The month of February is perfect for teaching kids the importance of baking, the tools necessary to complete basic tasks, and the science behind favorite bakery recipes. The Home Baking Association has a month-long baking activity list broken down by the week in celebration for Bake for Family Fun month. It is geared toward kids between the ages of preschool and the 4th grade.

The Bake for Family Fun Month was created by the Home Baking Association, a non-profit organization whose mission is to "Promote home baking by providing educators tools and knowledge to perpetuate future generations of home bakers."
Tips for baking with kids:
- Be on hand when they cook or bake
- Teach them the basic kitchen rules
- Wash hands before cooking or handling food
- Read the recipe before starting it and assemble all the ingredients, pans, and utensils
- Clean as you go
- Assist them with hot items, and get them in the habit of using oven mitts
- Show them the elements to a recipe (ingredients, procedure)
- Demonstrate basic measurement - older kids can handle fractions well and adding them up
- Demonstrate basic techniques - they may not know the difference between 'beat in' or 'fold in'
Images above: Courtesy morguefile and Home Baking Association.


