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Hudson Valley Parent 3
Teens take to cooking
By STACEY HAWKINS
Teens are creative by nature which
tends to lead them to do great things.
Fostering your kid's sense of comfort in
the kitchen not only boosts his or her
creativity but also supports important
lifelong skills. Here are a few tips to make
the most of your teen's inner chef.
1. Schedule it
If needed, help your teen set aside time
to set up, prepare, cook, and enjoy put-
ting together a dish or meal. Give your
kid space to review the recipe, ingredi-
ents and overall cooking time.
2. Collaborate without taking over
Planning together can be fun but follow
your teen's lead when it comes to choos-
ing what to cook, even if it seems like
a difficult or unusual choice. Give your
young adult the power to decide and
watch what happens.
3. Safety first
Be on-hand to assist with cooking appli-
ances, if needed. Many teens can figure
out how to work blenders, food proces-
sors and other kitchen tools, but some
appliances can be trickier than others.
Allow your teen to problem-solve rec-
ipe and equipment challenges but be
