Kitchen Skills

Developmental scientists have known for several decades that the kitchen provides a perfect laboratory for young learners. In this article, published in 1984, Virginia Cooperative Extension Service in conjunction with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University wrote a report enumerating the skills children have the opportunity to learn while cooking. These skills include motor, executive function, and science skills!

First, children practice important gross and fine motor skills. Small scientists, around age 2, can work on arm-level muscles, such as scrubbing (potatoes or cleaning counters), dipping (chocolate-covered strawberries or cheese spreads), and tearing or snapping (shucking corn or snapping peas). Older children, ages 2-4, can develop more fine motor skills, such as wrapping (tinfoil on sweet potatoes), pouring (milk into batter), and rolling (cookies and meatballs). A range of motions and skills can be developed helping with meal prep every day

Second, children have the opportunity to learn executive function skills. These skills are responsible for self-control and patience. The kitchen has many dangers for novice cooks, including sharp instruments and hot foods. Teaching children to wait for adult supervision, or that certain tasks are off-limits for young scientists allow children the opportunity to strengthen these executive functions skills as well as learn important safety procedures while in the kitchen.

Finally, children have the opportunity to observe chemistry and physics in action. Appreciating the ways in which science plays out in their daily lives will demonstrate the importance and impact of science to young learners.

Involving young scientists in the process of cooking and meal preparation, in addition to teaching crucial life skills, also promotes the development of a host of early learning skills ranging from motor to executive function abilities. Mindfully engaging children in these experiences can support a love of lifelong learning, nutrition, and science.