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“Preschoolers & cooking?” Those might be two words you don’t think go together. However, early childhood is a great time to teach your little one basic kitchen skills and self-responsibility. In this blog post, I share the overall benefits as well as tips and tricks for working with your sous chef in the making! Plus, I’ve shared a free printable set with food and cooking-related kids’ activities. (Scroll down to grab your download!)
Why Let Your Kiddos Help You in the Kitchen?
According to North Dakota State University, “Cooking builds self-esteem. Children develop confidence, responsibility and independence when they can help you prepare a snack or meal. When they get more practice, they will be able to prepare more foods on their own.”
Therefore, there are many benefits to having your child help out in the kitchen–aside from making memories and family bonding time! Not only do children learn about food and nutrition, but they are gaining several academic and life skills too. Here are some examples of what preschoolers pick up while cooking.
Fine Motor
Mixing, scooping, spreading, and cutting foods are great forms of fine motor development. This type of development means strengthening the small muscles in a child’s hands. Refining these muscles helps children with life skills and gives them more independence with tasks such as feeding, dressing, toileting, writing, etc.
Math
Cooking and baking are chock full of opportunities to learn about math concepts. For example, a child can learn about counting, measurement, quantities, volume, and sequencing all while preparing a single meal!
Literacy
Activities in the kitchen can also lead to learning about literacy concepts. For instance, you and your child can read simple recipes, food labels, and packaging. Your child can even help to write out shopping or ingredient lists. Additionally, cooking provides opportunities to pick up new vocabulary.
Science
Recently, I wrote a blog post about the Scientific Method and introducing STEM learning at home. But, did you know that cooking is an excellent way to let your child learn about science too? Exploration with food teaches science concepts such as temperature, hot vs. cold, and changes in matter, for example.
When to Start Cooking with Kids?
While every child is different, kids generally start to show interest in what’s going on in the kitchen at around 18 months. They might not be able to help much at that stage. However, they can become involved as long as you’re open to a little bit of exploration (and some occasional mess!)
For example, our preschooler has been watching us prepare meals since he was an infant. (As an aside… he used to sit in his highchair and watch my husband and I film our short-lived cooking stream on Twitch/YouTube called, Our Dinner is Dunn.) Now, he’s old enough to help with simple tasks like scooping, mixing, measuring, and even cutting food. And yes, he can cut food! He uses a child-friendly knife. I’ll share the link to it along with other great kitchen gear later on in this post.
How to Begin? Tips for Cooking with Preschoolers
1. Model What You’d Like to See
I’ve said it before. And I will say it again. Modeling is one of the most effective ways to teach young children new skills. Therefore, you want to begin your child’s cooking journey, when they are still an infant, by letting them watch you in the kitchen. As they observe what you’re doing, they are learning the ins and outs of food preparation as well as how to safely handle kitchen tools.
2. Start Small
Something else you want to keep in mind is to start slowly and scaffold the learning. First, let them get familiar with the kitchen by playing with children’s toys alongside you. Then, you can move on to the real thing. For example, we started by setting up our toddler nearby in his pretend kitchen while we cooked. Eventually, he started cooking with us once he began to show interest. These are some of our favorite toy products we use at home.
- HEALTHY PRETEND PLAY: Melissa & Doug Food Groups Wooden Play Food is a sturdy wooden food set that features items from the five food groups for healthy pretend play. It includes watermelon, corn, milk, cheese, fish, eggs, and more.
- FUN AND EDUCATIONAL: This play food for kids set helps children plan a well-balanced meal. It helps introduce the basics of nutrition, and can be used to teach early number skills, color recognition, sorting, and grouping. Packaging may vary
- EASY TO STORE: Four wooden crates are included to sort the food into groups - dairy, produce (for fruits and vegetables), grains, and meat and fish. Kids can also sort by color or use the crates to combine foods to serve up pretend-play meals.
- GREAT GIFT FOR AGES 3 AND UP: The Food Groups Wooden Play Food set makes a great gift for kids ages 2 to 5. The Melissa & Doug Play-Time Produce and Vegetables Play Food set is a great accompaniment.
