Benefits of Cooking with Preschoolers

There is an increasing recognition of the value of engaging preschool-aged children in cooking activities, either at home or in early learning environments throughout Australia. Beyond the happiness of shared mealtimes and the sweet chaos of kitchen adventures, cooking is a powerful catalyst for building core developmental skills. 

Children aged three to five can gain confidence, improve their fine motor coordination and cultivate early literacy and mathematical thinking through hands-on culinary experiences. The process of cooking is simple and accessible. It also provides a rich and rewarding experience that can be woven into long-daycare and sessional kindergarten programs. In this blog, we will explore the benefits of cooking for preschoolers.

What Does Cooking Look Like in the Early Years?

Cooking with young ones is a lovely journey filled with exploration and discovery. It’s not about perfecting complicated recipes or handling potentially dangerous tools. Rather, it’s a vibrant tapestry of age-appropriate activities that encourage hands-on participation. In the kitchen, little hands eagerly stir big bowls, smiles abound as ingredients are measured, poured and sifted, and creativity is unleashed while delicious treats are decorated.

The experience is sensory-rich and play-based, where the sights, sounds, and smells of food awaken curiosity and imagination. A child may giggle as they watch batter swirl around, feel the textures of different ingredients and learn through their senses. Each moment spent in the kitchen builds independence, cooperation and responsibility. Children can learn to take turns and follow simple directions.

Cooking with young children is about nurturing a love for food, instilling confidence, and laying the groundwork for cognitive development in a fun and engaging way. The kitchen becomes a safe space for creativity, where every little mess is an opportunity to learn through play.

5 Easy and Fun Cooking Activities for Preschoolers

Each activity is specially designed for young children, utilising everyday ingredients or utensils with a focus on safety and engagement. Here are five fun examples you may like to try with your child today.

1. Decorate Your Mini Pizza

How to do it: Provide mini pizza bases, sauces, cheese, and toppings. Let kids create their own combinations.
Developmental concept: Decision-making, sequencing, and sensory exploration.
Why it’s beneficial: Encourages independence, food literacy, and creativity.

2. Banana Sushi Rolls

How to do it: Spread nut butter or yoghurt on a flatbread, roll around a banana, and slice.
Developmental concept: Fine motor skills and sequencing.
Why it’s beneficial: Builds dexterity and introduces healthy snack choices.

3. Fruit and Veggie Face Plates

How to do it: Provide a variety of cut fruits or vegetables for kids to arrange into faces on plates.
Developmental concept: Creative design and spatial awareness.
Why it’s beneficial: Reinforces food familiarity and encourages artistic expression.

4. Pour and Mix Pancake Batter

How to do it: Pre-measure ingredients and let children mix and pour into a pan with your help.
Developmental concept: Maths (measuring, counting), cause and effect.
Why it’s beneficial: Builds early numeracy and coordination.

5. DIY Trail Mix Station

How to do it: Offer bowls of dried fruit, seeds, cereals, and let kids scoop and mix their own snack bag.
Developmental concept: Patterning, sorting, and healthy choices.
Why it’s beneficial: Teaches autonomy and basic nutrition.

Why Early Cooking Experiences Matter

The benefits of cooking with children extend far beyond simply preparing meals together. They include:

• Strengthening Fine Motor Skills and Hand-Eye Coordination: Activities like preparing fruit (peeling bananas, plucking grapes and sectioning mandarins), combining ingredients, and mixing batter improve children’s dexterity and control over their movements.
• Building Early Maths, Science, and Literacy through Real-World Application: Cooking involves measuring and counting, which provides a practical application of early maths concepts. Following recipe instructions expands their vocabulary and understanding of sequencing.
• Promoting Confidence, Independence, and Responsibility: By allowing your child to participate in food preparation, they gain a sense of achievement and independence. Completing tasks like tidying up or placing cutlery on the table brings a sense of responsibility as they learn to contribute to the household.
• Supporting Social-Emotional Learning through Turn-Taking and Patience: Collaborative cooking requires communication and teamwork, which helps your child practice important social skills like sharing and patience as they navigate group dynamics in the kitchen.
• Encouraging Positive Food Behaviours and Healthier Lifelong Choices: Hands-on experience in the kitchen helps your child develop an appreciation for fresh ingredients and healthy cooking options. This early exposure can lead to healthier food choices as they grow, encouraging a lifelong relationship with nutritious eating.

Cooking together also creates opportunities for shared experiences and traditions, such as passing down cherished family recipes. This strengthens family relationships as well as deepens your child’s understanding of cultural heritage and the significance of food within family histories.

By integrating these elements, kitchen-based learning becomes a rich, multifaceted experience that nurtures your child’s holistic development while creating lasting memories and connections.

Choosing a Childcare Program That Cooks

To effectively evaluate if an early learning centre meaningfully integrates cooking into its curriculum, consider the following criteria:

• Child Participation: Are children consistently engaged in hands-on cooking or food preparation activities? Look for evidence of regular involvement where they can prepare ingredients and learn the processes of food preparation.
• Educational Integration: Do educators use cooking as a fun way to teach vital skills like numeracy, language, and science? For instance, are they incorporating vocabulary related to cooking and food, or teaching about food quantities?
• Dietary Management and Safety: Are dietary requirements and food safety protocols addressed? It’s crucial to ensure that the program accommodates diverse dietary needs (perhaps due to allergies, preferences, or cultural practices) while also following good hygiene standards to create a safe cooking environment.
• Responsive Practices: How are children’s inquiries, tastes, and preferences valued during cooking experiences? Is there an inclusive atmosphere where children can express their ideas about food or influence the dishes prepared?
• Cultural and Sustainability Connections: Is cooking incorporated in ways that explore cultural traditions or promote sustainability? For example, do activities include exploring ingredients from different cultural backgrounds or hands-on projects like sprouting seeds and growing herbs? This enriches your child’s understanding of the natural world and culture through food.

By reflecting on these aspects and aligning them with your own values or cultural traditions regarding food, you can find a nurturing environment that promotes a love of cooking, learning and discovery.

How to Find a Cooking-Friendly Early Learning Centre

When evaluating potential options for food-based learning programs, consider taking the following practical steps:

• Examine Curriculum or Program Statements: Delve into the specifics outlined in the curriculum or program statement. Look for a detailed description of how food-based learning is integrated into daily activities and educational objectives.
• Visit the Centre: Plan a visit to the centre and observe the environment firsthand. Pay attention to the presence of child-accessible kitchens where young learners can engage in cooking experiences.
• Inquire About Staff Expertise: Ask about the qualifications and training of the staff in areas such as nutrition education and food safety.
• Read Parent Reviews and Testimonials: Look for feedback from other parents through reviews and testimonials.
• Explore Community Connections: Investigate if the program has established connections with local community gardens, farms, or food educators.

By following these steps, you can gain a better understanding of the options available and make a decision that aligns with your goals for food-based learning.

Making the Right Choice for Your Child

The benefits of cooking with children go beyond play. It provides a foundational way to promote learning. Both sessional kindergarten and long-daycare settings can include cooking activities to develop vital skills. Choose programs that match your child’s needs, interests, and comfort level in the kitchen. Trust your instincts, because the ideal environment will naturally spark curiosity and happiness around food.

When weighing options, consider Inspire ELJ, a top provider of cooking-rich learning experiences that promote holistic development and school readiness. Want to find out more? Contact us to schedule a campus visit.