When I was a child I was no different. In fact, when I was about five years old I “ran away” with my easy bake oven. I thought I was set for life. By the time I got to the end of the driveway I realized I had to plug it in and my plan was not going to work. As I got older my love for baking never stopped and I remember thinking I wanted to have a bakery when I grew up.
I’m all grown up now and one of my favorite things to do with my kids is baking. Through my years of mothering I’ve learned some tricks that help out in the process, letting young children get the most of the experience, and minimizing the mess for mom too.
Our baking process starts by grinding our own wheat to make fresh flour. It’s sometimes messy but always yummy.
Tip number one is to prepare ahead of time in order to involve children in all steps of the process. They will lose interest, or accidentally dump the bag of flour on the floor, if you have your head in the pantry rummaging in a fury to find the vanilla.
Have all the ingredients set out ahead of time, separated by things that get mixed in different bowls. Once something gets used, put it away so you eliminate possible mistakes like doubling the baking powder and forgetting the baking soda.
When baking with one, two or even three little ones it really helps to keep things organized and simple.
Tip number two is to have different steps for different children to do. For example, one child gets to use the teaspoons to measure and one gets to do the flour and the sugar with the cups. This also helps teach the measurements and what they mean. It gives the chance to see the comparison differences of a teaspoon, a half a teaspoon and so on. Everyone gets to mix!
Tip number three is to make things easy for children to help. Either put things down on a child size table for them or have sturdy, safe footstools/chairs available in the kitchen for standing on at counter heights. Having small size spoons, cutting boards, utensils, spatulas and cookie sheets can be fun for children too.
Sometimes these things can be found within children’s cooking kits. Sometimes real versions of these things can be found in stores for adult purposes – like mini silicon spatulas and spoons. These little odds and ends can sometimes be found in the discount isles of Homegoods. The Montessori catalog For Small Hands is great for ideas and endless options that children love.
Tip number four is to involve the children in the clean up. Make this fun by having small brooms and dustpans handy or even a real dust buster style vacuum small enough for children to use. When cleaning up is made part of the routine, with child size materials easily available to them, and parents who make a pleasant example of cleaning up – it becomes a fun process.
Tip number five is to keep basic supplies and ingredients for your much loved recipes on hand. Living with children can be very unpredictable and you never know when the mood to bake will strike. Plus when your child asks, “Mom can we make cookies?” And then you answer YES and immediately start getting the ingredients ready. Their excitement is priceless.
Lastly, cook, clean and enjoy!
Rain boots, naked legs and Christmas PJs just after Halloween are optional. But they sure do add to the fun.