Summer holidays: how to get the kids involved in the kitchen

The summer holidays are a great opportunity for thousands of kids and teenagers to relax, enjoy the outdoors, visit new places and have fun with family and friends. Enjoying the days without the typical tasks of the school period is also a valuable stimulus to experiment and dedicate yourself to new activities, with many opportunities for all ages.

Among the areas in which children love to try their hand is the kitchen: a varied world that ranges from ingredients to recipes, from techniques to utensils, experienced daily in the home and which in summer can benefit from more attention, thanks to having more time available and the possibility of creating fresh, simple and quick dishes.

But how can parents, grandparents, uncles, and babysitters actively involve kids in the kitchen? Here are a few ideas!

Summer courses for kids: cooking summer camp

There are many companies that organize summer cooking campuses for kids and teenagers. These are interesting initiatives, lasting from a few hours to a few days, which allow kids to challenge themselves in the kitchen and "team up" with their peers, under the supervision of adult guides.

The thematic workshops are accompanied by meetings with chefs, games, quick trips to the markets or supermarkets and short theoretical lessons. It's a very useful combination, not only to become familiar with foods and recipes, but also to learn some of the dynamics that govern the food sector, learn to understand differences and respect others, and of course socialize!

A summer in the kitchen guided by the wisdom of grandparents

Many of us cherish in our hearts the moments spent in the kitchen with our grandparents, bringing to life the typical dishes of the territories we belong to, combining techniques handed down from generation to generation... and small family secrets.

Time with grandparents is a gift to give to our kids, who in addition to being lovingly cared for while we are at work, can enjoy flour and other raw ingredients that are present in every local tradition, with that touch of mastery that makes each dish made by grandparents unique!

Approaching the different cooking methods safely

And while, on the one hand, there are grandparents who are loyally attached to gas stoves, pots and ovens, on the other we parents are generally more inclined to welcome the new developments that come from all over the world.

We can then carve out some free time to introduce our kids to the variety of cooking methods, and make sure they can support us in experiments, to be carried out under our supervision in maximum safety.

From the induction plates to the steam oven, from the traditional grill to the universe of BBQs with smokers, kamando, etc., all that remains is to enjoy the process, bearing in mind that fire fascinates kids: let's be careful!

Now... let's use our imagination!

Another instructive way to involve our children and grandchildren in the kitchen is to give them the responsibility and honor of creating easy recipes on their own. In what way?

Encourage them to think about a dish that contains ingredients that they like: they can also draw ideas from magazines or the internet, or ask us for advice. To begin with, a salad can be great, perhaps with a creative flair, or a small dessert. Then we provide the various foods and tools necessary, and simply... let them get to work!

Will they get dirty? Yes!
Will they dirty the entire kitchen? Yes!
Will they clean up after themselves? Yes, possibly with our assistance!

But the hassle of cleaning is a small price to pay in exchange for priceless satisfaction.

Great fun for the whole family: because cooking is an enriching experience at any age!