Did you get to read my little helper in the kitchen post? Nope, then go and read it here 🙂
After which we have been doing a bit of baking here and there.
Baking together can be so much of fun. And it’s got ample learning opportunities. Who wouldn’t want to try it?
So, there we were deciding on what recipe that we should start with. And we zeroed on this simple butter cake. This is the classic starter cake for anyone who wants to learn baking. It is easy to make with no complicated techniques or fancy ingredients. Plus they are fool proof. It is very hard to mess up with this recipe and would be ideal for my little one to start as well. You can find the recipe here.
Before we head on to the recipe I am going to tell you why baking together is a great learning resource for your little one.
1.They introduce indirect math concepts
- They learn to count when you say “We are going to add in two eggs. One and now two “
- They learn fractions when the recipe calls for half a butter slice.
- They learn measurements: one cup each. You can read our popcorn post learning the same.
- They also learn time concepts: Forty five minutes in the oven
- And finally, sequencing: First beat sugar, then add butter and as the recipe calls
2.They make up for awesome pre-writing works
- Their hand muscles put in a lot of resistance when they mix hard butter and sugar.
- When they roll their dough to make a cookie
- When they cut cookie shapes, they wrist muscles are preparing your child to hold a pencil.
- When they place dough carefully on a baking tray they learn how to place them from left to right or in a pattern.
- Like I said, as simple as baking might seem to look, there are plenty of learning opportunities.
3.Organizational Skills:
- Show them how we wash hands before you start baking.
- Ask them to help you get all your baking essentials ready.
- Ask them to help you pick your whisker, cookie cutters and so on.
- If you have a recipe printed, show it to them and let them know that you are going to read what is on this paper and follow them to the T.
4.Other practical life skills:
- Learning to wash hands before and after the work
- To stir the ingredients
- To crack eggs
- To pour ingredients into the bowl. Read other pouring works here.
- To clean the kitchen counter once you are done baking.
5.Sensory learning:
They get to see the ingredients, use their hands to get messy and smell the cake when it is the oven, listening to the beater sound and tasting them delicacies once they are done 🙂 Yup, all their five senses are involved and what more fun could it be:-)
6.Literacy:
Teaching different ingredient names and talking about from where they come from. My son doesn’t comprehend that butter comes from milk. But yeah, one day he would 🙂
7.Science:
They learn the change of states, they get to see how a solid butter melts when applied some force.
Other important benefits:
They take pride in what they have done and have a sense of accomplishment. This in turns helps them build their independence and self confidence.
Other tips to keep in mind:
- We usually reduce the sugar quantity to one third of what the recipe calls. We do not encourage having any sugar loaded treats at home.
- Be prepared for a mess. That is also a learning opportunity to show them how to clean 🙂
- Pre-measure the ingredients to make it easy for your toddler. Get the entire stuff ready like a TV cookery show.
- Make sure your child is well napped and is on his best of the moods while you bake together.
- Make sure you stay away from any heated appliances.
- Plan ahead and know your recipe so that your toddler doesn’t have to wait while you check the recipe on your phone.I learnt this lesson the hard way 🙂
- If your child is allergic to any of the ingredients (raw eggs), please be extra careful.
Go pick your apron, wear your chef hat and get ready to bake with your toddler 🙂
And watch out this space next to see how we assemble a pizza together 🙂
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I love this! The mess is really really hard for me to take when baking with my daughter, but these are prefect ideas for me to consider.
I love baking with the grandkids. Logan really loves to cook and he can now make an entire dinner all by himself (with supervision, of course). He’s nine and I’m so proud of him.
I think cooking with kids is a wonderful way to teach them real life skills and practice basic academics! Such a great way to learn and have fun.
Those are all great benefits to letting your child help out in the kitchen. My youngest enjoys helping out when he can very much.
My 4 year old LOOOVES baking. We baked so many cakes that both him & his father had to get their cavities filed up! lol!
This is interesting! Would love to see your posts in the Practical Mondays Link Up:)
I love baking and cooking with my kids. They have so much fun helping me with the whole process. And it can be educational for them, too!
How wonderful! I loved baking with my daughter and now with my grandchildren. I honestly never considered all that it might be teaching them. I just want them to know how to cook so they can enjoy the skill in the future. Great post!
this is such a great post. my daughter really wants to get into cooking but i’m at a loss as to how to get her started and this is a great beginning point! thank you!
Awww looks like so much for both kids and parents to bake together. I miss those times! 😀
This a good activity for them as it helps them be responsible. At the same time, they also get to acquire basic skills and knowledge.
I think baking with kids are important and you make a good bonding with your little helpers.
I love all the things they learn from baking. I had no idea. I just do it because it’s fun and we get to eat uncooked cookie dough.
When my kids are little, they loved learning to cook. Now my 12 year old son has just recently asked me to really learn, so we’ll be working on that soon.
I think cooking with kids is a wonderful way to teach kids!! I will share this post with my friends too!!
I am loving this post, I do not yet have kids but I remember when I was a kid baking with my mum and she used to explain every step, helped me with my counting and measuring.
This is awesome idea of engaging our little one in baking. I am eagerly waiting to bake with my son. 🙂
Such an awesome post! Love ur detailing.
loved the post 🙂
Can’t wait to try this with babyaz! great posts melani ! Thanks for putting this together
What an amazing way to have fun and learn at the same time 🙂
Super idea.. I do a little bit of baking with my daughter.. But now I have a few more ideas all thanks to u..
You are my kind of Mama! We love using the kitchen as a learning tool as well. Thank you so much for stopping by the Lean & Play Link Up. This post is featured on Christian Montessori Network this week!