Inviting children to cook with you in the kitchen can be a wonderfully productive and fun experience. Good planning maximizes the benefits of this time.
Here are some practical guidelines that are helpful when cooking with children – whether you are cooking with 20 children, 10, a handful, or even just at home with your own.
It is very important to note that if you are hired as an instructor for a program in which you are cooking with more than a handful of children (for example as a cooking specialist at a summer camp, an after school program, or an evening teen program), you should expect to have counselors or assistants on hand to help you with supervision and with the group’s cooking agenda.
First and foremost, be sure to find out about allergies. Also be aware of your organization’s food policies (nowadays – by far – the majority of schools, day care centers, and community centers are nut-free).
And, as with any project, find out the goals and expectations of the cooking program. Get as much information as you can about your exact responsibilities, about the facility you will be working in, about the resources that will be available for you, etc. In order to be efficient, you’ve got to know what you have to work with.
Even at home, and regardless of the age of children you are cooking with, it’s a best practice to review kitchen guidelines for safety and for sharing before the start of any activity. Intuitively, rather than you spitting out the rules, it is a good idea to ask your children to think of (or recall) points to remember. Having children come up with “the rules” makes it easier for them to remember “the rules.”
Jot down your children’s ideas answering the questions, “What do we need to do, and how do we need to act when we are cooking with each other?” Especially in a classroom situation, make sure these values are understood by all and are agreed upon. If possible, post these guidelines to which all members of the class are expected to adhere. Taking the time to brainstorm with your children and to create a “community agreement” establishes clear values that help positively structure the dynamic of your group.
Always be positive when framing these “rules.” Jot down what kids should keep in mind to do, versus what they should not be doing. For example: “clean hands,” “walking feet,” “inside voices,” “sharing,” “listening,” “taking turns,” “ask a grownup before tasting,” “clean up after a mess,” “have fun,” “be nice,” “help each other out,” etc.
When you are first establishing these guidelines, if you feel you need to emphasize a specific point, ask the children “Why?” “Why do we need to remember this/that?” “Why is this so important?”
Lastly, at the start of each session – before the start of any activity – present to the children and counselors/assistants, the plan for that day’s cooking session to get everyone on the same page. If needed (and this will depend on each class’s dynamic), this time can also be used to review points in your established “community agreement.” Basically, set the stage for the session’s events.
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