Have you spent hours “playing restaurant” with your child? Do they beg to pour ingredients for you or ask to be in charge of mixing? If your child longs to be your sous-chef, is enthralled when eating at restaurants or enjoys writing out the menu for Tuesday night’s dinner, the culinary and food services industry might be where they find an exciting, fulfilling career.
An easy way to explore the culinary field is to take a trip to your kitchen! Depending on their age, your child can engage and help in different ways. For example, give your younger child a butter knife or spoon, a cutting board and something soft — bread, mushrooms, bananas, etc. — to chop while you’re cooking. For older kids, pick out a recipe and follow the steps together. They can learn new terms — like sauté, blanch, sift, etc. — and they’ll feel the pride of having created a tasty treat.
Another way to get into culinary exploration is to ask questions the next time your family goes to a restaurant. Encourage your child to ask everyone from the hostess to the waiter questions like:
If your kid isn’t comfortable doing this, ask these questions yourself and they’ll still hear the responses. Eating at restaurants with open kitchens or places where food is prepared in front of the table is a great way to expose them to chefs, too.
We've created the Cool Careers video series to give kids an in-depth look at exciting, high-demand careers in Kansas. Watch Episode #19 to see our Cool Careers Correspondent take a bite out of the restaurant industry in Pittsburg, Kansas!
From toddlers to teens, there are plenty of toys, games and activities that can help you dig into the culinary and food service industry:
