What’s Cooking, Dad?

“So what are we cooking today, Dad?” Dylan asks. Eng Koon replies: “How about baking Chocolate Cake?” The six-year-old smiles, his eyes beaming with delight. “Yes! That’s my favourite!” They hurry into the kitchen together.

About an hour later, they walk out, with Dylan holding their masterpiece. The family clap and sit down to share the chocolate cake that the duo baked. It is not perfect-looking, but no one seems to mind. Mummy, Virginia, makes sure she takes a photograph, for it is yet another milestone for Dylan who wins praises all around.

Two Dads, One Passion

Dr. Lim Eng Koon is a physician with the Accident and Emergency Department in a hospital. He has always been interested in cooking, and has shared that activity with Dylan since he was just three years old.

Nowadays, the pair cooks at least once a fortnight. Sometimes, Eng Koon is joined by his four-year-old twin daughters, Sarah and Faith. For him, “Cooking represents a great opportunity to bond with my children, as you create a tangible product together -a dish to be shared with the family.”

Anond Suwanarat who runs his own training consultancy, has two boys, Athinand, aged 16, and Asaween, aged nine. Food is central in their family. “We don’t just eat. We talk about the food while we eat, like how it is prepared, and why it tastes as such,” says Anond.

When they go to the supermarket or wet market, Anond also takes the opportunity to teach his children how to select fresh ingredients. In addition, the family enjoys catching cooking shows together. When eating out, they discuss about ingredients and how the chef put the meal together. .

Basic Ingredients for a Fun Cooking Session

For dads out there have been inspired by Eng Koon and Anond’s palatable anecdotes, wait!

Before you jump right into action, there are some things to consider:

• Who? If you have more than one child, who are you going to start cooking with? Consider their ages. Can they read and follow instructions? What part of the tasks can they work on? Do you bring all the children in to the kitchen at the same time?
• Where? Is your kitchen child-friendly enough for food preparation? Is there space to move around? Or, do you want to set up an alternative work station such as at the dining table so that it is easier for your child to move around?
• What? Think about the food they like. What recipes are easy enough for them to try? Start with simple ones so that your first attempt will not be your last!
• When? Both Anond and Eng Koon advocate that dads, “Start at a young age.” To do so, choose simple, easy to follow recipes.
• How? If you have more than one child, assign tasks ahead of time to minimise fighting.

Last but not least, be prepared to make a mess. Any creative process involves a certain degree of letting go of the need to keep the kitchen neat. Surely, “spick and span” cannot be the rule when cooking with children, unless you choose to be a dad totally in denial.

A Mess –the Fun and Function

Eng Koon admits that cooking can turn the kitchen into a nightmare for those fastidious about neatness.

Recalling a recent Italian-themed session, he comments, “Of course we made a big mess, and it probably was not the perfect looking pizza. But what mattered was the fun that we shared in the process.”

The excited look on Dylan’s face, peering through the oven door, and proudly sharing the pizza with everyone else in the household, justified the mess.

According to Anond, there is no need to be afraid of making a mess. The key, rather, is to teach children basic kitchen safety and food hygiene. “Most importantly, teach them how to clear up. The rule is simple, what you use, you wash and put it back in the right place,” he says.

The Meat of the Matter (of Cooking)

Now that the basics are covered, let's look at how to get started. From his experience, Eng Koon shares the following tips:

• Plan a little beforehand
• If possible, shop for ingredients together
• Give the kids ownership and roles and responsibilities in the process
• Involve the kids by talking about the dish that you are going to prepare
• Set up the kitchen, with everything laid out, before starting (Kids have short attention span, they get restless if you have to spend minutes looking for a pot or pan)

What Motivates Dads to Cook with Their Children

Many things motivate dads to cook with their children. Eng Koon thought it was a good and fun way to get the kids involved in the household activities. He also believed that ”it offers a great opportunity to bond with kids.”

On top of that, Eng Koon had wanted to break the stereotypical view that women belonged in the kitchen, while men did not. .

For Anond, cooking together is a way for the family to build identity. He and wife, Bernadette, believe that the children imitate what they see in their parents’ lives. He observes, “As they see us taking an interest in food and cooking, they become interested as well, wanting to identify with us.” That is, without doubt, important for every family.

Advantages of Cooking with Your Children

In addition, cooking is undisputedly an important life-skill to learn.

Having started cooking at a tender age, Athinand is now able to cook a three-course Thai meal for the family, by himself. Not every child may be able to do so, but at the least he will be able to cook a simple meal when the need arises. (For example when the parents are out or when the child goes overseas for studies)

For Anond, preparing Thai meals has also been a way for him to share a part of his culture with his family, even as they reside in Singapore.

Learning through Play

In her book, Learning through Play –Cooking: A Practical Guide For Teaching Young Children, Educator, Lisa Fenney, says: “Young children encounter opportunities to develop socially, emotionally, physically, cognitively, and creatively as they cook.”

The following table shows the type of development, specific areas and examples of how each area is developed.

(Adapted from table found on page 30 of Learning through Play –Cooking: A Practical Guide for Teaching Young Children)

Now It is Your Turn!

Now that you understand the advantages of cooking with your kids, found the motivation to do so, and know how to get started, get into action! For, it will be worth the effort.

Eng Koon says it succinctly, “Creating shared memories with your children is a very precious thing. I guess cooking is special because the process of preparing the food, making sure it is done just right, sitting down and sharing it with those you care most about, is very satisfying.”

Start creating those memories with cooking this weekend!

References:

1. Browns, Tom, (2010) What’s Cooking Dad? retrieved 16 April 2011
2. Dads and Kids Cookin' Together, retrieved 11 April 2011
3. Feeney, Lisa, (1992). Learning Through Play -Cooking: A Practical Guide for Teaching Young Children, Scholastic Press. retrieved 10 April 2011

About the Author: The Dads for Life Resource Team comprises local content writers and experts, including psychologists, counsellors, educators and social service professionals, dedicated to developing useful resources for dads.