Kids cooking game
Courtesy of Kakasky
Remember the TV programme Ready Steady Cook
If you are looking for fun games to keep the kids occupied this holiday then I really can recommend the following kids cooking game.
This game can keep children entertained for hours. It is also a very educational game and best of all it is a cooking game that works in some form for all school age children.
The game is really simple, it is a crib on the TV programme Ready Steady Cook.
Dads and kids cooking game
This is also a great game for Dads (who don’t cook that often), to “play” with the kids. This game also provides an opportunity for children to use their maths, reading and organisational skills, without them realising. Optionally you can give a prize for the best food served.
The idea behind Ready Steady Cook
The idea behind this kids cooking game is that the children have to plan, shop and cook a meal which you all then sit down and eat as a family.
You may need to adapt the game depending on the age of the kids and how many kids you have to keep busy, but with four children between the ages of eight and thirteen it would go something like this.
How to play Ready Steady Cook
The children divide into two teams. Each team is given a sum of money and tasked to cook either a main course or a starter and desert.
Access to cookery Cookery books is good, but not absolutely essential.
Once the kids have made a decision as to what recipes they are going to cook, they will then need to be taken to the shops, where they will do the shopping and also pay for the food required for their chosen recipes. Always an interesting exercise.
Things to consider with kids cooking
Once back home it is then time to start cooking. Allowing loads of times is vital. Needless to say supervision maybe required during the cooking and prep process. It is also a good idea for teams to take it in turns to be in the kitchen, particularly if the kitchen is small.
Safety
Young teenagers who may already be used to cooking simple recipes may need less supervision than younger children. But do remember it is not just using the oven or hob which can be dangerous but knives as well.
It is also essential to coach and enforce strict hygiene standards. This in itself is educational.
The thing to keep in mind is that although the children may feel they are in charge there should always be a responsible adult present.
How long
The Ready Steady Cook game can be carried over a couple of days. In fact this is a game which will take up most of any day. For this reason and to avoid potential burn out, it can make sense to break the game up into different stages as an ongoing activity. This is one of the reasons it works so well during school holidays.
The different stages
Stage 1:
Choosing what to cook. Researching recipes and ensuring there is enough money to buy all the ingredients. Checking what food is already in the store cupboard.
Stage 2:
Shopping and paying for the food.
Stage 3:
Food preparation and clearing up as you go.
Stage 4:
Cooking the meal, setting the table and serving the meal.
Stage 5:
Clearing up after the meal should probably be a joint effort from everyone.
The end result will be probably a meal you would not have thought to cook and the children will eat.
And best of all it may be the start of a new hobby or even potential career and a great way to interact, entertain and educate children.
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