Everyday activities offer a treasure trove of learning experiences for young children. One place that's filled with possibilities is the kitchen. That's why the preschool program at Seagull Schools in Honolulu, HI, regularly incorporates cooking into the curriculum. This fantastic early childhood education center utilizes a multi-disciplinary curriculum taught using hands-on instruction techniques. Cooking snacks during the day folds easily into daily lessons.

In the kitchen, kids can learn math, nutrition, and confidence-building skills:

• Cooking Boosts Math Skills: Between measuring various quantities in a recipe, counting ingredients, and following a recipe in ordered steps, cooking offers a plethora of opportunities to reinforce basic and more complex math concepts that kids are learning in Seagull Schools' preschool curriculum.
• Cooking Encourages Adventurous Eating: It is very common for preschool-aged kids to be picky eaters. Part of this is due to children asserting independence by making their own choices, but it's also related to their familiarity with the foods that make up a particular dish. If a child helps prepare a snack or a meal, he or she knows what's in it, can be proud of what’s been created, and is more likely to try new things.
• Cooking Builds Confidence: As mentioned above, young kids love to express their independence. Cooking together gives kids a chance to create something they want to share. It increases their self-esteem and their notions of what they are capable of accomplishing, which sets them up to take risks when they're learning in other settings like preschool or on their own.

Choosing recipes with three to five steps will help your child stay engaged and have a positive first experience with cooking. It's also important to keep safety in mind, so if you’re just staring out, try recipes that involve only "assembling" rather than baking or using a blender.

Seagull Schools provides children with a safe, engaging environment where they can explore and learn at their own pace. If you're looking for a superb preschool, visit them online or give them a call (808) 533-0004 to schedule a tour of their beautiful learning facility.