Enjoy Cooking With Your Kids Now, With These 10 Tips

Cooking with my kids has always been something I have enjoyed. Sure, it comes with challenges, but the end result has been worth it. However I know some children are not so interested and I know some parents find it too time consuming and messy (Hi! That was me!). Here are my top 10 ways to enjoying cooking with your kids – and in return, have your kids enjoy cooking!

Be flexible and casual when cooking with your kids

Never force or bribe a child to cook. We want them to be engaged and enthusiastic. It’s ok to encourage “would you like to pick something out of this recipe book to cook”, “do you want to bake pumpkin bread, it’s going to be very yummy” but also accept it if your child just isn’t interested, don’t be offended. Keep offering and keep asking to see if their interest changes. You never know, they just might say yes one day.

I also make sure to give space and allow them to help only in sections that they seem interested in, instead of pushing them to keep going through the whole recipe. Sometimes my kids just want to help with measuring and mixing. At times they only want to bake it. Then other times they only want to eat it at the end, off the cooling rack. Whatever level of help they are interested in that moment, I roll with it.

Break up the steps to teach skills

Cooking can be fun but also make it an opportunity to teach life skills. You just might be surprised at how young your children can learn how to whisk, peel, or chop, or even to grate. We try to set our kids up at a surface level that is easier for them, such as the kitchen table or grabbing a stool to help at the counter.

Start by giving them a demonstration of how to do it. If you find that they tend to get messier than your comfort level can handle (I’m talking to those who don’t like messes) try using a tray to contain their mess… I mean newly forming skills. Giving your kids a chance to learn new skills can be such an empowering moment for them, you might just see them coming back more to help.

Cook a variety of things

Ok, we all want to have our kids help with the cookies and cake, it’s just so easy. We measure everything, it’s predictable, and typically we’re using a recipe. Allowing our kids to help in preparing meals, chopping up veggies, make meatloaf, cleaning produce – gives even more opportunities for expanding their skills. While we don’t need to change our meal to something more basic to have them help from start to finish, we just need to assess.

When getting ready to make a meal, look over what you’re making and the skills your child has already mastered, and where they need practice. Then offer them to help. It could simply be chopping the veggies for the stir-fry while you mix it all up in the hot pan. Encouraging your child to help making meals, not just cookies and cakes, will expand their life skills so much more and give them confidence in the kitchen from a young age. –Not to mention, it might actually get them eating more variety as they have now helped prepare the food too.

Make things from scratch that you would usually buy pre-made

We have all done it, wondered how certain things are made, but just purchased the pre-made item because it’s easier. Think things like pasta, bread, sauces, dips, even jams. Take the moment, if you don’t know how to already, to learn together. Not only does this help you learn new skills (if you didn’t already), but helps your child understand that even the items at the store had to be made from scratch too.

Things like making soft pretzels can be done in steps. You can have them help in making the dough from scratch or just have them help in the kneading or rolling stages. Every step of the way is a learning opportunity. What’s more, you can start from the beginning with collecting the ingredients – from the garden, from the farmers markets, from the fruit store or supermarket. Teach that everything can come from farm to plate.

Think about child sized tools

There’s nothing like a mini-me in the kitchen. Your mini-me will be more encouraged to help when they have their own sets of tools in the kitchen to feel like the grown-up they love. Simply starting with an apron that fits them or has their favorite color or design. Then, adding in tools they can hold such as a rotary grater or knife set can be very useful. This will, in many cases, make it easier for the child to cook.

Ensure the child is comfortable in the space

I’ve done it! Gave up the comfortable – for me – countertops and moved all the ingredients and cook at a low, child size table. This really allows your child to get comfortable in the space and feel safe. They can reach without a fear of falling, they can run to the refrigerator without needing to climb down from a stool or chair, it can be really freeing and empowering. Such a great way to allow them to concentrate on their cooking and learning new skills and not spend their energy and concentration on balancing. 

Cook as you normally would

Cooking with your kids doesn’t have to be a messy disaster. For us, being in an extra small space, cleaning as I cook is extra important. When I don’t, it means we won’t have the space to keep going. If you also normally clean as you go, continue to do this. Let’s not make cooking with your kids any harder than it needs to be. If you’re washing the dishes, have your child either play in the water with you, help wash a few dishes or keep them busy with another task.

When cooking with my kids, I try, as best I can, to keep my process and routine the same as normal. Make sure that your child understands, whether helping you or not, that there is a full process. Don’t hide them from the clean up at the end, even if they don’t want to help at first. Encouraging them to start with simple things like putting the ingredients back in the pantry or fridge. Having your child help sweep up the floor from crumbs or flour dust. Even having them help wash dishes along side you. Ever step is a life skill learning moment.

Keep a record of recipes that the child likes

I have my favorites that I love to make because I made them growing up. Now I get to make my favorites with my kids! This is how traditions were passed down before the cookbook became a top 10 readers list. So, how about making a recipe book of their own? If you remember from the start, make a recipe book with them of what they’ve made along the way. Take a photo of the finished product and write down the recipe. You can even have your child add some art to it as well – in a way they remember making the recipe. As they get older, you can get more detailed with what is added to this cookbook of their very own.

Experience culture and establish traditions through cooking

We all have our traditions. Whether its a recipe passed down through the family or it’s the tradition of taco Tuesdays. We all have traditions with food in our homes. As you get excited each week for Pizza Fridays, encourage your child to help. Even just starting with deciding what is going on their personal pizza to eventually helping toss the dough. This can be taken one step further, cooking hand made gifts or meals for special people in your lives. There’s nothing more warm than making a meal for a friend who needs it and having your child experience that gift from such a young age.

Most of all keep it lighthearted and interesting for both of you

Ideally we want your child to come back for more and you want to enjoy the process yourself. Cooking with children is a great way to teach life skills, to empower the child and to spend valuable time together, so why not make it fun. The moment it starts to feel like a challenge, either switch it up or let them move on to something else. For us, it’s about remembering this is all new for them and taking it slow.

You’ve done it! You brought your kids to the kitchen to experience that magic of cooking and baking. The magic that creating food together has. While you create these memories together, you’re building a love and understanding of kitchen skills with your kids – not to mention math and science skills too!

Start Cooking With Your Kids

Get out there and start your stove tops and ovens! Lift your spatulas up and make some memories. Start with the favorite family recipe we cook every Christmas morning – Bacon Cheddar Pull Aparts

If you’re looking for more kitchen gadgets I use, check out the MSP Storefront for more.

Do you have a favorite memory cooking as a child? What about as the parent now, what’s been the best memory? You know we love your comments and would love to hear your stories too. Share them in the comments below!

Till Next Time,