There are many dangerous things looming in the kitchen, but that should not be a deterrent for getting kids actively preparing meals. As a matter of fact, those dangerous things are exactly what kids need to be exposed to, in time. While teaching children the rules of the kitchen and letting them develop their sense of surrounding, safety should always be on the forefront of your mind.

Know Age Appropriate Activities

While it is important to get kids into the kitchen, there are some activities that are for older kids. Just like the current board games, children who are old enough to understand what is going on should only do certain activities. These age groups may vary for different children based on experience, but here is a basic guideline for progression.

2-3 years old – Simple mixing skills using a spoon, whisk or hands, gathering supplies from the refrigerator and pantry, opening packaging and assisting with meal planning.
3-5 years old – Cracking eggs, simple heating instruction (learning what types of heat and how much are appropriate for different foods), basic chopping skills using nylon or plastic, blunt-tip knife, non-heated food prep and combining ingredients.
5-9 years old – Advanced cutting techniques, parent-assisted cooking with heat and simple meal preparation (such as pancakes, pasta or grilled cheese).
9+ years old – By this time, children should be fully functional and know their way around the kitchen and how to use various tools. At this point, your sous-chef should be fully functional.