Ellen Folkman from the popular blog Family Around the Table shares invaluable insights and actionable tips for inviting children into the heart of your home – the kitchen – and nurturing a lifelong love for cooking from an early age.

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Igniting a Passion: How to Get Kids in the Kitchen and Build Lasting Family Memories

Welcome to an inspiring episode dedicated to empowering parents to get their kids actively involved in the kitchen! Cooking together is more than just preparing a meal; it’s an opportunity to teach vital life skills, foster creativity, and forge unbreakable family bonds. Today, we’re joined by Ellen Folkman, the passionate voice behind the acclaimed blog, Family Around the Table. Ellen chose her blog’s name as a heartfelt tribute to the cherished family dinners that have always been a cornerstone of her life. Her unwavering passion lies in both preserving beloved family recipes and delighting in the creation of new culinary traditions that gather everyone together.

Ellen’s personal journey perfectly illustrates the profound impact of early kitchen involvement. When her two boys were little, they were her constant companions in the kitchen. She recalls them eagerly cracking eggs, vigorously mixing batter, and carefully scooping cookie dough onto baking sheets. These weren’t just simple tasks; they were moments of quality time, hands-on learning, and the genesis of essential life skills. Fast forward to today, and her boys, now teenagers, effortlessly whip up batches of snickerdoodles or chocolate chip cookies from scratch on any given weekend. Beyond baking, both have developed a genuine enthusiasm for mastering their favorite recipes, demonstrating a culinary independence that many parents aspire to instill.

Ellen’s extensive experience in the food world extends far beyond her blog. Prior to launching Family Around the Table, she honed her expertise by writing two highly regarded food-related columns for the Tampa Bay Times for over 15 years, sharing her culinary wisdom with a broad audience. Living in the vibrant Tampa, Florida area with her husband, Carl, of 26 years, Ellen’s life truly revolves around the joys of family and food. She is a fervent advocate for encouraging children in the kitchen, and she firmly believes there’s no better time to begin this enriching journey than during the festive holiday season. Holiday baking, in particular, offers a magical entry point for family involvement, creating cherished memories and delicious traditions. Ellen enthusiastically shares some of her best tips and beloved recipes to get you started.

Deliciously Easy: Recipe of the Week

This week, we’re celebrating a truly irresistible treat: Apple Turnovers! These flaky, fruit-filled pastries are a personal favorite, especially when generously topped with a dollop of whipped cream. Discovering how incredibly simple they are to make at home was a revelation. Imagine tender, cinnamon-spiced apple pieces encased in golden, buttery puff pastry, perfectly baked in either your air fryer or conventional oven. The aroma alone is enough to tempt anyone, and the taste is utterly divine. This recipe is not only delicious but also wonderfully achievable for even novice bakers, making it an excellent project for parents and kids to tackle together.

Tune In: Listen to the Full Episode

For a deeper dive into Ellen’s wisdom and to hear all her fantastic tips directly, be sure to listen to today’s full episode. You can find us on your preferred podcast platform:

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Episode 24: Unlocking the Joy of Cooking – How to Get Kids in the Kitchen

When to Start: The Ideal Age for Kitchen Adventures

One of the most common questions parents ask is, “How early should I get my kids involved in the kitchen?” Ellen confidently recommends starting around three years old. Of course, this age is flexible and ultimately depends on your comfort level and your child’s ability to focus and follow simple directions. Even if they are younger than three, they can still be active participants by sitting nearby, observing your actions, and engaging in conversations about what you’re doing. This early exposure to the sights, sounds, and smells of the kitchen sparks curiosity and lays a foundational interest in food preparation.

Age-Appropriate Tasks: Making Every Child a Chef

To ensure a positive and safe experience, it’s crucial to assign tasks that are suitable for your child’s developmental stage. Ellen provides excellent guidelines:

Younger Kids (Toddlers & Preschoolers, approx. 1-5 years old):
- Cracking Eggs: With gentle guidance, this is a wonderfully tactile task (and a lesson in patience and mess management!).
- Pouring Ingredients: Have pre-measured ingredients ready for them to pour into bowls. This helps with motor skills and understanding quantities.
- Stirring: Stirring batters, sauces, or cold ingredients is a simple yet engaging activity that makes them feel integral to the process.
- Cookie Making: Rolling out dough and using fun cookie cutters are perfect for developing fine motor skills and creativity.
- Washing Produce: A bowl of water and some vegetables or fruits offer sensory play and a valuable contribution.
- Tearing Lettuce/Herbs: Safe and satisfying for little hands.
- Mashing Soft Foods: Bananas or cooked potatoes are great for building arm strength.
Older Kids (School-Aged & Pre-Teens, approx. 6-12+ years old):
- Measuring Liquids and Dry Ingredients: This introduces basic math concepts and precision.
- Reading and Following Recipes: Hand them the recipe card and ask them to identify and gather the necessary ingredients, promoting literacy and organization.
- Peeling Vegetables: With supervision and appropriate tools, tasks like peeling carrots or potatoes build responsibility.
- Grating Cheese: Under watchful eyes, grating is a satisfying task.
- Simple Stove-Top Tasks: Stirring simmering sauces or flipping pancakes, always with direct adult supervision.
- Using Small Appliances: Operating a blender for smoothies or a hand mixer for batters (with instruction).
- Planning Meals: Involving them in selecting recipes and creating grocery lists.

