How is baking a source of learning?
Baking with your child presents many opportunities for learning and development!
Fine and gross motor skills can be developed when using kitchen utensils, and pouring and measuring ingredients. Weighing and counting ingredients also introduces early mathematical language and concepts such as ‘more and less’.
Baking with your child does not have to be a complicated recipe – in fact, the simple ones are the best because it is about the process, not necessarily the outcome.
Top tips:
- Make sure your child washes their hands first: this is important before doing any food preparation and when handling foods such as raw eggs and between different types of foods
- Involve your child: helping with preparing and cooking their own food can encourage them to be more willing to try new foods
- Introduce new vocabulary: use verbs with your child such as ‘whisk’, ‘knead’ and ‘melt’
- Use sensory language: talk to your child about what they can smell, feel and taste
- Ensure your child is supervised closely: especially when using scissors or knives
