Involving kids in kitchen activities can be a fun expreience for both mom and kids, they will learn a lot. But I am confused where to start from. Please suggets some ideas.
Thank all of you for helping me out. I have started with table arrangements and eggs.They have enjoyed a lot. I think should go stepwise.
My son is three, he likes peeling the stickers off vegetables, washing produce, mixing batter, dumping dry ingredients, counting spoonfulls, washing pots pans and dishes, clearing the dishwasher, loading the diswasher, putting away the cuttlery, using the toaster, supervising the juicing, smearing butter, jam, etc. he also loves taking out the trash and recycling.
Best,
F. B.
we make a lot of muffins. very young kids can put the liners in the tins, and i let them help me dump the ingredients. my 6 year old also is allowed to melt the butter and sugar on the stove.
i also let them help me make pasta. they love rolling it out.
for knife work, cutting up fruit salad is a great way to start.
Just give them age appropriate activities. From the time they can stand and hold a spoon they can "help." Little ones like cracking eggs, stirring, pouring and measuring. Don't forget to teach them about health and safety, using the stove, washing their hands, how to properly hold a knife, etc. My kids have always been in the kitchen with me and they can all cook all kinds of things on their own now. I think it's not only fun and a great way to bond, but it's an important life skill. Have fun with it!
First teach them how to set a table properly. Then they can help cook. Stirring, breaking eggs, etc. help do dishes, put things away after using. Teach them to be responsible in the kitchen.
E., welcome to mamapedia!!
My boys are 11 and 13. They do a wide variety of things in the kitchen and have since they were 5 years old.
They know how to boil water...hard boil eggs...make mac & cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, soup, buttered noodles, rice, etc.
My oldest knows how to cook bacon and omelets. My 11 year old is working on cooking bacon. He prefers sausage though and will cook that too.
They help with the menu, the shopping for the menu and they are learning timing and planning.
What do you want your kids to learn? the basics? Teach them about kitchen safety...
not to put water in oil
how to stop a fire - should one start
depending upon their ages, they can shred cheese and cut veggies...
never to leave the kitchen when you have food on the stove
how to use the timer on the stove
how to boil water and when to put in eggs, noodles/pasta, etc.
using the blender so they can make their own smoothies...
cutting the fruit for the smoothies...
learning knife safety...how to cut things..
using the peeler - how not to cut themselves with it...
My 13 year old is learning the double boiler so he can have his caramel apples that he likes.
Set table, wipe down fridge, dishwasher & stove,
Cookie mixing, cupcake/muffins, "chop" fruit with butter knife.
Measuring out ingredients. Filling crockpot with meal ingredients.
I'm not sure how young your kids are but when my boys were 2 and 3 I started them on some basic kitchen activities. I had them crack eggs when I needed it for a recipe (in a separate bowl and then I would fish out the shells), wash fruits and veggies in the sink, wash plastic dishes in sink, help me measure out dry ingreds for biscuits, pancakes, cookies, etc., pour in wet ingreds after I measured it out, help mix (spoon and mixer), fill pot with safe ingreds like veggies, help me measure spices for rubs. I was trying to look for fun ways to count, help fine motor skills, learn sequence of events, etc. Now they are 6 and 7 and they still like to help me with the stuff above but they also help set table, right now learning how to flip french toast/pancakes, pour drinks, peel carrots, put away dishes, put away the dish towels, make toast/bagels/sandwiches, butter bread, cutting with butter knife, etc. With my oldest he helps me make chik strips (I dip in egg batter, he coats it with flour). Hope this helps!
I started early and would have my daughter in the kitchen with me. SHe would play in "her" cabinet as a little toddler which was full of Tupperware and noisemakers. As she got older, we started measuring, slicing, cookie cutters, muffins. I made sure to supervise everything.
She lives on her own now and loves to cook!
Start with cookie cutters and decorating sugar cookies.
Drop biscuits are easy too.
They can also help make salads and sandwiches.
In our family the kids would help make noodles - roll out the dough and cut it into strips using a butter knife.
My 3yo helps me unload and put away the groceries. He "dries" fruits and vegetables as I wash them. The other week, I taught him how to break spaghetti. I have him hand me things and help me stir.
When my hubby does dishes, our 2 and 3 year olds like to watch and help. He'll ask them for a dish and they'll take one from the dirty pile and place in the soapy water. They have to put their dishes in the sink and sup in the fridge if they have any drink in them still. If I'm baking cakes, muffins or breads, they like to mix it with a wooden spoon. Neither of then like holding the electric mixer with or without my assistance. They each have an apron too which they love to wear. When I make a meal I tell and show them what I'm doing, name the foods and we point out shapes and colors.
Depending on your kids' age, try www.heykidsletscook.com for easy kid friendly recipes. It's a show as well and the kids first help then make the food on their own.
