A Guide on Teaching Cookery to Kids

Cooking can be a pleasure for children of all ages. Start them young and with any luck they’ll develop a lifelong love of the kitchen as well as skills they can use throughout adulthood.

Children will vary in their ability to undertake different cooking activities. Use your own judgment to choose tasks you think are suitable for your child. Safety is the biggest concern, beyond that a little trial-and-error is all part of the fun.

Below we’ve put together a list of suggested activities for under 3s, 3- to 5-year-olds, 5- to 7-year- olds, 8- to11year-olds and children 12 and above.

Cooking with the under 3s

Your little one may not be able to dress himself or go to the toilet on her own but from around 18 months, your child will probably want to start ‘helping you out’ in the kitchen. Take advantage of their interest to give yourself a break. If they’re entertained in the kitchen you can get on with the business of cooking and you’ll both be happy.

Ensure all hazards are away from grabbing hands – pot handles, hot food and liquids, sharp or heavy utensils and cleaning products. Think about what they can reach or trip over and make sure there is always a clear path if you’re carrying anything hot, sharp or heavy. You can set them up on the kitchen table so you know they’re at a safe distance.

Once you’ve cleared the way, this is your opportunity to teach your child about food and familiarize them with the kitchen environment.

Activities that very young children will enjoy include washing vegetables, stirring ingredients, mashing potato with a fork or a masher, sprinkling, and spooning ingredients into scales.

Another way to keep young children occupied is to give them plastic containers and utensils to wash in the sink – this can provide lengthy entertainment while you cook.

Cooking with 3-5 year olds

In addition to the skills listed for under 3s, 3- to 5-yearolds with their increased common sense, ability to follow instructions and dexterity can undertake a wide range of skills. It will depend on your knowledge of your child, as skills can still vary greatly at this age. Think safety first and don’t try and tackle anything you feel unsure about.

Activities to try with 3- to 5-year-olds include weighing (pouring or spooning ingredients into scales), using measuring spoons, washing fruit and vegetables, cutting soft ingredients (example: butter, mushrooms, strawberries) using a strong plastic knife, breading and flouring (three stations set up with flour, beaten egg and breadcrumbs for fish fingers), mixing (using either a spoon or hands to mix together ingredients), tearing and squashing (tearing herbs and lettuce or squashing fruit), sieving (it’s best to balance the sieve over a bowl and tap it rather than shaking it around), using a pestle and mortar (a light wooden one is better than a heavy one), kneading (light kneading can be fun but you’ll need to step in to complete the task); rolling, shaping and cutting dough (choose plastic cutters and a small rolling pin), spreading (buttering bread and spreading icing); podding, picking and hulling (podding broad beans, picking leaves, tomatoes or grapes off the vine and hulling strawberries).

Cooking with 5- to 7-year-olds

Along with the skills suggested for 3 to 5-year-olds, you can now introduce your child to trickier techniques and equipment. At this stage, you could think about buying your child a knife designed for young cooks or using a small adult one.

With the introduction of sharp cutting tools like knives and scissors, always consider the ability of your child and if you’re not comfortable, then leave it for a while. There are still other more complex skills they can enjoy. If you do think they can manage, then still always keep an eye on them as it’s very easy to slip even for adults.

This age group may be taught cutting using a small knife, like how to form their hand into a claw to keep fingertips out of danger. The can also be taught cutting with scissors, grating, measuring,

rubbing in, beating and folding, greasing and lining a cake tin or tray, peeling

oranges or hard-boiled eggs, and setting the table.

Cooking with 8- to 11-year-olds

Along with the skills suggested for 3 - 5 and 5 - 7 year olds, when children reach 8 +, they can start to get involved with planning and undertake activities with a bit more independence. Supervision is still key due to the number of hazards in the kitchen but take a hands off approach where possible.

Activities to try with 8 to 11-year-olds: planning the family meal; following a simple recipe, finding ingredients in the cupboards and fridge; using a peeler; whisking, using a balloon whisk or handheld mixer; using heat on a hob, oven and microwave; making salads; and opening cans.

Gradually introduce your children to the above and make sure they are aware of the dangers involved. If you feel they are not ready, hold off for a while. Cuts and burns are common in the kitchen so always keep an eye on them. However capable they may be, it’s easy to get distracted or try to rush an activity.

Cooking with 12+ year olds and learning opportunities for all

Along with the skills suggested for 5- to 7- and 7- to 11-year-olds, when children reach 12-plus, they can begin to prepare more complex recipes and even start improvising. How much they can achieve depends on how interested they are in cooking and how much they’ve done before. And even much older children should have some supervision to avoid accidents in the kitchen.

Learning opportunities for this group include:

• Food hygiene washing hands at the beginning and in between touching raw and ready-toeat ingredients;

• Maths – counting, dividing portions, doubling recipes, adding and subtracting;

• Recognizing ingredients and learning their origin;

• Recognizing kitchen equipment and learning how to use it;

• Reading and following recipes in order to create the final dish;

• Following instructions - young children are particularly inclined to want to add more, jump stages or taste when they shouldn’t;

• Different tastes, textures and foods; • Time and patience; • The science of cooking is what happens to things when you apply heat or cold;

• Dexterity, fine motor skills and coordination means carrying or pouring without spilling, opening containers and packets, weighing.

When children learn to look, they will do so by following the recipes carefully with your help. As they become older and more experienced, let them experiment with quantities, although remember that most baking recipes have specific quantities that will not work if changed. Give them opportunities to let their imagination run wild when it comes to presentation of the final dish.

Children will learn many things through cooking but the greatest lesson they can learn is to love preparing delicious, healthy, well-rounded meals.