How to Teach Young Children to Cook

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By Angela Antonelli
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Teach Young Children to Cook

Young children are eager to take on "grown-up" tasks. Introducing your child to cooking can be a great way to incorporate learning, fine motor skill development, and bonding into one big recipe for fun.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Cooking equipment
Apron or towel
Recipe ingredients

Step 1

Prepare a safe cooking area. Provide a safe step stool if necessary, and set up away from the stove top and electrical outlets. Make sure that the things that your child will need are within reach.
Step 2

Give your child an apron to use. You can use the real deal, or substitute something such as a bath towel that's pinned in the back. Tell her that an apron is used to keep your clothes clean, and to wipe your hands on.
Step 3

Have your child wash her hands thoroughly. Make sure that she knows to turn and cough/sneeze into her arm if she needs to do so. Explain the basics of spoon licking: wait until you've used it to mix the last item before licking it, and then don't use it again.
Step 4

Choose a recipe with a few simple ingredients. Explain to your child that recipes tell you how to cook things. Show your child the recipe and explain that it tells you what to add, how much to add, and what to do with it.
Step 5

Help your child with measuring, and let her scoop, pour and mix. Any steps requiring use of knives, the stove top, or a mixer should be done by an adult.
Step 6

Have your child help with the kitchen clean-up, so that she understands that it is part of the cooking process.
Step 7

Let your child serve the item to others; she will feel very proud of what she's created.