Baking with Kids

Make a moment they will treasure forever.

Create a lasting fun filled memory for your child by baking a special batch of chocolate chip biscuits. Allow them to measure the flour, and lick the beaters (just like you used to do) or put them in charge of mixing the dough.

Baking with children is a great experience, spend time together and share special moments that will be treasured forever. Baking is also a great tool to teach children, for example:

Maths – measuring teaches them about fractions; while cutting the cake into slices, teaches them about dividing.
Reading skills – improve comprehension and vocabulary
Teamwork – baking encourages teamwork
Curiosity – baking will encourage scientific curiosity, for example making children question why the cake rises
Develop patience – follow the recipe step by step, and wait for the results
Follow through – from shopping for the ingredients through to baking, cleaning and finally sampling the baked goods will teach children the value of following through on projects

Baking by age:

Ensure that the baking responsibilities are suited to the age of your child:
1-3: simple baking activities, like pouring, stirring and decorating.
5-6: more advanced activities, like measuring, using the rolling pin, cutting out biscuit shapes and using piping icing. Biscuit recipes where you have to ‘squish’ the dough instead of mixing it with a spoon, is ideal for this age.
9-10: read and instruct from the recipe, use electric beaters and the microwave oven.

Mess in the kitchen:

Baking with children is going to get messy, but you can keep it to a minimum. There are ways to keep the mess to a minimum by:

To keep their clothes clean, let them wear an apron or one of your old t-shirts
Clean as you go, it will teach them a valuable lesson
Remember to enjoy yourself, so keep your sense of humour
Spread newspaper or handy towels on the counters and floor for easy cleaning
Remember to always wash your hands before handling food

Safety First:

To spare yourself a bit of anxiety, teach your children about all the dangers in the kitchen and how to prevent any danger, for example being careful around hot surfaces.

Here are some tips to keep them safe:

Ensure pan handles are turned away from the edge, to keep anyone from bumping into it accidentally
Ensure the stove top is turned off if it is not in use
Minimise falls by providing a sturdy chair or stool to stand on so they can reach the bench comfortably
Wear oven gloves when handling pots and pans coming out of the oven
Do not let small children handle knives, and supervise older children when they use sharp objects