
Assign kitchen tasks based on the child’s developmental level. Each child is different and may not fit into these suggested age ranges. Some skills may need to be adjusted until the child is safely able to complete them.
Cooking with children is a great way to encourage trying new foods. They may learn to eat a variety of foods, which leads to a long-lasting healthy lifestyle. They also learn to develop important life skills at a young age, which will help them become independent later in life. Read our free tip sheet on Cooking with Children.
Kids involved in planning and preparing meals may:
Including children in the kitchen at a young age is a good way to teach proper hygiene and food safety.
Assign kitchen tasks based on the child’s developmental level. Each child is different and may not fit into these suggested age ranges. Some skills may need to be adjusted until the child is safely able to complete them.
Kitchen activities for this age range focus on fine motor skills, abilities using hands, and following simple directions. With this specific age range, there is a wide variety of skill levels, so activities may vary.
Children can start to try more difficult cooking techniques and kitchen equipment. If using scissors or sharp knives, consider their skill level first.
Kids this age require less supervision but are not completely on their own. Consider giving them more freedom in planning meals and completing simple recipes without help.
This age group has the opportunity to have more freedom in the kitchen to prepare complex recipes, as well as being able to make changes to a recipe if they feel confident. Supervision is required in order to make sure they are being safe and practicing proper sanitation.