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

meritaten

pigpen wrote: »

not really.. they aren't interested so why would I force them to do it any more than I would force them to exercise or sing or anything else.. it is a necessary chore not an enjoyable activity. Just because some people like it doesn't mean everyone does.

The 2 who have left home are yet to starve to death and I didn't starve either.

There is no joy in cooking.. it is one of the things I absolutely hate doing.. cooking, emptying the cat litter and picking up toys.. loathe them. Sadly all are necessary tasks in here.

How do you know your children wouldn't enjoy it pigpen? I am not having a go at you - obviously as its a chore you personally hate, you feel you are 'sparing them'.
I just think its something every child should learn - they may eat out at restaurants for the rest of their lives...........but the food will be that much more enjoyable if they have some idea of the process of producing that plate of food.
(my personal 'loathe' is ironing - and luckily my DD loved doing it, so for a few years I had a personal ironing service and felt extremely pampered!)

lisa110rry

The original post brought a little moistness to my eyes! Thinking back over the years... (our son is 33, married and lives in Australia).

Thinking back to my youth, I was taught to iron by the vicar's wife and paid a few dollars to iron all the vicar's shirts aand trousers (Mum put a stop to it when I was called upoon to iron the vicar's boxers!).

Mum could never get a full meal to be ready at the same time, so at 15 I took over Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year dinners.

At the age of 11, we were visiting relatives in England and I was allowed to walk alone to the rural train station, get a ticket to Stratford-upon-Avon, have a few hours there and return by train. I did okay in a foreign country (though forgot to ascertain whether it was half day closing so not so much was open).

Our son did a few things in the kitchen but not as much as some. A few years ago (about 12 in fact!) he and I were both (in different locations) watching the same programme in which a chef was demonstrating with his children making pizzas from scratch, something I had often done when he was a boy, but I never got him involved in helping. I phoned him and we talked about this. He said "I remember my childhood as being really brilliant" - these few words have stayed with me.

I was more concerned about personal safety and self-reliance in a different sphere. At 11, he joined a school about 20 miles from home, using a school bus. At 11, I showed him how to get the public bus outside our home and take it to Preston, change buses and get one to Lytham where he went to school. A bit later that month, I gave him bus money so that he could do an after school training activity and come home (alone) on the public bus. The school was up in arms! I said that he was planning to attend that school for several years and he needed always to have a second way home, should he miss the school bus and his dad be away on an accident investigation in another part of the country (we had one car then).

I think it all depends on the child and when they are ready and what they are ready for.

Butterfly_Brain

Both of mine were in the kitchen with me from about two years old, I started off giving them lumps of pastry to cut into shapes, then we mad jam tarts and cakes, biscuits etc by the time they were eight they were making pancakes and handling knives and peeling vegetables.
Both are now competent cooks and DS sews better than I can.

It was never a bother pig pen and mess can always be cleaned up, but I was a SAHM until they were at full time school, yes money was tight because we had a mortgage, but we managed somehow.

cat4772

my eldest is 6, youngest is 4. I was really busy on Saturday (cue bad parent award) and only realised I'd forgotten to give them lunch at 4pm.

me - blinking 'eck girls, you must be starving
6: Nah, 4 and I made sandwiches. tuna for me and ham for 4.
4: I buttered my bread
6: but it was a bit thick in spots
4: and we got some yoghurt for desert
6: and honey from the cupboard
4: I got the chair for 6
6: I climbed up and got the honey from the cupboard
me: where are your plates
6: in the sink (in the tone of voice that indicates I've just asked the most ridiculous question).
me: wow - you have been busy.

My girls are capable. Their grandparents let them help with preparing meals and the girls love the independence and sense of achievement they have (if I lounge around in bed waiting for snooze to go off, they'll often bob downstairs and help themselves to breakfast).

Cat.x

zippychick

as this has dropped down the OS board, i've moved it to families board for you

Hi, we move threads if we think they’ll get more help elsewhere (please read the forum rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

Zip

mr_knight

I encourage my three year old, she is very strong willed and would be cooking up all sorts of if let her. I am happy to help her grate cheese and even use a knife together (depending on what we are chopping and so long as all fingers are safe). She weighs things and pours things and can even crack and egg. She loved to make her own lunch and will spead butter on the breAd and add her own filling.Obviously not letting her near hot things yet but I think it's good to encourage them.

pinkshoes

I was busy marking the other day when my 4 year old asked me for crumpets. i told him I'd make them in a minute, but it was quite a long minute.

I went into the kitchen, and the crumpets were already in the toaster, butter and peanut butter were out, knife and plate ready! He said "it's ok mum, I've sorted it". Bless him!

(Not sure i am happy about him using the toaster on his own, but he does know not to touch it once it is on, nor stick fingers in!)

Spendless

Having taken a few texts messages this week at work from my 2 arguing about something to eat, followed by arriving home and finding the youngest had put a chicken kiev in to cook, straight on to the oven rack,:eek: :mad::rotfl: I'd say 12 is too late. It's being addressed this weekend.:D

Kaye1

My 8 year old makes a mean Lemon Drizzle cake.

Gloomendoom

lisa110rry wrote: »

I was more concerned about personal safety and self-reliance in a different sphere. At 11, he joined a school about 20 miles from home, using a school bus. At 11, I showed him how to get the public bus outside our home and take it to Preston, change buses and get one to Lytham where he went to school. A bit later that month, I gave him bus money so that he could do an after school training activity and come home (alone) on the public bus. The school was up in arms! I said that he was planning to attend that school for several years and he needed always to have a second way home, should he miss the school bus and his dad be away on an accident investigation in another part of the country (we had one car then).

I think it all depends on the child and when they are ready and what they are ready for.

I think your son went to the same school as me, albeit 20 years later. When I was there they didn't give a hoot how you got there, or home. In my case, it was two train journeys each way my own, changing at Preston. I was 10 years old when I started.