Between work, school runs, clubs and family commitments, many parents are finding it increasingly difficult to pass on practical kitchen skills at home. Yet as conversations around ultra-processed foods and healthy eating continue to grow, cooking remains one of the most important life skills a child can learn.
Now, families in Swansea and Gower will have a new opportunity to get children cooking, as award-winning children's cookery school Cook Stars launches local classes for ages 2β17.
Parents understand the value of cooking, but finding the time to teach it can be challenging,
said Rosan Bernards, who is bringing Cook Stars to the area.
Our classes give children the chance to develop confidence in the kitchen, learn practical skills and discover that cooking can be fun.
Cook Stars offers hands-on classes where every child prepares their own dish from scratch to take home. Classes are available for:
Cook Stars Minis (2 - 5yrs)
Cook Stars Juniors (5 - 11yrs)
Cook Stars Academy (11 - 17yrs)
All ingredients, equipment, aprons, packaging, recipe cards and a snack are provided, making it easy for busy families to take part.
The programme promotes a balanced and positive approach to food, combining home-cooked recipes made with simple ingredients and occasional treats. With Rosan's background in nutrition and early-years food, children are encouraged to explore new flavours and cuisines, develop practical kitchen skills and build a positive relationship with food while gaining confidence in the kitchen.
Safety and inclusion are central to every class, with trained, DBS-checked leaders and allergy-aware recipes that can often be adapted where needed.
Rosan added:
Children are often far more capable in the kitchen than adults expect. One of the best things we see is children taking their new skills home and becoming more interested in helping with family meals. When children help prepare their own food, they're often much more willing to try and enjoy new ingredients.
In addition to weekly classes, Cook Stars offers pre-school, after-school and weekend classes, school holiday workshops, as well as children's birthday parties.
To celebrate the launch, the school offers a special introductory offer for new sign-ups. More information can be found on the school's official website.