We’ve talked a lot about how beneficial cooking with kids can be and what better time than Thanksgiving to get started? There will be tons of cooking going on all day and an extra pair of hands in the kitchen is never a bad thing. Since a lot of people will be going in and out of the kitchen, try to give your kids simple tasks so you don’t have to constantly watch over them. Even at the ripe old age of 24, my parents will only entrust me with the jarred cranberry sauce.

Some easy tasks for them include snapping off the ends of green beans, mashing potatoes, stirring any ingredients together, and shucking corn. If you’re having appetizers, such as cheese and crackers, let them set it up. Washing produce is simple for young kids. Older children can be in charge of peeling. Desserts are another great opportunity as long as they aren’t near the oven. They can’t resist the allure of sneaking some dessert before it’s finished!

After dinner, it’s important to have them help clean up too. This will give them a sense of responsibility and accomplishment. Cleaning is never fun but it’s a big part of cooking so they’ll need a bit of practice. Cooking with kids will make this Thanksgiving a breeze.

We all know that cooking with children is a gateway to healthy eating, but it will also provide a happy family environment. The kitchen has always been an epicenter of love in my household and I’m sure it’s been one for other families as well. When you’re cooking with children, it’s a family activity. Children who spend more time with their parents are more likely to have a happier life.

Even if you’re a terrible cook and the meals never come out quite as you expected, it’s the memories and the bonding that will stick with your children. They may not remember how bad the casserole tasted, but they will remember how much fun it was making it with you.

Children who cook are also more likely to eat more nutritious foods since they  have prepared it themselves. Getting your kids to eat better is a struggle for many parents and this approach might prove useful. A child in control of the meal is more willing to eat the food. Healthy, active kids equals happy kids with better self-esteem.

Cooking with children can be a big self-confidence booster. What seven year old wouldn’t feel accomplished after making a big tray of lasagna? However, if your child spills something or makes a mistake, remain calm and be patient with him. Let your child know it’s okay, otherwise, he will start to feel self-conscious.

Try to make cooking a routine activity with your kids. You’ll be surprised to see how happy and well-adjusted they turn out!

We’re going to stick with the recent fall theme and give you some more delicious cooking ideas for kids. Every kid enjoys chocolate chip cookies and I’m sure you’ve whipped up a batch with them so many times they have the recipe memorized. Lets put a little fall twist on this classic recipe and add pumpkin to the mix. This yummy cooking idea for kids will keep them in a harvest mood all the way through Thanksgiving.

You’ll need:

• 1 cup softened butter or margarine
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup quick oats
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 cup cooked or canned pumpkin
• 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Add the cream, butter, and sugars to a mixing bowl. Then add the egg and the vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, oats, baking soda, and cinnamon. Gradually add your cream mixture to this bowl along with the pumpkin and chocolate chips. Stir well. Drop spoonfuls of the dough onto a baking sheet. Bake for about 12 minutes at 350 degrees.

The Australian version of “Junior MasterChef,” the reality children’s cooking show, started up last month, and not everyone is thrilled about it. (I’m not talking about myself, though it is somewhat disturbing to see kids half my age doing something like cooking so much better than I.) Some child psychologists have expressed concern that the stress of competition and disappointment over not winning could have debilitating effects on the kids.

Neuropsycho-therapist Trisha Stratford, who has worked on reality TV shows, said the environment was “too highly pressurized and children would become emotionally desensitized,” effectively creating stress that will “kill brain cells.”

Others, however, think the claim is bogus, pointing out that it’s important for children should develop healthy senses of competition and learn early on that while winning is fun and a great motivator, it’s not all-important.

”We’ve had spelling bee-style shows around for longer,” said Mark Dodds of the University of NWS, “and there is no evidence that they have a devastating effect on children.”

A psychologist is on set during tapings, as are the children’s Additionally, every child who is eliminated is awarded a prize of his or her own.

The kids are mostly ages 10-12, with one 9-year-old, and face such competitions as preparing “international” dishes, seafood dishes and meat dishes to see just how good these children’s cooking is.