At what age do you let kids loose in the kitchen?

carlamarie_2 · 16 June 2015 at 10:16AM

I'm just curious to know.

My eldest son is 8 and we have recently let him start using the kettle to make himself a cup of tea. He can make his own sandwiches and He's quite handy with a toaster too.

My daughter is 7 and spends a lot of time in the kitchen, she likes housework (fully expect this to change) she offers to wash the pots (I have to go other them again when she's not looking) she sorts the washing and puts the machine on too. She washes windows and will drag the Hoover and mop out.
She joins in when making dinner and under supervision, she will stir things on the hob. In fact on tuna pasta bake night, she practically makes the tea (I put it in the oven, won't let her in there)
But I don't allow her to use the kettle yet.

Little one is four, so he's at the mixing bowl stage.

Talking to other mums at school, they all think I let them do too much. That they are far to young to do these things.

What's your opinion? When did your kids start helping. I Very much doubt I'll change as I believe they should learn the basics as children (as I did)m the tasks I allow them to do, is what I believe they are capable of doing safely.
But I am curios what other people think?

I should add I don't make them do these things, it is their choice. I only require them to tidy there bedrooms at the minute.

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kathrynha · 16 June 2015 at 10:23AM

My daughter is 9 and can make hot drinks. I tend to be in the kitchen at the same time, but over the last year we have gone from me helping her pour the water from the kettle, to me just being around.

She often sorts out her own breakfast, and sometimes lunch too totally unsupervised, but if the hob, oven or grill are involved I will be in the room.

I don't care what other parents think. Some kids aren't allowed in the kitchen at all, and then they go to uni and are absolutely clueless. They need to be taught how to do household tasks as kids so that they are ready for adult life

[Deleted User] · 16 June 2015 at 10:26AM

My girls were 'helping' in the kitchen, supervised of course, as soon as they were old enough to stand on a chair beside the cooker and stir the saucepan. Always loved making things they could eat and as soon as they were walking went to the allotment with thier Dad to drop potatoes and beans down holes in the ground and help weed etc. it made the connection between growing, producing food and cooking what they'd grown which meant they were NEVER picky eaters either. I made sure they had a blunt knife for chopping veg and gave them things like mushrooms that are easy to chop at first. Both in thier 30s now and both cook from scratch, make thier own bread etc. and the elder one (younger will as soon as she has a garden) grows masses of fruit and veg and makes preserves and puts into the freezer any surpluses for in the cooler months. It gives small people an insight into OS life as soon as they are able to comprehend that not all things good come from the supermarket. In fact both of them say now that friends always wanted to come to our house because they could 'do' things and not just watch TV!

Mojisola · 16 June 2015 at 10:36AM

Along with many others, I got my Hostess badge in Brownies when I was seven. That involved lighting the gas, handling a kettle of boiling water, making tea in a tea pot and serving tea to Brown Owl and her friends. I don't think modern seven years are any less capable than we were.

quidsy · 16 June 2015 at 10:41AM

Mine has been handling knives under supervision for 2 years, he is 8. He unloads the dishwasher & apart from high shelve items put everything away, he can make a cup of tea since a few months back & I will let him cook on the gas hob with supervision. Last night he put a pair of cleaning gloves on & asked for jobs so I got him to polish all the surfaces & he will hoover (after a fashion). He goes to beavers & is learning how to light fires & chop wood.

His dad allows him to handle power tools under supervision & on camping holibobs he is in change of keeping a fire going.

TBH by this age my husband was cutting rice with a sickle & killing chickens with a machete in SE Asia. Over the last couple of generations I have noticed people going soft on kids yet expecting them to act mature without giving them the necessary responsibilities.

The current trend of helicopter parenting, obsessing over our kids minor events, overinflating what were once considered normal achievements & butting into other peoples child rearing styles is a fairly recent trend. Unfortunately many parents find themselves caught up in the tide & start to second guess themselves.

You sound like you are giving them all the right level of responsibilities & allowing them to develop their skills in the home. Ignore school gate harpies, they usually have nothing better to do than obsess over their kids.

pinknfluffy28 · 16 June 2015 at 10:44AM

I was a little "over protective" with my first born, and probably did far too much for her, I wouldnt let her do anything other than mixing or pour herself cold drinks until she hit 10!

Now, at age 14, although she is capable of doing a full meal on her own, she still seems to think I should be making her sandwiches/hot drinks for her!

Lesson learnt, youngest dd, who is now 7, has been making cold drinks, spreading her own sandwiches, pouring her own cereal/milk, and helping prepare meals since around 3 years old. As a result, she is very independent, loves helping out and being in the kitchen with me. The only things I do not let her near yet is the kettle, oven or cleaning products! She will kneel on a chair and stir food on the hob (under supervision) and just last week she "made" her first full dinner of cheese and potato pie (all I did was peel & chop spuds, drain spuds, and pop it all in the oven).

suki1964 · 16 June 2015 at 10:51AM

Grandson has been helping in the kitchen with me for about a year now. This weekend he got to use a proper knife for chopping ( under strict supervision). He's taking an interest in cooking his food as long as it's "made" so to speak. Like he loves to make fresh pancakes, but has no interest in opening a packet and popping one in the toaster

Forgot to say, he's eight

carlamarie_2 · 16 June 2015 at 11:00AM

kathrynha wrote: »

Some kids aren't allowed in the kitchen at all, and then they go to uni and are absolutely clueless. They need to be taught how to do household tasks as kids so that they are ready for adult life

My thoughts exactly.

Mojisola wrote: »

Along with many others, I got my Hostess badge in Brownies when I was seven. That involved lighting the gas, handling a kettle of boiling water, making tea in a tea pot and serving tea to Brown Owl and her friends. I don't think modern seven years are any less capable than we were.

Funny you should mention this. My daughter is currently working towards her hostess badge, but she doesn't tell me what goes on at her meetings, one of the Owls told me they would be 'making sandwiches and stuff'

quidsy wrote: »

His dad allows him to handle power tools under supervision & on camping holibobs he is in change of keeping a fire going.

You sound like you are giving them all the right level of responsibilities & allowing them to develop their skills in the home. Ignore school gate harpies, they usually have nothing better to do than obsess over their kids.

Eldest ds recently made a skateboard ramp with oddments of wood, the drill and electric sander with his dad watching and I often guve the little one the electric screwdriver and a plank of wood with screws half in. He has lots of fun taking them out and putting them back in.
Totally agree with that last sentence

We have until last year, grown tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce and cucumber all of which the kids have been a big part of from the sowing right up to the eating. This year we only have lettuce and radish on the go, but the kids have their own plants which they are responsible for.
At the inlaws the kids are currently growing strawberries, tomatoes and carrots

I also let my daughter use my sewing machine she is very crafty minded always with projects on the go. I'm always at her side when she does. She will often be hand sewing too, which I allow her to do without my supervision

carlamarie_2 · 16 June 2015 at 11:02AM

It's good to think there are other like-minded people about. Maybe I just live among a lot of cotton wool parents

[Deleted User] · 16 June 2015 at 11:04AM

Keep on doing what you're doing now pet, you're doing it right and will grow competent and skilled adults in all areas that are practical, much more use than being decorative, fluffy and helpless, Lyn xxx.

quidsy · 16 June 2015 at 11:10AM

When mine gets ready to handles a knife I always give him a little dig with the pointy end to remind him that knives hurt & that rushing is the mother of all stupid when chopping or cutting with one. He's not lost a finger yet

At what age do you let kids loose in the kitchen?

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