From the time my daughters were old enough to sit up in a high
chair I had them in the kitchen with me. I gave them measuring
cups and spoons to play with. As they got older I involved them
with pouring, measuring, stirring, peeling and mashing. Kids who
are involved in the kitchen helping prepare meals and snacks
often eat a wider variety of healthy foods just because they
helped. Helping in the kitchen and learning to cook provides
children with a variety of life skills that they will need as
adults. Here are some suggestions to make cooking with kids in
the kitchen more successful: 1. Be patient and allow extra time
to teach, supervise and clean up. 2. You know your child best.
Give them age appropriate tasks and look for signs of boredom,
frustration and enjoyment. Adjust the tasks to your child’s
level of maturity and interest. And never punish or yell at your
child for making a mistake or a mess while learning. The goal is
to make cooking a positive experience. Think back to when and
how you learned to