34 Comments

  1. Karen M. Ricks
    01/30/2018 @ 6:51 am

    This is exactly what we did at our international Montessori school in Japan. We used food preparation and coking to reinforce lessons in language, math, history, science, geography, cultural studies, and more! Children between the ages of 2 and 6 regularly prepared dishes from all over the world, using all five of their senses to strengthen the connections between the things that we studied in school and their applicability in the very practical matters of daily life. So we read a book like ‘Pizza at Sally’s,’ grew the rocket we’d use to garnish our pie in our school gardens, practiced greetings and counting in Italian, then applied our mathematical lessons in fractions to equitably distribute the meal the students prepared for the day’s lunch. I cannot say enough about how educational time spent in the kitchen can be–for children of all ages! What a wonderful way to make learning delicious!!!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      01/30/2018 @ 7:53 am

      “A wonderful way to make learning delicious!” Exactly Karen!! I love hearing your success stories with literacy and cooking! Keep them coming!

  2. babiestobookworms
    02/06/2017 @ 10:34 pm

    I love this! I love combining books with food, and since my daughter loves to help in the kitchen right now, this is perfect!

    • Bethany Edwards
      02/06/2017 @ 10:39 pm

      Thanks Vicki! So glad to hear you and your daughter are bonding with the love of food and books!! Thanks for commenting!

  3. Crystal Gareau
    02/06/2017 @ 2:48 pm

    This post is very well-written. Great advice for parents.

    • Bethany Edwards
      02/06/2017 @ 3:41 pm

      Thank you so much Crystal! Glad you enjoyed it!!

  4. haleyleighanne
    02/05/2017 @ 11:21 pm

    Wonderful Post!

  5. Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere
    02/03/2017 @ 3:05 pm

    I never really thought about it before, but a lot of the items we buy here in the States ARE pre-made, even things like pasta sauce and boxed brownie mix! Suddenly I’m a little embarrassed by my own cooking, ha! I used to help my mom with things like chopping veggies, kneading bread and mixing ingredients in a bowl, but there are very few things I know how to make entirely from scratch. I’m inspired to amp it up a bit and be able to teach my own kids how to cook well for themselves.

    • Bethany Edwards
      02/03/2017 @ 8:28 pm

      Believe me, no judgement here! I was a grown adult who couldn’t make a meal to be able to invite friends over. My idea of homemade food was a chicken and cheese quesadilla.:) I am excited to hear you are inspired!! We all need a new idea to try out every once in a while:). Please let me know how it goes!! Cheers!

  6. Cait Weingartner
    02/03/2017 @ 8:01 am

    Wonderful advice for parents. Most kids really enjoy helping out in the kitchen, and combining that with improving reading skills, makes a great idea even better!

  7. Kimberly @ Berly's Kitchen
    02/02/2017 @ 9:41 pm

    This is such a great post. Kids can learn so much through cooking. I think it’s a lost skill that’s extremely necessary.

    • Bethany Edwards
      02/02/2017 @ 9:53 pm

      I agree completely. We tend to skip the important life skills such as cooking, personal finances, etc in schools and it is a travesty. Thanks for your comment!!

  8. Brianna
    02/02/2017 @ 12:51 pm

    Great idea! When I was young, my mom used cooking and baking to teach me about fractions. Education never tasted so good 😛

    • Bethany Edwards
      02/02/2017 @ 2:01 pm

      I use the book “Hershey math” for fractions! Love having an educational reason to eat chocolate!!!:) Thanks for commenting!

  9. Sheri
    02/02/2017 @ 10:37 am

    I love ideas like this, and I’m sharing this blog with my teacher friends. Even though I no longer teach in the classroom, I still see sharing our gifts as teaching. Thanks for such a clever, useful idea. Best.

    • Bethany Edwards
      02/02/2017 @ 11:34 am

      Your comment came through!:) Glad it is such a helpful resource for you and your teacher friends!! Cheers!

  10. Jamie
    02/02/2017 @ 8:11 am

    I love this idea! What a fabulous way to make books come alive!

    • Bethany Edwards
      02/02/2017 @ 8:18 am

      I agree, kids love cooking, especially when you make a connection to their learning/reading. Thanks for your comment Jamie!!

  11. jiselle jones
    02/01/2017 @ 9:15 pm

    this is awesome I started using baking as a way for my girls and I to spend time together, now they practically beg for us to cook together and everytime i enter the kitchen they want to help, but I also used it to help them learn some maths as well to doube and triple recipes etc.

    • Bethany Edwards
      02/01/2017 @ 11:17 pm

      It’s so wonderful when something educational is seen as so fun by our kids!! So happy to hear from another baker mama! Thanks for commenting!

  12. Ophalyn Lee
    02/01/2017 @ 8:31 pm

    Oh My!!! this is really good:) and helpful!

    • Bethany Edwards
      02/01/2017 @ 11:17 pm

      I am so pleased you enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting!

  13. Chrissie
    02/01/2017 @ 4:30 pm

    I grew up overseas but I never really learned how to cook and wish I would have.

    • Bethany Edwards
      02/01/2017 @ 11:20 pm

      It truly changed my life. But it’s not too late for you!:) I started by mastering how to cook a whole chicken (didn’t have any option for breast, thigh etc.). It took me months but I finally did it. Then one dish became many in no time.:) You can do it!! Even three ingredient peanut butter cookies would be something to cheer about!:)

  14. Inspire the Best You
    02/01/2017 @ 4:03 pm

    That is such a good idea, promoting reading and cooking!

  15. The blog dahlia
    02/01/2017 @ 3:37 pm

    You found a fantastic way to introduce two necessary elements, learning and cooking! My girls have no desire to learn to cook meals BUT they love to bake. I’m going to try this! Thank you!

    • Bethany Edwards
      02/01/2017 @ 3:49 pm

      Baking is my daughters favorite also! Check out “The Children’s Baking Book” by Denise Smart. You can order on Amazon! It’s amazing!!!

  16. jacqueline
    02/01/2017 @ 3:29 pm

    Wow that’s so awesome! I never thought to do that! Good tip for my niece 🙂

    • Bethany Edwards
      02/01/2017 @ 3:50 pm

      Your niece will think you are the coolest aunt ever! Thanks for commenting!!

  17. SAN
    02/01/2017 @ 3:26 pm

    Amazing post! You’re a great writer x