Kids Cooking: Learning to Cook Independently
My 5 year old son was so excited when I recently agreed that he could make a family dinner that we immediately started planning! He selected what he wanted to cook, determined the main ingredients, and completed the preparation and cooking himself.
My son has been interested in helping in the kitchen since he was very young. He often pulls a chair up to the bench and helps with part of the meal preparation or cooking. I let him determine what he would like to help with and when he wants to help. I believe that his interest is based on my own – he is exposed to me constantly talking about and enjoying cooking. We also spend a lot of time in the vegetable garden growing food, bringing it to the kitchen and preparing it for our family. We regularly talk about, or are involved in activities with food.
On this occasion, when it came choosing what he might cook:
- I provided some suggestions of meals that he might like to make. In the end his choice was inspired by a meal that our lovely, very kind neighbour baked for us some time ago. One night she left a Cottage Pie at our front door, warm and ready for dinner when I arrived home from a very long day at work. It was such a lovely, wholesome family meal that had been prepared with thoughtfulness and care that I have been meaning to make it myself for some time. My son agreed that it would be a good meal for him to try and make (check out the recipe we used here)
- He chose all of the vegetable ingredients to be used with no prompting.
- I determined the ingredient quantities and also the flavourings.
- I guided him in the process from start to finish, and helped with some cutting of vegetables and measuring.
SUGGESTIONS FOR INVOLVING CHILDREN WITH COOKING
This is a summary of the basic activities I involve my children in by age:
Age 2 years: Introduction to Food Preparation
- Chair pulled up close to the bench
- Watch, smell, touch and taste
- Introduce the concept of heat and danger in the kitchen
- Introduce the concept of cleanliness and hygiene in food preparation
Age 3-4 years: Introduction to the Use of Appliances
- Introduce hand mixer, blender, wok and pans
- Stirring
- Adding ingredients
- Rolling and kneading dough
- Discussion on ingredients and measurements
- Continue to reinforce the concept of danger in the kitchen
- Continue to reinforce the concepts of cleanliness and hygiene in food preparation
- Introduce recipes and their purpose
Age 4-5 years: Meal Preparation Assistance and Cooking
- Completion of chunks of basic meal preparation and stages of cooking such as selecting, preparing and adding toppings to pizza, cooking basic recipes such as pancakes
- Cracking eggs
- Learning to measure and weigh
- Basic knife skills
Please note: The items listed are based on my experience with my family, I am not suggesting that they are suitable for all families. You may choose to use some of these activities in the kitchen if you think they are appropriate for your individual child and family circumstances. Close supervision is always advised when cooking with children.
If my son continues to show an interest in cooking I will continue to introduce new activities and give him new responsibilities in the kitchen. I am so proud of his efforts with this meal. It is a truly great recipe – there are eight vegetables in it! You can see it here. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next. When I asked him today what he would like to cook next he told me that he would like to make a chicken pie with pastry on top and mixed with vegetables in a sauce. You can find our family Chicken Pie recipe here.
What activities do you involve your children in to encourage their interest in cooking?
Our 5 year old son has also been my constant helper in the kitchen, and now our almost 2 year old daughter wants to help- we have 2 step stools in the kitchen for then.
Your summary of basic activities is pretty much what we have done as well, except we introduced stirring and rolling dough from the start.
It takes patience and a lot longer preparation time when cooking with the kids but we love it.
It is worth the excitement at the end result isn’t it? Great to hear 🙂 Kyrstie
I currently have a 6 year old and 2 year old helper in the kitchen. I have about 3 feet of counter in a corner. They help me at the stove a lot also. I majorly stress safety. The importance of only being at the stove with mom right there. If anyone every needed an island I’m one of them. But not sure if it would fit. An eat in kitchen would be awesome
My son has been helping me in the kitchen since he was about the same age. He is now 10 and will cook a family meal every now and then, still with supervision. What I found most amazing is his love for food has grown with each year he has cooked. He quite the little gourmand now. I can see he will be a wonderful home cook one day and I’m so glad we’ve made this investment.
That is fantastic smartpantsmum! I hope that my boys continue to grow their love of food too. I think it is a wonderful life skill to teach children.
Our son (21 months) loves to help cook! I am hoping it grows into a love of cooking and good food, I am glad to see it has done so for your son! Right now he loves collecting our chicken eggs, cracking them (we watch so these two dont get mixed up!) and pouring things in the bowl and stirring. He also loves to watch the hot parts and “hot!” is one of his favorite words;-)
That is excellent Juliana. It is fabulous that you have fresh eggs to collect. Have fun!
If you really want to take the cooking up a notch you can make picture recipes with simple reading words and images of the fractions needed.
Great idea Faigie, I will give that a try. Thanks for the suggestion.
Great suggestions! & I love how an act of kindness inspired your son to make something for his family. Will be sharing this!
Thanks so much Sheila. I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful neighbor. They are very thoughtful and caring.
All my kids love helping in the kitchen. My 6 year old recently made the most fantastic chocolate cake with just minimal adult supervision. We’ve also found that an interest and enjoyment in helping with cooking has really helped develop their appreciation and understanding of food and taste.
I totally agree with you on that Mrs Pelican. My boys are happy to try many different foods and flavors. I am so pleased that they are willing to try new foods and that is all I ask, that they try. Well done on the chocolate cake!
From the age of about 10, my kids started having one night a week that was “their” night for dinner. They could cook whatever they liked but they had to make sure ingredients were on the shopping list, and clean up afterwards. One cooked spaghetti bolognese just about every time, one cooked something different every time, some of which turned out and some not! Both kids are now grown up and both are not only great cooks, but also ate really well in student share houses on tiny food budgets. And there’s another level in it somehow – learning the enjoyment and pride in making something for others to enjoy, learning to be responsible, learning cause and effect in using every pot in the house. I think it is a wonderful life skill to share with your kids.
Hi Linda,
I love the idea of the kids cooking dinner one night a week and doing the planning for it. Your family has proven my theory that teaching your children about food and cooking that builds wonderful life skills that will help them now and well in the future. Thanks so much. Kyrstie
My daughter is chief cake batter tester in our home and is very keen to help out in the kitchen. She loves ‘breading’ chicken nuggets, peeling carrots, sifting and stirring. I can’t wait til she’s old enough to cook us dinner. Love your list of age-appropriate activities.
Thanks so much for stopping by Di. Taste testing is very important and it sounds like your daughter is well on the way to cooking up a stornm in your kitchen 🙂
Great post Kyrstie! I have to admit I am not always the most patient parent with my kids in the kitchen. With three kids there is always one (or more often two) wanting to “help” and sometimes, I just want to get it done!
Having said that, it is amazing how much they do love to help, and with cooking ‘boring’ stuff (like chopping zucchinis) just as much as making fun stuff (like cakes).
And cracking eggs? Yep, this is still a favourite with my 6 year old, and even my 11 year old still likes to do it. My 3 year old is not exactly expert at it yet, but she’ll have a go! 🙂
Hi Kirsten,
thank you! Patience is a requirement I agree, and it is certainly not always easy, especially if you are short on time….two of my boys helping and competing at the bench can be a challenge so I imagine with three that it could be even more so! Kyrstie
Loved the article. I think having kids help in the kitchen is a great way to teach about healthy eating habits and for them to appreciate all the work that goes into meal preparation. I did notice that the chair was pushed up to the counter with the back facing out. Please teach your children to place the back of the chair at the counter edge when they stand on a chair. It’s much safer. Hope you continue to have fun with your munchkin.