You’re not alone. But school breaks don’t have to mean learning loss. They’re actually the perfect time to explore new skills in fresh ways.
Whether at home or in a Sticky Fingers Cooking® camp, cooking gives kids a hands-on way to explore science, math, culture, and creativity and more. They stay engaged, curious, and confident while learning real-life skills. Here’s some of what kids can pick up in the kitchen, often without even realizing it:
SCIENCE
What happens when water boils? What makes pancakes fluffy? Why does salt make ice cream freeze faster? The kitchen is a natural science lab, where curious kids observe, experiment, and discover cause and effect. (Learn more fun ways to boost kids’ science skills while cooking!)
TECHNOLOGY
In the kitchen, “technology” means tools. That’s everything from hand whisks to immersion blenders. Kids explore how everyday kitchen tools work, when to use them, and how they make tasks easier.
ENGINEERING
Cooking is full of hands-on lessons in design and structure. Consider: constructing sushi rolls, folding potstickers, or stacking a sandwich so it actually stays together. These are problem-solving activities that mirror core engineering principles (and a little trial and error is part of the fun!)
ART
Cooking is an inherently creative process. From decorating cupcakes to fashioning penguins from snack foods, there are ample opportunities for kids to play with texture, color, and composition.
MATH
Measuring ingredients, doubling recipes, setting timers—cooking is full of hands-on math practice. Even abstract concepts like fractions, temperature, and conversions come to life in the kitchen. (Learn more about math and cooking with kids!)
LITERACY
Following a recipe strengthens kids’ reading skills and builds their vocabulary (hello, “whisk” and “sizzle!”). Even toddlers can benefit since stirring batter and cracking eggs help develop the fine-motor skills they’ll need for writing. (Find more tips on building kids' literacy while cooking!)
GLOBAL + CULTURAL AWARENESS
If you know Sticky Fingers Cooking® you know that our recipes go far beyond mac + cheese (though we love that too). Our global recipes and camps introduce kids to flavors, traditions, and ingredients from around the world, stoking their curiosity about geography, culture, history, and language. Even if they never leave their zip code, they get to taste the world.
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL
In the kitchen, kids build more than academic knowledge; they develop essential life skills, too. They learn to slow down, focus, and think ahead. They build persistence (when the dough won’t come together), flexibility (when you run out of eggs), and confidence (when they nail a recipe all by themselves). It’s hands-on learning that sticks.
And it’s social. Cooking side by side with their peers, kids practice turn-taking, asking for help, and cleaning up after themselves. And perhaps more important, they gain independence. Today it’s mixing, tomorrow it’s measuring. Then, before you know it, they’re cooking dinner while you sit down and relax. (It happens!)
Ready to Stir Things Up This Summer?
Join a Sticky Fingers Cooking® camp near you or try our at-home recipes!
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