By Andy Merrett 
Sep 17, 2007

Baking: the latest craze for kids?

According to a recent press release, there’s a foolproof way to keep their kids away from the computer and TV over Christmas.

Baking.

Sure, it’s an advert for “Whimsical Decoratifs”, a fancy brand name for American sprinkles, but statistics show that sales of baking ingredients – flour, icing sugar, decorative sprinkles, and baking powder – grew by 25% in the UK over the past year.

The press release is also keen to point out the educational benefits of baking, as well as pointing to celebrity chefs, including Tana Ramsey and Nigella Lawson, who extol the virtues of home baking.

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Baking is not just a fun activity, but it can also be educational. Reading recipes aloud, and choosing and weighing ingredients help to develop reading and mathematical skills. Younger children can learn to tell the time to find out when the food is ready, and all children learn about patience in waiting for their cake or biscuits to bake in the oven. Most important of all, the act of cooking with a child bonds the family together and gives a powerful boost to your child’s self-confidence. Even very young children can get involved with baking, mixing ingredients or greasing trays.

So there you have it. Put away the Playstation and get baking. It’s what parents and kids have been doing for years.