While following a recipe, your little one needs to read the step-by-step guidelines very minutely to ensure that the finished product turns out well. This exercise has two practical benefits other than the fact that it makes the dish delicious. Well, what are these benefits? Your child learns to read attentively and pick up instructions well.
Instils creativity
Cooking is a very good way of self-expression and creativity. Marrying different ingredients together to make a flavourful dish evokes a myriad of feelings. Also, experimenting with food and its ingredients will help kids develop a sense of harmony.
Offers psychological benefits
According to a research from the National Institute of Health, US, cooking can help alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and depression. It can also boost self-esteem in your child by generating a sense of accomplishment when others a appreciate the dish prepared by him. All these go a long way in enhancing overall well-being.