Children (and adults) often think first about food when they hear the word ‘Thanksgiving’. Turkey roasted, barbequed, or deep fried. Pumpkin and pecan pies. Sweet potatoes or candied yams, green bean casserole, dinner rolls, mac and cheese. And don’t forget the stuffing, made with bread and/or cornbread and accented with a wide variety of mix-ins.
The fun of Thanksgiving is not just eating memorable dishes. It’s also being part of a family or team that prepares the food. It’s a grandparent passing down a recipe to another generation. It’s a parent teaching small hands how to knead bread dough or flute a pie crust. It’s even friends pooling their resources to create a common feast. Drawing children into rites of cooking heightens their appreciation for the holiday and the people with whom they celebrate.
Another benefit of this practice is that experts say cooking together helps children learn the concept and skill of patience. They discover that some steps take more time than others. They realize that they may need to wait for someone to chop an ingredient before it can be added. They wrestle with unfamiliar tasks and need to be patient with themselves when they need to ask for help.
Holiday cooking also encourages kids to see themselves as contributors to family or group well-being. They literally get to make something that others will eat and enjoy. They realize that the meal would not be complete without their dish, which affirms their value as a community member. Yet they also witness the wide array of contributions necessary to create a celebratory meal.
Holiday meals rarely come together without a few mishaps along the way. That means children have opportunities to participate in collaborative problem-solving when something goes awry. They learn to search online for substitute ingredients when the cupboard comes up bare. They discover that leaving the eggs out of a pumpkin pie means it won’t set and must work with others to figure out a replacement dessert. They wonder how to get the turkey to brown without burning. Including them in these kinds of information-gathering and brainstorming sessions promotes critical thinking and relational ties.
Another challenge is getting all the dishes ready to eat at the same time. Some can be prepared ahead, while others need to come out of the oven or off the stovetop in a particular order to taste their best. Inviting children to help plan and organize the food preparation process builds those skills and bolsters confidence as well. Younger children can set and monitor timers, while older kids might create a flowchart noting when to start cooking different items. All ages can be involved in figuring out what tasks can be completed in advance (e.g., chopping veggies, drying bread, assembling spices) and which are last minute (e.g., garnishes, plating, carving the bird).
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