Children Cooking

my six year old DD uses the toaster, microwave, and sometimes the stove by herself. she knows how to make ramen noodels, toast, toaster struddels, microwave potatoes, popcorn, and the other day she proved she could make scrambled eggs. She loves to cook for herself and the family. She could probally make mac and cheese on the stove to, but she has not asked to. My 9 year old DD though could care less about cooking. She knows how to make peanut butter sandwhiches and popcorn the rest she leaves up to her sister or the adults in the house.

Depending on the child what age do they want to use the stove?
My oldest started helping at 2ish stirring cookie dough but not the stove, my 4th was cooking his own eggs on the stovetop at 6.
All of mine had difficulties with the oven until they were about 11 or 12. My 13 year old will still not bring out a casserole or anything heavy, bread or cookies, a cake is OK though.

My son started cooking with me at 3 or 4. Loves to be in the kitchen stirring and mixing. I guess it depends on what you mean by using the stove. I let him up on a stepper with me at that age with my constant supervision.

At 5 he doesn't use the stove without me right next to him, nor does my 7 year old.

May daughter has been helping me with small things in the kitchen since she was 3 and 4 and able to add sprinkles to cookies.Help to measure ingredients, read the recipe. She is 7 now, and I am starting to let her actually stir things on the stove or place things in the oven.

I used the same logic that my Granny used. If they are old enough to use an Easy Bake Oven, they are old enough to learn how to use the real thing.

I must also add that this early exposure to cooking has aided her reading and math abilities tremendously! In kindergarten she already had an amazing grasp on Fractions and Math. Not to mention she was reading on a 2nd grade level. Cooking with your children in the kitchen is a wonderful bonding tool and an amazing teaching tool!

DS started 'helping' at about 3 - when he could safely stand on his step stool and started to show interest - that initially included mixing, pouring (with help). At four he had a plastic salad knife to cut with and was able to crack eggs, mix, whisk (not that well), pour, sort of measure (mostly scooping). He just turned 5 and is not using the stove yet. We started using a small sharp knife (with supervision) recently.

Hmmm.... technically I think kiddo started stirring his scrambled eggs (while I held him) at about 18mo. But that was more novelty than helping. However I'm a BIG fan of REAL kitchens instead of play kitchens.

Actual helping also began at about 18mo / 1yo. It was just finding age appropriate things to do. Here are some examples:

As a young toddler (working in my arms or on a low table):

- Pouring dry ingredients
- Stirring dry ingredients or cold things I didn't mind slopping.
- Ripping bread or lettuce
- Cleanup (helping rinse and load the DW with my help, sweeping with my help, etc.)

Middle toddler (standing on a chair by the counter)

- Measuring out dry ingredients
- Pouring / Stirring dry ingredients
- Pouring / Stirring wet ingredients (hot or cold)
- Shredding cheese
- Beginning to use the stove (my arms on his arms, guiding)
- Assembling salads, sammies, pizzas, etc.
- Doing plate decorations (drizzling sauce artistically, etc.) & finishing touches
- Kneeding bread dough
- Cleanup on his own (spraying, rinse and DW, sweeping, mopping).

Age 5ish

- First use of sharp knives (my hands on his hands) for prep work.

Age 7ish

- First use of sharp knives on his own

My DD is 3 and I let her watch what we are doing standing on her stepstool next to the stove. But since she was 2 she has "helped" in some small way (pouring ingredients into the bowl, stirring and mixing, etc.). Lately she has shown me she can put slices of bread into the toaster, push the button down, and then take the toast out when it is done. She tries to spread butter on the toast with a plastic knife but sometimes gets frustrated and wants me to finish. She has also started using a plastic knife to slice up her own bananas.

My daughter is 2.5 and has helped me for about 6 months now. She does lots of stirring, pouring ingredients into the mixer and can even crack an egg into batter. Of course, nothing with heat for her yet. BUT, she does know that the oven/stove is hot and she can help with that part when she's bigger. She willingly stays far away from it.

Helping in the kitchen age 2. Using the stove with hubby or me right there age 7. Cooking alone age 9/10.

When he was an infant, I'd place him in his infant carrier propped up so he could see me and we would "talk" while I chopped vegetables, etc. He grew up from that age watching me. For country fried steak, I use crackers as well as seasoning and flour for the crust. But the crackers have the be crushed! I'd put them in a ziploc bag and give him a toy to smash them with while sitting in his highchair, before he was 1. Also, I make a Mexican meatloaf and one of the ingredients is crushed cornchips instead of breadcrumbs, and I'd let him crush those too. He had fun with it, and they'd get a headstart while I was chopping onions or whatever. When able, I'd give him the rolling pin to do a better job. When he was 2 we were learning about service, and I had him help me make cookies for an army unit, brownies for the local firefighters, blackberry wine cake for daddy, stuff like that. I'd premeasure everything and tell him what each thing was and he could pour it into the mixing bowl and stir, or hold the electric mixer. I taught him to go up the sides of the bowl without splatting, that kind of thing. At 3, he began "making" chicken fettucini alfredo and spaghetti with meatballs (I would cook the chicken and shred it, and slice vegetables, but he would put it all in the pan and stir the pan with me there. We used a chair for him and he could only do so with me standing right there by him. (It was electric, not a gas flame, but would get orange when hot to show him to stay away). Now at 4, he will pour ingredients "to the line" that I show him on a measuring cup. After I check to see that it's good, he'll pour stuff into the bowls and mix up. I'll let him saute vegetables, but I do meats on the stove (a little harder to stir without the skillet moving). I use a heavy skillet so it's easy for him to hold it still by the handle. I pinch off a good size meat and show him how to eyeball it, then he rolls the meatballs (I help because we make a lot). He helps with crockpot foods, but knows not to touch anything but the black handle. He is very good about never touching anything without me there, and I don't really leave the area when food is going. He helps me put together reubens, grilled cheddar/feta sandwiches (he's in charge of the tomato and red onion), breakfast burritos, etc. He can put in his own frozen waffles or an occassional poptart in the toaster as long as I'm there. He will not be allowed to use the oven until he's tall enough and strong enough for me to teach him properly.

