The kitchen is one of the best places for kids to learn! Cooking combines creativity with hands-on lessons in math, making it the perfect activity for families. December is a wonderful time to get kids involved, as cozy recipes and winter treats bring extra excitement to cooking together. Whether you’re measuring flour for cookies or watching yeast work its magic, these simple activities help kids develop important skills while making delicious food.
Baking Cookies
Baking cookies is an iconic activity in many homes, especially during the winter months. Each ingredient has a purpose, and learning how they interact teaches kids about ratios and measurements. Kids practice fractions and measurements as they scoop out ¾ cup of flour or ½ teaspoon of baking soda. Challenge them to double or halve a recipe for bonus math practice!
Homemade Soup
Making soup from scratch is a cozy, nutritious activity that helps kids practice math and understand nutrition. Let kids measure out ingredients like broth, chopped vegetables, or spices. Show them how to adjust serving sizes—if a recipe serves 4 but you need to feed 6, how much more of each ingredient is needed?
Hot Chocolate Experiment
Make a cozy mug of hot chocolate! Let kids experiment with ratios of cocoa powder, sugar, and milk to find the perfect taste. Have them measure and mix ingredients, then scale the recipe up or down based on how many people they’re serving.
Cooking with kids isn’t just about making delicious food—it’s about creating opportunities to learn, connect, and have fun together. By turning everyday recipes into hands-on math lessons, you’re helping your child build skills that will serve them for a lifetime. Whether it’s baking cookies, simmering soup, or crafting the perfect cup of hot chocolate, these moments in the kitchen offer a unique blend of education and joy.
Connected Pick
Toca Kitchen 2
Toca Kitchen 2 is a fun and interactive app that lets them “cook” virtual meals. They can experiment with ingredients, create unique dishes, and explore the joy of cooking in a mess-free environment. This app is perfect for inspiring creativity and getting kids excited about real-life cooking adventures.
Get Toca Kitchen 2
Unplugged Activities
Create a Recipe Book
Have kids create their own recipe book! Encourage them to write down recipes they’ve tried, draw pictures of their creations, and include notes about what they learned. This project reinforces writing skills, creativity, and ownership of their learning experience.