Many celebrations throughout the year are marked by families and friends communicating their love in preparing their favorite dishes or meals for one another. Think about your fondest memories and they probably involve food in some way. Cooking is a fun and engaging activity that can bring families together, and when it comes to cooking with a child with autism, the benefits can be even greater.
Children with autism can often have difficulty with social skills and communication, but cooking can provide a safe and structured environment for them to interact, connect and learn the necessary life skills that will support their independence into adulthood.
Here are some tips on how you and your ASD child can experience the positive benefits of cooking together:
Safety First!
Before you get started, keep in mind that these are simply general suggestions. You as a parent, know your child best. Base your safety considerations on your child’s current skills and determine if these recommendations are appropriate for your child.
For example, it would not be safe for a child to use the stove if they’re unable to follow simple directions or if there is even a small chance they will touch the hot surface. Even something as simple as opening a hot oven door can come with the risk of burns. Teach your child what items in the kitchen are dangerous and how they could hurt them. Show them pictures or get real objects and model the appropriate behavior to use when around those specific items. You can also label or color code items that are “ok” to use and items that are “off-limits” when preparing and/or cooking food. Take time to thoroughly discuss kitchen safety so that you don’t put your child at risk of hurting themselves or others while cooking, and remember to have FUN!
Assess your child’s abilities.
As you probably know, autism spectrum disorder can manifest different symptoms in different children. Can your child understand measurements or is this a skill that needs to be improved? Do they know what “tbsp” and “tsp” represent or how to measure one-fourth (1/4) or one-third (1/3) cup? Be sure to consider the specific skills your child will need to complete a particular recipe before you start cooking. While you certainly know your child best, it’s always a good idea to coordinate with their ABA therapist to get the most accurate possible gauge of their initial cooking skills.
Focus on their favorite foods.
Consider what your child likes to eat when teaching them about cooking or working on life skills like preparing meals. Like with most children, teaching a child with autism is going to be much easier if you incorporate their interests and preferences. They’re more likely to stay focused and interested in what you are teaching them if you’re cooking something they know they like to eat.
Use basic recipes and visual supports.
Introduce your child to cooking by providing easy-to-follow recipes with basic ingredients. Provide simple instructions with pictures that represent each step of the process and or videos that make it easier for your child to follow along. For example, if you are teaching them how to make their own peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you start with a picture of gathering the ingredients and utensils (bread, jelly, peanut butter, and spoon for each as well as a plate to place the sandwich on) and then putting the bread on the plate and so on.
Provide prompts.
Prompting can help a child complete a task. You want your child to be successful while also encouraging them to be more independent by practicing a new skill on their own. Examples of prompts you might use include:
- Positional prompts (strategically placing items)
- Physical prompts (physically helping or guiding a child to complete a step in the process)
- Gestural prompts (using gestures, like pointing, in a way that tells the child what to do)
- Visual prompts (anything visually, like a picture or video, that the child can see and helps them complete a step)
- Verbal prompts (verbally explaining how to do something)
Consider sensory experiences.
Consider a child’s sensory experience as it relates to food. Some children with autism have sensory issues that could negatively impact their experience while cooking or preparing food. Some children cannot tolerate certain textures or smells of food they consume or touch. Sometimes, it’s helpful to compassionately teach children to overcome the things they find aversive while other times it’s important to accommodate these types of things and simply find alternative ways to encourage your child to develop cooking skills to support their quality of life and independence.
Fine Motor Skills.
Cooking involves a lot of fine motor skills such as chopping, stirring, and measuring ingredients. Fine motor skills are the skills involved with making small motor movements with our hands and fingers. Some of the fine motor skills required in cooking or preparing food could be challenging for some children with autism. To help children develop their fine motor skills, offer your child activities that require them to use their hands and fingers (even outside of cooking-related activities). You can also select cooking utensils and tools created to help people with fine motor skill difficulties. Start simple and work up to more difficult tasks. These activities help to develop hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and the ability to follow directions. Continue encouraging your children to practice these skills as they will be helpful as they grow into adulthood.
Enjoy the benefits.
You and your child can both enjoy the many benefits of cooking together.
- Encourages Social Interaction: Cooking with a child with autism provides an opportunity to engage in social interaction and improve social skills in a safe and fun environment. It allows them to learn how to take turns, share responsibilities, and communicate with others. This can be especially helpful for children who struggle with social skills.
- Expands Food Preferences: Involving your child in the cooking process can be a great way to introduce new foods and expand their preferences. When your child has a part in creating what they are going to eat they may be more willing to try new foods and flavors. This can be especially helpful for children who have food aversions or sensory issues.
- Increases Independence: Cooking requires a lot of planning, organization, and problem-solving that help teach children practical life skills. Learning how to follow a recipe, measure ingredients, and use kitchen tools safely are skills that can help your child become more independent while improving their executive function skills.
- Builds Self-Esteem: Cooking is a great way to build a child’s self-esteem. Successfully completing a task and being able to share the finished product with others can give your child a sense of accomplishment and pride. This is especially true for children who may have negative experiences in social settings like school and may struggle with academics, making friends, or other activities.
Cooking with your child can be a fun and rewarding experience that creates fond memories while providing many positive benefits, especially for children and families affected by autism. It provides an opportunity to engage in social interaction, enhances fine motor skills, expands food preferences, increases independence, and builds self-esteem. It’s a great way to spend quality time together while teaching important life skills your child can take into adulthood. So, what are you waiting for? Get in the kitchen and start cooking!
Have questions or need help finding an accredited ABA therapy? It’s never too early to start ABA therapy. Kids as young as two can benefit from the gold-standard treatment for autism.
Here at The Behavior Exchange, all of our programs and services, including One-on-One Therapy, Behavior Exchange Early Start (B.E.E.S.) for preschoolers, and Social Skills Groups for school-aged kids, are focused on social skills development in the context of a child’s individual goals.
Our hives in North Texas (Plano, Frisco, Prosper) and Boulder, Colorado are built to encourage learning and fun for children of all abilities.
For more information and to get started, email buddy@behaviorexchange.com or complete this contact form. We can help your child learn social skills and reach their full, meaningful potential!
