Cooking with your child and expressing your love language whilst making tiny hands the best sous chefs. There are five ways people like to experience and give love. Among these are words of affirmation, physical touch, quality time, receiving gifts, and serving one another. Cooking dinner with and for your family is a huge act of love in all its forms. By getting everyone involved in the process, we can show and receive love in many ways. We also can teach kids and those around us what it looks like to love well.
Nestlé for Healthier Kids “Nurturing together, add a little goodness”
Squeezing in some quality time by cooking with your child
Cooking with your little one is an excellent way to bond because sometimes it’s just about sharing the same space with those you love. Remember to put down that phone (unless if it’s to take a selfie), make eye contact and actively listen to show that you are present and focused on the moment.
The power of touch
Kids learn by touching, tasting, seeing, feeling, and listening, and cooking is one of the ways you can engage all senses. The process of preparing food is a sensory experience that can be a learning moment for kids so by holding and kneading together you are showing affection through your hands.
A thoughtful gift really does count as an act of love
Cooking with your child is a gift that keeps on giving. To add that sentimental value, why not give the gift of a treasured family recipe. Remember it’s more about how it makes them feel loved to get the family value.
Cooking with your child is an act of service
Everyone feels loved and appreciated when people do nice things for them, and kids are no different. Whether it’s letting them help with making the table or sorting cutlery. Little acts of service go straight to their heart. Allowing them to be part of the cooking process is one way to make them feel involved. Nestlé has created the Nestlé for Healthier Kids platform where caregivers can learn how to get children involved in the kitchen from a young age.
Affirming a job well done
As your little sous chef navigates their way around the kitchen, it is important that they know that their efforts are appreciated. That reassuring hug and high five. Can go a long way when trying to turn peas and carrots from foe to friends. Kind words and encouragement will always lift a frown into a smile.
Cooking with your child will often mean messy hands, extra cleaning-up, a burned meal and an added dose of patience to answer the countless questions, but that ‘thank you, that was delicious’ as a nod of approval makes it all worth it and shows that love that is needed in the kitchen. Don’t waste time, show and express love to your little ones and get them involved from a young age.
For more tips on how to have fun in the kitchen with your little sous chef visit, www.n4hk-esar.com.
Disclaimer: This is a contributed post.
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I love this. My girls love cooking now, it’s all part of their journey to become more independent.
Absolutely! And that time spent together is invaluable.
My girls love it. More so my youngest. I don’t do enough of it because I forget to not rush and just slow down.
I hear you, sometimes we just want to get the job done. I’ve been trying to be more intentional about letting them cook with me.
This is a fantastic post and really got me thinking X #kcacols
Thank you!
I really like what you said about appreciating the little chef’s efforts – that’s what it is all about. Definitely more clean up time and takes longer to make what you are making, but worth it in the long run! Thanks so much for joining us at #KCACOLS xx
Absolutely, I never was the mom who enjoyed cooking with my children, but slowly I’ve learnt to dive in an enjoy :)
It doesn’t even have to be anything complicated, my 4 year old daughter loves nothing more than making a simple pancake batter together. It’s the uninterrupted time together and the sense of independence she gets that means the most.
Katrina x
#KCACOLS
You are so right Katrina! That focused time together is so important! Thank you
My kids love to cook and I should definitely do more of it. I think they like the good more if they cooked it too. #kcacols
Yes!!! Their own invested time :) I totally agree with you!
Cooking and baking together is something which has been (and still is) really important for me and my son. It’s helped us connect around a meaningful activity that we can both enjoy, it gives him great sensory input of various kinds, it’s building life skills that will hopefully contribute to some degree of independence as he grows up, etc. And it gives us lots of lovely things to eat, too! :-) x #KCACOLS
You are so right! It always amazes how a simple thing like cooking together can bring to much to the table! Thank you
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