FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

what does  a cooking class  look like?

Each four-class session consists of both savory and sweet recipes that incorporate cooking techniques, recipe reading, nutrition and an academic component aimed at addressing communication skills. Our culinary curriculum is designed to enhance skills, knowledge, and confidence.


Each class highlights: 

  • Key cooking vocabulary is introduced in kid-friendly terms.
  • Recipes that are delicious and achievable.
  • Nutrition information
  • A spotlight on skills and techniques such as knife skills, kneading, grating and measuring. ​(All utensils are kid-safe: We use cut-resistant gloves when grating/peeling and nylon/plastic serrated knives for practicing knife skills)                            ​ ​

how long is each class?

Each class is 1 1/2 hours in length.  This gives us time to review the recipe, discuss safety rules, cook (and taste) something delicious, highlight new vocabulary, and clean up.  If time permits, we will play a food-themed game or read a story that ties in with the theme of our class. 

how do you handle food allergies?

We take allergies seriously, however we teach with a variety of foods and can not guarantee an allergy-free kitchen. Allergens may be present at our facility and cross-contact can easily occur.  Please consider your child’s safety for airborne allergies and severe allergies that can be triggered by contamination of the allergen on cooking surfaces before registering them for cooking classes.  


We do our best to create recipes that are fun, safe, and enjoyable, however, please note the following:

  • *We do not use tree nuts in our recipes. When a nut butter is called for, we substitute it with sun butter (made from sunflower seeds).
  • *While we avoid tree nuts, we cannot guarantee that certain ingredients we purchase were not processed in facilities where tree nuts may have been present.
  • *We are unable to accommodate gluten allergies with substituted ingredients.
  • *We are unable to use egg and dairy substitutes in our recipes.
  • *We make every effort to accommodate vegetarian diets when possible; however, certain recipes do not lend themselves well to substitutions, and we may not always be able to provide an alternative.

how many students are in a class?

Class sizes will vary; however, there will be no more than 10 students in a class. This allows us to maintain a high level of attention to each student and a quality class experience. Classes are broken up into two age groups: 8-12 years (10-11:30 a.m.) and 10-15 years (12-1:30 pm) 

what is your cancelation/make-up policy?

Due to our rental agreement, it is not possible to offer makeup classes for individual students. If the instructor cancels, every effort will be made to reschedule, otherwise a partial refund will be provided for that class. If there is inclement weather, we will offer a rescheduled class. Please exercise your best judgement in the event of illness. If your child has a fever, cough or runny nose, please refrain from having them attend class. Handling food when ill is a health hazard in any food/cooking related environment!​

what do i need to bring to class?

Children are required to bring their apron and binder to every class (purchased separately for $15--a one time fee).  Please provide your child with a water bottle labeled with their name and filled with water only.  All ingredients for recipes and equipment will be provided by the program.  

how much does a session cost?

Sessions are $185 and include 4 classes, each 1.5 hours in length (six total hours of class time per session).  An additional one time fee of $15 is also required for The Kidz Kitchen apron and binder.

​why do I need to buy a binder?

​The binder is a one time purchase that will be used to keep recipes, activity pages and helpful handouts related to cooking techniques and visual resources related to measuring, knife skills and nutrition.  The apron and binder will be issued at the first class and must be brought to every class.

how should students dress for class?

Short sleeves and closed toe shoes should be worn for safety purposes. Long hair should be pulled back (or please bring a hair accessory to secure it back.)  The Kidz Kitchen apron will help protect clothing from splashes and spills, however cooking is messy business, so there is no guarantee that garments will stay clean. ​

where are you located?

The Kidz Kitchen is conveniently located off Route I-295 in Mercerville, New Jersey at Grace-St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
(See OUR LOCATION tab for directions)  The kitchen is equipped with professional ovens and is inspected annually by the township.  Adjacent to the kitchen is a room with banquet tables and chairs that we utilize for class instruction.  Restrooms are located off the banquet room. 

do parents stay during the class?

This is a drop off class. Parents are asked to walk their child(ren) in to the class and return when the class is complete. Please pick up your child promptly, as we may be preparing for other classes after yours in completed. 

are children required to eat what they make?

Children are encouraged to taste what they make.  Children are more inclined to taste a particular food when they observe their peers enjoying it or when they take pride in preparing it independently! A study from Cornell University in 2015 found that when kids prepared a salad themselves, they were FIVE TIMES more likely to eat it!  Meal prepping allows for a gradual introduction of different flavors and textures, giving children the opportunity to explore foods at their own pace. Through this hands-on involvement, children not only become more open to trying new foods but also gain a sense of accomplishment and ownership over their meals.

what type of foods do you make?

A balance of both savory and sweet recipes will be made during our four week sessions.  Salads, soups, desserts, snacks, smoothies, dips, dressings, breads and more will be explored. 

are you  inclusive of all children?

The Kidz Kitchen is owned and operated by a speech-language pathologist with thirty years of experience in public and private schools. We welcome and encourage all children to attend our classes. When filling out the registration form, please be sure to indicate any information regarding learning or physical disabilities. This information will be kept confidential and helps us ensure that we can provide accommodations and support for a safe and enjoyable experience for your child. 

Examples of information you may want to share include: (dyslexia, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensory processing disorders, motor impairments, any specific needs or accommodations your child may require.)


how are you working on communication skills?

  • There are so many communication skills naturally embedded in the cooking process! As your child is having fun creating recipes, they will also be strengthening their language skills!
  • As we explore new culinary skills, ingredients, utensils and descriptions, we will address new vocabulary related to the foods, tools and techniques specific to the recipe of the day.  
  • Direction-following, sequencing, and comprehension skills will be reinforced as we complete the steps in a recipe. 
  • Critical thinking skills will be strengthened as we experiment with different ingredients and flavor combinations, encountering challenges with ingredients and utensils while devising creative solutions, and understanding the cause-and-effect relationships that result from various choices made during the cooking process.  
  • Social skills will be addressed as the children interact during class while learning the value of cooperation, teamwork, and sharing as they prepare their recipes. 
  • Additionally, students will be introduced to "Food for Thought" illustrations. We'll discuss these humorous, language-filled, food-themed pictures and explore the meanings behind them — a great way to work on humor, figurative language, and multiple meanings.
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