I’ve always been a big fan of kids’ cooking classes. Many of them are inexpensive, the kids love to create, the mess they make is not in my kitchen, there is no clean up and often they get to bring home the meal they made. The kids are also safe and supervised for a couple of hours while learning lifelong culinary skills. What’s not to love?

And with the courses below, there is no need to worry about missing seasonal registration dates; these are some of my favourite one-off cooking workshops.

PC Cooking School: If you want to get them started early, the parent and toddler (ages 2 to 5) classes that take place at Provigo allow little chefs to get their hands dirty and their creative juices flowing. Classes for kids and teens (up to 16 years) are also offered at stores across the city, with easy recipes such as nachos, pasta, and Chinese food. Classes are bilingual, normally last around two hours, and prices range from $9 to $40. Cooking camps are also offered during school breaks. For more information, visit pccookingschool.ca.

Kitchen Jukebox: Primarily a baking supply store in Laval, Kitchen Jukebox also offers occasional cupcake and cookie decorating classes for kids. They get to do pipe designs, sprinkle decorations, and create fondant figurines for pre-made desserts. Classes run from one to three hours, with eight to 10 participants per group (parents supervising, kids from 2 years old welcome) and prices range from $20 to $40. The address is 352 Curé-Labelle Blvd. #208, Fabreville, Laval. For more information, call 514-961-2696 or visit kitchenjukebox.com.

Academie Culinaire: This gourmet institution in the Old Port has classes all year round. The kids and teen classes, while a little pricier than other schools, are a great jumping off point for anyone with a real interest in kitchen basics. Geared to kids between 8 to 12 and 13 to 17, the full day classes (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) teach everything from appetizers to desserts. There are also shorter, three-hour workshops such as Easter chocolate and pastries. Parent and child classes are also available, prices range from $60 to $120. The address is 360 Champ de Mars St., Montreal. For more information, call 877-393-8111 or visit academieculinaire.com.

Lincoln Apartment Bakery: The baking school in Verdun often runs baking classes for kids ages 8 to 14. Kids can be dropped off for the two-hour workshop, and small groups (six is maximum) means students get lots of hands-on experience, and get to take home what they’ve made. The upcoming Let’s Bake Bread class is a great intro to the science and skills of bread making the old fashioned, get-your-hands-floured-up way. Private kids’ classes with themes such as Healthy Baking, Rustic Pies, Yummy School Lunches and Fruity Baking (ages 6 to 16) as well as baking birthday parties can also be booked (minimum four students). Prices range from $38 to $65. The address is 3539 LaSalle Blvd., Verdun. For more information, call 450-368-9330 or visit lincolnapartmentbakery.com.

Mezza Luna: A long-time favourite of adult foodies in Little Italy, keep an eye out for Mezza Luna’s occasional children’s classes. The Basics of Cooking for Kids in March will give 11- to 14-year olds lessons in kitchen techniques like prepping, cooking, and plating fresh and delicious ingredients. And the Pizza Cooking class in April welcomes kids as young as 8. Classes are hands-on, cost $50, and for certain classes, parents must be in attendance (enquire in advance for class language). The address is 57 Dante St., Montreal. For more information, call 514-272-5299 or visit ecolemezzaluna.ca.

CandyLabs: For something completely different, La Confiserie CandyLabs on Guy St., downtown offers a demonstration workshop for groups of four where kids (and adults) can watch artisanal hard candy being made from scratch in the small kitchen attached to the store. Participants choose the colour and flavours for their lollypops, and after an hour and a half are guaranteed to leave on a sugar high with at least a kilo of candy (well, we didn’t say it was a sensible option…!) The address is 2305 Guy St., Montreal. For more information, call 438-794-8211 or visit candylabs.ca.