Why I Opened a Cooking School for Children

“Why would you open cooking classes for children?”

That’s the question my friends often ask me. Most of them gasp when they hear the idea.

“Why, Serena? Why?” they say.

To many people, the thought of cooking with children sounds messy, chaotic, and exhausting. And yes — sometimes it is! But to me, it feels completely natural.

Because cooking has always been part of who I am.

A Love for Cooking That Started Early

Since I was a child, I’ve loved cooking as a hobby. Not just a little — I really love it. I remember baking a rainbow cake and a yummy mocha cake for my Dad’s birthday. 

I think about recipes before I fall asleep. My favourite binge videos are cooking shorts on YouTube and Instagram. Watching people create something delicious in the kitchen has always fascinated me.

At university, I studied e-commerce and information systems. 

Looking back, I never imagined that cooking and teaching would eventually become my career.

Discovering My Passion for Teaching

After graduating, I returned to Indonesia, where my parents live. At the time, IT job opportunities were quite limited, so I began teaching English as a Foreign Language.

Unexpectedly, I discovered that I loved teaching.

Helping students learn, watching them gain confidence, and seeing their excitement when they understood something new was incredibly rewarding. I continued teaching for seven years.

During that time, I also got married and eventually moved to Sri Lanka.

Cooking With My Daughter

When my daughter was little, she was quite shy.

When she was three years old, our family moved to the United States for two years. Unlike in many Asian households, where domestic help is more common, I had to manage all the housework myself.

That was when I started inviting my daughter to join me in the kitchen.

We began with simple things: muffins, roasted cauliflower, smoothies, and other easy recipes. To my surprise, she absolutely loved it. She became my little kitchen helper.

Whenever I was cooking, I would give her small tasks — peeling potatoes, mixing ingredients, or helping measure things. Every time I asked, she would do it with the biggest smile.

What started as a way to keep her occupied quickly became something special that we shared together.

The Idea That Changed Everything

Around that time, I came across an article in The New York Times that said cooking is one of the few activities that teaches children almost all the essential life skills they need.

It made perfect sense.

Cooking teaches patience, problem-solving, creativity, teamwork, responsibility, and confidence. It also helps children become more independent and comfortable with food.

That was when a simple thought came to mind:

I love teaching. I love cooking. Why not combine the two?

My First Cooking Classes for Kids

Curious to try it out, I volunteered to teach cooking at a local preschool.

I won’t lie — the preparation was time-consuming. And the cleaning afterward? Even more so!

But the children’s reactions made everything worth it.

Their little faces lit up when we prepared pancakes. Their eyes sparkled when they watched pizza dough rise. The excitement in the room was  contagious.

Seeing their curiosity and enthusiasm made me realise how powerful cooking can be for children.

Starting My Own Cooking Classes

Later, our family moved to Singapore, where my son was born.

When he turned two, I decided to start offering free cooking classes for children on weekends. I wanted to see if other families might enjoy the experience as much as we did.

The response was overwhelming.

Parents were excited about the idea, and children loved the classes. That was when I realised this could become something bigger.

So I registered a business and began running classes from my home studio.

At first, about ten children joined every week.

Where We Are Today

What started as a small experiment has grown into something truly meaningful.

Today, we run extracurricular cooking programmes in International schools, and we now teach 56 children every week.

We are incredibly grateful that so many children love our classes — and even more grateful that many of them keep coming back.

For me personally, this journey has also given me something very special: a great sense of joy to see the children’s energy and pride to create something for themselves and for their family. 

Also, this gives me flexibility and time with my own children. When they have school holidays, I have holidays too.

Why It Matters

Teaching children to cook is about much more than food.

It’s about building confidence. It’s about learning independence. It’s about creativity, patience, and life skills.

And sometimes, it’s simply about the joy of seeing a child proudly say:

“I made this myself.”

And honestly, there is nothing more rewarding than that.