26 Cooking Skills Any Kid Can Learn
Medically reviewed by Janet Helm, MS, RDNMedically reviewed by Janet Helm, MS, RDNTen years ago, I taught myself how to cook after a young adulthood filled mostly with microwave meals and take-out orders. Ever since, the kitchen has been my favorite place in my home—cooking helps me clear my mind and sharpen my focus. So I knew that it would be a necessity to start cooking with my daughter soon after she was born. She’s 3 now, and getting better at slicing vegetables and can help me mix all the ingredients together for a cake. If you’re looking for a new way to bond with your family, encourage kids to use creativity, and imagination, and cultivate skills that will last them into adulthood, then it's time to start cooking together.Here are the cooking skills any kid can learn—from toddlers to teens—plus an in-depth look at all the reasons why kids should learn to navigate the kitchen from an early age.
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What Are the Benefits of Teaching Kids Cooking Skills?Parents might initially be drawn to teaching their kids how to cook because they’ll someday be able to help out in the kitchen, putting less strain on them to get dinner on the table every night—and that’s a great reason to get started. But cooking skills can serve kids outside of the kitchen, and make them more independent, successful, and self-assured adults.Here are some of the (backed by science) benefits of teaching your kids to cook. Teaches them how to follow instructions.Builds confidence in the kitchen by giving kids a goal to work toward and accomplish. Builds healthy eating habits over time by potentially encouraging them to eat more vegetables.Improves overall diet quality when kids help with meal preparation.Teaches math skills by introducing measurements.Helps kids build essential life skills related to food and diet that they need to maintain their long-term health.Might help reduce picky eating Teaches life skills that go beyond the kitchen, including patience, focus, and perseverance.Serves as a great hobby and an alternative to screen time.Can promote bonding and better mental health when cooking with the family, especially in adolescents.Rather than instant gratification, cooking teaches the importance of learning to develop a skill over an extended period.What Age Can Kids Start Learning to Cook?There’s no ideal age for kids to start spending meaningful time in the kitchen—even babies can become part of your cooking routine. At first, it might just look like bringing your child into the kitchen to observe the cooking process (at a safe distance if you’re using a knife or the stove), and from there they can graduate to using kitchen utensils and working through the steps of a recipe.As long as you let them learn at their own pace, practice age-appropriate safety, and are open to messes and experimentation, there is no right time to teach kids to cook—whenever you and they are comfortable is best.Tips For Cooking with KidsMost kids are still learning to be coordinated, patient, and calm—all crucial skills during the cooking process. But that’s not just normal, it’s also part of the fun. Parents will enjoy teaching their kids even more if they learn to embrace the chaos, work at their child’s pace, and be willing to accept imperfection.Here are more tips for making cooking with kids less stressful: Accept that spills and splatters are inevitable when kids are cooking so be ready to clean up when you’re done.Don’t aim for perfection. Instead, let your kid make mistakes in the kitchen, and work on improving recipes together. Kids might be impatient and prone to over-excitement, but you’ll need to work on your patience too—kids need your careful guidance in the kitchen, so try to be flexible and compassionate as they learn.Rather than trying to control each step of the process, let your kid experiment with different ingredients and flavors. For younger kids especially, cooking and baking can take the form of sensory and imaginative play. Of course the ultimate goal is to cook edible dishes, but as your kid is learning to navigate the kitchen, be prepared for dishes that don’t always taste perfect. You should even be prepared to allow your kid to put together their own recipes—even if the ingredients don’t always go together. That’s all part of the learning process. Cooking Skills to Teach Kids by Age If you’re eager to get your kid in the kitchen, you might be wondering where to start—after all, there are some kitchen tasks (like mixing ingredients) that are simple, and others that are more complex or even dangerous (like using the stove). To help you feel more confident about teaching your child how to cook, here’s an age-appropriate guide to kitchen skills for toddlers to the teenage years.Cooking Skills for Toddlers From ages 1 to 3, kids are probably showing interest in what their parents are doing in the kitchen. They might start off as curious observers, but there are small yet significant ways you can get your young child involved in the kitchen. This is a great age to get them interested in cooking because they are curious and love to explore new textures through touch.Here are a few ways toddlers and preschoolers can get started in the kitchen.Wash produceDump dry ingredients into a mixing bowl Stir wet and dry ingredients togetherCut up fruit and vegetables with a plastic, child-safe knife (in particular soft produce like tomatoes and bananas)Lightly knead dough by hand Place sprinkles and other decorations on a cakeCooking Skills for Big Kids From the ages 3 onward, kids have much more dexterity and independence, and can even be trusted with more complex cooking tools. Now is the time to experiment with giving your kid more responsibility in the kitchen, depending on your own assessment of their skill and comfort level.Here are some basic cooking skills big kids can tackle.Use a sieveMash boiled potatoesPour liquid from a container into a bowlGrease a baking dishSafe use of the stove and microwaveSupervised use of a cheese grater or blender Squeeze citrus Grease a baking dishBrush egg or butter on a pastryUse a cookie cutterSpread peanut butter on toast Add toppings to pizza doughCooking Skills for Teens Teenagers value their independence. One way you can encourage them to take charge of their own lives is by putting together their lunches for school, or even preparing dinner for the whole family one night every week—you’ll have to decide if they have the right skills and the willingness to take on such a big responsibility.Here are some essential cooking skills that teens will carry with them into college life and adulthood. Weigh and measure ingredientsUse an electric hand mixer or stand mixer Use a vegetable peeler Introduce a sharper knife for chopping cucumbers and carrots Use the stove to boil water or make scrambled eggs Use the oven independentlyBread meat and vegetables Learn food safety rules For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Parents.
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