Basic Cooking Skills for Children

Cooking teaches kids a variety of skills, from measurement to life skills. The ability to handle age-appropriate tasks in the kitchen develops a sense of independence and creates positive feelings in the child. The time spent together as a family encourages bonding. Teaching your child the basics of cooking gives him the tools he needs now and in the future.

  1. Safety

    • Kids need to learn kitchen safety skills before they begin cooking. Even with supervision, a child needs an understanding of what she should do to stay safe. The safety skills revolve around the appliances and tools the child is allowed to use, stove use and a clear understanding that cooking can only be done when an adult is around. Food handling is also a safety lesson kids need to learn. Teach your child to wash her hands before cooking. If she handles meat, she needs to learn about cross contamination and the need to clean everything before moving to the next step.

    Measurements

    • Measurements play a large role in cooking. Children need an understanding of how to use the measuring utensils, including measuring cups and spoons. Practice measurements with your child, using a clear glass or plastic cup for liquids. Help your child learn where to stop to get an accurate amount and how to level off the top of individual measuring cups and spoons to be exact with the ingredients.

    Following Directions

    • A recipe is basically just a set of directions, but for many recipes they must be followed exactly for the correct result. Children need to know how to read and follow a recipe. Parents can help a child through a recipe, but eventually he should learn to read and follow a recipe on his own. Teach your child to read through the entire recipe first to make sure no steps are missed. Gathering all of the ingredients first also keeps cooking organized.

    Cooking Technique

    • Several basic cooking techniques are used in common recipes. Ingredient prep might include peeling produce, chopping, slicing, mincing, grating and zesting. Cracking eggs and separating the yolks is another useful skill, especially if your child wants to bake. A child might also need to learn how to mix ingredients thoroughly for a consistent mixture.

    Clean Up

    • The cleaning up part of cooking is unappealing to most people, but it is an essential part of the process. Teaching your child to clean up after himself instills a sense of responsibility. A bowl for items to throw away works well to collect all of the food waste and trash as you cook. Teach your child to dump the bowl at the end of the cooking session. Cleaning up as you cook saves time at the end.

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