Kids of all ages can get in the kitchen and learn something new. In this age participation guide, CookSmart lays out multiple ways that kids can have some hands on experience while cooking with Mom or Dad. The more kids are exposed to food and cooking, the more likely they are to build a curiosity and appreciation for food and health. So while it may be easier (and faster…and less messy..) to just cook the meal yourself- let the life long health habits your kids can learn from cooking with you motivate you to let them help!!
Share your cooking knowledge (ages 4-7 years)
Share your knowledge and include kids in the decision making process. Younger kids love it when you give them responsibility they didn’t expect!
- Introduce names of ingredients
- Describe tastes and textures while you talk about the meal
- Grow a garden
- Taste things together
- Brainstorm meal ideas
Prove their arithmetic (ages 8-12 years)
It is never to early to teach kids about fractions!! Let kids use a scale to weigh ingredients or measuring spoons and cups for sauces. Challenge older kids by asking them to scale and adjust measurements.
- Add measured ingredients
- Measure and weigh ingredients
- Scale and adjust measurements
Operating tools and appliances (ages 6-12 years)
Salad spinners, immersion blenders, and food processors all have buttons kids would love to press. What kid doesn’t like to press something that makes a loud and obnoxious noise? They will be kitchen tool savvy when they get older.
- Let younger kids hold down buttons on appliances with supervision
- Let older kids operate the appliances on their own
Prepping and chopping (ages 4-8 years)
If you are uncomfortable with kids wielding a steak knife, there is still a lot they can do with scissors and even their hands. They can graduate to a kitchen knife when you think they are ready. The sooner you start letting them help with chopping, the better cooking assistant they will be!!
- Tear greens with their hands
- Use scissors to trim beans, peas, or bell peppers
- Prep easy to chop ingredients with a kids knife (ages 4-6)
- Prep easy to chop ingredients with a kitchen knife (ages 6-8)
- Prep easy to shop ingredients with a chef’s knife (ages 12 and up)
Cooking (ages 4 and under)
Young kids can be involved in the cooking process with safe tasks like assembling, stirring, and seasoning. As they get older, delegate a portion of prepping dinner to them as a little chore!
- Assemble pizza a casseroles
- Stirring and shaking
- Seasoning
*Tips brought to you by CookSmart