my son started at about 5

As far as using the stove, probably about 5. I would let my 5 yr old put the rice into the water on the saucepan, etc. My 11 year old cooks himself fried eggs and can make ramen noodles, macNcheese, etc.

I am a horrible klutz in the kitchen- always burning myself, cutting myself, etc. So, I am cautious about having my kids in there, helping. I'm a danger to myself, so they better watch out!! LOL!

.

i don't ever remember my boys not helping. but i guess they starting becoming responsible for providing one dinner per week (their choice, it could be hot dogs or peanut butter sandwiches, but they were encouraged to be bold) at around 10 or 11. i was always available to help if they needed it, but they were fine using the stove and knives unsupervised by then.
khairete
S.

Help? 2. Of course I was a helicopter and there the WHOLE time. My 5 year old can use a sharp knife to cut soft things like mushrooms and has bor a while... I want to say 4.

my daughter is 8. recently she has made pancakes using the griddle...she made us omlets on the stove, she helped with the bacon. i am always in the kitchen supervising. she still needs reminding not to touch the hot part! i want to teach her more. i remember i was baking cookies by myself by age 10.

it all depends on the maturity level of your child and their height. If your child can carry a pot boiling water from the stove to the sink without you worrying about them spilling it on themselves then it's time to let them begin cooking school :)

"help" as soon as they can walk, or wrap their mind around the idea, i let my daughter who is turning 8 have supervised use of the stove, but i let her use the microwave and toaster oven by herself. Im not sure what age i will allow her to use the conventional oven, even though i have two and one is low, it just seems everything i cook in there is a little heavy for a tween. But i let her set those timers, and turn off the heat.

My daughter now 21, was in elementry 5th or 6th grade, always supervised, and now at 21 she's a pretty good cook. Baking with me around 2 again always supervised. She now experiences with baking.

Updated

My daughter now 21, was in elementry 5th or 6th grade, always supervised, and now at 21 she's a pretty good cook. Baking with me around 2 again always supervised. She now experiences with baking.

Check out my friend's website: www.raisingchefs.com
She has presented at a lot of health fairs around the metroplex. She started teaching her kids at the age of two, just helping with what they could. She's inspired me! I've been letting my five year old help me at the stove, and my 3 and 2 year old help with most everything else.

My son has been helping me cook/bake since he was 2. I just keep it age-appropriate and keep him away from anything where he could burn or cut himself, but he loves to add ingredients to the bowl, help measure things and turn the stand mixer on and off. I probably won't let him use the stove for at least several years, maybe when he's 8 or 9, but it depends on the kid.
I think you should allow your kids to help whenever they show an interest in whatever way they can help safely.

Gees, I don't remember the exact age. I do remember my now 16 yr old doing a lot of stirring and as she got older doing a lot of measuring, etc so she understood math.

She has used the microwave for years and she has been cooking on her own for quite some time as well. She was in 6th grade home ec class and as a grade had to completely prepare a dinner for us all on her own. She did a great job at planning, preparation, serving and cleanup.

i think it is great to get them started early. My daughter loves to cook.

I had to laugh when I read your question. I was the type that couldn't stand the "little helpers" when preparing meals. My eldest daughter would try to get me to allow her to cook when she was preschool. I fought her because I just didn't want to deal with the mess. She persisted, sometimes slipping into the kitchen to "create." When she was in middle school, I had to go to work and she took over cooking at age 12 or so! Now she's a gourmet cook. My youngest daughter showed no interest whatsoever. At 10 she started making her own Ramen noodles in the microwave. When she was about 18 I asked her if she wouldn't like to learn to cook. She looked at me like I was crazy and said, "Mother, I can follow a recipe!" She's also a very good cook. It's really up to the child. If they are interested, let them attempt what they think they can do and what you think you can tolerate.

You mamma's are amazing! My husband and I were having this very conversation last night. I think it's time we start getting our girls in the kitchen (8 and almost 4). I hate to cook so it's going to be pretty much up to my husband. But I want my girls to learn to enjoy it so they aren't in the same position I am one day. Thanks for the great post and the great advice!

I don't think there is any set rule about when they can. I let them help me when they show interest...

depends on your definition of "Help" lol. as soon as i felt it was safe and they could be trusted with the job. my four year old is great at stirring, counting out measurements, and checking whatever is in the oven. but i don't let him handle the knife. i let him stir whatever is on a burner (electric, not gas) when i am standing there to supervise. actually...all of this is while i stand there supervising lol. you just have to watch them carefully. it really depends on the child. i am no julia child - i don't have much of a passion for cooking, so i didn't put a spoon in his hand as soon as he could grasp it or anything.

My son started "helping" around 2 1/2. He just turned five and now he has several things he can prepare on his own. He does use the stove now, but obviously only with me standing right there. He does not use large knives.