Guide for Toddlers, Older Kids and Teens

I taught myself how to cook ten years ago, and throughout my adult life I’ve mostly eaten microwave meals and to-go orders. Since then, the kitchen has become my favorite place in the house—cooking helps me clear my mind and focus. So I knew it made sense to start cooking with my daughter soon after she was born. She is now three years old and is getting better at chopping vegetables and can help me mix all the ingredients together to make cakes.

If you’re looking for new ways to connect with your family, encourage your children’s creativity and imagination, and develop skills that will last into adulthood, it’s time to start cooking together.

Here are cooking skills any kid can learn, from toddlers to teens, and dive into all the reasons kids should learn how to operate the kitchen from an early age.

What are the benefits of teaching children cooking skills?

Parents may initially be attracted to teaching their children how to cook because one day they will be able to help out in the kitchen, reducing their stress of putting dinner on the table every night—a good reason to start. But cooking skills can help children outside the kitchen, allowing them to become more independent, successful and confident adults.

Here are some (science-backed) benefits of teaching your kids to cook.

• Teach them how to follow directions.
• Build confidence in the kitchen by giving children a goal to work towards.
• By encouraging them to eat more vegetables, they can gradually develop healthy eating habits.
• When children help prepare meals, it improves the overall quality of the meal.
• Teach math skills by introducing measurement.
• Help children build basic life skills related to the food and diet they need to maintain long-term health.
• May help reduce picky eating
• Teach life skills beyond the kitchen, including patience, focus and perseverance.
• Serves as a great hobby and replacement for screen time.
• Cooking with family can promote bonding and better mental health, especially among teenagers.
• Cooking teaches not instant gratification but the importance of long-term learning and developing skills.

At what age can children start learning to cook?

There’s no ideal age for children to start spending meaningful time in the kitchen—even babies can become part of your cooking routine. At first, this might be as simple as taking your child into the kitchen to observe the cooking process (from a safe distance if you’re using a knife or stove), from there they can gradually use kitchen utensils and complete the cooking process.

As long as you let them learn at their own pace, practice age-appropriate safety measures, and be open to chaos and experimentation, there’s no right time to teach kids to cook—anytime you and they are comfortable is best of.

Tips for cooking with kids

Most children are still learning coordination, patience, and calmness—key skills in the cooking process. But that’s not only normal, it’s part of the fun. Parents will enjoy teaching their children more if they learn to accept chaos, work at their child’s pace, and be willing to accept imperfection.

Here are more tips to reduce the stress of cooking with kids:

• Spills and splashes are inevitable when kids are cooking, so be prepared to clean up when you’re done.
• Don’t strive for perfection. Instead, let your kids make mistakes in the kitchen and work together to improve the recipes.
• Children can be impatient and easily overexcited, but you also need to practice patience—children need your careful guidance in the kitchen, so try to be flexible and compassionate while they learn.
• Let your kids experiment with different ingredients and flavors instead of trying to control every step of the process. Especially for younger children, cooking and baking can take the form of sensory and imaginative play.
• Of course, the end goal is to cook edible dishes, but while your kids are learning how to operate the kitchen, be prepared for dishes that won’t always taste perfect. You should even be prepared to let your kids create their own recipes—even if the ingredients don’t always go together. It’s all part of the learning process.

Teach children age-appropriate cooking skills

If you’re eager to get your kids into the kitchen, you may be wondering where to start – after all, some kitchen tasks (like mixing ingredients) are simple, while others are more complex or even dangerous (like using the stove). To help you feel more confident teaching your kids how to cook, here’s a guide to kitchen skills for toddlers through teens.

Cooking Tips for Toddlers

From 1 to 3 years old, children may show interest in what their parents are doing in the kitchen. They may start out as curious observers, but there are small but important ways to get your kids involved in the kitchen. This is a great time to get them interested in cooking, as they are curious and enjoy exploring new textures through touch.

Here are a few ways toddlers and preschoolers can start using the kitchen.

• Washing produce
• Pour dry ingredients into mixing bowl
• Stir together wet and dry ingredients
• Use a child-safe plastic knife to cut fruits and vegetables (especially soft produce like tomatoes and bananas)
• Knead the dough gently with your hands
• Place powdered sugar and other decorations on the cake

Cooking Tips for Older Kids

From the age of 3, children become more agile and independent, and can even use more complex cooking tools with confidence. Now is the time to try giving your child more responsibility in the kitchen, depending on your assessment of their skills and comfort level.

Here are some basic cooking tips that older kids can master.

• Use a sieve
• Mash the cooked potatoes
• Pour the liquid from the container into the bowl
• Grease a baking sheet
• Safe use of stoves and microwaves
• Use cheese grater or blender under supervision
• squeeze citrus
• Grease a baking sheet
• Brush pastry with egg or cream
• Use cookie cutters
• Spread peanut butter on toast
• Add toppings to pizza dough

Cooking Tips for Teens

Teenagers value their independence. One way you can encourage them to take control of their lives is to prepare lunches for school, or even dinner for the whole family one night a week – you have to decide if they have the right skills and willingness to take on such a large responsibility.

Here are some basic cooking skills that teens will take with them into college and into adulthood.

• Weigh and measure ingredients
• Use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer
• Use a vegetable peeler
• Introducing sharper knives to cut cucumbers and carrots
• Boil water or scramble eggs on the stove
• Independent use of oven
• Bread, meat and vegetables
• Learn about food safety rules