Monday, April 27th, 2009...1:00 am
Kids Cooking Party Tips
Tips for Hosting a Cooking party for kids:
If your family is like ours, you have been to more gymnastics birthday parties than you can count. And when it is time to think of a party for our own kids, it is easy to fall back on the familiar. Consider trying something different and perhaps less expensive. What about a birthday party where the kids learn something, get to be creative and have fun all at the same time?
Cooking parties are gaining popularity – and for obvious reasons. Almost anyone who has cooked with kids can attest that kids who help in the kitchen are better eaters and are more enthusiastic about trying new foods. And if dinner time is a challenge in your house, you will be up for anything that will improve the mood at your table!
Here are a few simple tips to help your cooking party be a success:
- Limit the number of guests to the number that can comfortably work at your kitchen/dining room table or your kitchen counters
- If you are cooking at a table, use a tablecloth for easy cleanup.
- Make sure tools and ingredients are in a convenient location, easy for the children to reach. If any of your tools may be distracting, don’t make them available until the children need to use them.
- Depending on the age of the children, it is sometimes best for kids to make their own servings of food (this keeps germs out and allows kids to customize their food, based on their own preferences)
- If you are baking customized foods, line the tray with foil and write the child’s name near their food with a sharpie marker. That way, each child gets his or her own creation instead of getting someone else’s
- If cooking is your main activity for the party, don’t buy pre-shredded cheese or carrots – let the children do the work and have the fun!
- Have lots of options, toppings and condiments available. Give children the freedom to add a variety of ingredients (to their lasagna or tacos, for example). Some will surprise you with their sense of adventure, and that might inspire their friends, too!
- Try using cooking related invitations and party favors to help generate enthusiasm for your culinary adventure!
14 Comments
April 27th, 2009 at 6:33 am
My kids love to cook. I have them do whole meals by themselves
April 27th, 2009 at 7:41 am
I like making burritos with homemade flour tortillas with my kids! ~
Thanks
April 27th, 2009 at 8:11 am
I love making hummus and flatbread with my daughter.
April 27th, 2009 at 11:57 am
My two favorites to cook with my eldest daughter are pancakes and tacos. With pancakes, she helps me measure, pour in ingredients and stir. She also gets to choose the extra flavors we put it, whether it is vanilla, cinnamon, blueberries or all three.
With tacos she can help me prep the condiments; tomatoes, lettuce, cheese and sour cream. We put all the ingredients on the table and she can make her own taco. She always eats it up because she made it the way she wanted it.
April 27th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Alisa – these are great ways to include your daughter! Not only is she learning how to cook, but she is being exposed to so many different ingredients.
Evelyn – mmmm. Hummus is so delicious. I made flatbread once and it was wonderful. My kids loved eating them when they were still hot!
Tisa – wow! I have never made home made flour tortillas – we usually make them from corn. Do you have a recipe you could share? My kids would love to make them with me!
April 27th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Hi American Homemaker – thanks for visiting! How old are your kids? It is wonderful that you encourage them to make meals – I’d love to hear about one of their favorites!
April 27th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
[...] Original Link: http://whatscookingblog.com/2009/04/27/kids-cooking-party-tips-and-apron-giveaway/ [...]
April 27th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
My kids love to make smoothies! We just made a batch with frozen strawberries, bananas, yoghurt, milk, vanilla and a touch of sugar.
April 27th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Thanks Heather! We make lots of smoothies here too! Have you ever tried Agave Nectar as a sweetener instead of sugar? It comes from the agave cactus and is delicious
April 28th, 2009 at 10:01 am
I find that quick breads are great for young children. (My daughter is two.) She loves helping to measure and stir…
April 28th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Hi Mindy,
I think you made a good point here…QUICK! I know that I am impatient, when it comes to breads…so I could imagine that kids would be, too! But there are lots of breads out there that are relatively quick to make. Do you have a favorite?
Thanks for the comment,
Michelle
April 28th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
I love these ideas for the kid’s cooking party & can’t wait until my daughter is a little older to do this – she just turned 3. Both she & my son (5) love to help me cook – cheesy eggs, cookies, pizza and paninis.
We’ve done cookie and cupcake decorating at parties, but at this age, it turns into one big ugly mess! The kids loved it though! I think their treats were even tastier since they decorated them.
April 30th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
[...] Maybe Baby? placed an observative post today on Kids Cooking Party Tips and Apron GiveawayHere’s a quick excerptWe are partnering with our friends at Peppers and Pollywogs, experts in kid’s birthday parties, to bring you this Cooking Apron Giveaway for Kids. [...]
May 5th, 2009 at 6:20 am
Me and my Son love to make Smoothies together, and when therer is TOO MUCH we make popsicels with the leftovers. YUMMY
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