I get asked quite often, "Who are your usual customers?" Or, said another way, "What types of kids go to your classes?" I love these questions because they allow me to expand on all the ways baking classes are beneficial to children.
My first response is usually that we have both boys and girls - about 25% boys and 75% girls, on average. I also quickly add that I would love to see more boys attend because when you look around Birmingham, men comprise most of the roles as top chefs and thinking of baking and cooking as a "girl thing" is very outdated. Boys LOVE our baking classes and we love our boy bakers, er, chefs.
Aside from gender, we usually get a lot of creative children. Those who like to make and create with their hands. I'll use my son as an example - he loves technology, his tablet in particular. One thing I find him doing on his tablet is building things, creating scenic lands, and believe it or not, making smoothies! Yes, there's an app for that.
What may simply seem like a kid who likes technology and gaming, is actually a kid who likes to work with his hands — to make, create, build, and bring structure and order to the world. Baking does just that. It is the process of taking raw ingredients - or even just icing and sprinkles in a decorating class - and putting them together into something both beautiful and enjoyable. So, if kids like technology, they often like baking as well.
Our business manager, Amy Jones, said a few years ago that she likes to put her daughter Mia into two types of classes: 1) classes for her mind and 2) classes for her body. Mia started baking classes for her mind and ballet for her body at age 3. Similar to Mia, kids coming to our baking classes are often kids who also play sports and whose parents have the goal of shaping well-rounded kids.
Many children who come to our baking classes can't find "their thing." They can't find what they're good at or a hobby that will keep them interested. Our baking classes are fun, and part of that fun is being set up for success. Kids usually walk away with a sense of confidence, feeling like they found something they both like and are good at. And as parents we know it's a hobby and pastime that will serve them well throughout their lives.
The list of reasons why baking classes are beneficial to children is endless. Teamwork, motor skill development, personalized attention, emotional benefits - I could go on and on because it literally touches every part of life.
However, every child is different and their reasons for coming to class unique. Why does your child come? We'd love to hear in the comments below.
