Cookery can enhance your child’s learning

Cooking is more than just a daily chore, it is a powerful learning tool that can equip children with essential life skills. Engaging them in meal preparation teaches responsibility, creativity and practical knowledge that extends beyond the kitchen.

Margaret Nalule, a senior counsellor and teacher, says involving children in cooking helps shape their learning experiences: “Parents play a crucial role in their children’s education. Cooking provides an opportunity to teach numeracy, science, and problem-solving skills engagingly".

Fred Lutaaya, an educationist, consultant and senior counsellor, agrees, adding that both boys and girls should be encouraged to participate in kitchen activities.

“We must break the stereotype that cooking is only for girls. Teaching boys to cook fosters independence, responsibility, and gender equality in the home,” he says.

Lessons children can learn through cooking

Mathematics and counting

As children peel matooke, potatoes, or carrots, they can learn to count and recognise different shapes. Measuring ingredients helps them grasp basic math concepts like addition, subtraction, and fractions.

Fine motor skills and coordination

Cooking activities such as stirring, kneading, and chopping improve hand-eye coordination and strengthen muscles in the hands and fingers. These skills help children with handwriting, using scissors, and other daily tasks.

Science and technology

Cooking introduces children to basic scientific principles. As Nalule points out, “Watching water boil, dough rise, or oil heat up allows children to observe changes in matter. They learn about heat, chemical reactions, and even nutrition in a fun, hands-on way.”

Geography, history and culture

Different foods and spices have unique origins. Parents can use cooking time to teach children about world cultures. “Explaining where a certain spice comes from or how different communities prepare their meals helps children appreciate diversity,” Lutaaya says.

Health and nutrition

Cooking is the perfect opportunity to teach children about healthy eating habits. Parents can explain the importance of balanced meals, the risks of overeating, and the benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables. “Children learn to make healthier food choices when they understand the nutritional value of what they eat,” Nalule advises.

Safety and responsibility

In the kitchen, children learn to be cautious around hot stoves, sharp knives, and open flames. “Kitchen safety lessons extend beyond cooking. A child who learns to handle a knife carefully is more likely to be responsible in other aspects of life,” Lutaaya explains.

Parents should supervise and teach safe cooking habits, such as rolling up sleeves, wearing aprons, and keeping flammable materials away from fire.

Encouraging gender equality in cooking

Encouraging both boys and girls to participate in cooking helps break gender stereotypes. “Boys who learn to cook will grow into men who appreciate shared household responsibilities. This prepares them for a balanced family life in the future,” Nalule states.

Cooking together strengthens family bonds while enhancing a child’s cognitive and social development.

“The kitchen is a place of learning. When parents involve children in cooking, they are not just preparing food they are shaping well-rounded individuals,” Lutaaya advises.