- “THE GOLD STANDARD IN CHILDHOOD PLAY”: For more than 30 years, Melissa & Doug has created beautifully designed imagination- and creativity-sparking products that NBC News called “the gold standard in early childhood play.”
- Hand polished stainless steel: The Melissa & doug stainless steel pots & pans play set for kids is an 8 piece stainless steel set including a colander, pot with lid, 2 pans, 2 wooden utensils, and rack
- High quality and safe construction: Designed with the highest safety standards, the riveted handles hold on tight, and thick stainless steel stands upto years of play
- Especially sized for kids: Our gleaming pots and pans would look great in any kitchen but have been sized specifically for kids; the included storage rack lets children feel like real pros when they are cooking
- Great gift for ages 3 to 8: The Stainless Steel Pots & Pans Play Set for kids makes a great gift for kids ages 3 and up; Add the Melissa & Doug Kitchen Accessory Set to round out the hands on, screen free, pretend play cooking experience
- The gold standard in childhood play: for more than 30 years, Melissa & Doug has created beautifully designed imagination- and creativity-sparking products that nbc news called “the gold standard in early childhood play.”
3. Let Your Child Taste and Explore
Think back to when you first introduced your toddler to solid foods. I’m sure your pediatrician told you that it’s normal for them to touch it, taste it, spit it out, and make a mess. This is because kids are getting to know their food using all of their senses. The same still goes for preschoolers. So, it’s important to let me taste different ingredients as they help you cook. (Side note: research actually shows that kids are more likely to try foods they’ve helped to prepare!)
4. Be Flexible
No matter what activity you do with your preschooler, you can always expect some mess. Cooking is no different. Therefore, it’s all about having a flexible mindset. Go into this process knowing what’s to come, don’t expect perfection, and prepare all of your ingredients (and cleaning supplies) ahead of time. This will make things more manageable and enjoyable for everyone.
5. Break it Down
Once your child feels comfortable you can let them help you with meal preparation. Please note that your child doesn’t have to cook every single meal or even an entire meal with you. You can choose what works for your family in terms of days, time, and specifics (i.e. breaking down the steps and having them help you with certain things.) For example, they can make a salad while you sauté onions or they can season veggies while you cut up chicken. As your child gets older and more confident they can take on more advanced tasks.
6. Make Connections
Finally, it’s always a good idea to tie in real-world experiences with what you read about in books. Here are a few age-appropriate, food-related books you can read with your family. Afterward, you can make meals together based on these books.
- Dumpling Day by Meera Sriram
- Pete’s a Pizza by William Steig
- Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Elhert
What Can Preschoolers Do in the Kitchen at this Age?
Non-cooking Tasks
- Put away utensils
- Wipe down the countertops
- Open food packages
- Rinse fruits and vegetables
- Set the table
Cooking Tasks
- Measure and pour ingredients
- Stir or mix foods
- Scoop items into bakeware or dishes
- Cut fruits and vegetables
- Spread butter or condiments on bread
- Make simple meals like sandwiches and salads
Kid-Friendly Kitchen Products for Preschoolers Cooking
With all of that said, preschoolers can use items you already have in your kitchen as they help out. But, having kid-friendly items can make the process easier for their tiny hands. Here are some products suitable for children that you might want to check out.
- PERFECT FOR CHEFS-IN-TRAINING: This kids' chef knife set is designed for real cooking, providing a safe and enjoyable way for children to learn essential kitchen skills. It includes a variety of child-safe knives, making it ideal for all their cooking adventures.
- KID SAFE AND TODDLER FRIENLDY: Our set features kid-safe knives that are perfect for toddlers and young children. The child-safe design ensures safety while allowing kids to participate in real cooking activities.
- MONTESSORI LEARNING TOOL: Inspired by Montessori principles, this knife set promotes hands-on learning and independence, helping children develop confidence and practical life skills in the kitchen.
