Between sharp knives and hot stoves, kitchens may not seem like safe places for preschool-age children. With close supervision and age-appropriate tasks, however, there are actually many benefits to letting your little one help with food preparation. Here are five reasons why you should turn dinner into a fun and educational family activity. 

Why You Should Have Your Preschooler Help in the Kitchen 

1. They’ll Develop Math Skills 

It’s important to make math fun for children so they enjoy the subject as they age and move on to more difficult material. From measuring ingredients to setting temperatures and multiplying recipe yields, cooking and baking are both real-world applications of basic arithmetic that yield tasty rewards. Have your little one count eggs cracked into a bowl out loud or measure out quarter cups of flour to get in on the fun. 

2. They’ll Learn Science

While cooking and baking may seem like arts, they also involve chemical reactions. Bread is an especially child-friendly and interactive way to teach science. Preschool students will love kneading dough while you tell them about how leavening agents like yeast react with carbon dioxide to create a rising effect. Even better, they’ll enjoy the delicious fruits of their labors after the bread is baked. If something goes wrong, you’ll learn as a family what happens when an experiment doesn’t go as planned.

3. They’ll Boost Communication Skills

Children will benefit from learning how to go through a recipe. From deciding what they want to make to listening as you give instructions, your preschool-age child will expand their vocabulary and learn to listen closely to directions. 

4. They’ll Build Fine Motor Skills

Measuring, pouring, mashing, and whisking all require fine motor skills. Your little one will love learning to use their hands and arms in new ways as you cook together.

5. They’ll Be More Confident

Even if the adults are doing most of the labor, letting your child participate in meal preparation will show them the importance of teamwork and helping others. Whether you make a stew or a batch of cookies, your novice chef will gain confidence in their abilities.

Further develop your child’s skills and interests by enrolling them in day care or preschool. Contact First Steps Day Care & Learning Center in New Haven County, CT, to learn about their available programs. Their friendly and nurturing team has over 30 years of experience caring for kids of many ages, from 8-week-old infants to children up to age 10. They offer a clean, safe, and fun environment where your child will thrive. Call (203) 264-3735 or visit the website for information on how they keep kids active and engaged.