Dalene Gourley: tutor at LittleCooks on the new reports revealing Kiwi kids don't know how to cook

New research reveals more Kiwi kids are losing out on learning key life skills, with cooking at the top of the list.

77 percent of parents say it's vital for children to learn to cook before they grow up and leave home, but only 21 percent get their kids involved in the kitchen.

Just 60 percent of 13-17 year olds can cook three or more meals, according to recent data.

LittleCooks tutor Dalene Gourley says many parents want to get their kids involved, but they don't feel they have the time, patience or know-how to make it work.

"I also think they feel that the kitchen will turn into chaos or that it's quicker to just do it themselves - and I can completely understand that."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
As I was telling you earlier, there's a little bit
of concern that not enough parents are teaching their kids
how to cook. Even though we say that we care
as parents, only twenty one percent of us are actually
actively involving kids at home. Just sixty percent of thirteen
to seventeen year olds can cook three or more dinner meals. Now,
little cooks teach kids at schools around the country, and
dulling Gooley is a chos to high dulling.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hi, Hi, Heather.

Speaker 1 (00:23):
This is just life, isn't it. Parents are busy, we're
working long hours, we're commuting, don't have the time to
teach kids. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Absolutely, I think the statistic you read, the gap tells
us a lot. I think many parents want to involve
their kids but feel that they possibly don't have the time,
the patients, or the know how to make it work.
I also think they feel that the kitchen will turn
into chaos, or that it's quickt to just do it themselves.
And I can completely understand that, is it?

Speaker 1 (00:51):
I mean, we always run the risk of catastrophizing something
like this. Is it really the end of the world?
I mean, obviously we want to teach the kids if
we can, but is it the end of the world
in an internet age where they can just go on
the internet and learn how to cook in the same
way that you can go on the internet and learn
how to do DIY.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
Look, I think the earlier they learn, I do think
it's really important. The earlier they learn it sets them
up for successful less run in their lives. I think
the basic skills can be taught as early as five
or six. And in fact, it's a really good time
to spend with your kids in the kitchen getting them
off screens. Isn't that actually more important right now? I

(01:31):
think it has a host of benefits learning how to
cook early.

Speaker 1 (01:34):
Okay, if we want to teach the kids, what do
we start. What's a good meal to start with? Or not?
Not necessarily to start with them, you probably want to
start with boiling an egg. But what's a good deal.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
I think it's it depends on how young the kids are.
Some of the kids that I'm teaching at Little Cooks
are six years old, so the real littleis are washing
veggies and they're learning how to peel potatoes and prepping vegetables.
As they get a little bit older, teach them how
to cut an onion properly, teach them how to make
an omelet. It's the real basics. It doesn't have to

(02:06):
be fancy, and you'd be so surprised how capable these
kids really are if you just spend a little bit
of time and it doesn't have to be a lot
of time. The course that we do is an hour
and we manage to whip up something pretty pretty good
every time. Yeah, some of the things we make are
like apple crumble muffins. We've made chickpea curry with nane

(02:27):
made from scratch and all the kids get stuck in
good stuff.

Speaker 1 (02:31):
Well, don't you come around to my house if you
want to, Darling any time, any time, really appreciate it.
Might look after yourself, Darling Gauley tutorant Little Cooks.

Speaker 2 (02:39):
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