Should Kids Be In the Kitchen?

Having kids in the kitchen can cause anxiety for a lot of parents but it doesn’t have to be a stressful thing. My oldest has been helping me in the kitchen since he could sit up in his high chair and he absolutely loves every minute of it. I’m not saying every experience is perfect, because we have our share of messes and lessons learned! However, I wanted to share some strategies we implement when the kids are helping to make kitchen experiences less stressful. Happy cooking/baking!

1. Prepare ahead of time. This is extremely important if you have younger kids. They have shorter attention spans and their little minds can get them into some weird situations in the kitchen if you’re occupied searching for things in the cabinet. Get all the ingredients, tools, recipes, etc. out that you will need BEFORE you call your kids into the kitchen.

2. Teach safety. You can’t expect your child to know how to use a kitchen tool or not to touch something if they don’t have experience with it. Kids are smart! Just talk to them. Explain what tools are for, what your child is supposed to be doing, what tools are “mommy/daddy’s job”, and how to stay safe if there is something hot or sharp involved.

3. Remember their age. Include your child in ways that is appropriate to their age and skill set. Younger children who are new to the kitchen will need hand over hand assistance while older children may just need verbal assistance.

4. Messes happen. It’s okay to make a mess. Take advantage of the opportunity to teach your child how to help clean up the mess. Cleaning up is a part of the cooking experience. If you helped make the mess than you help clean it up.

5. Have fun! So many great memories can be made in the kitchen. It’s a time to pass down recipes, carry on traditions, and take time to spend together. Whether you’re cooking an elaborate meal from scratch or mixing up a cookie mix from the store, life is sweeter with kids in the kitchen.