Children love to play a role in helping to prepare meals. Inviting kids into the kitchen gets them an early start on learning how to cook and also lets them try new foods on their own. Your child can learn so much from watching you in the kitchen! Even children as young as 3 years old can help out with easy tasks. Make cooking a fun activity to share with the whole family.
One common worry about kids cooking in the kitchen is that it’s dangerous. Actually, with adult supervision and the right tools, cooking is a safe experience for children.
Every moment in the kitchen is a learning experience. Like learning any new skill, learning to cook starts with the basics. When starting a child in the kitchen, begin with small, simple tasks. As kids grow up, more complex kitchen tasks can be introduced.
Kitchen Tasks for Kids (while supervised):
- Washing: Kids can practice good food safety by washing hands first. After children wash their hands, let them rinse fruits and vegetables. Kids can also help to wash dishes and wipe down counters after cooking..
- Mixing: Children can help you stir and mix batter, ingredients, dressings and sauces.
- Measuring: Teach children how to measure ingredients. Measuring ingredients will help kids to develop their fine motor skills and learn a bit of math along the way.
- Peeling and Cutting: Show small children how to hand-peel fruits like bananas or oranges. Once they are a bit older, let your child use a plastic, nylon, or lettuce knife to help cut softer fruits and vegetables. Many knives in kid-friendly kitchen sets are made with children’s safety in mind and will not cut skin.
- Boiling and Baking: When allowing your child near the stove or oven, always be sure to monitor them. This is a great chance to teach children how to use timers, thermometers and the proper safety equipment. Older children can begin to use the stovetop to boil pasta or vegetables. They can also use oven mitts to place and remove baked goods from the oven.
Check out more ideas for age appropriate kitchen tasks here.
Remember, every child is unique and learns at their own pace. Any recipe can be adjusted for each child’s skills, development, and comfort level. It is going to take time and practice for your child to learn how to cook. Practice makes perfect.
Not sure where to start? Check out some of these kid-friendly recipes from Eat Smart.
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