When it comes to family bonding activities, it can be hard to know what everyone will enjoy. We all have different interests, and for some, just sitting in the same room together is a tough ask. It’s not always easy to get the entire family bonding over one activity – especially if your family includes three (or more) generations.
Why try cooking? If you enjoy cooking yourself, you know that it can be just as therapeutic as any other hobby. Cooking together is a great way to bond with your family members. You get to spend time with them, learn new skills, and create lasting memories. It makes the experience of preparing food more enjoyable, memorable, and valuable to our lives.
If you have an older family member who really enjoys food, they can help teach everyone how to cook more sophisticated dishes or familial recipes. If the children are old enough, they can help with the prep work by chopping vegetables or measuring ingredients. If the kids are younger, this could be a team project: older children could read the recipe and help follow the instructions while younger children are occupied with simple tasks like stirring or handing things to the grown-ups.
Everyone is assigned a task and must do their part to create the shared food. This is a great way for everyone to learn something new while they bond over something they’re all doing together. When everyone has their own role in making this meal come together, they’ll feel much more involved in the outcome.
The best way to pass down family recipes is not just through written records, but also by teaching younger generations how to make them. This can be a great bonding experience for all sides of the family, as well as a chance to share history and memories. Not only will children learn how to cook these traditional dishes, but they will also get an understanding of why they are essential to your family’s history.
The holidays are a perfect time to involve everyone in the family in preparing a meal. Try asking an older relative or parent to teach you how they made your favorite dish back when you were younger. Cooking together can be a great way to share food, culture, and traditions with those who are close to you.
The whole family can help by preparing food or setting the table, and also by involving your children in something as simple as rolling pie crusts or stirring gravy. By getting involved with cooking, they’ll learn valuable skills that will contribute toward their independence when they get older.
The important thing is being present while doing it, rather than focusing on perfection or getting it exactly right.