How to get kids helping in the kitchen is a paid collaborative post with Very. Getting my children cooking and helping in the kitchen has always been a key priority for me as a parent. I want to give them the tools so they can eat well and also be proficient in the kitchen. Also, who doesn’t want their teens to cook them an evening meal?!
Growing up I was always encouraged into the kitchen when my parents were preparing and cooking food. I can remember from an early age being given some pastry or dough to play with whilst my mum baked. I guess I was learning through play but back then I had no idea.
So from when my boys were babies I always took them into the kitchen with me when I prepped and cooked food. I would give them pastry or vegetables and sit them in their highchair and let them watch and play.
When they got older then they were given their own knife and allowed to join in the preparation. I have always found that they are much more likely to eat food that they have had a hand in preparing. Plus we seem to have much freer conversations when we are prepping food together as a family, so I am delighted to share our tips to ket kids helping in the kitchen and before you know it they will have a fabulous life skill and be cooking for you.
Top Tips for encouraging Kids to Cook
- Don’t do it when you are stressed, tired or pressed for time and this goes for them too. You don’t want frayed tempers in the kitchen! If your dinner preparation and cooking time are always rushed then choose to get them to help earlier in the day at breakfast or lunch.
- Let them cook the recipe and take the lead, from budgeting, shopping, preparing and cooking.
- Have appropriate sized utensils and equipment for them. Also, let them use the fun stuff such as blenders! My boys both rave over our Ninja Blender as it makes the perfect smoothies and frappuccinos.
- Keep things accessible so they know where things are or even better get out what you need together before you start cooking.
- Don’t panic about the mess, but show them how to clean up as they go by putting things in the sink or dishwasher.
- Make sure they are wearing an apron then you are less likely to worry about stains on their clothes.
- Recipe boxes are amazing for older children to cook on their own – they have all the ingredients and the recipe cards are visual and so easy to follow. Plus you can be totally hands-off which they really love.
- Make it fun – we cooked the alphabet using a different ingredient each week. check out our cooking with kids recipes.
Make sure you check out what my kids top tips are for cooking with other children.
Why should you get your kids in the Kitchen?
Apart from the fabulousness that is not having to cook a family meal, there are many reasons to encourage your children to cook, including the fact that children are more likely to have a varied diet and try new foods.
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