The halls are decked, the stockings are hung and now it’s time to step into the kitchen. Kids, undoubtedly, love to lend a “helping” hand in the kitchen especially when it comes time to make the Holiday cookies. Here are a few tips:
- Make it fun! Turn up the Holiday tunes, put on your Christmas aprons, heck maybe even throw on a Rudolph nose or a set of Dasher’s antlers. This will set the tone of fun in the kitchen.
- Pick recipes that are easy (or that you know well enough) so you can divvy out a job to them. Making dough would be a great job for the kids and maybe you want to save the rolling out of the dough for nap time or when they are at practice.
- Set expectations. We all know that most baking especially at the Holidays can equal an 8 hour session in the kitchen. Let the kids know ahead of time what you plan for them to do (make dough or mix frosting) and then have an activity set-up off to the side that they can work on while you finish the rest.
- Include mini-lessons. Baking is a great way to set-up a small lesson on fractions and they might not even realize they are learning. It’s an easy, hands-on way to see exactly how fractions work and why they’re important to understand.
- Enjoy the moment! Kids in the kitchen can equal quite a mess especially if they are still learning how to measure, pour and mix. Put your OCD aside and get your hands messy right with them. It may bring out a playful side of you that they’ve never seen and will sure enjoy.
Tools we love for baking in the kitchen with or without your kids:
- “Good Cookie” spatula (this is a must for every kitchen! AND 50% of the proceeds for each cookie spatula goes to pediatric cancer research)
- Egg separator
- Cookie press with disc storage (for batches of fun, consistent cookies)
- Cookie scoop (3 sizes-small, medium and large)
- Rolling pin
For great Holiday recipes and more OXO tools that we love visit our Pinterest Board.
