In February, parents came to the Children’s School to participate in the “Cooking with Children” Brown Bag with Ms. McMichael and Mrs. McGillen.  Cooking not only teaches children how to cook, but it also teaches nutrition, and includes developmentally appropriate math, science, language and physical skills for young children.  For example, when the children make vegetable pizza, they get to:

• Use a recipe (follow directions)
• Peel and wash vegetables (physical skills)
• Measure a cup of mushrooms (math skills)
• Learn new vocabulary (dice, chop)

Children also learn about the vegetable food group and the nutritional value of vegetables.  Plus children get to eat what they made, which is a favorite part of cooking!

Try cooking with your child at home.  Start with a simple recipe with few steps and ingredients and that have hands-on activities.  Some of my favorite memories are baking with my grandmother, who instilled a love of baking in me!