Killarney cooking class teaches youth responsibility

Learning to cook, developing good kitchen sense and gaining culinary confidence are life skills that will serve tweens and teens well as they take their first steps into adulthood.

Killarney Recreation is once again offering the chance to gain those valuable skills with The Babysitter’s Kitchen, a class for young people ages 10 years and up. The two-hour class starts at noon on Jan. 25 at the Shamrock Centre. The $30 cost includes all materials and ingredients.

Benefits abound for young people when they learn to cook. First, they learn safety around appliances and kitchen cleanliness. Second, safe habits in a clean kitchen provide the right space for learning and practising good nutritional habits. And third, they learn culinary techniques such as basic knife skills, how to measure ingredients, how to manage food on the stove and how to serve. And once those basics are in hand, they have the tools for future problem solving, including enough information to know where to start looking for solutions on their own.

From a developmental perspective, kitchen skills are an important step on the road to successful independence. A young adult who can put a meal on the table for themselves is more likely to develop a broader interest in trying new foods, and has a stronger chance of steering clear of fast food. Making those good decisions in the grocery store can keep them healthy all their lives.

And while they are still in their teens, a babysitter who can safely provide snacks or a light meal for their young charges is an especially welcome helper to the parents who might hire them.

Mandy Alexander, the recreation director at the Shamrock Centre, said the Babysitter’s Kitchen class runs with a maximum of 12 participants and the classes almost always run at full capacity.

She said the inspiration came from looking at the centre’s existing programming.

“We have run adult cooking classes and classes for younger children, but it seemed there was a gap in the programming for middle-schoolers who were still too young for home ec or weren’t able to take it because they were in band or other classes,” she said.

“Together with our instructor, we came up with the idea for a class that focuses on cooking for kids that are ready for more responsibility in the kitchen.”

She said it is likely the recreation centre will run classes in the spring and fall with the potential to add a few in the summer, while students are out of school.

The two-hour class will give the students a few beginner-friendly recipes to prepare as meals and snacks.

“It teaches basic kitchen skills that builds both their confidence and gives peace of mind to the parents,” she said.

Youth really do appreciate learning to cook. It gives them a chance to experience real-world adult responsibility. A class with their age-mates helps to keep the serious kitchen business fun and light-hearted. Alexander said feedback from participants has been very positive.

“The kids have a great time and love going home showing what they’ve created. Parents love that the kids are learning practical skills they are able to bring home and use on a daily basis,” she said.

She said the strong enrolment reflects community interest and genuine need.

“Families and young people are looking for practical, confidence-building skills, and kitchen safety and basic cooking are such important life skills for babysitters. Parents want to know their children are in capable, well-prepared hands, and babysitters themselves want to feel confident in their role. The response we’ve seen shows there’s a clear demand for this kind of hands-on, practical training in our community,” she said.

Parental interest in the Babysitter’s Kitchen in the Killarney community might be taken as an indicator that there could be a need for this kind of programming throughout the Westman region, something other community clubs and recreation centres might want to explore.

“Based on what we’ve seen, I think this class would do well in most communities. The interest we’ve had reflects a shared need for practical, confidence-building skills for babysitters,” Alexander said.

“A full commercial kitchen isn’t required — most community or school kitchens with basic appliances and cooking tools are more than adequate. From an organizing perspective, the key is having a knowledgeable and engaging instructor who really enjoys working with youth. With the right space and guidance, it’s a very achievable program for many communities.

For more information and to register call the Shamrock Centre recreation office at 204-523-7247, or email Recreation Director — Shamrock Centre admin@shamrockcentre.ca

» wendyjbking@gmail.com