👩‍🍳Kids In The Kitchen: How To Set Yourself Up For Success

When you bring a kid into the kitchen, cooking isn’t just about getting dinner on the table — it’s a chance to bond, teach life skills, and build confidence. While it’s never too early to start cooking with kids, once they are eight years old and above the kitchen can be an exciting playground of creativity and independence… if we set them up for success.

Here’s how to make cooking with a kid a fun, safe, and rewarding experience (for both of you!):

🥕 1. Start with the Right Mindset

Remember, the goal isn’t perfection — it’s connection and confidence-building. Spills will happen. Eggs might get cracked wrong. But your kid is learning something way more valuable than a perfect dish: they’re learning they can do this.

Let go of the need to control every detail, and treat it like an adventure you’re on together.

🧂 2. Choose the Right Recipes

Pick recipes that:

• Are age-appropriate (few steps, simple ingredients)

• Have room for creativity (like choosing toppings or mixing sauces)

• Have at least some loved ingredients (familiarity is nice, for starters)

Tip: Let your child choose from 2–3 options to give them ownership without overwhelming them.

🧤 3. Set Up a Safe, Kid-Friendly Kitchen Space

Before you begin:

• Clear the workspace and have everything prepped (mise en place style)

• Use tools made for small hands (kid-safe knives, step stools, etc.)

• Teach safety rules in a low-pressure way: knife grip, oven mitts, and always wash hands!

Let them know that cooking is a fun but serious responsibility — and they’re up to the task.

🍳 4. Assign Age-Appropriate Jobs

Here are some great tasks for 8-10-year-olds:

• Measuring and pouring ingredients

• Peeling and chopping fruits/veggies (with supervision)

• Stirring, mixing, whisking

• Crushing and mincing garlic

• Cracking eggs

• Jobs involving heat, like flipping pancakes, making an omelet, or putting a tray in the oven are great confidence builders if you’re comfortable with the exposure to heat

• Reading the recipe aloud and keeping track of steps

• Setting the table and serving

Bonus: Have them be the “chef in charge” once a week — they direct the plan, and you’re the sous-chef!

🧼 5. Teach Cleanup as Part of Cooking

Cleaning up is part of the process — not a punishment. Teach your child to:

• Wipe counters

• Load/unload the dishwasher

• Put away ingredients and tools as they go

Make it a game or play music to keep the vibe light.

🥗 6. Talk About the "Why" Behind the Food

Cooking is a perfect time to sneak in little lessons about:

• Health (what do various ingredients do for our bodies?)

• Math (measuring, fractions)

• Science (what happens when dough rises?)

Keep it conversational and follow your kid’s lead.

👏 7. Celebrate Their Success

Did it turn out great? Let them know!
Was it a total flop? Still celebrate the effort — and laugh about it together.

Take pictures. Let them share their dish with the family. These little moments build pride and motivation to keep learning.

Final Thought:

When a kid learns to cook, they’re not just learning how to feed themselves — they’re gaining confidence, independence, and a stronger bond with you. So grab an apron, embrace the mess, and get cooking together. You might just be raising the next top chef.