Brownie Baking Class is in Session
“Lover of All Things Chocolate” is written on Sammy’s personalized apron. So it was only fitting that I sign him up for a Brownie Baking class. The thought of him making chewy, delicious, fudge brownies from scratch, was appealing to us! Sammy’s not the only lover of all things chocolate in our home. If I could have chocolate every day of the year, I would. As for my husband Randy…he prefers cheesecake but will have chocolate on occasion.
As I homeschool Sammy, real life experiences baking in our kitchen frequently happen. Children love to bake and create edible treats! Recently, Sammy found a recipe for a smoothie. So we made it. It was delicious and healthy. Fun in the kitchen with children baking is also educational. And on this given day, Sammy was ready to pour flour, cocoa powder, and sugar, and crack some eggs! Oh! And it was the perfect start of an awesome homeschool day! The baking class started at 10:00 AM which meant Brownies for Breakfast! You can’t beat that!
Baking is a Fun Way for Children to Learn
Homeschooling Sammy provides enjoyment and education with the making of memories that will last a lifetime. As he creates edible delights that never last long in the kitchen, he is grasping knowledge and content. Math, science, language, literacy skills, fine-motor, gross-motor skills and more, occur naturally at a comfortable pace. Life-skills are setting in and senses are being stimulated. Learning is relaxed and personal. Sammy asks questions, I assist him if needed, and he takes charge and is full of joy. This is what I love about experiential learning. Children learn by doing. There is something special about children learning with real life experiences rather than on a worksheet. And the relationship building and bonding that occurs is priceless.
At age 5, Sammy likes to name some of his favorite edible foods which he has made from scratch. They are pizza, muffins, cupcakes, and apple-pie. And trust me when I say that all have been delectable!
Virtual Learning Baking Classes for Kids
Whether your child is a novice or aspiring chef, virtual baking classes for kids offer many advantages.
Just as it is important for children to prep on the day of the virtual baking class, it is also good to prepare in advance. Sammy and I work as a team collaborating. It is important to distinguish that he is the head baker and I am his assistant. This means we read the recipe together and create a grocery shopping list after Sammy first takes inventory of what our kitchen may already have in stock. When we travel to the supermarket, Sammy holds the list and I let him take the lead in searching for the ingredients needed. Safety is always a concern so I make sure to practice secure measures.
An additional advantage of children taking virtual classes is that they get to do so in the convenience of their home. The setting is comfortable and cozy and the familiarity of essential bakeware and cooking utensils is second nature. Sammy understands that if he needs to obtain a measuring cup, mixing bowls, measuring spoons, eggs from the refrigerator, and baking soda, he knows exactly where each item is located. What remains is to dress the part with his personalized apron and baker’s hat. As his assistant baker, I also get dressed in my personal apron and hat. We then set up the laptop and wash our hands again.
It's Showtime!
It’s showtime! The teacher for this particular class is one he has had before so that is satisfying. She is also comfortable working with children and answers questions they have. Explicit instructions are given in an inviting tone of voice and she operates at a lovely pace waiting for every little baker to give a thumbs-up when they have completed a certain task. Parents and caregivers are off camera but adjacent to our little bakers to assist. Another advantage of virtual baking classes for kids is the wealth of knowledge they acquire. In this particular session, I appreciated the various culinary techniques of cracking an egg that Sammy’s teacher taught him! “I” even learned a new strategy!
Brownies for Breakfast!
Once the batter was tasted and the brownies had baked, it was time for the big reveal! Once again, Outschool, the virtual website offering this particular class did not disappoint. Sammy’s homemade brownies were scrumptious! Randy, Sammy and I devoured half of them soon after they had cooled off!
The cost of the virtual Brownie Baking class was $10.00. Sammy’s class was at 10:00 AM but there were additional time offerings in afternoons, evenings, and on weekends. This is another aspect of Outschool that I highly value. Children and parents/caregivers can find classes that suit their specific time schedules.
Well, that is it for Sammy the Baker. We are currently looking at recipes in a cookbook for kids. Sammy has his eye and finger on a chocolate swirl cake and s’more cupcakes! Maybe we will see you in baking class!
Until then… bon appetit!
I love Chef Sammy and those brownie look delicious! My grandson enjoyed helping me cook doing his summer visit😍
I bet your grandson enjoyed assisting you in the kitchen this summer when he visited Gloria! It is always wonderful having another set of eyes and hands, and another mouth to taste, conversation, and bonding! Thank you for reading my latest blog post. Sammy’s brownies were delicious!
Yummy Yummy Blog Lesley! Sammy is an Absolute Delight!
I can tell he was serious about learning, listening and doing. He has dynamic concentration skills. I know his brownies were Delicious!
Fantastic pictures too!
I love seeing the one of him peering into the closed oven, patiently anticipating the rewards of his labor. Kudos to Sammy!
Thank you Gloria! You have commented on every blog post! I can’t thank you enough for supporting WatchMonkeyMama!! Sammy has demonstrated excellent concentration skills for as long as I can remember. He loved solving puzzles at age 3 and now it’s LEGO’s in addition to puzzles. He shows the same sharp focus when baking. Oh! the brownies were absolutely delicious!
This is so awesome! Sammy will appreciate every experience that you have shared with him.
Thank you Natalie! I am so thankful that God has given us Sammy and that I get to enjoy these experiences of fun, play and education with him each and every day!
I love that Sammy is wearing 2 different socks. 😊 You are teaching such practical skills we need for a lifetime. Some of those skills I never learned at a young age. Can you share the baking class info with me?
LOL… Sammy started intentionally wearing mix match socks a few months ago. He loves to show variety as part of his style and we love it. Thank you for your kind words. I love the practical life skills Sammy is learning. The class on Outschool is titled “Littlest Chef Baking School: Let’s Bake Brownies. I highly recommend it!
Yummy! Sammy and you are teaching us all☺️
Thanks Jennifer! Sammy’s brownies were indeed yummy and gooey and delicious and scrumptious and… LOL… Seriously, I love your sweet (no pun intended) remarks!