- COMPLETE CUTTING SET FOR KIDS: This comprehensive set includes 3 knives—1 small, 1 medium, and 1 large—all with non-slip handles. It's an ideal tool for children's cooking and a must-have for any aspiring young chef. Durable and Easy to Use: Mad
- IMPROVE PICKY EATING AND ENHANCE CULINARY SKILLS: With kid-friendly knives in this childs knife set little ones can safely enhance their chopping and cutting skills. Our kids cooking supplies age 5 and 'kids kitchen tools real' promote educational play and real-life application, perfect for the budding chef.
- MEASURING CUP & SPOON SET: The Farberware 9 Piece Measuring Set is the all-inclusive measuring collection for all of your baking and kitchen needs. It's perfect for wet or dry ingredients. this measuring set includes 4 measuring cups (1 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup, and 1/4 cup) and 5 measuring spoons (1 tablespoon, 1/2 tablespoon, 1 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, and 1/4 teaspoon).
- ORGANIZED STORAGE: Each of these sets nest within each other. They are also held together with a plastic ring to secure each piece together for easy organization and storage.
- EASY TO READ: The measuring set feature easy to read measurement marking; in standard units.
- LIGHTWEIGHT: These measuring cups are constructed of durable, lightweight plastic.
- DISHWASHER SAFE: This set of 5 spoons & 4 cups are dishwasher safe for fast and easy cleanup.
- Made from premium polyester fabric, which belongs to uniform cloth, free from harmful chemicals, safe for your kids, this sturdy child apron and chef hat set is machine washable, fade-proof, thick but soft, lightweight and comfortable
- Small Size-19.7" x 17.7" age 2-5 years, Large Size-23.6"x19.7" age 6-12 years. With an adjustable neck strap and the chef hat, which hides an adjustable elastic band, this kids apron set can fit most toddlers, girls and boys
- This green children apron come with two useful pockets in the middle of apron, so they can easy holding the cooking and baking accessories, or painting brush, craft and art tools
- This cute kids apron and chef hat set is a great gift for your daughter or son, it will exercise their cooking imaginations. Perfect for kitchen cooking, baking training, painting class, Birthday, Halloween, Christmas and New Year parties, easy to decorate with marker, paint, iron on or embroidery
- All edges, pockets and ties of the kids chef apron set are professionally hemmed and reinforced for longevity
Now talk to me! Does your preschooler cook with you? If so, what do you like to make together? Share your comments below.
More Posts About Preschooler Development
- Typical 4-Year-Old Development: Milestones to Look For
- How Music & Movement Promote Development in Preschool
- Emergent Writing Stages in Preschool: What Stage is Your Little One In?
SAVE TO PINTEREST
This has always been a struggle for me. I grew up never comfortable in the kitchen (fear of knives and fire) and still have a discomfort as an adult! I’ve of course wanted to help my kids not experience a fear of the kitchen.
My husband is an award winning chef so I’m trying to get him to help. 😂 Our daughter expresses a lot of interest so we let her stir and pour baking ingredients. Our 6 year old just made his first sauce yesterday and fancy dinner with the help of my husband!
Thank you for these helpful tips! I will definitely be using them!
Thank you for sharing, Justine! I dislike fire too! But, you’re right! Getting kids into the kitchen at a young age can certainly help them to avoid those types of fears.
Growing up, I’ve always helped my mum in the kitchen, so cooking is like second-nature to me now. I would like my kids to start young too. With my 4-year-old, she likes to help me cut simple vegetables and mix the ingredients if we are baking. She loves to knead the dough too. I make playdough out of home ingredients for her, and she would pretend to cook and cut with her play dough and kitchen set.
These are really useful tips. I’ll be definitely using them more because my youngest is starting to show some interest in cooking as well. Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful! Play dough is such a great activity to help with fine-motor development as well.
Cooking and baking are so good for preschoolers! I love all the tips and resources you have here. We try to get our daughter involved with preparing food as much as we can and she loves it! A few days ago we made banana muffins. She’s learning so much and is getting better with practice!