Getting experimental in the kitchen is a great way to encourage your child’s interests in science. Cooking is an opportunity to explore a very wide range of science concepts like transformation, state change, conduction, density and more.
Cooking is an experimental process which is often guided by trial and error. A good cook needs to be able to make predictions, make and record observations, and then draw conclusions … just like any good scientist.
My big boy and I have always done a lot of cooking together. We even went to a kids cooking class together when he was little. He’s always loved it. I have found that getting creative with him in the kitchen was one of the best ways to get him engaged in cooking and food preparation. But more than that, it has fed and inspired his natural interest in science!
He has always enjoyed making potions and experimenting with ingredients either in the kitchen or in the backyard. It provides an opportunity for him to explore some of his more wacky science theories. Over the Christmas holidays he was trying to create a potion which contained both human and sheep DNA (we were staying on a farm). I had to give him a snippet of my hair. He had hypothesized that this could create a mutant ewe creature. He was slightly underwhelmed by the results but spent several days creating his concoction.
Sam Bompas and Harry Parr are grownup kitchen scientists. Watch here to see them make awesomely amazing glow in the dark jellies and more. The big boy and I gained some Halloween party food inspiration from this Glowing Jelly Experiment.
Children’s experimental activities in the kitchen can make a lot of mess though but there can definitely be some perks. Now he is older though I will often find my big boy spontaneously whipping up a fruit salad or smoothie and some times even breakfast in bed for us. He may not always choose to eat it but he does do a pretty good job.
Want to inspire your kids to do more science stuff? Check out science for kids and of course check out what’s happening over at Little Kitchen or follow here.
This post has been presented by New World, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Michelle Kitney
Kiwi Mummy Blogs
kiwimummyblogs.co.nz
