Involving children in the shopping and cooking process is a proven way to introduce them to healthy foods and spark an interest in new ingredients and foods. By giving children a way to contribute to necessary household tasks, you can help them feel like important contributors to the family. If you provide guidance, clear directions, and helpful encouragement, you may find yourself living with a little chef under your roof. Working together, you can promote independence, confidence, and competency. That’s a recipe for success!
1. Work with a Familiar Recipe
First things first, set yourself up for success by working with a recipe you have made at least once and preferably several times before. Knowing the recipe by heart will make it easy for you to assign jobs and watch your child’s progress. Choose a simple recipe that is sure to lead to success. For toddlers, simple finger foods like ants on a log (celery topped with peanut butter and a few raisins) are a wonderful way to make a positive start in the kitchen. As your child ages, they can be involved in more complicated tasks like chopping, sorting, or cleaning.
2. Provide the Right Tools
The right cooking tool can transform a tricky task into an easy one and mitigate mess along the way. Stainless steel mixing bowls, for example, are lightweight for easy lifting and can be even more kid-friendly if they feature a non-slip base for extra stability. Large-handled spoons and measuring cups can make measuring and stirring a breeze. Finally, try searching for a beginner’s knife set that combines effectiveness and safety with round-tip knives and a handguard to promote safe knife skills. Generally speaking, round-tip knives are a must for toddlers, while slightly older kids can move up to using small paring knives. When children are learning knife skills, teach them the “bear claw” technique to keep them safe.
3. Adapt the Environment
Another key to keeping your child safe in the kitchen requires adapting the kitchen. Depending on your set-up this might mean keeping a stepstool available so they can access the countertop. Or you may want to create a children’s workstation where they can perform tasks while seated. Either way, keep the workspaces clean and clear by removing all items not being directly used for the task at hand. This will not only provide more space and reduce the risk of accidents and mess but also help your child focus and understand their task.
4. Assign and Demonstrate Specific Tasks
Once you’re familiar with the recipe, come up with one or two-step tasks for your child to manage (e.g., wash and peel carrots, grate cheese, pick herb leaves from the stem). Keeping instructions simple and offering a demonstration beforehand will help increase safety by ensuring the child knows what to do and can complete the task effectively.
5. Provide Choices
Children feel empowered and involved when they’re offered choices about how they can engage. When involving your child in meal prep, think of two or three jobs they could complete independently, and let them choose which one they’d like to complete. Children can help with cleaning and spinning salad greens, setting the table, chopping potatoes, or even mixing spices together. Offering your little one options for how they participate has the benefit of giving you the power to determine what’s appropriate while simultaneously allowing them to express their individual preferences.
An Early Start for Food Appreciation
The Gardner School uses a variety of learning tools to help children understand the joys of healthy eating and food preparation. In the Kids Café, our little ones develop healthy eating habits in a space that is made just for them. We offer optional cooking enrichment classes and help all our students learn about health and nutrition. During the Camp Gardner summer program, our students may grow vegetables or other small plants as part of the camp curriculum. With a healthy mix of structured enrichment and free play, we give children the guidance they need to start learning as soon as they’re ready. To learn more about why parents and children love The Gardner School, visit our website or schedule a tour today. Bon appétit!