Preparing food with your children is a great way to spend time together and teach your children skills they can use in the future. With all the activities busy families are involved with, it can be difficult to plan time to teach your children to cook, but the time spent will pay dividends. Food preparation can help children learn other skills such as counting, reading, following directions and learning fractions. Food preparation is a skill your children can use when they are on their own, one that will last a lifetime.

Before you actually cook, take time to browse through cookbooks to select your cooking project. Consider your child’s age and skill levels. Look for recipes with steps that your child can do. It’s no fun for a child to watch mom or dad make the entire recipe.

Check the recipe for safety. Younger children can measure ingredients, mix and stir with a spoon, mash or pat out food. Older children can chop and slice and use some appliances with supervision. Make sure the recipe you choose doesn’t require you to pay more attention to the food than to your child.

Look for recipes that encourage healthy eating. Teach your child how to make his favorite dishes. If you have a picky eater, remember children are more likely to eat foods they help prepare.