Engaging Children in the Kitchen Through Storytelling

As parents, getting our kids interested in the kitchen sometimes requires creativity, and holding attention on an activity that takes longer that three minutes can often be a challenge. But did you know that by adding a little storytelling to the experience, you can help your child not only connect with food in a whole new way, but keep them engaged and excited to get involved (if the promise of treats isn’t enough).

Kids are not like adults

It is easy to assume that children are like adults. We understand ingredients and generally know where they come from, and they are somewhat uninteresting to us as they sit in the pantry all day.

But to kids, they are piecing together the world every day, learning about it, and forming opinions and experiences. Flour may be just flour to us, but to a child, it is fascinating that it comes from a plant in the ground that is straw-like and brown. Then they harvest a tiny thing inside called a grain, take millions of these grains and grind them into a fine powder, and that is what flour is!

Do you see the difference?

Kids are naturally curious, and they love to learn about new things. When it comes to food, this means that they are primed and ready to soak up all kinds of interesting information about the ingredients that go into their meals, and most definitely their treats.

Incorporate stories to keep minds buzzing

When cooking with kids, I like to incorporate little stories. Not only do they serve as a distraction, especially when there are waiting periods within the process, but they also keep the children interested and engaged. This way, they won’t drift off to play with their toys, leaving me to finish the recipe alone.

I often find myself lookup Youtube videos or Google images to show them pictures and videos of the food in its natural environment. Bananas make for great and interesting content!

Here are a few ideas:

• Maple Syrup – In a maple tree, the sap acts just like our blood does – it transports nutrients around the tree, just like our blood does in our body.
• Coconut Oil – Coconut oil doesn’t act like other types of oil – it’s solid at room temperature, but liquid when melted.
• Strawberries – Did you know that strawberries are also only fruit that has seeds on the outside instead of the inside!
• Peanut butter – Did you know that some monkeys love to eat peanuts too? They crack open the shells just like we do and enjoy the yummy nut inside!

Find more in Fluffy Maple Cookies.

By weaving these kinds of stories into your meals, you can provide a child with an anchor. Peanut butter is no longer just peanut butter; the next time they eat it, they will remember us baking peanut butter cookies and picture monkeys. Their little brains will fire away, connecting the dots of the world.

Understanding food

You can help your child understand that food is much more than just a collection of ingredients. The next time they beg for a cookie while you are ordering coffee, they’ll have a little more context and understanding of what actually goes into making one. This is a valuable life skill that sets children up to develop healthy eating habits and the ability to cook well into their teenage and adult years.

So the next time you’re cooking with your child, take a few extra minutes to share some of the interesting details and stories behind the ingredients in your meal. You might be surprised at how much more engaged and interested your child becomes in the food they’re eating. You will likely be surprised at what children remember and bring up later, as they are like sponges, absorbing a great deal of information.

If you get stuck (which is understandable when your head is pulled in many directions), a quick google for a fun fact will give you an idea, or perhaps more relevant, ask ChatGPT.

It is beautifully inspiring, even for adults, to recall their pure and enthusiastic minds.