Family Life
3 min Read
5 Reasons to Get Kids in the Kitchen—the Sooner, the Better!

March 3, 2022
Family Life
3 min Read
March 3, 2022
We’ve heard it before: When kids are involved in meal preparation and cooking, they’re much more likely to try new foods.
Trouble is, it’s not that easy, especially for busy parents. It’s hard enough to get a from-scratch meal on the table most nights of the week, let alone get the kids involved in making it! I don’t know about you, but when my son helps out in the kitchen, it’s messy, slow and not very productive.
But, even with these roadblocks, getting kids involved in cooking has amazing benefits even beyond expanding their palates:
Teaching our kids to be capable humans who contribute to the household seems like a great idea, for us parents as well as for the future friends and families of our children.
That’s a heck of an impact from a grilled cheese sandwich.
The good news is that getting kids involved in the kitchen is a lot easier than you might think. Start small, both in tasks and in age. The best time to start is today, no matter how old they are. Check out these easy kitchen tasks and try adding one to your child’s daily routine. It’s worth it, so say yes to the mess and don’t forget to have fun.
Ages 3 to 5
Ages 6 to 9
All of the above, plus:
Ages 10 to 11
All of the above, plus:
Ages 12 to 14
Age 15+
For more from Claire Tansey (including virtual kids’ cooking classes!) check out clairetansey.com or follow at instagram.com/tanseyclaire and facebook.com/clairetanseyskitchen.