Where to Begin: Simple Steps to Success

For many parents, the idea of cooking with kids can feel overwhelming. Ellen suggests starting small and simple to build confidence and enthusiasm. Her top recommendation? Boxed brownie or cookie mixes. These are fantastic because they require minimal steps and don’t involve sharp tools or complex techniques. The beauty of these mixes is that you can easily make them your own by adding extras like nuts, chocolate chips, or even a swirl of canned frosting on top. This immediate success encourages kids to want to do more, laying a positive foundation for future culinary explorations. Other great starting points include making fruit salads, simple sandwiches, scrambled eggs, or even just helping assemble a pizza.

The Profound “Why”: Benefits of Cooking with Your Kids

Cooking with your children offers a treasure trove of benefits that extend far beyond the dinner table:

Fun and Unforgettable Quality Time: The kitchen becomes a classroom and a playground where laughter, conversation, and shared moments flourish. It’s a wonderful way to connect without the distractions of screens.
Preserving and Handing Down Family Recipes: Cooking together is a beautiful way to pass down culinary heritage, share stories behind dishes, and ensure that cherished family traditions live on through generations.
Preparing Them for Adulthood and Self-Sufficiency: Knowing how to cook is a fundamental life skill. It empowers children to look after themselves, make healthy food choices, and confidently navigate the kitchen as independent adults.
Developing Essential Life Skills: Beyond cooking, children learn math (measuring, fractions), reading (following recipes), science (understanding chemical reactions in baking), problem-solving, planning, organization, and even patience.
Fostering Healthy Eating Habits: Children are far more likely to try and enjoy foods they have helped prepare. Involving them in meal prep can be a powerful tool in overcoming picky eating.
Building Confidence and Creativity: Successfully completing a recipe, even a simple one, boosts a child’s self-esteem. They also learn to experiment, adapt, and express their creativity through food.
Enhancing Fine Motor Skills and Coordination: Tasks like stirring, pouring, kneading, and chopping (age-appropriate) all contribute to the development of crucial motor skills.

“Just do it! Don’t worry about the mess. Everything can be cleaned up. Spilt flour and eggs? No problem! Just make sure you have a few extra eggs :)” – Ellen Folkman

Ellen’s encouraging words perfectly capture the spirit needed for cooking with kids. Embrace the chaos, let go of perfection, and focus on the joy of the shared experience. The mess is simply evidence of active learning and engagement.

Making Spirits Bright: Kid-Friendly Baking Recipes for the Holidays

The holiday season provides a perfect backdrop for kitchen activities, creating a festive atmosphere and opportunities for delicious treats. Here are some fantastic kid-friendly baking recipes from Ellen’s blog that are perfect for making magical holiday memories:

Muddy Snowballs
Christmas Sprinkle Cookies
Hot Chocolate Cookies
Chocolate Cake Mix M&M Cookies

These recipes are designed to be approachable and fun, allowing children to participate actively in the creation of festive goodies. Holiday baking isn’t just about the treats; it’s about the tradition, the sensory experience of warm spices, and the joy of sharing homemade gifts with loved ones.

Connect with Ellen Folkman: Your Guide to Family Cooking

To dive deeper into Ellen’s world of family-focused cooking, discover more recipes, and connect with her vibrant community, you can find her across various platforms:

Website: Family Around the Table
Instagram: @familyaroundthetable
Facebook: Family Around the Table
Pinterest: Family Around the Table
Twitter: @FamTable

Continue Your Culinary Journey: More Episodes

If you’ve enjoyed this episode and are eager for more culinary inspiration and practical advice, be sure to visit our comprehensive show page for a full archive of episodes. Each one is packed with tips and recipes to help you cook real good!

Embrace the Kitchen Adventure with Your Children

In conclusion, bringing children into the kitchen is one of the most rewarding endeavors a parent can undertake. It’s an investment in their future, their health, and your family’s bond. From the earliest years, nurturing their curiosity and involvement transforms the kitchen into a vibrant hub of learning, creativity, and connection. Ellen Folkman’s advice reminds us to start simple, be patient, and most importantly, to embrace the joy and the occasional mess. So, gather your little helpers, choose a simple recipe, and embark on a delicious journey that will yield not just amazing meals, but a lifetime of cherished memories and invaluable skills. The family kitchen awaits your next great adventure!