Raising Confident Cooks: Simple Ways to Get Kids Involved in the Kitchen

Getting kids involved in the kitchen is a fun and meaningful way to build their confidence, independence, and curiosity about food. Whether they’re helping pack their lunch, choosing groceries, or creating a new snack with just a few ingredients, even the smallest tasks can make a big impact. Encourage creativity, allow room for messes, and take the time to teach them how tools and ingredients work. Establishing simple cooking rituals—like baking together once a week or planting a few herbs—can turn everyday moments into learning experiences. With the right guidance and a little patience, your kitchen can become a place of joyful exploration for kids of all ages.

• Create a ritual → Cook or bake together once a week. Help them learn how to properly scoop flour or teach them about why baking soda is added to a recipe.

• Let them use tools → Supervise them while they turn on the blender, food processor or use a kid’s knife while chopping veggies. Foster their independence!

• Start a small garden → It can be as small as a basil pot or as large as a garden bed. Kids will learn the responsibility involved in taking care of herbs and veggies, and be rewarded by using them for a recipe at home.

• Watch cooking shows together → Shows like “Junior Baking Show” or “My Word Kitchen” are wonderful resources for kids to learn about cooking skills and culture. YouTube has lots of videos too!

How to Include Kids in Cooking

• Let them help → Show them how they can help you when preparing their lunch or snack.

• Let them be creative → Give them 3 or 4 ingredients and let them prepare a new snack or sandwich.

• Let them choose items for groceries → Go through foods in the fridge and pantry and let them decide on 2 or 3 fruits or vegetables that they would like to add to the list.

• Let them get messy! → Kids learn best when they are allowed to make a mess. Spilling flour, cracking eggs outside of the bowl, spilling batter while mixing, these are all opportunities for them to learn and fall in love with the process of cooking.