CAVEAT – This article does not advocate for allowing technology at the breakfast, lunch, or dinner tables when meals are being served in the kitchen. One of our longstanding tech rules is clear: no technology during meals – absolutely none! This article is about utilizing tech in the kitchen to help in the preparation of meals.
As parents and caregivers, we often hear about the potential downsides of allowing technology into family time, especially in the home. A recent article we came across criticized the idea of enticing kids into the kitchen using their technology, suggesting it might hinder rather than enhance parent-child communication. While this perspective may hold merit in certain scenarios, it overlooks an important nuance – “how technology is used in the home matters far more than the mere fact that it is used.”
If a child is brought into the kitchen only to be left scrolling through social media or playing games while a parent or caregiver cooks, we would agree that it’s easy to see why this approach would fail to foster meaningful communication. Passive consumption, whether it’s endless doom-scrolling, zoning out on a video, or playing an online game can “sometimes” create a barrier rather than a positive bridge between parent, caregivers, and your child.
But what if technology is reimagined as a shared, interactive tool? Imagine a parent, caregiver, and child using a tablet or phone to follow a recipe they discovered online. Together, they gather ingredients, measure portions, and experiment with techniques. In this context, the device becomes a facilitator of connection and learning rather than a distraction.
The key difference lies in intention. When we integrate technology into family activities with purpose, it can enhance rather than detract from the experience. Using a smartphone or tablet to research and prepare a recipe together transforms the device into a tool for:
- Collaboration: Deciding which recipe to try fosters teamwork and shared decision-making.
- Creativity: Cooking together encourages innovation – perhaps tweaking a recipe or inventing a new twist.
- Learning: Following a recipe involves reading, comprehension, math (measuring), and even science (learning how ingredients interact).
This collaborative approach doesn’t just lead to what we hope will be a delicious meal, it can create memories, strengthens bonds, and shows kids that technology can be used in a balanced, constructive, and creative way.
This lesson extends far beyond the kitchen. It’s a reminder that technology itself isn’t inherently good or bad. It’s just a tool, and its impact depends on how we use it. By modelling intentional and positive uses of technology, parents and caregivers can help their children develop healthy digital habits that prioritize connection, creativity, and problem-solving over just passive consumption.
Here are 5 practical tips for family tech use in the kitchen that we recommend:
1/ Plan Together: Let your child help choose a recipe or research dishes from different cultures online.
2/ Assign Roles: Use the device to read instructions while delegating tasks like chopping or stirring to each family member.
3/ Encourage Questions: Look up the answers to “Why does bread need yeast?” or “What’s the difference between baking soda and baking powder?” together.
4/ Document the Journey: Use the device to take photos or videos of your cooking process. Turn it into a mini family project to share with relatives or keep as a memory
5/ Reflect: After the meal, talk about what you enjoyed, what you learned, and how you might adapt the recipe next time.
The next time you hear someone criticize technology’s role in family life, remember this – it’s not the technology itself that determines its impact, it’s how we choose to use it. With intentionality and creativity, even a smartphone in the kitchen can spark joy, encourage inter-personal connection, foster a life skill (cooking), and turn everyday moments into opportunities for growth and togetherness.
The kitchen can offer a unique opportunity to teach youth how to use technology with purpose and intention – the choice is yours to do so as the parent or caregiver. By turning devices into tools for collaboration, creativity, and learning, parents and caregivers can model positive digital habits that extend far beyond cooking.
Instead of viewing technology as a hindrance to family connection, reframe it as a bridge – a way to engage, bond, and create lasting memories together. Whether it’s researching a recipe, solving culinary questions, or documenting your cooking adventures, these activities demonstrate how technology can be a catalyst for meaningful interactions.
Ultimately, it’s not the presence of technology that matters, but the purpose behind its use. By approaching family activities like cooking with intentionality, we can empower our children to see technology as more than just a tool for consumption – it can be a source of connection, creativity, and lifelong learning.
So, go ahead and invite your kids into the kitchen with their devices. Not to zone out, but to engage, create, and connect. The memories (and meals) you make together will be well worth it.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
