When school lets out for the summer, many parents begin asking the same question: “Now what?” How do we keep kids busy, engaged, and learning throughout the summer months? At the same time, many kids are looking forward to relaxing, sleeping in, and spending extra time on their favorite screens. While screens certainly have their place, summer also provides the perfect opportunity to unplug, explore new interests, and spend meaningful time together as a family.
Through 4-H and other youth programs, we often see that some of the most valuable learning happens away from a screen. Whether youth are building, creating, gardening, or cooking, hands-on experiences help develop confidence, responsibility, creativity, and communication skills. One of the best places for screen-free summer fun may actually be the kitchen.
From an early age, our children loved helping in the kitchen, and I was always happy to encourage them to try new things. Summers can become especially busy for both kids and parents, so we found a simple way to combine my need for kitchen help with their excitement for cooking. Each week during the summer, our kids took a turn planning one family meal. They chose the recipe, created the grocery list, and then worked alongside me to prepare the meal.
As a mom, I really enjoyed that time together. It gave me the opportunity to teach new cooking techniques, demonstrate how to safely use kitchen appliances, and help build confidence in their abilities. Some meals turned out better than others, but every experience became both a learning opportunity and a memory we still talk about today.
Summer is also the perfect time for young people to experiment with recipes they may want to exhibit at the county fair. Whether it is cookies, muffins, breads, snacks, or a favorite family recipe with a creative twist, practicing in the kitchen now can help youth feel more prepared and confident when fair time arrives.
Encourage youth to choose a recipe they are excited about and make it several times throughout the summer. Along the way, they can learn how small changes affect the final product, practice kitchen safety, and improve presentation skills. You might even create a fun “recipe test night” where everyone samples the results and offers encouraging feedback. Cooking projects also teach important lessons beyond the recipe itself. Youth learn patience when things do not turn out perfectly the first time, responsibility through cleanup and preparation, and pride in creating something with their own hands.
Most importantly, these moments often become lasting memories. Years from now, your kids and grandkids may not remember how much screen time they had during the summer, but they are likely to remember baking cookies with grandparents, laughing over a kitchen mistake, or proudly serving a recipe they made themselves. This summer, consider turning off the screens for a little while and turning on the oven instead. You might just create a new family tradition — and maybe even a purple-ribbon recipe along the way.
The deadline to enroll in 4-H is June 15th. If you have questions about 4-H enrollment or any of the project ideas mentioned above, please contact the Buffalo County Extension Office at (308) 236-1235 or email hdarby2@unl.edu for more information.
Heidi Darby
4-H Extension Assistant
Nebraska Extension in Buffalo County
1400 East 34th St. Kearney, NE 68847 308-236-1235