Baking with kids can be a fun and inexpensive activity to do with your children. It creates fun memories, and even the quietest kids might be more likely to open up as you create delicious treats.

When you are baking for your kids, it can be tempting to do it yourself, and then call them when the treats are just out of the oven. However, letting them take part in mixing the ingredients not only increases their self confidence, but it also creates fun memories with your kids.

I recently came across a product that makes baking with your kids a cinch, and best of all, it's extremely budget friendly. The product is the Oster Six Speed Hand Mixer. While some mixers can be as expensive as one to four hundred dollars, this particular one retails for only thirty dollars!

I admit, at first, I was highly skeptical that a hand mixer for thirty dollars would hold up, or would come with anything more than the mixer and the beaters. I was proved wrong the moment I opened the box.

The box included the hand mixer, the beaters, two dough hooks, one whisk, one drink rod, and two metal cookie cutters. I was pleasantly surprised at the extras included, as other hand mixers in the same price range do not include any other attachments, much less two cookie cutters.

I've used this hand mixer for mixing cookie dough, bread dough, frosting, brownie mix, and cake batters, just to name a few. The mixer has held up just fine. All of the attachments do great in the dishwasher, including the cookies cutters. A quick wipe down of the mixer, and it's ready to go the next time you are to bake.

I did find one down side with this product. The box advertises that the mixer has a retractable cord. To be honest, it isn't the fastest retractable cord I've ever seen. In fact,it can be quiet cumbersome at times. I found it easier and faster to simply wrap the cord around the handle before putting it away. I didn't purchase this mixer because of the retractable cord feature, so this really wasn't a concern. I would have been much more disappointed if the mixer didn't come with all of the extras.

The Oster Six Speed Hand Mixer is a great addition for families wanting to spend time baking together. The price is nice, the handle makes it easy for kids to try their hand at mixing, and the attachments are dishwasher friendly. All you need now is a recipe, ingredients, and some eager young helpers in the kitchen.