My kitchen was always a safe place, a place of refuge for my family and friends. Some of my fondest memories take place in the kitchen. Did you know you could bring your children into the kitchen as toddlers? Here is a list of age-appropriate kitchen tasks your children can help you with. Why cook with your children? The earlier your child learns how to cook, the sooner they will learn an essential life skill. Spending time in the kitchen gives children confidence and boosts their self-esteem. It also teaches responsibility. An added benefit is that your children are learning science, language, fine motor skills, reading, problem-solving, weighing, measuring, budgeting, sequencing, following directions, and patience--and they don't even realize it :-)
Meals prepared from scratch are usually healthier, containing more nutrients, and fewer calories, chemicals, and sweeteners than prepackaged foods. Preparing meals together means you are spending quality time with your children. The time you spend together chatting and communicating is important. Introducing your child to cooking can start at a very young age. As soon as my children were old enough to stand at the stove, they were old enough to learn how to cook--yes, they were in the kitchen banging on pots and pans, playing with measuring cups and spoons at the age of two. While it seems that children of this age are limited, there is plenty they can do. They are beginning to develop their motor skills, and their attention is very limited so remember to tailor your tasks to their particular abilities.
As your children grow older you should allow them to increase their activities. By six years old, they are starting to develop their own likes, opinions, and desires. They want to participate in activities that they see their older siblings or parents do. Instead of telling your child "you are too young" encourage them in the kitchen! It is an environment where you can safely supervise their activities while allowing them to explore. At this age you can also start introducing "projects", for example, making your own butter by adding cream and a little salt to a jar and letting them shake it. They can also help you plan meals or find items in the pantry or fridge. Don't tell them "they are too young"--they aren't.
As early as nine years old, your child should be able to put together and cook a very simple meal. This is a perfect time to start speaking to your children about food safety and cross-contamination. You should be present in the kitchen but allow your child to cook a meal once or twice a week. Don't forget, that part of cooking is cleaning up afterward. Set aside a space for your child to grow their own garden vegetables too!
It was in the kitchen that some of my most significant conversations took place. It was our safe area, no topic is off limits and my children and their friends were able to discuss relationships, health concerns, hopes, and dreams. All three of my babies are out of the house now, but the kitchen is still a central part of our home.
Age: 2-3 years old
The intro to cooking begins with observation.
Role-play provides practice-let children play with items such as toy cooking sets, wooden spoons, silicon spatulas, whisks, plastic or metal mixing bowls, measuring cups, and spoons. As motor skills develop, children can learn very basic concepts. Small tasks are best.
Wash & dry produce, stir, mash with a fork or potato masher, sprinkle, spoon ingredients, tear lettuce or herbs, pour liquids, squeeze or use a plastic juicer, use a grinder, knead the dough, scoop items out of skins (potato or avocado), “paint” with a brush, whisk
Examples: Sugar paste, marzipan, salad, and salad dressing
Age: 4-5 years old
Attention span is short –learn basic concepts
Assemble sandwiches
Layer Lasagna
Top Pizza
Sprinkle Decorations on cupcakes or cookies
Weighing, breading, and flouring, using mortar and pestle, rolling and shaping (dough or meat), spreading (butter or jam), picking, hulling or podding (removing peas or beans from the pod), grease pans, opening packages, peel fruit or eggs, snip with dull scissors, set table, garnish food, measure ingredients, use cookie or biscuit cutters.
Examples: spiced bread or losynges, guissel, arranging trays, gingerbread once cool enough to handle
Age: 6-8 years old
Ready for more complex tasks Great time for “projects:
Growing an herb garden
Creating sourdough bread starter
Making yogurt or fresh cheese
Making pasta
Using specialized tools (can opener, box or hand grater, garlic press), help plan meals, find ingredients, make salad and dressing, cut soft ingredients with a blunt knife, rub in (flour and butter), beat and folding
Examples: sourdough starter, fresh cheese, butter, pickling vegetables
Age: 9-12 years old
Should be able to read labels, follow recipes and prepare many simple dishes themselves. Should be comfortable with using knives, stove, oven, and small appliances. Now is the time to learn food safety, specifically, the proper handling of cooked and uncooked meat, and keeping meat and vegetable separate to prevent cross-contamination.
Trim and slice, working with oven and stove, timers and thermometers, baking quick bread, muffins, cookies, and scones, cooking soup, steaming rice, roasting vegetables, making pancakes on a griddle or waffles in a waffle iron, using a food processor, blender and stand mixer, frying hamburgers, using chef’s knife and other larger knives with supervision, use the microwave, shred cheese and vegetables, skewering food, putting away leftovers, pounding food, proofing yeast, and open cans.
Age 13+
Teens should no longer need close supervision and should be able to safely handle most cooked foods by themselves.
Use all kitchen appliances, develop knife skills to efficiently chop, dice and mince, bake more complicated dishes, make risotto, marinate foods, pan fry, and grilling, use slicers and mandolins, using and clean outdoor gas or charcoal grills, deep frying foods, work independently.
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