No doubt, cooking is one way of helping kids to learn more skills. Aside from that, they may also tend to experience the creation of various meals that can help them to boost self-confidence. It is also one way for them to practice healthy eating. Actually, it needs time for you to become flexible and doing some prep task, but spending time with your kiddos in the kitchen can be a great bonding moment with them. No bake cooking activities for preschoolers is one of the best kitchen activities for kids to start with.
In this article, we will share different cooking activities without the need for baking that is suitable for your preschool child. Aside from that, we also have here the reasons behind the importance of cooking for preschoolers. In case you do not know what kind of kitchen tasks you would give to your child, check here for some small kitchen activities that they may try doing.
Benefits of Cooking for Kids
There are lots of ways in which kitchen tasks can be advantageous for kids. Generally, here are some aspects in which cooking can help them:
1. Learn basic skills
By introducing your kids in the kitchen, doing no bake cooking activities for preschoolers allows them to establish the fundamental skills in math. Simply counting the needed eggs or putting some spoons of sugar into a cup are some tasks that can help them do so. Aside from that, reading recipes together is a good way of introducing new words into their vocabulary and also enhance their reading ability. Listening skills may also be enhanced by following the step-by-step instructions of the recipe.
2. Improve their palate
Preschool age is the stage in which most kids tend to be a picky eater. So, in order for them to improve and widen their palate, the best way is to bring them into the kitchen and allow them to do some no bake cooking activities for preschoolers. Keep in mind that a preschooler playing the role of a chef might sample dishes that she wouldn’t taste once you just simply serve it in front of her.
The best way is to let them taste new ingredients that both of you are trying. Discuss and ask them what they like about the food. Also, tell them the advantages of practicing healthy eating and how it helps the body to grow.
3. Explore their different body senses
One way for the kids to learn is through the exploration of their body senses and the ideal place to execute it is within the kitchen. Encourage them to listen at the mixer while it whir, watch the rising of the dough while pounding it, smell the aroma of the food baking inside the oven, and taste the freshly oven-baked bread. Remember, food that they cook which also smells good and eye-catching may end them up for their willingness to eat it.
4. Enhance confidence
The preschool age is also the time in which the kids love to show their talents and abilities. And giving the opportunity to work inside the kitchen may help in gaining some sense of accomplishment. Once they assist in designing the pizza toppings, tell them that doing so was important. You may also consider naming the dish after their name. Praise their little efforts in the kitchen even if the results are not the same as what you think.
Some Small Activities for Kids in the Kitchen
Even preschoolers can perform well inside the kitchen by doing some tasks. Luckily, there are kitchen jobs that are specifically ideal for the age of 3 to 5 years. Just remember to offer them tasks that comply with their level of skills and that they may enjoy. For example, your kid likes to pound, then giving them bread dough is a better idea.
Check the other kitchen no bake cooking activities for preschoolers that they may do:
- Stir the pancake batter
- Tear the lettuce leaves
- Add some ingredients or condiments
- Assemble a pizza
- Turn pages of the cookbook
No Bake Cooking Activities for Preschoolers – For Breakfast
Check the following kid-friendly breakfast recipes which are actually no-bake cooking activities for preschoolers. These are generally easy and fun that both you and your kids will truly enjoy!
Early Morning Kabobs
This no bake cooking activities for preschoolers is very appealing for kids because of the colorful fruit variants lined-up in sticks.
Ingredients Needed:
- Fruits – sliced; assorted
- Waffles or pancakes – mini or small size
- Sugar – powdered (if desired)
Activity Instruction:
- Basically, insert fruit slices and waffles or pancakes alternatively on a stick.
- Sprinkle some powdered sugar before serving if you want.
- Then, it’s ready to serve.
Toasted Cinnamon Bread
If your kids love cinnamon, then this no bake cooking activities for preschoolers is generally perfect for them.
