What subjects do you teach in your homeschool?
I’m willing to bet that Math and Language Arts are on the list, and probably Science and History too. You might even have Art, Music, and Bible included in your plans.
I don’t know about you, but my list of “to-do’s” each day keeps getting longer and longer! And yet I added yet another subject to our homeschool this year — cooking.
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In the midst of all this busyness, why did I add yet another subject? Why bother teaching kids to cook?
- For Health – involving kids in food preparation helps them learn to make good food choices now, and invests in their future health. How many young adults resort to living on boxed mac & cheese and cereal when they move out on their own? I know I did, and it set some pretty bad habits that have effected me negatively.
- Independence – I’m always looking for ways to work myself out of a job! If my kids can learn to cook, then that’s one less thing I’ll have to do for them. Hey, maybe they will be able to do it for me!
- Responsibility – I want to nurture a sense of responsibility in my kids. In our family, we believe that everyone plays a role in the running of the home. That’s why I train my kids from a young age to participate in household duties. Everyone can have a job!
- It’s fun! – Don’t all kids want to help in the kitchen? I’ve never met a toddler who didn’t want to stir and get right in there! And wouldn’t it be so much better if your kids could actually be a help in the kitchen when they ask “can I help?”
Ok, so teaching kids to cook is important, but why add it to the official curriculum?
We’ve added learning to cook to our official homeschool curriculum simply to make sure it get’s done. We all know what it’s like to have high ideals, and to WANT to do something but not follow through. Or to start something only to find we haven’t been consistent or let it slide entirely. Using a pre made, organized curriculum simply makes it easy to get it done. I’m certainly not saying that you need to purchase any kind of program in order to give your children a solid education in cooking, but for me, it is a huge help and eliminates any possible excuses for neglecting this area.
We are currently using the Kids Cook Real Food e-Course, and I just love how easy it is to use. Video lessons for kids and parents, grocery lists, printables, and even a Facebook group for support! And it includes all my kids, even my two year old!
She actually peeled that carrot almost perfectly! And I love the look of concentration on her little face! My older kids are working together, helping each other, and learning so many skills that they have actually had the opportunity to use outside of our lesson time.
Using a prepared curriculum for teaching my kids to cook also helps me make sure that I am teaching them correctly. When I fist watched the Kids Cook Real Food Knife Skills Video, I discovered that I have been handling my knife wrong my whole life! I’m so glad to have quality resources to help me do a thorough job of teaching my kids.
The curriculum also includes special terminology to help kids remember the techniques! In the picture above, my daughter is keeping her fingers safe with the “up and over, soldier!” position.
I’d like to encourage you, whether you decide to make it a formal course of study or not, to get into the kitchen with your kids — learn together and have fun while investing in their health and yours!
This has been a subject I plan to add to our regular curriculum as well. My 6 year old always wants to help in the kitchen. I seen an ad for this course and signed up for the newsletter. I plan to check it out more when I get a second.
Definitely check out the Knife Skills video, it’ll give you a feel for the program so you can see if it’s a good fit.
that’s a smart thing…. to add it as part of the curriculum to make sure it gets done. Good stuff.
There are just so many things that I want to do and never do — sometimes we need to make it more formal to make sure that we make it happen 🙂
My kids love to cook. This looks like so much fun!
It is 🙂
Excellent tips!
The more I cook, the more comfortable I get with my knives. And the more comfortable I am with my kitchen equipment, the more I like cooking. You just have to get in there and start doing it. I absolutely love putting together meals for my family, and would much prefer it to eating out.
I recommend Cooking with Children by Marion Cunningham! My goal is to have each of my children complete the book before they graduate high school!
Thanks for sharing KJ, I’ve never heard of that book! I’ll have to check it out 🙂
Very good the post helped me a lot
Wow. I’m going to try this! Looks great. Thanks for the tip!
I am thinking of buying an online cooking class for my two granddaughters. My daughter in !aw home schools and his very busy with three young children. The kids love to help in the kitchen and are really quite good. I really cannot find enough
Info on your website to tell me about the cooking curriculum.
Please send me more info?
Thank you,
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
I’d be happy to tell you more about the Kids Cook Real Food e-Course!
Were you wondering about buying it for your grandchildren and doing the course with them, or are you thinking that your daughter in law will do it with them?
I’m only asking because you mentioned that she is very busy — I think that the course could be a great way of spending time with them while taking something off mom’s plate. I would love that as a homeschool mom! If you were thinking about buying it as a gift but having mom implement the course, that it would probably be best if you consulted with her first. I’d hate to see you spend your money on something they don’t end up using.
Do you have any particular questions about the curriculum? If so, ask away. In the meantime, this may be helpful to you:
KCRF Curriculum Map
KCRF FAQ page
QUICK STATS ABOUT THE COURSE
Here’s a list of what’s covered at each level:
BEGINNER
Carrying glass dishes to serve
Spreading
Peeling vegetables
Slicing with a dull knife
Dull knife cross hatch pattern
Measuring ingredients – spoons and cups
Blending spice mixes
Soaking dry beans
Careful Pouring
Making a salad
Working with dough
Peeling hard-boiled eggs
INTERMEDIATE
Setting the table
Making homemade salad dressings
Introduction to sharp knives
Cracking eggs
Mixing simple recipes independently
Cooking rice
Stovetop safety
Flipping pancakes
Rolling dough
Browning ground beef
ADVANCED
Sautéing vegetables
Using a small appliance (food processor taught)
Sharp knife skills, levels 1-4 (straight vegetables, peppers, onions, melons, apples)
Crushing garlic
Making a white sauce/cheese sauce
Oven safety
Cooking eggs
Steaming vegetables
Cooking dry beans
Washing the table
I’m not 100% sure the FREE KNIFE SKILLS VIDEO is still available, but definitely check that out, it was the first lesson we did and sold me on the course.
I’m a big fan of “experience” and clutter-free gift giving, and I think this is a great idea!
Let me know if I can help you out any further!