Many people ask me about ways kids can help out with cooking. Once you demonstrate how to do what you ask, they can help in many ways. Remember, young kids don’t have the life experience to know how gravity works or why pouring from high up causes the stuff they’re pouring not to make it into the bowl. It’s important to explain WHY we do things a certain way.
1. Find the Right Time
Most activities don’t go well if your little chef is hungry, tired, or overstimulated. It’s best to find a quiet time when you aren’t rushing to get a meal on the table. It could be when your kids get home from school, or a weekend morning or an evening. You know your gang best. If they ask if they can help you make dinner, you can give them a simple task that doesn’t require sharp objects or your focus. Also, you can tell them that it isn’t a good time right now.
2. Washing Foods
This is something that most kids enjoy and a task I like to give to those kids who like to explore different textures with their hands. It’s great for the preschool crowd! Give them a non-breakable bowl and some potatoes, mushrooms, carrots – whatever you have and ask them to “give them a bath.” Then, give them a towel to dry them. It’s helpful, and it’s entertaining for them. Just ensure there’s not too much water in the bowl because it will likely spill if it’s too full.
3. Using a Knife
When teaching them how to cut fruits or veggies, the first thing is to use kid-safe knives and show them the right side to cut – the side with the ridges. This may seem obvious, but it’s something they don’t know from experience. Show them how to hold onto the item they’re cutting and move the knife’s blade back and forth like a saw. I usually repeat “cut and cut and cut” to give the younger kids the idea. Some kids don’t like touching the item they’re cutting, and you can give them a small towel to hold it so they don’t have to feel it. Start with softer foods like cheese, cucumbers, melon, strawberries, etc.
4. Measuring
We know from experience that the measuring cup has to be filled all the way for the recipe to come out. But kids don’t know this. Explain that the cup must be filled to avoid the recipe “uh ohs!” Another good tip is to have a different bowl to measure their food that isn’t mixed with the other ingredients. This way, you can make sure the correct amount goes into the recipe!
5. Peeling
Many parents are nervous about handing their child a peeler because it’s sharp. But as long as they don’t touch the metal blade, even a 3-year-old can peel a long straight vegetable. I tell the kids to “push it away, push it away” to reinforce that they should always peel away from their bodies. Tell them to turn the vegetable every time they peel, so they only peel the outside. Sometimes, with our more enthusiastic chefs they end up peeling the whole thing, and you have nothing left but ribbons! Stick to carrots, cucumbers, and zucchini, and avoid round foods like potatoes and apples until you feel confident in their peeling skills.
Another key to success is ensuring you have the time to let them help. They don’t have to help you with everything—there are “mommy tasks” and “kid tasks. ” It’s okay for you to explain this if they express interest in taking a turkey out of the oven or using a food processor. These are small steps.
Kids want to be involved, and you’d be surprised at what they consider “cooking.” Spreading jelly on a piece of bread or mixing a bowl is cooking for them, and they want to be part of providing food for the family. Start small and set boundaries. You’ll be amazed at their interest in eating whatever they prepare!
