19/05/2026

LYFE TUESDAY | MAY 19, 2026

/thesuntelegram FOLLOW / Malaysian Paper

ON TELEGRAM m RAM

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o Helping kids take part, not just watch Cooking with children

C OOKING with children is often seen as a way to keep them occupied, but it plays a role in how they learn, eat and take part in daily routines. In the kitchen, children pick up practical skills through repetition. Teaching kids to measure ingredients introduces basic numeracy. Following steps builds sequencing. Watching food change during cooking gives them an early understanding of cause and effect. These are not taught as lessons. They are absorbed through doing. Over time, familiarity replaces hesitation. Tasks that once needed guidance become something children can manage with less support. Changing how children approach food Involvement also affects eating behaviour. Children are generally more willing to try dishes they helped prepare. Familiarity reduces resistance. Ingredients that might be rejected at the table become easier to accept once a child has handled or prepared them. Research published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetic s found children involved in hands-on meal preparation across different countries tend to develop more positive eating habits and attitudes towards food. This shift is gradual. It does not rely on a single session, but on repeated exposure. When children see, touch and prepare ingredients regularly, those foods stop feeling unfamiliar. Evidence from KL homes Unsurprisingly, local findings reflect similar patterns. A school based intervention conducted in Ű BY AMEEN HAZIZI

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior tracked children aged 10 to 11 over a 12-week cooking and nutrition programme. Children who took part showed improvements in knowledge, attitudes and daily practices related to healthy meal preparation. They were more aware of what they were eating and more involved in preparing food at home. The programme also included parents, which allowed changes to extend beyond the child. Households involved reported better availability of fruits, vegetables and healthier food options. This shows involving children in cooking can influence the home environment, not just individual behaviour. Building confidence through repetition Cooking gives children a task with a clear outcome. There is a process to follow and a result at the end. Over time, children move from assisting to taking on small responsibilities independently. This builds confidence. Children begin to recognise they can complete tasks on their own. The international review published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics found repeated involvement in meal preparation is linked to stronger confidence around food and improved eating behaviour over time. Confidence grows through consistency. Simple actions repeated regularly become routine, making the kitchen a space where children feel capable and confident rather than uncertain.

Simple food preparation steps such as mixing, assembling and handling ingredients are the most common entry points for children in the kitchen. – ALL PICS FROM 123RF

Shaping family interaction Cooking also changes how families interact. It introduces a shared activity that requires communication and cooperation. Parents guide as children take part. Instructions are followed, tasks are divided and completed together. This shifts the dynamic at home. Instead of one person preparing a meal, cooking becomes a shared process. Children become more aware of what goes into their food and more likely to engage in mealtime decisions. Over time, this builds a sense of responsibility. Children see themselves as contributing to something that affects the whole household. Keeping it simple and consistent The structure of involvement does

Routine with long-term impact The impact of cooking with children builds over time. It shapes how they approach food, how confident they feel handling everyday tasks and how they take part in family routines. Across research published in the J ournal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics and the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behaviour , the conclusion is consistent. Involving children in meal preparation supports healthier eating patterns, builds confidence and influences what is available at home. For parents, the value lies in repetition. Cooking becomes a practical way to build skills, reinforce habits and create regular points of interaction within the household.

not need to be complex. Younger children can wash ingredients, mix or pass items. Older children can measure, prepare simple ingredients and follow basic steps. What matters is consistency rather than difficulty. Even small tasks, repeated regularly, build familiarity and confidence. Time remains a common challenge. Cooking with children takes longer and requires supervision. It can also be messier. However, findings from the international review and the Kuala Lumpur study suggested even short, repeated involvement is enough to produce benefits when it becomes part of a routine. Clear instructions and age-appropriate tasks help manage safety while allowing children to participate meaningfully.

Children involved in cooking activities are often introduced to food preparation through structured, hands-on tasks rather than observation alone.

Parental involvement is a key factor in whether children continue participating in cooking activities outside structured settings.