Cooking is a great opportunity for family bonding, and it opens the door for discussion, creativity, and learning. Preparing a meal provides new tasks that are not too difficult for a young person to accomplish under proper supervision. Cooking activities help build both fine and gross motor skills. Whisking, cutting, or measuring with teaspoons and tablespoons gives practice to wrist and finger muscles. Stirring, pouring, and ladling uses shoulder and arm muscles associated with gross motor skills.

Food preparation also requires math and science skills. 4-H’ers can practice simple math by learning about amounts and measurements and the concepts of more and less. They can hypothesize about what might happen next with each added ingredient or while it cooks or bakes. They will also have a front-row seat to watch changes as they occur.

Before cooking begins, 4-H’ers preparing food learn proper food safety measures, how to correctly follow a recipe, knife safety, and various knife cuts, and how to properly clean up any messes left after the meal is prepared.

Campbell County 4-H encourages youth to learn basic kitchen skills. Each year a variety of cooking and baking classes are offered to youth ages 9-18 through the Campbell County Cooperative Extension Service.   Most recently 14 youths ages 9-12 have completed a four-week, 8 hours of education, food series.  Youth were able to put their newly learned skills to the test, by both cooking and baking.

One participant stated, “I have never used a knife before and now I can dice onions!” 14 out of 14 youths indicated they cannot wait to participate in future 4-H foods programs.