One thing that is so great about being a tween is the spirit of independence that is stirring all the time. As a parent, it is important to foster skills that lead to a tween becoming self-sufficient. One area that boys and girls alike are interested in is cooking in the kitchen. How do you know when a tween is ready to cook alone? Here are a few pointers.
Make Sure the Kitchen is Safe
Help make cooking an enjoyable activity for a child by assuring that the kitchen is a safe place to be. This may mean putting steak knives and other sharp utensils up high, so they do not attract the child's attention and curiosity. Also monitor what a tween is allowed to cook, and save dishes that require the oven for when there is adult supervision. To have a child accidentally mistake the "Broil" knob for the "Bake" knob can be a costly mistake that can be avoided with adult assistance.
Provide Plenty of Cookbooks and Magazines
While a tween can certainly have an unending imagination when it comes to playing, she may run into a roadblock when it comes to thinking up something fun to make in the kitchen. Lessen the chances of unappetizing concoctions by providing her with food magazines and cookbooks that are designed especially for kids. These resources often have very creative and easy recipes, so there is no worry that a tween won't find something interesting to make and serve to the family.
Build Cooking Skills over Time
The love of cooking is something that will stay with a tween who is truly interested in it. For this reason, there is no need to start off with complicated dishes that could frustrate her from the beginning. Instead, start with easy recipes. Once she sees her accomplishments, she will be eager to move on to more progressive recipes. At the same time, she will "relish" in her advancing cooking skills along the way.
Keep the Kitchen Stocked with Appropriate Utensils
One thing that makes cooking so much fun is the array of cooking utensils available to the cook. Learning to use these utensils correctly from the start can be the difference between a spectacular cooking adventure or a flop. Make sure you have exactly what the child needs to prepare a recipe right, and teach her the jobs of each utensil, so she is comfortable using them on her own.
Praise a Tween's Cooking Efforts
Most tweens will not make the first recipe perfectly, but do praise her for her efforts. If a salad has too much lettuce, or a batch of cookies are burnt just a bit, assure your tween that it is okay. By pouring on the praise, you will be giving the child abundant confidence to keep trying new things in the kitchen. Practice really does make perfect.
These are just a few simple steps to helping a tween who is interested in cooking try her hand at it. By this age, a child is learning or has already become proficient with fractions, so measuring is no big deal. Giving a tween an activity like cooking to practice this skill is priceless. It's a great way to boost confidence and get some extra help around the house. So, come on and get your tween cooking.
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