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I was thinking about what I would include in my first article for Foodie Mama while baking cupcakes with my daughters this afternoon. I decided on the topic a few days ago. I cook with my girls often,not only because it is obviously a necessary life skill, but because they love it.
I am an administrator for the food service department of a large university. We hire hundreds of students to work in our facilities and one thing that I continually notice is that so many of them are completely clueless when it comes to basic cooking. I'm talking about boiling water and making toast. One thing is for sure, my kids will not leave my home without knowing how to cook.
Back to the cupcakes. I had filled about six of the cups when my fifteen year old asked if she could take over. My inner perfectionist cringed. But, the mom said, "Well, of course!" I gave her a quick primer on exactly how much batter to put in a cup and away she went. And, this afternoon I had to reluctantly force myself to follow one of my own tips: Don't be a back seat baker. As much as it bugged me that the cups were not filled equally and that I was going to have to wipe the batter drips off the cupcake tin, I had to let her keep going. The difficult part was not letting her see me cringe.
The second piece of advice I have for parents of teens: Don't forget about the lesson in kitchen safety and first aid. I know, I am stating the obvious, but have you really done this? The moment I realized that I had not done enough was when my daughter set a pot holder on fire while removing something from the oven. Teach your teens what to do in case of a fire, knife safety, and how to treat cuts and burns.
And, once your teen knows the basics, let them experiment in the kitchen. Get him or her involved in planning meals. Or, better yet, encourage your teen to plan a menu and arrange a "dinner party" for his or her friends. This is a perfect opportunity for you to practice not being a "back seat baker."
My last bit of advice: Keep family traditions and special recipes alive. Kids, yes, even teens, are closer to their families when traditions are preserved and passed on. My grandmother taught me how to bake. She was patient and taught me to make her special recipes. The value of this gift is immeasurable. Encourage your teen to spend some quality cooking time with their grandparents, aunt and uncles. Not only will they gain useful cooking techniques, but will create memories that will last a lifetime. Cooking with your teens is not only an integral step in preparing them for adulthood, but is an excellent way to bring generations together.
Now, go grab your teens and get cooking!
Tags: cooking teens family recipes and traditions |
Feeding by Age 
