Cooking with Kids
Cooking with kids doesn't have to be a big production or a lot of work. Remember you're making more than meals together. Get them cooking with healthy habits now, and chances are they'll keep up those good habits as they grow older.
Cooking with 2-3 year olds
Kids this age love to help in the kitchen and explore though their senses – sight, touch, smell, hearing, tasting. Keep the tasks limited to about five minutes like:
- wash fruits or vegetables in the sink
- add items to dishes
- smell food, herbs and spices
- Passing on family traditions.
- Help with picky eaters.
- Quality time together.
- Bringing the classroom into the kitchen:
- Health: Learn how to make a healthy meal or snack.
- Language: Read a recipe, write a list of what you need to buy, learn new vocabulary, and follow instructions.
- Math: Count, sort, measure and work with fractions.
- Social studies: Discover where certain food is grown.
- Small and large muscle control: Stir, chop, knead, pour, and scoop.
- Social skills: Work together, take turns, and share utensils.
- Learning that sticks. Hands-on learning is one of the best ways to get information and skills to really sink in.
- find ingredients in the fridge or cupboard
Five reasons to cook with your kids
Cooking with 3-4 year olds
Cooking at this age keeps them interested in food. Try letting your kids:
- remove eggshells from hard-boiled eggs
- pour from a small pitcher or measuring cup
- help make a simple sandwich or pizza with pre- assembled ingredients
- take a certain number of carrots or bagels out of a bag
- describe the colour, taste and shape of food
- mash sweet potatoes, turnip, carrots or bananas
Cooking with 4-6 year olds
Cooking can further develop the fine motor skills this age group is developing. Try letting your kids:
- assemble foods
- stir ingredients together
- tell you what they know about where a food comes from
- slice soft-cooked vegetables, soft fruit, cheese or tofu with a plastic knife
Cooking with 6-8 year olds
These kids can follow simple steps for recipes, and are able to share and take turns. Try letting your kids:
- safely use simple kitchen equipment like a grater, toaster, blender or can opener
- make simple cold spring rolls or tortilla wraps
- toss salad ingredients together with salad dressing
- invent a fruit salad or smoothie recipe
- tell you what food belongs to what food groups
- write out the grocery list
- make a simple breakfast
Cooking with 8-11 year olds
Kids at this age are more coordinated and able to understand how to use appliances safely. Try letting your kids:
- use a knife with easy-to-cut foods
- use the microwave with your help
- make their own lunch
- make a fresh veggie or fruit platter
- use the stove, with supervision, to make basic recipes like omelettes, soups or grilled cheese
- decide what is needed create a meal from each Canada Food Guide food group
