Cooking+Station

Here are the fun ways we learn through cooking... media type="youtube" key="K323Vqg3Hik" height="385" width="480"

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 * Here are 10 reasons why we do cooking activities with our kids...**
 * 1) Learning to cook helps kids to learn about nutrition and healthy eating. They are growing up with fast food and junk food at their fingertips, which is part of the reason why **child obesity is on the rise!** Teaching kids to cook will help instill skills to last them a lifetime.
 * 1) **Boost their self esteem.** If your child needs a boost of self confidence, (and who doesn't!) cooking in the kitchen will do just that. They are accomplishing a task, learning something important and contributing to the family.
 * 1) **Create family time and bonding.** Take time to cook with your kids and they will have memories that they, in turn, can pass on to their families. It may take a longer time to get the meal or snack done but the moments with your children will be priceless. (Just remember to have patience. Don't worry about flour on the floor or spilled milk).
 * 1) **Kids will be more apt to eat what they make.** Perhaps, it is the enthusiasm of creating something themselves, but they will be more likely to eat whatever they had a hand in making.
 * 1) **Kids learn real lessons in science, language, math and creativity.** Cooking will help reinforce all these subjects! ...

Math skills[[image:http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/images/learning.jpg width="150" height="131" align="right" caption="grade A on paper"]]
> For more fun, creative ideas for using everyday household activities to teach math concepts to your children, visit Sensible-Math-Education.com >
 * Counting
 * Fractions
 * Sorting
 * Money
 * Sequencing- what comes 1st, 2nd, 3rd
 * Weighing
 * Measuring
 * Shapes
 * Colors
 * Problem solving-what happens if something goes wrong

Reading skills

 * Improving their reading skills
 * Vocabulary through new words

Chemistry and Science lessons
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 * Discovering food groups
 * Making predictions
 * Experimenting
 * How food grows
 * How food changes while cooking
 * Five senses
 * Sensory exploration-with hands on and feeling the ingredients while cooking

Geography lessons
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 * Cultural recipes
 * Where food grows

Art lessons
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 * Creating
 * Creativity-make their own unique recipes

History lessons
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 * Recipes through generations
 * Family recipes/family history

Health lessons
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 * How to eat healthy
 * Good nutrition

Social Skills
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 * Responsibility
 * Safety and Cleanliness
 * Working together
 * Sharing
 * Building self esteem

Fine motor skills
> It is amazing that one hobby can be shared universally. After all, everyone throughout the world must eat to survive. It really is no wonder cooking with your kids is an opportunity not to be missed. It is an opportunity; to not only learn an important life skill, but multiple lessons and skills while having fun doing it. > > > >
 * Chopping, whisking, kneading, pouring, mixing, cutting, rolling
 * 1) What a great way to **learn life skills.** This can be especially helpful when kids are on their own and won't have to rely on fast food and junk food to sustain them.
 * 1) They can **help contribute to the family** and they can feel the importance of helping.
 * 1) They are **working together as a team,** whether it is with a parent or with a sibling to get the job done.
 * 1) Cooking **teaches them planning and making choices.**
 * 1) **Practice creativity and imagination.** Kids cooking activities are a great way to express themselves and enjoy their creations.