Should I Let My Child Help in the Kitchen?
Absolutely!
Yes! Letting your child help in the kitchen is a fantastic idea for several reasons. Introducing young children to cooking and preparing food helps them develop essential life skills and confidence in their ability to care for themselves as they grow. One day, when they head off to university or move out on their own, they’ll already know how to cook simple, healthy meals.
Cooking together also creates wonderful opportunities for quality time. Many children open up and start chatting while they’re busy with a hands-on task—often sharing more than they would if you simply asked, “What did you do at school today?”
Starting with simple, fun recipes like pizza faces or pancake animals encourages creativity and experimentation. Kids get to explore different flavours and textures, see what works (and what doesn’t), and take pride in their creations. A friend’s son recently told me, bursting with excitement, “I made pancakes for all of us!”
Getting Started: Fun and Easy Recipes
Here are some simple and engaging food activities that children love:
Pizza Faces
🟢 Use a ready-made pizza base or English muffins.
🟢 Provide a variety of toppings like cheese, cherry tomatoes, olives, peppers, and pepperoni.
🟢 Let your child create funny or silly faces before baking.
Cookie Cutter Sandwiches
🟢 Make sandwiches using bread, cheese, deli meats, or nut butter and jam.
🟢 Use fun-shaped cookie cutters to create stars, hearts, or animal-shaped sandwiches.
Animal Pancakes
🟢 Prepare pancake batter and cook small pancakes.
🟢 Let your child decorate them with fruit: banana slices for ears, berries for eyes and mouth, and a chocolate chip for the nose.
Hard-Boiled Egg Faces
🟢 Slice hard-boiled eggs in half.
🟢 Use cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, or carrot sticks to create silly faces.
Funny Toast Faces
🟢 Spread cream cheese or peanut butter on toast.
🟢 Use fruit like blueberries, banana slices, and raisins to make expressive faces.
Helpful Tips for a Fun and Safe Cooking Experience
✔ Keep it safe – Younger children can help with mixing, spreading, and decorating, while older kids can assist with cutting (using a child-safe knife) and cooking under supervision.
✔ Make cleanup easy – Use a tray for toppings, keep a damp cloth handy, and embrace a little mess—it’s part of the fun!
✔ Teach through cooking – Measuring ingredients introduces maths skills, and watching food cook is a great science lesson.
Cooking with kids isn’t just about making food—it’s about building confidence, sparking creativity, and creating happy memories. So, roll up your sleeves, have fun, and enjoy the delicious results together!