Children love being involved with cooking and preparing food. That’s part of why they are so likely to be in our way when we are in the kitchen. Cooking is also a great way to engage children in learning and to create teachable moments all while having some messy fun.
So what can you expect from your little bakers, butchers, and sauciers? The cooking activities your child will be able to help with will depend on her age. Keep the following in mind when including young children in cooking activities.
One- to Two-Year-Olds
Make sure they are safely restrained in a high chair and give them samples to taste or smear as you keep up a steady stream of commentary. Look for tasks they might be able to accomplish with your help, such as pouring tiny portions of ingredients (e.g., a quarter cup of milk or water) or simply dropping ingredients into a bowl.
Two-Year-Olds
Two-year-olds are learning to use the large muscles in their arms. Try activities such as:
- Scrubbing vegetables and fruits
- Carrying unbreakable items to the table
- Dipping foods
- Washing and tearing lettuce and salad greens
- Breaking bread into pieces
- Pouring and stirring ingredients
Three-Year-Olds
Three-year-olds are learning to use their hands. Try activities such as:
- Pouring liquids into batter (which you measure first)
- Mixing batter or other dry and wet ingredients together
- Shaking liquid in a closed container
- Spreading butters or toppings
- Kneading dough
- Washing vegetables and fruit
- Serving foods
- Putting things in the trash after cooking or after a meal
- Breaking eggs
Four- and Five-Year-Olds
Four- and five-year-olds are learning to control small muscles in their fingers. They are also learning the properties of things (e.g., weight, volume, color, quantity, and so on), the relationships between things, and how substances can be transformed. Try activities such as:
- Juicing oranges, lemons, and limes
- Peeling some fruits and vegetables (bananas and even onions)
- Mashing soft fruits and vegetables
- Scrubbing vegetables (potatoes, mushrooms)
- Cutting soft foods with table knives (mushrooms, hard-boiled eggs)
- Pressing cookie cutters
- Measuring ingredients
- Sifting or straining
- Cracking open/breaking eggs
- Beating eggs with an egg beater
- Making toast
- Baking
- Setting the table
- Wiping up after cooking
- Clearing the table after a meal
