Kids in the kitchen

If your like me ,on many days you just want to get in and out of the kitchen.

No more of a mess that you know you yourself will create

and you can clean up.

But I will share with you from teaching cooking classes to children over the years

that the mess you'll have far out weighs the benefits your kids will receive.

You will not only be teaching/showing/modeling a valuable

life skill but also creating many new memories that will be priceless.

( hopefully passing on some valuable family traditions as well)

It's a Known Fact?:

***When kids create the food they're about to eat, they're more likely to eat something new.

**They'll make better food choices later on.

**Self-esteem and self-confidence are built; mathematical skills challenged and co-operation and team work bring everyone together.

So when their here in the kitchen what should we do.

Well certainly there are age appropriate jobs and tasks to give your kids.

A teen is much more capable then a preschooler, obviously.

This taste of home list

is a great starting point to give you some ideas

and get the kitchen ready for your new Sous Chef. Your child/children

https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/cooking-with-kids-a-guide-to-kitchen-tasks-for-every-age/

Ages 3-5: Pint-Size Helpers

At this age, children are brimming with energy and curiosity. That’s great. They’ll be excited to explore ingredients and try out a new task in the kitchen. But it might come as no surprise that they’ll need plenty of supervision.

Give them basic tasks to keep them busy. They’re still fine-tuning their motor skills, so make sure to choose things that don’t need to be precise.

At this age their best tool is their hands, so focus on tasks that allow them to grab, smash or tear. Here are some ideas to get started:

Wash fruits and vegetables,Tear lettuce salads Mash ingredients, like overripe bananas for our Best Ever Banana Bread Wrap potatoes in foil to bake Knead dough (you’ll want to get it started for them, but many kids will love to punch and toss a ball of dough)Smash graham crackers for crusts

My extra ideas

Setting the table

Squeezing lemons

Learning to match the silverware as you empty the dishwasher

Using the salad spinner

Picking the leaves off fresh herb stems

Gentle stirring

Mashing potatoes

Ages 5-7: Grade-school Sous Chefs

By now, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills are more developed. Time to teach them more difficult tasks, like cracking an egg or slicing with a knife. Our team introduces kid-friendly knives to their own children so they can help prep food. The knives are rigid enough to cut through fruits and vegetables but aren’t as dangerous as using a sharp kitchen knife.

Also, at this age children love showing off things they’ve learned from school. They’re just starting to read and write, so now’s a great time to introduce them to recipes. Have them read along as you show them easy recipes similar to the ones found in our kid-approved cookbook.)

Here are some other ideas for children’s kitchen duties:

Mix dry ingredients Measure and count items Set the table Crack eggs (just watch out for those shells!)Roll cookie dough or meat into balls Chop softer fruits and veggies Read aloud (or sound out) recipe steps

My extra ideas

Stirring independently

Setting the table

Putting away pots and pans from the dishwasher or drying rack

Greasing pans (with help) or adding muffin liners

This list can be for the next age as well.

Dicing and mincing vegetables

(use a pairing knife and start with soft foods like strawberries)

Peeling raw potatoes with a peeler

Slicing and scooping avocados

Using a microplane

zester

Draining and rinsing canned beans

Pouring liquids into containers

Decorating dishes

Ages 8-12:

Budding Cooks

At this point, preteens are becoming more independent. Embrace it. Lay out ingredients for simple recipes like PB&J, an easy fruit salad or fancy toast. They won’t need as much supervision in the kitchen, but they’ll greatly appreciate any positive affirmations. Here are some more things they can do on their own:

Peel veggies Toast bread Make sandwiches Wash and put away dishes Make their school lunch Unload groceries Mix up a simple batter on their own (try muffins for a quick, low-mess option)

My extra ideas

Using a pizza cutter

can opener

Scooping batter into muffin cups

Scraping down the batter

Using the stand mixer

Putting away leftovers

Rinsing dishes and loading the dishwasher

Pounding chicken

Skewering food

Make sandwiches and wraps

Chopping most foods (nothing much bigger than a paring knife or small serrated knife)

Ages 13 & Up:

Young Chefs

Teens will be ready to take on the challenge of mastering different equipment in the kitchen. But make sure they know proper safety skills before starting.

Tips such as which dishes are safe to use in the oven, keeping fingers away from sharp objects and how to handle raw food are important to point out.

Here are some skills they’ll be able to handle:

Make recipes on the stove top (try starting simple with scrambled eggs or quesadillas)

Bake on their own (many teens like to make cookies with friends)

Use sharp knives Learn to use various kitchen gadgets, including a blender, food processor, garlic press, coffee maker and waffle maker (share safety tips and supervise on their early attempts)

Have full reign over the microwave Many teens will enjoy fun cooking more than whipping up a dinner, so teach them skills such as making ice cream or making pie crust with cereal crumbs

Teach basic cleaning skills, such as how to load, run and empty the dishwasher; sort recycling and take out the trash; sweep and mop the floor

Master class: If they’re up to the challenge, designate one dinner a week as their night to be “lead cook.” They’ll have the opportunity to build a menu and show off their skills to the family. This will help them build confidence, give them a sense of accomplishment and give you a night off!

Creating recipes with my Oldest

My oldest daughters senior year I helped her develop recipes and then cook them for her senior project. We created 12 recipes that she could prepare.

With each step she took pictures as well as writing the process out. Now she has a much clearer vision of how flavors are combined, how to prep and get a meal cooked in a timely fashion.

But most importantly confidence in herself

from writing these recipes.

Showing her that she has the ability to cook for herself.

So someday's wrap your head around the idea of a mess and more time,

plan accordingly and invite them in. You'll all be happy that you did.

Happy cooking