My soon-to-be-three granddaughter
loves to be in the kitchen with grandpa.
I will echo
@riba and say get them smelling stuff and really looking at and feeling stuff. I especially have her smell the herbs and spices before she puts them in, which she loves to do. She absolutely insists on putting in the pinches of salt. Try to get more of their senses involved. Like how a tomato feels different on the cheek than a zucchini or even how a fresh tomato feels different than an old one. It won't all just set right in but it will slowly build up and they'll retain the lessons more and more and hopefully expand their understanding of food and cooking beyond recipes.
We have a two-step folding step stool that I push right up against the counter so she can be right next to me. Sometimes I'll just set her on the counter and sometimes we work at the table. I also instill some discipline because it is important. Not a hard ass but the word "danger" gets used in a serious tone and a requirement that she pay attention. Then I explain the type of danger. Safety has to be absolutely be the first priority.
Things we've done that my granddaughter loves:
- Scrambled eggs. Hands down this is her favorite thing to make with me. I even let her hold the eggs while we crack them. I would caution to use a separate bowl and pour each individual egg into your mixing bowl as crushed shells happen.
She loves to whisk them and she salts them after. It goes fast too so no lagging attention spans and she loves to eat them so it all just works out. Naturally I do the stove. She also loves to serve a plate of them to grandma before she and I eat.
- Berry milkshakes. She loves berries so that made that choice easy. She likes to "help" scoop the ice cream and pour the milk and she gets to put in her own berries and press the buttons.
- Sandwiches. More specifically, a single slice of folded bread for her. I find natural peanut butter and honey works out really well. The natural peanut butter spreads easily and the honey is mostly just squeeze and swirl.
- French Toast. This is a great opportunity to work in the olfactory glands. Vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.
- Regular trail mix and granola. The trail mix is a no knife or hot stuff exercise that can really get them involved from start to finish. Choosing the ingredients, pouring them, mixing them with their hands in the bowl and filling jars. Works great and promotes a healthy snack. The next step to that is granola. I use a natural peanut butter and honey or syrup recipe so it really gets her involved but isn't a ton of sugar. We usually make two kinds. Both of these ideas are also really nice because she can take some home for mom and dad and she thinks that's pretty awesome.
- "Hot Pockets". She's coming over today and my plan is for us to make sorta homemade hot pockets. Haven't tried this one yet but I think it'll go alright. We'll sit at the table for this one. I got some Pillsbury biscuit dough that I'm thinking we stretch and flatten and then I'll have a variety of stuff out like cheeses, pepperoni, ham, tomatoes, mushrooms, sauce, etc. She'll be able to pick what she wants and put it on her dough. Then we'll fold them over, crimp them closed and bake them. I'm thinking she can make some to take home too.
It is a challenge to think of things they can get involved in but that also makes it fun for you! Keep it fun but safe for everyone and really try to impart more than just take this and put it there. Try to really teach them about the food and as they get older about cooking techniques and why things are different.
And the best advice I can give, is at the very young ages, don't push it. If they aren't into it that day for some reason, then they aren't into it.
My kids were in the kitchen with me but it wasn't until they got older that they really got into it. My youngest is still not really into cooking per se but loves to bake. My oldest daughter really got passionate about cooking when she moved out and is now an excellent cook and we share ideas and stuff all the time. But with my granddaughter, she just loves it and loves being in the kitchen and it is a ton of fun!
