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Why group cooking activities in your daycare matter + an easy-to-use recipe

cooking activities in daycare

Group cooking activities are one of the simplest ways to bring connection, structure, and real learning into your home daycare. With one shared task, children are building confidence, learning to work together, and starting to understand what it means to be part of a group.

This blog post explores the benefits of group cooking activities in your daycare and tips to manage it on your own! Plus, you’ll find an easy banana muffin recipe at the end that we know your daycare kids will love.

Group cooking activities offer hands-on learning at its best

When children cook together, they naturally shift from “me” to “we.” In one shared activity, you’re helping them learn how to be part of a group by practicing to wait, take turns, and communicate their needs.

They’re also learning how to notice and respond to others, solve problems as they come up, and celebrate small wins together. By pouring an ingredient or watching the final result come together, each child plays a role in something that feels important. These skills are the foundation of how children learn, build relationships, and move through the world.

In mixed-age groups, this becomes even more powerful because younger children learn by watching and imitating, while older children build confidence by helping and leading.

Cooking brings learning to life in a way that’s hands-on, sensory, and engaging, because children are:

  • Feeling textures like flour, dough, and batter
  • Smelling and noticing how ingredients change
  • Watching cause and effect in real time
  • Using new words to describe what they’re doing

And when something spills, cracks, or turns out differently than expected, they’re learning how to pause, adjust, and try again. Inside your daycare, they’re beginning to understand that mistakes are part of the process, not something to fear. And that kind of confidence carries into everything else they do!

Tips to manage a group cooking activity

Running a group cooking activity by yourself can feel chaotic at times, but here are a few tips to help:

Set the tone before you start
Walk them through what’s going to happen so they know what to expect. A simple “first, next, then” goes a long way.

Make turns clear
Use a spoon, bowl, or even a “chef role” to show whose turn it is. This helps reduce frustration and keeps things fair.

Keep everyone involved
Talk through what’s happening, ask questions, and invite the group into the moment, even when they’re waiting.

Prep ahead when you can
Having ingredients ready and within reach keeps the flow going and minimizes downtime.

Keep safety simple and consistent
Let children handle the mixing and pouring, while you take care of anything involving heat. Clear boundaries help everyone feel secure.

The impact you make goes far beyond childcare

As a home daycare provider, you’re a steady part of a family’s support system.

Your home is a space where children feel safe and included because they’re learning, connecting, and building confidence through everyday moments with you.

Simple activities like cooking together give structure to the day, create shared experiences, and help children feel proud of what they’re able to do! At pickup, when a child says, “We made this today,” it usually isn’t really about the food (although delicious, and we know the parents love it), but it’s also about the child feeling a sense of accomplishment.

These are the moments that stay with families and shape how a child feels about their time in daycare. And they reflect the consistency, warmth, and care you bring into your space every day.

Show off your group activities on your Her Yes Club profile

This is your edge as a home daycare provider!

When you share group activities like cooking on your Her Yes Club profile, you’re giving parents a window into your day. You’re helping them picture their child in your care, not just being supervised, but participating, learning, and feeling like they belong.

You don’t need anything elaborate. A simple description of your group activities or a quick example of a baking day can go a long way!

Ready to do a group baking activity inside your daycare? Try this easy banana muffin recipe and share with us how it goes!

*Bonus: Easy Banana Muffin Recipe

From the kitchen of: Tessa, Her Yes Club’s Childcare Advisor

Ingredients:

  • 2 very ripe or frozen bananas – mashed
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup of vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup of maple syrup
  • 1 tsp of cinnamon
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp Lemon juice

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350 C
  • Mash bananas
  • Add in syrup, oil and egg and mix to blend
  • Add the cinnamon in here so it’s fully incorporated
  • Add in flour and mix just enough to combine
  • Add in baking soda with lemon juice on top to bubble, let it bubble for a moment then mix it in

Once the batter is ready, add 1 tbsp of batter to a mini muffin tray and bake for 12-15 minutes. If you’re using a regular sized muffin tray, bake for 20-25 minutes.

*Makes two dozen mini muffins or one dozen regular sized muffins.

Enjoy!

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