This cooking kit for kids is a perfect homeschool activity

Whether you're handling distance learning, or have made the switch to full-time homeschooling, there's a pretty good chance that you'll want to supplement your child's curriculum with fun—yet educational—activities. The good news is that no matter what kind of skill you want your child to learn, there's likely a subscription box that will provide the ideas—and some of the tools—your child will need to get started.

In my ongoing search for activities that will both keep my children occupied and teach them valuable life skills, I've been trying out some cooking kits for kids. Raddish ads have been all over my Instagram feed, so I figured it was high time I ordered one up and set my kids loose in the kitchen.

What is Raddish?

Raddish emphasizes teaching (and learning) through cooking. Originally the brain child of a Los Angeles mom who was also a teacher, Raddish focuses on the educational aspects of cooking, including math, science, creativity, and independence. As an avid home cook myself, as well as a strong believer in the importance of kids learning to cook and gaining independence, the Raddish mission statement was really appealing.

How does Raddish work?

Each month, Raddish sends a box containing three recipes tied to a type of cuisine, as well as a cooking utensil, a keepsake badge, and four laminated Table Talk cards to spark dinnertime conversation. The first Raddish box that subscribers receive also contains a branded apron and a binder ring to use for corralling each subsequent month's Table Talk cards.

One thing worth noting is that there are no fresh ingredients included in the Raddish boxes, so you'll need to purchase all the ingredients required to prepare the recipes. They do include a handy shopping list, however. Subscribers also get access to an impressive digital library of extra recipes, playlists, kitchen activities, and homeschool lesson plans.

How much does Raddish cost?

The cost for Raddish depends on whether you sign up for a monthly membership or one of the multi-month packages. The monthly cost, which is the same as the price for a single kit, is $24. If you sign-up for a six-month subscription it brings the cost down to $22 per kit, and the 12-month subscription reduces the monthly cost even further, to $20 per kit. Domestic shipping is free, and international shipping is available for an additional $7 per month.

The Raddish apron is only included with the six- and 12-month subscriptions.

What are Raddish kits like in real life?

The theme of our Raddish kit was "Taste of Thailand," so the recipes we received included Pad Thai Noodles, Chicken Satay Skewers, and Mango Sticky Rice. The kitchen activity was Thai fruit carving—making a swan out of an apple—and our Table Talk cards were Asian-themed. Also included in the box was a red whisk, our Raddish apron, and a keepsake badge with a picture of a Thai temple.

The overall quality of everything included in the Raddish box is outstanding. The recipe cards are colorful and printed on laminated card stock, and the apron is a thick polyester that will definitely stand up to the inevitable food stains and repeated washings. I was surprised, however, to discover that there is no actual food included in the box—not even spice packets.

What is it like to cook with Raddish?

Shockingly, my normally picky son, Noah, loves Thai food, so he was excited to try our Raddish kit. The kids wanted to start cooking right away, but since none of the ingredients are included, I had to plan a trip to the market to pick up the things we needed.

Because I can only handle so much in one day, we decided to just make two of the three recipes: the Chicken Satay Skewers and the Mango Sticky Rice. We have a pretty well-stocked pantry full of Asian ingredients, so I mainly had to purchase the perishables, like chicken tenders, fresh ginger, and ripe mangoes. In total, I spent $24 on ingredients for the two meals, not including things I already owned, such as rice, soy sauce, and coconut milk.

The recipe cards are really easy to follow, and include charming illustrations so that even pre-readers can easily stay on track. Noah is able to read on his own, so I just provided all the ingredients and the measuring cups, and let my kids do the work. They did need my help with a couple of things, like mincing garlic, grating ginger, and slicing the mango, but otherwise they were able to prepare the meals almost entirely themselves (save for the actual cooking part). If you have a child in the 8- to 10-year-old range who is comfortable using the stove, they can likely prepare the Raddish dishes all on their own, which means you can turn dinner over to them and relax with a book and a glass of your favorite adult beverage.

What does Raddish taste like?

Honestly, the recipes we tried were absolutely delicious. The Chicken Satay Skewers in particular were so good that even Rose, my "I hate Thai food" daughter, loved them. The chicken was flavorful, and just as good as some of the Satay that I ate in Thailand. We all found the Mango Sticky Rice to be slightly too sweet, but the texture was perfect, and I loved that my kids wanted to try a dish that they've never had before (even if it was a dessert).

Should you sign up for Raddish?

The Raddish kit included recipes and fun facts that I could find easily somewhere else (i.e. the internet), but If you want to introduce more cooking to your homeschool or distance learning curriculum—but you just don't have time to do the research yourself—Raddish is a good option. I think that kids are more likely to try new foods when the recipes are presented in a fun, just-for-them kit, so if you're struggling to get your kids to expand their palates, a Raddish subscription could certainly help. If all goes well and your kids really learn to love cooking, they might even take over preparing dinner every night—and that would be worth every penny.

Sign-up for Raddish starting at $24