Learning how to cook is not only fun, but it can also be a great life skill for your child to have. Whether you’re interested in having your child learn basic culinary skills, baking, or how to cook different cuisines, there are many options out there. Plus, cooking classes teach your child so much more than just a recipe. 

Crème de la Crème of Mount Laurel, NJ. believes in the benefits of cooking classes for your children. Here are some of the things you can learn through cooking classes and some places you can check out in the area. 

Benefits of Cooking Classes

Image via Flickr by shixart1985

Learning to cook allows kids to get more involved in the kitchen at home, from picking recipes to lending a hand. In addition, it promotes self-sufficiency and independence, too. There are lots of other benefits to learning how to cook, such as:

• Life skills: Developing patience, following directions, and even working together are all life skills that children can develop while attending a cooking class.
• Reading skills: Children can also practice sounding out words, learn what words look like when written, better associate the sight of a word to an item, and even improve their vocabulary all while attending a cooking class.
• Math skills: A big part of following a recipe is reading fractions, measurements, and times. During a class, they learn how to use measuring tools and see how fractions of ingredients come together to make a whole recipe. If you want to challenge your older child, you can always double the recipe to help them with more advanced math skills.
• Chemistry skills: Children can learn about mixtures, fermentation, emulsion, and other chemical reactions that occur when you combine different ingredients together. A big part of the science of cooking is experimentation, so kids get to see trial and error in action, too.
• Creative skills: In addition to trial and error in experimentation, kids can play around with different ingredients to change up a recipe or create a recipe of their own when they’re ready. This allows kids to express their creativity in a new way. 
• Cultural awareness skills: By cooking different recipes, kids have the opportunity to explore different foods that are eaten in different parts of the world.
• Social skills: By attending cooking classes, kids can learn how to connect, collaborate, share their love of food with others.

When looking at cooking classes, there are a couple of different ways that you can do them. Styles of classes include in-person classes and online courses. Whichever style you choose, both usually offer individualized and family cooking class options. 

In-person Classes

If you would prefer to have your child interact with a teacher in person, there are many options for children’s cooking classes around Mount Laurel. While some locations are closer than others, an in-person lesson gives your child the extra support they might need when learning these new skills in the kitchen. Here are some of our favorite spots:

Sugar Plum Studio is located in nearby Cherry Hill and offers a unique edible art experience that lets your child decorate cakes, cookies, and other delicious treats. If you’re interested in getting your child involved in food art, you can book an appointment. They also offer a variety of kits that you can pick up and do at home with your child so they can show off their skills to the whole family.

Chef It Up’s Toms River location is just a short drive from Mount Laurel. Register your child for a walk-in event where they learn to make a quick treat in just 15 minutes. Or try Jr. Chef Cooking classes for kids 6 to 12 years old. In these four-week programs, your child learns how to make a variety of different meals using different cooking skills like chopping, mixing, and measuring. The Mommy and Me class lets kids cook with their parents, and if you want to get a bunch of kids together for a special occasion, get a party package.

Online Classes

Online cooking classes allow children to learn how to cook from the comfort of their own home. Whether your child is new to cooking or is experienced in the kitchen, a wide selection of courses and programs are available online that explore cooking skills and cuisines that interest your child. 

Tiny Chefs is an online cooking program that allows children to learn how to cook independently or with their families. Because they are at home with these classes, parent supervision is required for younger children, but it’s up to you as the parent to decide how much support your child needs during the class. Some of the courses they can try include learning how to make cupcakes, exploring recipes from around the world, and creating family meals. A course called Restaurant Creation is also available, allowing kids to develop their own menus for an at-home restaurant idea.

Another online resource that offers kids virtual cooking classes is the Dynamite Shop. Some of the classes that are available include the Dynamite Dinner Club, which is a weekly 1.5-hour cooking class that teaches kids essential techniques and lessons while cooking a healthy family dinner. As a parent, it will be up to you to decide if you want to cook with your child, offer support, or let them try these classes on their own. There are also weekend workshops that let you create a meal together as a family. 

Chef If Up and many other in-person cooking schools also offer virtual classes, too. And many of the online offerings are conducted over Zoom, making it super easy for kids to join classes.

While we have covered a wide variety of cooking classes for kids, there is no shortage of options to choose from when it comes to finding one for your child. Did we miss somewhere your child has attended a cooking class? We at Crème de la Crème of Mount Laurel would love to hear about any cooking classes your child has tried and the lessons that your child took from that experience.