There's no doubting that most kids like getting their creative juices flowing in the kitchen or engaging in imaginative play papa's games with play foods, but it can be a lot of work to set up and clean up afterward.
We've compiled a list of the top ten benefits that children gain from this type of make-believe play.
Enhancing Interpersonal Competence
When young children play at being chefs in a make-believe kitchen, they often talk to one another about what they're doing, watch what their friends choose to "cook," and trade or exchange whatever materials they're using.
The development of a larger vocabulary and enhanced reading comprehension
Reading is a vital ability, and cooking play provides plenty of opportunities to hone it, from reading the recipe to reading the names of ingredients. With each additional element, they can learn a new word and use their existing vocabulary knowledge in a new context.
Developing proficiency with numbers
A child's mathematical development can be aided by helping in the kitchen during meal preparation. After taking the cookies, pizza, or cupcakes out of the oven, you can also work on simple arithmetic operations like adding, subtracting, and dividing.
4. Acquiring the Ability to Read Clocks
Whether it's just figuring out when the food was put into the oven or calculating how long it needs to cook and, consequently, when to check to see whether it's done, youngsters may learn a lot about time while helping in the kitchen.
Sensory play as a means of education
Sensory movements like kneading, mixing, tasting, smelling, and seeing bread rise introduce new experiences. Using all of their senses to their fullest extent can greatly improve their capacity for learning.