Tasks for Kids in the Kitchen

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Posted by Kristen - Dine & Dish


I think it is very important to get kids into the kitchen as early in their life as possible. There are so many tasks that they can handle at a young age and by allowing them the opportunity to help out, you are giving them the confidence they need to feel like a valuable contributor to the family. In addition, there are some things that my four year old daughter swears up and down she doesn't like to eat, but put her in the kitchen and have her actually help to make the dish, and it is a completely different story. She has pride in what she helped make, therefore she is excited to eat it when it is presented to her at the table.

Here are just a few things you can do to involve your children with tasks in the kitchen:

  • Washing Vegetables - Put a stool up by the sink for them to stand on, give them a veggie scrubber brush and let them go to town. They will love it so much, you will probably have the cleanest veggies around!
  • Rolling Dough - Give a kid a rolling pin and some dough and you have got a fun and productive activity way for them to get involved in mealtime!
  • Chopping Veggies - I know... this probably makes you nervous. I learned a great tip from the blog Steamy Kitchen. Give your children (age 5+) what I know as a "Crinkle Cutter" and a child size fork. Have them hold the veggie in place with the fork while with the other hand using the Crinkle Cutter to chop vegetables. Of course, your child should always be supervised when performing this task!
  • Measuring and pouring - By allowing your kids to learn about the measurements involved in cooking, you are teaching them valuable math skills. They won't even realize they are learning something when they are in the kitchen with you!
  • Stirring - This is one of the simplest tasks for the smallest of children. Don't fret if they make a small mess doing this. Just let them go and have fun!
  • Cookie Dough - My kids love to help make cookie dough into balls or to roll and cut dough into cookies.
You may have to give up the fight to keep a pristine kitchen when your kids are helping out, but the sacrifice is well worth the smiles you will receive in the end!



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This Post was written by Kristen Doyle from Dine & Dish


6 comments:

I really agree with the fact that if they are helping in the kitchen preparing those "i do not like that" food - they somehow find that the really do like it!

Soeren is my best kitchen helper and he loves rolling out dough or holding the handmixer when i am baking or chopping veggies for me. I sometimes miss him and his help when he is not around LOL!

Great tips!

Meeta K. Wolff said...
September 18, 2008 at 8:50:00 AM GMT+2  

I know - now only if I could find a way to get them AS interested in cleaning up the kitchen as they are in cooking in it :)

September 18, 2008 at 10:23:00 PM GMT+2  

Excellent suggestions. The kitchen seems to be, by far, the most fascinating room. Perhaps because it seems to have lessons so readily available, everywhere you turn.

Sarah said...
September 19, 2008 at 5:08:00 AM GMT+2  

That's such a cute picture!!:D

Christina Kim said...
September 22, 2008 at 6:37:00 AM GMT+2  

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Srikitchen said...
September 25, 2008 at 5:24:00 AM GMT+2  

Great post! Other things kids can do at dinnertime are to help tear lettuce leaves, and assemble pizzas or salads. I find that kids are often more willing to try food that they've helped prepared!

I'm a new reader to your blog and found this page while looking for kid-friendly recipes, which I think will be a great addition to the post! Do you have a recommended site for recipes? I love this site for kid-friendly recipe ideas: Recipes for Kids.

Unknown said...
September 29, 2008 at 5:25:00 AM GMT+2  

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