Cooking and baking can be a wonderful way to showcase your child's artistic side. From cake decorating to dinner time - there are lots of artistic opportunities.
If your child enjoys arts and crafts why just limit it to the traditional painting, coloring, drawing and recycled crafts. Why not stir that artistic ability and creativity by incorporating it into what you do in the kitchen? There are many wonderful ways you can let your child's creativity shine through while teaching them how to cook. It's also a great way to spend time together. Nothing is more enjoyable then cooking up a good dish with your kids. Below are some excellent ways you can encourage your kids to get creative in the kitchen and at meal time.
Decorate the Table
Before you start getting crafty with the food, think about the table. It is the focal point, or should be, for your meals. This is the perfect place to start. You might want to consider having one special night each week that a child is responsible for completely decorating the table. He is to design and make the centerpiece, the name places and come up with a menu. Napkins rings, cloth napkins, place mats and a table cloth can be coordinated as the child likes. Colorful napkins and other linens are easily found at thrift stores and yard sales. You could also do a theme, such as fiesta night, and decorate the dining room like a Mexican party.
Making a Meal Fancy
There are lots of ways you can spark up a meal by using your artistic talents. Arranging food on the plates so it is appealing can really make a meal more enjoyable. Add colorful parsley sprigs and tomato slices to a plate. Put foods on the plate in a pleasing manner. Learning how to make vegetable trays pretty is another way. Learn how to make carrot curls, radish flowers, watermelon baskets and fancy pepper slices that will make a veggie tray look too good to eat.
Cake Decorating
This is an area where a budding artist can really shine. You can make all kinds of cakes - from a simple sheet cake to a fancy shaped cake - then decorate it. Why not consider taking taking a cake decorating class at the local craft or cake supply store? There are books available that will show you how to get started in cake decorating and tell you what basic supplies you will need.
Other Fun Food Ideas
Here are some more ways you can be creative and crafty in the kitchen:
- Cookie making - bake and decorate sugar cookies in fun shapes.
- Desserts - these can be beautiful and elegant if displayed right.
- Aprons & Pot holders - Learn to sew and make your own aprons, pot holders and hot pads
- Fruit & vegetable creations - start with a potato, add some extras and see what your Mr. Potato Head looks like. Try it with and apple.
Spending time in the kitchen with the kids is fun. Add some crafts into the equation and you will have made a memory as well as supper.
