Little chefs

(Pre-school and Reception)

Cooking with your child is the best way to teach them about eating the right types of food. It's a valuable life skill that teaches children about nutrition and food safety. It also builds math, science, literacy, and helps to strengthen the small muscles in your child's hands (fine motor skills).

Supervise your child closely in the kitchen and keep sharp utensils out of reach. Check out these cooking safety hacks on the CBeebies website to allow your child to practise key skills in a safe way.

Top tips:

Have two of each utensil. This way you can cook alongside your child and you can show them different skills and techniques. Your child will watch you, learn and persevere themselves.

Celebrate them having a go, it doesn't matter if it's not perfect!

What do we need?

• a simple recipe to follow

• utensils, bowls and plates

• chopping boards

• measuring scales if needed

There are lots of fun and simple recipes for children online – here are a few suggestions:

• Fun and healthy recipe ideas for kids on the Early Years Alliance website

• No-cook kids' recipes on BBC Good Food

• Healthier food swaps from NHS Healthier Families

What to do:

Talk through the importance of food hygiene with your child.

Follow the simple steps:

• Wash hands, surfaces and kitchen utensils.

• Tie back long hair.

• Keep raw meat, poultry and seafood separate from cooked and other ready-to-eat foods.

• Avoid putting your fingers in your mouth and tasting when dealing with raw foods.

• Cook to the temperatures stated in the recipe.

• Refrigerate leftovers.

• Supervise your child with hot appliances and sharp utensils.

Skills your child will learn

Mathematical learning opportunities including:

• counting

• sorting

• money

• sequencing - what comes 1st, 2nd, 3rd

• weighing

• measuring

• fractions (for example, break it in 'half')

• shapes

• colours

• problem solving - what happens if something goes wrong

Children's physical skills will develop and be challenged as they use the different utensils. This allows them to strengthen their small muscles in their hands (fine motor skills).