Ingredients Needed:
- Bread – sliced
- Butter
- Cinnamon
- Sugar
Activity Instruction:
- Using a toaster, basically, toast some bread.
- Butter toasts the bread.
- Using the sugar and cinnamon, eventually, sprinkle it over the butter toasts.
- Finally, it’s ready to serve.
Morning Meal Bruschetta
A healthy morning snack that basically involves no bake cooking activities for preschoolers, the Morning Meal Bruschetta is made up of mouth-watering strawberries or cherries that your kids will surely love.
Ingredients Needed:
- Strawberries or cherries – 1 cup; sliced
- Ricotta – 1/2 cup
- Baguette – 1/4 portion of a whole; sliced via lengthwise position
- Honey – 1 tablespoon
Activity Instruction:
- Basically, combine the honey and the ricotta. If the ricotta is not available, you can use low-fat cream cheese alternatively.
- On the slices of baguette, evenly spread the honey-ricotta mixture.
- Put some strawberry slices as toppings.
- Ready to serve.
No Bake Cooking Activities for Preschoolers – For Lunch or Dinner
Below are lunch meals recipes perfect for kids which actually involve no bake cooking activities for preschoolers. Doing this with your kids will generally allow them to enjoy cooking and may have a great bonding moment with you.
White Meat Wraps
This no bake cooking activities for preschoolers is a versatile and creative meal idea that you can prepare with your kids. You can generally feed them nutritiously with any kind of meat wrapped on either fresh or cooked veggies.
Ingredients Needed:
- Canola oil – 2 tablespoon
- Ginger root – 1 tablespoon; fresh and minced
- Chicken meat – 1 1/4 pounds; skinless and boneless; bite-size pieces
- Rice vinegar – 2 tablespoon
- Teriyaki sauce – 2 tablespoon
- Honey – 1 tablespoon
- Cherries – 1 pound; dark sweet variant; cut in halves
- Carrots – 1 1/2 cups; shredded
- Onion – green; cut in halves; chopped
- Almonds – 1/3 cups; toasted and sliced
- Lettuce – 12 pieces of leaves
Activity Instruction:
- Basically, heat a large skillet and pour about 1 teaspoon of canola oil.
- Saute the ginger and the chicken until cooked.
- Set aside afterwards.
- Combine 1 teaspoon of canola oil, honey, teriyaki sauce, and vinegar. Mix well.
- Eventually, add on the chicken mixture, carrot, green onion, almonds, and cherries and toss.
- Scoop equal portions of the mixture and put it at the center of the lettuce leaf.
- Roll up the lettuce leaf.
- Finally, it’s ready to serve.
Colorful Spring Rolls
Making spring rolls is an easy meal addition into your menu list. Basically, this is a no bake cooking activities for preschoolers as you can any preferred cooked meats and veggies. Aside from that, the color combination of julienne vegetables is definitely something that your kids will surely love.
Ingredients Needed:
- Wrappers – for Spring roll
- Water – 1 bowl; hot
- Meat – either chicken, pork or ground burger; cooked chopped or shredded
- Cabbage – purple variant
- Carrots
- Colored peppers
- Lettuce
- Cucumbers
Activity Instruction:
- Basically, in a large bowl, pour on hot water.
- Place the spring roll wrapper in the water for about 30 seconds to 1 minute time.
- Afterwards, take it out of the water.
- Lay it flat over a cutting board or any smooth surface.
- Add all of the ingredients in the middle part of the spring roll.
- Eventually, tuck up the base part and the sides as well.
- Finally, roll it up and serve.
No Bake Cooking Activities for Preschoolers – For Snacks
Check these kid-friendly snack recipes that are very easy to prepare as they are no bake cooking activities for preschoolers.
Cucumber Mini-Pots
This no bake cooking activities for preschoolers is good for cooking for a total of 20 minutes. An average piece of cucumber could generally make about 4 to 6 servings.
