I have some great memories of baking with my mom, those recipes are still my favorite to make, and of course to eat. I want my kids to feel more comfortable in the kitchen, not only baking, but cooking too. Getting your kids in the kitchen is important for many reasons, such as healthy food habits.
There are a lot of great things that happen when you get your kids in the kitchen cooking and baking. They are learning an important life skill just in the cooking and baking. They are also learning about healthy food choices. And if you take them shopping for the ingredients about budgeting.
Getting Your Kids in the Kitchen
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My first and most important tip would be to make sure you and your kids go over the rules of being in the kitchen.
Kitchen Rules
Wash Up
Wash your hands, with soap! My kids like to wash super fast to get the job done and get back to cooking/baking. We end up having a discussion on germs. Use all opportunities to teach your kids.
Listen
Make sure to listen to the grown up in charge. With sharp knifes, and hot stove burners and an oven, there can be a lot of ways to get hurt.
Pay Attention
Listen to what you are being told. Pay attention when you are using knifes, to working with or nor a hot stove.
Let Them Ask Questions
There is no such thing as a stupid question, so encourage your kids to ask anything they want. Not only is this the perfect time for them to learn but for them to remember that they can always ask you anything you want.
How to Chose Recipes
When you are looking for recipes don’t discount those recipes that use an oven or stove burners. Just teach them to be careful, or have them do something else while you are doing that part. An example would be making cookies.
There are a lot of cookbooks out there are geared towards children, both those that require no heat (oven/stove) use to those easier recipes that do require them.
These are our favorite cookbooks:
Getting Your Kids in the Kitchen
Getting your kids in the kitchen is important for many reasons, such as healthy food habits, healthy and safe habits for making meals.
Benefits of Cooking with Your Kids
It’s not just fun and tasty when kids help in the kitchen, they learn so much too.
Discover: Hands-On Activities to Help Kids Develop Kitchen Skills
Discover a few of our very favorite ways to help kids of all ages develop kitchen skills through hands-on learning (with a free kitchen rules printable included!).
Tips for Reducing Mess and Stress when Teaching Kids to Cook
Don’t let overwhelm or fear keep your kids from the kitchen! These awesome tips from moms will help you reduce the stress and mess.
How to Get Toddlers Interested in Cooking
Lots of practical tips for how to get little ones interested in cooking and helping in the kitchen!
Family Cooking Competition Ideas
Want to get the kids more involved in the kitchen? Plan a Family Cooking Competition Night! Not only is it fun for the whole family, but you get to eat all the results.
Easy Fun Bread Shapes for Kids
These easy bread shapes are a fun way for kids to get creative in the kitchen. We made ours into fun bug shapes, but you could make them into any shapes!
Stress-free meal prep with kids
Here’s tips how to make cooking with your kids fun instead of stressful.
Best kitchen tools for kids
Exploring the States Archives • State of Dinner Famous Foods
Teach your kids geography, history, and cooking skills all at the same time! Cook these iconic recipes from across the United States!
Fore more kids in the kitchen posts:
Learning Fractions in the Kitchen
Homeschool Math in the Kitchen
