Our five-year-old was able to measure and put all of the ingredients in (save for the eggs) and mix them all together, but even younger children can still help pour ingredients in, stir a bit, and definitely eat treats once they are finished! Older kids can look up recipes they want to try, make shopping lists, estimate the budget they’ll need to make their treats, and make their baked goods with supervision. Just keep in mind that mistakes will probably be made and that’s okay, just as the probable mess should be expected as well. Letting kids learn from their mistakes (as well as how important measuring ingredients is when it comes to the final product!) is one of the best things we can do as parents.
Here are a few ways you might want to celebrate Bake for Family Fun month.
Bake something from your favorite book. Try a Dr. Seuss recipe, something from Harry Potter, or perhaps one of Peeta Mellark’s famous cakes from The Hunger Games. Be creative in making up your own recipe, or simply modify one you already have (such as adding food coloring) with your imagination.
Make it an extended family affair. Have your child call up some relatives and ask about their favorite baked good recipes. This will allow him or her to connect with relatives while learning about new foods. Or, host a baked potluck where everyone brings a baked good—from a hearty lasagna to a decadent cake—and have a delicious early-year family reunion. Alternatively, have one with local friends or a playdate group.
Bake something and donate it. Give it to a shelter, a Ronald McDonald House, wherever you can think of that will be in need of it. Give it to an elderly neighbor who would be grateful for the meal—or invite him or her over for dinner. Host a bake sale for your favorite charity, school group, or cause.
Serve only baked items for a week. See how creative you can get, how limiting it might be to not have a stove or microwave, and simply how far you can take it.