Ingredients Needed:
- Cream cheese – 8 ounces; softened
- Feta – 8 ounces; crumbled
- Half and half – 3 tablespoon
- Dill – 2 tablespoon (fresh) or 2 teaspoons (dried)
- Garlic – 1 teaspoon; powdered
- Sea salt
- Black pepper
- Cucumbers – 4 pieces; medium size (Note: cut the cucumbers into 4 to 5 equal portions. Peeling of the cucumbers is basically optional. You can consider using a completely peeled, partially peeled, or unpeeled cucumber.)
Activity Instruction:
- Basically, in a large bowl, put together the cream cheese, half and half, feta, dill, and garlic powder.
- Season the mixture with salt and black pepper in order to taste.
- Using a hand mixer or blender, beat the mixture until you achieve a light and fluffy consistency.
- Set it aside.
- Cut clean the cucumber section to have a flat bottom and a slightly angled top.
- Afterwards, using a small measuring spoon, empty the inner part of each cucumber section. Make sure that there would be enough space that will create a small pot shape.
- Get a pastry bag with a large tip. You can also use a plastic sandwich bag in case the pastry bag is not available. Just make sure that one corner at the bottom is removed.
- Transfer the feta mixture into the pastry bag.
- Fill the cucumber pots with whipped feta fillings.
- Eventually, set the cucumber pots filled with whipped feta into a serving plate.
- Sprinkle with some dill if you want.
- Finally, it is ready to serve.
Banana Loops
The Banana Loops is healthy and nutritious kid-friendly snacks that are a great no bake cooking activities for preschoolers with only just a few ingredients.
Ingredients Needed:
- Cheerios or Rice Krispies cereal – 1/2 cup; finely chopped
- Peanut butter – 1/2 cup
- Banana – 1 piece; peeled
- Chocolate chips, graham crackers (crushed), or shredded coconut
Activity Instruction:
- Basically, put together the cereal, banana, and peanut butter in a mixing bowl.
- Mash them and stir afterwards.
- Moreover, on a separate small bowl, place all your desired toppings
- Scoop a small amount of the mixture and form it into loops or circles.
- Afterwards, roll the loops into the toppings.
- Set aside and place it inside the refrigerator until firm.
- Then, it’s ready to serve.
No Bake Cooking Activities for Preschoolers – For Desserts
Here are some delightful desserts that are very easy to prepare as they are all no bake cooking activities for preschoolers. Check them out and prepare it right away as your kids will be very happy and satisfied with it.
Lemon Cheesecake
Cheesecake would be very delicious and irresistible if lemon is added. Both you and your child would love this no bake dessert.
Ingredients Needed:
- Lemon gelatin – 4 serving portion
- Water – 1/2 cup; boiling
- Cream cheese – 8 ounces; softened
- Whipped topping – 2 cups
- Pie crust made of graham cracker
- Toppings of your choice
Activity Instruction:
- Basically, into boiling water, dissolve the lemon gelatin.
- Whisk the cream cheese to a smooth texture in a separate bowl.
- Add on the gelatin gradually.
- Afterwards, fold the whipped topping towards the cheese mixture and scoop some amount into the graham pie crust.
- Chill for around 4 hours.
- Finally, top it with some berries or chocolate sprinkles and ready to serve.
Final Thoughts
The no bake cooking activities for preschoolers may generally help them to develop certain skills, improve their focus, and the likelihood of doing bigger cooking opportunities such as beating eggs or squeezing fruit juices. Moreover, your preschool kid will also find that learning inside the kitchen with you would be fun. However, you must also have to consider their safety, of course, so always be with them while doing some cooking activities.
Basically, spending time with your kids inside the kitchen helps in building their interest in cooking and in the food that they will be going to eat. This characteristic will actually last for the rest of their life. So, it is better to find some cooking activities that they may able to complete successfully by their own or with minimal supervision from you. But do not escalate to a bigger project yet, just start small and simple and let your kids enjoy exploring the kitchen with you.
