AIBU to ask if you bake with your children

[Leavingsosoon]

And if so, why?

I've recently joined Facebook. I was on it ages ago, came off and now on again as am trying to meet people and so on.

My friends have nearly all got photos of baking with their children up there.

Explain why this is part of childhood! I don't understand ...

[ForeverLivingMyArse]

Why wouldn't it be?

[Pobspits]

Yep I do because the kids enjoy it and they like feeling like they've acheived something tangible I guess? Also because we like cakes.

[Fairylea]

I've just made some brownies with ds aged 3.5 who has autism. He loves baking. I think it's the whole thing of getting in a mess and getting to eat the mixture and the sensory thing of touching the ingredients - I also have a non special needs teenager and we baked a lot too. It's a fun activity and you get to eat the results ! :)

[ingeniousidiot]

Because if you bake a bit with them at around 5-6years old, they learn quickly and now my 8year old can bake a cake or a tray of buns with no supervision while I watch TV or mumsnet and think about putting the kettle on.

[CanIGoToBedNow]

Something to do between naps and bedtime!

[ingeniousidiot]

It's a worthy investment

[SweetAdeline]

I don't but DH does because they really love it.

[laffymeal]

I enjoyed doing it with my mum. I'm a terrible baker so compromised with betty Crocker type mixes with my own dcs. They're 14 and 18 now and on the occasional boring rainy day will ask to bake cakes so it must bring back happy memories for them.

[BaBaBaBoomBoom]

I bake on what me and my best friend refer to as 'good parenting days'
So we will bake a cake, go for Woodland walks, create a picture with leaves, make a crown with wallpaper off cuts and glue and glitter and have a long bath and a proper play with the bath toys.

These days happen about once a month..!

[DevonFolk]

Why on earth wouldn't you?! So many skills to be learned and a really fun way to spend time together. Plus you get something yummy at the end

[ShowOfHands]

I've just taken blueberry muffins out of the oven which I made with 4yo DS.

It's a life skill. Not just baking but cooking in general. My 8yo dd has always cooked and baked with me and can whip up a few meals on her own (things like lasagne, cottage pie) and she makes better bread than I do.

I went to university with a chap who lived on baked beans, instant porridge and cereal because he 'couldn't cook'. That, I'm afraid, is ridiculous.

[MrsBungle]

Yes, we made a Victoria sandwich yesterday. My kids love baking, that's why we do it.

[Bumbledumb]

I was berated this morning by my 5 year old DS for cooking a cake while he was asleep last night.

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

who knows why you don't understand it

Baking is a feel good activity, if you break it right down you have many many skills involved and when you are done there is cake! ...what's not to like?

[RueDeWakening]

I don't always. Although memorably the class bear helped us make the Christmas cake last year, I imagine the rest of the class parents were cursing me for that

But all 3 of my kids enjoy baking, or cooking in general, and my 8 year old wants to earn her Brownie cook and cook advanced badges (which include washing up and clearing away the mess she makes), so who am I to stand in her way?!

[Cheby]

I bake with my 2yo. I enjoy baking, and I enjoy eating the things I bake.
My DD loves helping in the kitchen and baking teaches her about lots of things; food, cooking, kitchen safety, hygiene, even maths. Her favourite thing at the moment is recognising the numbers on the scales as we measure things out. It's a great way to kill an hour on an afternoon stuck in the house.

[JiveTalkin]

Why can't you understand that it can be part of childhood?

Seems like an odd thing to think about a pretty normal activity.

[Onsera3]

Been baking with DS since he could stand steadily so around 12 months.

Two years later it's still a favourite past time for him. Knows plenty of recipes now.

Lots of skills to be learnt and you get to eat something delicious. It's a winner all round.

Even better he loves washing the dishes afterwards as considers it water play!

[hebihebi]

Yes, my 4 year old daughter wanted to bake a chocolate cake today so I helped her. She really loves baking (and eating cake).

I have a friend who just pretends to bake with her son. She will try and get him to help her make something but he's not interested so she just does it herself and then posts on Facebook a picture. Look at these fabulous brownies DS and I made today! I find that a bit sad and weird.

[GreatFuckability]

Sometimes. My 8 year old enjoys it, particularly bread as she likes kneading the dough. We cook more often as in meals as k think that's an important life skill.

[fitzbilly]

Why wouldn't you?

Not only do I bake with DCs but also cook with them. As their parent I have a responsibility to teach them life skills, including cooking. And the sooner you teach them, the sooner you can leave them alone to do it for you

[grumpysquash]

We like warm cake straight out of the oven. We also like muffins, flapjacks, brownies.......

So I do bake with the DC. I much prefer it now they're older though (less messy)

They cook other stuff too. Not really full meals yet, but it's a work in progress.

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

Yes. Because she enjoys it. Same reason as every other activity I do with her, really.

[Lambzig]

DDis 5 and loves cooking with me and I really want to encourage it. She has done it for about 3 years. She helps make lasagne, chilli, curries, roast dinner etc, but really, really loves baking, so I have started baking cakes with her too after not making them for about twenty years. I really love it because she can be a bit dizzy and distracted, but the minute she starts cooking she is totally focussed.

Surely cooking is an important life skill?