Raising Children Network: the Australian parenting website
  • Suitable for 1-8Years

Cooking with kids

By Raising Children Network
 
 

In most households the kitchen is where the action is. Sharing your kitchen with your child encourages an interest in cooking, and is a fun way to enourage lifelong healthy eating habits. And, who knows, once your little darling becomes a teenager, perhaps he’ll cook for you sometimes!

There are all sorts of things that your child can learn while helping you to cook, including new words (whisk, peel, egg beater and grater), mathematical concepts (half, one teaspoon, 30 minutes) and an appreciation for doing things step by step. Maybe he’ll even learn some patience while waiting for that cake to rise.

But kitchens are dangerous places – for kids of all ages – so certain ground rules need to be followed. Knives, electrical appliances and hot stoves are all hazards. So too is carrying a pot of hot water to the sink when there’s a small person nearby. You can use the kitchen environment to teach your child about safety.

Cooking with a toddler

Almost everything that involves a toddler involves time and patience, so it’s a good idea to save cooking together for those days when you have plenty to spare. At this age, your child will mostly be watching and learning, but he can help with things like greasing the muffin tin and handing over utensils. Simple recipes such as pita bread pizza, fruit salad and green salad won’t drag things out too long and can provide lots of interest during both preparation and eating.

Because many tasks are still difficult for him to manage alone, it can be a good idea to focus on thanking your toddler for helping rather than on teaching him to do something perfectly.

Cooking with a preschooler

When your child is able to understand broad concepts, you can talk about which foods are healthy and why. This is also a good age to introduce recipes that involve ‘building’,  such as layering toppings on a pizza base or spooning yoghurt, cereal and fruit into a glass to make a tasty and healthy dessert.

You can try making some of the following:

  • muffins with raisins, chopped apples, mashed banana, cooked pumpkin or grated carrot
  • fruit and yoghurt smoothies – shake them in a jar if you don’t have a blender or want to keep this fascinating toy hidden from your child for a bit longer
  • mashed potatoes – let him wield the masher, and jazz the spuds up with yoghurt and herbs or another vegetable such as celeriac
  • biscuits – he can cut out shapes or put spoonfuls of mixture onto the baking tray.

He’ll learn basics about measuring, counting and washing vegetables and fruit, as well as new words.

Preschool children can also help set the table, serve food and clean up.

Cooking with a school-aged child

Once at school your child will probably love helping in the kitchen and making menu suggestions.

You can now try more complex creations, such as:

  • pancakes
  • soup
  • fried rice
  • biscuits – letting your child roll out the dough, cut out shapes and decorate
  • gnocchi and pasta – with or without a pasta machine 
  • cakes.

Your child can also help do the dishes and clean the table now.

This is also a good age to involve your child in choosing fruit and vegetables. You can teach him about what’s in season and which vegetables look fresh and let him pick out the fruit and vegetables for the next few meals.

 
  • Last reviewed16-05-2006