Tips, Tricks and Treats to Teach Kids to Cook

My 12 year old is having a friend sleep over tonight..they and my 10 yr old are so making their own nuggets tonight. Love this and it's easy to do. - 4/16/2013 2:42:07 PM

Cooking is the perfect time to teach children fractions. I had them figure out the proportions when doubling the chocolate chip cookie recipe, etc. I taught them the difference between liquid and dry measure, and to "eye ball" measurements. - 1/30/2013 9:40:07 AM

Thanks for the article! It astounds me how many kids out in the "real world" are not learning to cook, from their moms or otherwise! We have an entire generation (at least) of people who don't even know what a potato is when they see it, much less how to prepare one for dinner. (I have witnessed this at our local Farmers' Market.)

I have been4 teaching kids to cook via 4-H for several years. I teach ages 5 to 18, though my own kids have been helping in the kitchen since they were old enough to balance on the step stool to watch me. I think this article is a little paranoid on safety, but anything that motivates people to work with kids is fabulous!

BTW, I loved the comment/suggestio
n about dog biscuits! Great idea for preschoolers! - 1/2/2013 11:32:53 AM

These are all great suggestions. I think it's important too that dads do all this stuff, too. I noticed that the article only called out moms. - 12/31/2012 11:39:02 AM

This is a great article. I think children will be willing to try new foods if they are part of the food preparation. Love the age-appropriate instructions. Now this next comment may seem silly to some people, however, it is kind of important. In the main photo of this article, the woman is holding the knife in an entirely inappropriate way. A knife is not held with the finger tips. I have no doubt that this was done for photogenic purposes, but proper knife handling is too important to be left out. I guess I think this is particularly important with this article since the article is all about teaching kids to cook. But otherwise, the article is really fantastic. - 12/30/2012 6:39:48 PM

Make sure to explain the dangers of things like boiling water and garbage disposers, and make sure kids know that they are only allowed to do any kind of cooking when they have adult supervision. If you don't make this clear to them they'll think that cooking with you one time is a license to do the same things on their own. - 12/30/2012 2:43:33 PM

Instead of using fingers to dip the chicken pieces in the egg, use a fork or tongs. Then there are no eggy fingers to worry about - this is just common sense! It will also teach the kids how to use the utensils.

For the graham cracker recipe, I would make it a 2-layer treat instead of a 3-layer. Put strawberries and banana slices on the same frosted graham cracker & top with another one. This would be much easier to eat without falling apart & making a mess. The kids could also have a choice of which fruit they want. You could use other sliced fresh fruit, like peaches or nectarines in season.

For the yogurt parfaits, don't forget to drain the pineapple, or it will make the yogurt too runny.

When I was growing up, the "nested eggs" were called "toad in a hole."

Dads cooking is nothing new. I'm 60 years old and my dad taught me how to make pancakes when I was a kid. He also cooked other breakfast meals. He worked nights, so his free time with us kids was on the weekends, and he loved to make the family big breakfast. - 12/30/2012 1:31:09 PM

I can't wait to try this with my grandaughter the fruit and graham crackers sound like something she might like fruit is not her favorite but if she helps it might be too hard to resist - 12/30/2012 4:45:12 AM

"...but the only way they'll learn to cook is by joining you in the kitchen, moms."

Really, Sparkpeople? I did not expect that sort of comment here. Healthy cooking is for everyone. - 11/28/2012 9:53:57 AM

"teach your children to cook moms" so very last century

your site is becoming extremely sexist and boring with its unidimensiuonal approach - 11/11/2012 3:00:40 PM

My Grandsons were being raised by their Dad and introduced to cooking on Camp outs taught me to make the toast and egg in the middle. Also Tin foil Dinners featuring meat and a variety of vegetables. It was a help to their Dad that they both learned to cook while young. BTW their Dad was one of the Camp counsellors giving them fun times together. - 11/9/2012 11:58:49 PM

I have taught my son and my grandchildren to cook since they were still toddlers. The best thing to teach a toddler to cook is dog biscuits. The dogs don't care if the children eat the dough, pick their nose, slobber in the dough, etc. The kids can get their hands messy and have so much fun! I teach them they must obey the rules (wash their hands, don't pick their nose, don't eat the dough, don't lick the spoon til I give it to them after we are done using it, etc) and if they disobey they aren't allowed to help and I make it sound fun and we do have so much fun making them. When they are older, we start with brownies and then move up as they get older and can follow rules and do more. They are all wonderful cooks and love to help in the kitchen! My D-I-L loves that her husband can cook and bake! - 11/9/2012 3:28:37 PM

Very neat article. My kids and I love cooking together! These are great recipes for us to try! - 11/7/2012 8:07:04 PM

Great ideas! We will be trying out a couple of these this weekend. Thanks. - 10/30/2012 10:07:42 AM

Great idea getting the kids in the kitchen. Too many children (and adults) today have no idea of what to do in the kitchen, falling back on to fast food rubbish.

BTW I see no reason to worry your children with calories etc, just the effect of making your own will lower their bad fat content. - 10/24/2012 3:54:01 AM