If you are looking for an activity that your child can do this year, cooking classes are the perfect activity to teach them a wide range of skills. Whether you are looking for classes in person or classes you can do from the comfort of your own home, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are some places you can go to get excellent cooking and baking experience, courtesy of Crème de la Crème of Glenview, IL. 

The Benefits of Cooking Classes

There are lots of benefits to signing up your child for cooking classes. In addition to learning how to cook and bake, which is a life skill every child can take with them when they leave home one day, there are many other valuable lessons that kids can learn. Here are a few:

  • Creativity: earning how to cook and bake allow kids to explore their creativity by combining different ingredients or decorating desserts in a variety of different ways.
  • Culture: cooking allows children to explore different cultures and get a sense of the types of food people eat in different countries worldwide. Cooking different types of food can also improve your child’s palette. 
  • Mathematics: baking and cooking require precise measurements that include fractions, so baking and cooking are a great way to understand numbers and measurements. 
  • Chemistry: when you combine ingredients or add heat to something, you get different reactions. Chemistry is constantly happening when you bake and cook, and these lessons are fun ways to learn about chemistry.
  • Following directions: cooking classes teach kids how to follow directions. It requires them to take pride in something they are working on while listening to someone give them instructions. 

In-Person vs. Virtual Classes

A small girl making cookies at the dining room table with her family.

Image via Flickr by  shixart1985

There are two ways your child can take cooking classes; in person and virtually. If you are interested in in-person classes, some benefits include the in-person support of a teacher, ready-to-go ingredients for your child, and a hands-off approach for you as a parent. If you have a younger child under the age of six, there are many classes available to them, but there is usually a requirement that a parent be there to support them. Classes are held at a specific time, and you show up, do the class, and then leave. 

On the other hand, virtual classes come with a bit more flexibility. While many are held live via Zoom, other classes are recorded so that your child can do them on their own time. Depending on how experienced your child is, they may need more one-on-one support as they follow these virtual classes and handle sharp knives and hot stoves. It is up to you as a parent how much support you offer. Some classes do have an option to pick up ingredients, but most will require you to buy the ingredients ahead of time. The nice thing is that you get to do it from the comfort of your own home.

Ultimately, it’s up to you as a parent what style is best for your child. 

Classes Around Glenview

There are lots of places around Glenview that offer a combination of both in-person and virtual classes. 

The Kids’ Table is a well-known virtual school with the benefit that they offer in-person classes right in Chicago. Whether you are looking for a one-time class, a camp that lasts for a week or two, or a party, there are many opportunities to get cooking with The Kids’ Table. Available classes include: learning basic cooking skills, foods from around the world, and baking. 

Another place you can try is Oui Chef, a company that specializes in cooking classes for children. If you are interested in in-person classes, they offer weekly classes for kids 18 months to 4 years old, as long as an adult accompanies them. There are also classes for kids over the age of five without a caregiver. These older kids can do weekly or one-time classes. Virtual classes that are offered are one-time classes that you can sign up for and do virtually. All classes cover different types of cooking, such as baking, breakfasts, and other seasonal treats. 

In-Person Classes

Cook, Cork & Fork offers cooking classes for the family. You can do some family bonding with a class for an adult and child. In addition to family classes, they also offer camps during school breaks and opportunities for parties. 

Another location you can visit for in-person classes is Kidz Can Cook. They offer in-person classes on Friday nights for kids aged 5 and up with different themes weekly. Other available classes include a ‘Try It’ class, which is a class that gives children a taste of what the cooking class is like so they can decide if they like it or not. They also offer holiday camps and after-school programs. 

Virtual Classes

While Flavor Pot is located in Glenview, they are only offering virtual classes at this time. The classes are designed with kids in mind and are live classes that allow kids to interact with the teacher. Classes last about an hour, and you are given a recipe before the class so you can get all the ingredients you need. In addition to virtual cooking classes, they also offer a winter cooking camp and private cooking parties. 

Another great virtual option is Tiny Chefs, which offers an extensive list of virtual classes for kids that include baking, designing their own restaurants, and exploring different cultures and foods. This website allows you to do the classes on your own time, which is great if you want a flexible schedule. 

You may also want to try out some other online classes. 

Whether you are interested in doing classes in-person or virtually, there are many places that your child can take cooking classes. Have you ever done a cooking class before? Let us know where you have gone so we can add it to our list! We at Crème de la Crème of Glenview, IL, would love to hear from you.