This morning I was reflecting on why I’m so committed to bringing my children into the kitchen and one word came to mind: necessity. With four young kids, it’s rare that I’m in the kitchen alone. Even if I wanted to keep them out, they want to be part of whatever I’m doing.
If you have little ones, you know private moments are few — even a trip to the bathroom is often a group event. That curiosity and eagerness can be a real opportunity to teach. Instead of resisting, invite them in and turn ordinary tasks into learning experiences.
In today’s podcast episode I share practical ways I involve my kids in the kitchen. I describe how to teach children to cook at different ages, and give concrete examples from recipes featured in my eBook COOK WITH KIDS, which you can grab from the resources below.
Interested in cooking with kids? Check out these resources:
- Colorful Cooking For Kids resources and recipe lessons
- Episode #33 of Fit Mama Real Food Radio: Bringing kids in the kitchen
- 100+ simple ways to involve kids in the kitchen
- How to manage the chaos of cooking with kids
- Encouraging adventurous eating in kids with one simple rule
- Real food loving kids: give them the power of choice
Teach Kids To Cook By Age
In episode #124 of Fit Mama Real Food Radio I talk about how to teach kids to cook by age, giving a practical look into my kitchen life. What does it really look like to involve a 2-, 4-, 6-, and nearly 8-year-old? How do you begin teaching skills appropriate to each age? I cover these questions with real examples and actionable tips so you can adapt them to your own family. If you’d like the COOK WITH KIDS eBook, you’ll find it among the resources below.
Links and resources from the episode:
- Article: 100+ simple ways to involve kids in the kitchen
- Colorful Cooking For Kids course and lesson ideas
- Podcast sponsors mentioned on the show
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on popular platforms and listen to the episode directly through your preferred player. If you enjoy the show, please consider rating and reviewing it in Apple Podcasts.
How old are your children? At what age did they start joining you in the kitchen? I’d love to hear how you make mealtimes a learning experience where you are.
XO
Heather