Holiday fun
The holidays are perfect for spending quality time with your child. Gift giving. Watching holiday movies and tv shows. Going on vacation.
Baking with your child
But if you’d like another fun way to share the holiday with your child, why don’t you include him in some holiday baking? He can make somewhat of a mess and not get in trouble, you can take some cute pictures, and whether or not the results are good enough to serve to other people, the two of you will have some delicious treats for yourselves! Seriously there are some great benefits to cooking with your autistic child.
Safety
First things first: safety. Safety is always the number one priority when it comes to cooking. Some things to watch out for: it’s probably best if you don’t let your child anywhere near the oven. Same thing goes for the microwave. Unless you want to teach knife skills don’t let him touch a knife. But if one of your goals is to get him used to cutlery why not start with a butter knife? Also, it’s a very good idea to buy a cut resistant glove.
Things to consider
For a child with autism, cooking safely and for enjoyment will be a unique experience. Certain issues will come into play that may not be a big deal for a neurotypical child. But in order for cooking to be fun and immersive, take these things into consideration.
Sensory issues
Children with autism often have sensory issues. Sensory issues means that the child is highly sensitive to what they hear, see, touch, taste and smell. When it comes to cooking, touch, taste and smell would probably be the biggest concerns. Perhaps your child doesn’t like certain textures, or is fussy about being dirty. You can also purchase food grade gloves. That way he can touch the food without getting dirty and be open to experiencing different textures that normally gross him out.
Taste
Another issue could be taste. This is why you should have your child involved in baking in the first place. Some autistic children are picky eaters. But getting to prepare and work with food helps expose them to food that they would never otherwise even want on their plate. Sometimes it’s even enough to get them to actually taste the food…in small doses. Going from picky eating to trying a small piece of something new is definitely a step in the right direction.
Smell
Sense of smell is a tricky problem. Your child doesn’t have to touch something or eat something, but you can’t stop them from smelling something once it’s in the air. If you see him get seriously irritated with a particular smell then just leave him out of that step in the process.
Make it simple
Now let’s look at the cooking process itself. Let’s say that one dish will take 6 steps to make. You may need to simplify the steps to make it easier for your child to follow them. Instead of 6, maybe you need 8, or 12. You might have to simplify the list of ingredients as well. The point is to make cooking as easily accessible and fun for your child as possible.
What’s the point?
At this point you may be wondering, “Why should I even put my child through this difficult process? It sounds like it could be very challenging and disturbing for him.” Yes, all of that is true. But the rewards are also great.
The benefits
Getting a picky eater to try different foods is a huge win when you’ve been struggling with it for years. Cooperating, listening and following instructions are all vital social skills you can teach just by having him help you in the kitchen. And learning how to cook is a valuable skill to help him (or anyone really) survive when he’s on his own.
Maybe you don’t want to deal with baking for the first lesson, and that’s okay. There are plenty of no-bake recipes that you can make. The point is that you have fun, learn and spend time together. Getting to eat a delicious dessert is just icing on the cake.