Does your kid know the difference between raw, real veggies pulled from the dirt and those weird, chemically washed “baby carrots” encased beneath plastic wrap in their pre-packaged snack box? If the answer is “no,” take them to the SLO Botanical Garden for a Kid’s Garden Fresh Cooking Class coming up this June 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. (and blow their tiny little minds). Not only can tots harvest, plant, and cook a meal from the thriving Children’s Garden with their own two hands, they’ll also learn about kitchen safety, nutrition, and—of course—delicious flavor! That sounds like a parenting win-win to me. Congrats, mom and dad. You just earned yourself a pat on the back and a big glass of chardonnay. For tickets and information or to pre-register, go to slobg.org/kids-cooking.

The SLO Bontanical Garden is located at 3450 Dairy Creek Road.

Hayley Thomas Cain loves back-seat parenting. Reach her at hthomas@newtimesslo.com.