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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to ask if you bake with your children

213 replies

Leavingsosoon · 25/10/2015 14:58

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 ...

OP posts:

trollkonor · 25/10/2015 16:22

Leavingsosoon

It's not something that I found particularly fun when they were young, I've never found getting the paints out with them either. Its just something both dp and me have done with them because we think its something that is good to learn, on a rainy day it can break a fight, we like cake.

I've always though of itnas one of those noral childhood things to do, nothing special or particulary worthy. I grew up baking and helping with making evening meals, i 5hen progressed to being capable of cooking an evening meal for the family on my own.

trollkonor · 25/10/2015 16:23

Ahh bad typing above.

Sirzy · 25/10/2015 16:23

For little ones it's as simple as knowing how many eggs, or learning order "first we put the butter in then the sugar" even just learning the names of the ingredients!

steff13 · 25/10/2015 16:25

I would think that if you don't enjoy it/aren't good at it, it would be more of an inducement to instill the love of baking/cooking in your kids, so they grow up loving it and being good at it.

Artandco · 25/10/2015 16:25

Leaving - mine just stand on a chair to reach worktop, sometimes they just sat on worktop when smaller. I convert many recipes into cup sizes so even from tiny they can just use 1 cup/ half a cup / one egg etc. At 2 I would have also been standing there saying now fill this cup with flour, this smaller one with milk etc I dint just leave them alone whipping up a Black Forest gateau when they could barely walk

Passmethecrisps · 25/10/2015 16:26

I don't take my dd swimming and am not looking forward to the day she asks for dance lessons but I do like baking with her.

I have 'baked' with her since she was about 18mo but that generally means I bake and she flings shit about. Now she is almost 3 she likes to stir and Sprinkle and cut shapes out.

I have to be on the ball and have my patience topped to max but I love the sense of accomplishment it gives her. Seeing her walk into nursery with a box of cakes she 'made' and how happy she was seeing others enjoying them was lovely.

I don't see all that much bake sharing on FB. My feed is packed with nature walks, coastal stomps and hill-walking.

I like those things but I notice them on FB as I feel a bit guilty for not liking them enough to drag my 2 yo up a large hill

Sirzy · 25/10/2015 16:26

We have a little ikea table which I used before ds was tall enough to reach the worktop

trollkonor · 25/10/2015 16:27

The other factor is that whilst bsking with my kids isnt a barrel of laughs for me, my boys loved it. One of mine still loves coking, cakes and coming up with dinner ideas. I am dreading next week as he has some impossible halloween thing he wants to design. I will let him and help because he's enthusiastic and planning the creating is s good process to g through.

Passmethecrisps · 25/10/2015 16:28

leaving I think that is it. If you enjoy it already then you will do it. DH likes to take dd swimming and gardening.

Not baking won't do anyone any harm!

Obs2015 · 25/10/2015 16:29

Occasionally. They prefer decorating huge birthday cakes with chocolate buttons and a flake. It is fine!!

ServingSuggestion · 25/10/2015 16:30

I do enjoy baking and therefore share that enthusiasm with DS, yes. But I don't think that's absolutely essential - as a pp said, a Betty Crocker mix is just as fun if everyone is enjoying themselves.

It can be educational; counting eggs, watching the scales move to the right number, halving the mixture etc. And of course at the end everyone loves licking the spoons especially me

Original poster

Leavingsosoon · 25/10/2015 16:32

I hate swimming (loved it as a child) but I do try to take them, essential skill and all that

OP posts:

ServingSuggestion · 25/10/2015 16:32

Oh and I sit DS (5) on the worktop. He's only slipped off once (I'll take that parent of the year award now, thanks)

DramaAlpaca · 25/10/2015 16:33

I have fond memories of baking with my DM when I was a child, so it just seemed normal to me to let my DSs join in & 'help' when I bake. It's a lovely activity to do together. We still bake & cook together occasionally now they are older.

Doublebubblebubble · 25/10/2015 16:34

I love baking with my DD - literally couldn't wait for her to be old enough to help me bake. I cant wait for my 9 day old ds to help me too x really relaxing and fun for children x

passmethewineplease · 25/10/2015 16:36

Only recently, DD is nearly six. I found when they were younger I wasn't baking with them, I was baking and they were being messy and didn't really care about it.

Passmethecrisps · 25/10/2015 16:40

See leaving in a crisis your children will be able to swim their way to safety while mine will be whopping up a batch of cup cakes

hazeyjane · 25/10/2015 16:41

Ds and dds love cooking, they stand on steps, or do bits sat at table (ds fell off work top, tearing his upper frenulum and bashing a tooth - won't do that again!)

The dds are now 8 & 9 and last weekend one made a pavlova and one made meatballs - I sat and drank coffee and occasionally shouted, 'don't waste too many eggs!'

Ds loves loves loves cooking - spooning out flour, tap tapping the egg....but mostly sticking his face in the bowl at the end to clean out.

CrumbledFeta · 25/10/2015 16:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MamaLazarou · 25/10/2015 16:51

I teach my son to cook so he can make me delicious meals when he is grown up.

Marynary · 25/10/2015 17:03

I did a lot of baking with my children when they were younger, as they enjoyed it and I (erroneously) believed that I was teaching them cooking skills which would be useful to them in the future.
I wish I hadn't bothered though as although they are now (as teenagers) very proficient at making cakes but they aren't interested in cooking anything else.

Believeitornot · 25/10/2015 17:07

I started baking with mine quite early on

DS is just turned 6 and started reading recipes and will weigh out ingredients.

I do it with a hint of panic re the mess but the kids love it.

I want my children to be able to cook - I don't just bake with them. I don't want kids who have no idea!!!!

Spotifymuse · 25/10/2015 17:08

Love baking, was taught as a child by my mum and grandparents.
It's as much a part of my week as changing the beds or washing the floors. I don't always have them helping me but when I do they love it.

trixymalixy · 25/10/2015 17:12

Yes frequently. My kids are both allergic to eggs so wouldn't ever get to eat cake otherwise.

They both really enjoy it.

starlight2007 · 25/10/2015 17:17

I think it is a life skill..The little ones enjoy it which also makes me happy..For the little ones..There is something they made..With varying degrees of sucess but they usually enjoy eating what you have made.

You could do it with a pack..They are only £1 from cheap shops usually add egg and butter, a bit of water for the icing..They don't taste as nice as proper cakes but pre schoolers really don't differentiate betwwen great and awful cake.

My Ds now helps make meals..Although he tends to get bored hald way through and go off and play or watch TV..Wish that was an option of mine.

However yes I enjoy baking with the children and it feels like I have done a great parenting day when I have finished.

I don't tend to bake on my own.

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