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

Rose_Wood

My 5 year old grand daughter has been helping me in the kitchen for a couple of years now - starting with helping with baking by stirring etc. She could make jam tarts by herself by 4 as long as I helped with quantities and put them in the oven.

This week she used a stick blender (with me standing by) to make a smoothie, chopped mushrooms and spinach for lunch and added herbs, lemon juice and cream to the pan - though I did take it off the heat for her whilst she did.

carlamarie_2

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

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.

That's a lovely thing to say, thank you xxx

quidsy wrote: »

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

I just spat coffee all over my freshly mopped floor, this really made me giggle!
I sense your more of a barbed wire parent, than a cotton wool one hahaha:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

quidsy

I def think the younger you get them involved the better.


My ds has to wear full uniform to school, tie, blazer etc & has been dressing himself including the tie since he was 5. Even now at 8 he showers, dries himself, does his hair & dresses himself whilst I get ready for work. We only put on the shower as it is tricky to get the right temp.


Some of his school mates still have help doing the ties & top buttons & are now suffering as the games master tells them off for it & the other kids laugh at them being so incapable.


We've always both worked so never had the luxury of babying him in a lot of things but tbh, it pays off now when of a weekend I can send him off to make me a cuppa whilst I have a lie in:D

quidsy

I just spat coffee all over my freshly mopped floor, this really made me giggle!
I sense your more of a barbed wire parent, than a cotton wool one hahaha:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

lol, I've never head that expression before but yes I suppose I am. I am certainly from the "reality" school of life, as in, life is hard, learn to cope


I tend to follow a "mindset" parenting style.


If you have a spare 5, look at this link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICILzbB1Obg

Mojisola

carlamarie wrote: »

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'

Sandwiches and cake were involved as well as tea but I don't remember making the cake - probably just cut and served it correctly to get the badge.

WelshKitty85

Glad I found this thread! I've been thinking about the same myself. My 2 have always been in the kitchen making cakes, doing their own pizza toppings etc. My 6 year old sometimes helps when I am making meals but gets bored quite quickly and I want it to be fun for him, so just let him join in when he wants. My 9 year old always asks to help me cook. She is allowed to use the kettle and toaster herself (and makes a lovely cuppa) but a few comments from grandparents made me wonder if she was too young to be doing this. Glad to see others allow their children to do the same.

PasturesNew

I was allowed to use the kettle when I was 10. Back then, though, it was a kettle that didn't switch itself off and it was attached by the cord to the socket. It was also made of metal (so hot exterior).

I was allowed to fry chips in a chip pan when I was about 14-15.

To be honest, even though I'm an adult, I'd rather not go near to the cooker/hob at all.... they scare me. I hate the bit where you open the oven, take stuff out, or half out, to check it, turn it round and put it back in .... especially if there's more than one thing in there (e.g. Xmas Dinner when it's choc-a-bloc with stuff overlapping)

notanewuser

Daughter is 4.5 and has been cooking with me since she could toddle (10 months). She can make scrambled eggs from scratch, put bread in the toaster and butter it, chop easy veg, make bread and pizza dough, mix cakes in the kitchen aid, dollop cake mix into tins/cases, mix and flip pancakes, sift flour and icing sugar, grate cheese, press cheesecake bases into tins.......

I'm obviously there while she's doing it and I help her weigh out ingredients, but she pretty much does it all herself.

flipper_72

Sound like you are doing great with them OP.
My 9 year old loves to get involved in the kitchen, last night she made rhubarb and strawberry crumble. She did almost everything, picked the strawberries and chopped them, the rhubarb I had already picked and done the night before so she added them to that. Got out the ingredients for the crumble, weighed them, rubbed them, put the topping on. I put it in the oven, she set the timer, I took it out, we all ate it She loves to join in and is always asking if she can help with meals, her little brother less so, I definitely need to make more effort to get him interested.
I have a tendency to do things myself because it is quicker so I need to let them help on day's when there isn't a time restraint.
DD has asked me to teach her to sew in the summer holidays, I need to get some ideas together for that, I remember learning at a similar age and making stuffed animals, they never looked quite right but they were fun to make.

flipper_72

Added post, mine both get their own breakfasts (cereal or toast, DD helps DS who is 6 with the toast), neither use the kettle but I am thinking after reading this DD is probably ready to use it so will let her learn to make herself a hot chocolate.
They happily make HM pizza from scratch including the dough, and enjoyed making pasta but I found it a faff so haven't done it again. I definitely need to let them help more as I don't want to stifle them.