If you teach kids how a kitchen works and how to do simple cooking tasks, it is so rewarding to see them grow and what they are capable of. Learning how to cook and do simple tasks in the kitchen helps children become more independent, confident, and responsible. It also gives children ways to help and contribute to home responsibilities.
In this blog post I am breaking down simple tasks that children can do in the kitchen for every age, from as young as 3-years-old to the teenage years. It is my hope that sharing these tasks gives you some ideas for how your children can learn and add to your family life in a new way.
In this blog post:
- Setting expectations and goals for helping in the kitchen with a daily rhythm
- Kitchen skills for children by age [Free printable PDF checklist]
- 10 fun recipes for kids to make themselves
Setting expectations and goals for helping in the kitchen with a daily rhythm
In my family, we include responsibilities as part of our daily rhythm. Between breakfast and the beginning of our school day, my children help with chores like clearing the breakfast table, getting dressed, making their beds, brushing their teeth, and a few other various tasks like feeding pets and loading the dishwasher. In the evening, they work through their second chore list of the day which includes a reset after dinner, cleaning up toys and crafts from the day’s play, and getting ready for bed. Having a set rhythm to our home responsibilities sets the tone for expectations. I know that when I ask for help, even my youngest children are capable and responsible enough to pause and help with what is needed.
As my children have gotten older, they’ve become an integral part of running our household, taking on home responsibilities appropriate to their age level. Older children can help with laundry rotation, pet care, loading and unloading the dishwasher, breakfast cleanup, watering plants, and more. They have learned how to cook a few complete meals, not just assisting with small kitchen tasks. When they have friends over, they are able to host and prepare for having guests. My children have had opportunities to have full ownership from planning to cleanup, and are able to provide care for members of our family.
We started this pattern at a young age with Daily Rhythm Cards, which gave my kids a visual understanding of what our day would look like, and in turn what was expected of them. Just adding on new skills in small ways helps communicate to children that they are capable members of the home, and that they have a role to fill as well. We have also tried a lot of chore charts and checklists over the years in different seasons of our home to include kids in the home responsibilities.
Kitchen skills for children by age [Free printable PDF checklist]
If you are ready to invite your children into your kitchen space, here are some skills that are appropriate for every age level. In general, these may take some help or supervision the first few times, especially for little kids. With practice, children can do many of these skills independently.
Kitchen skills for ages 3–4
It can be really fun to let toddlers join you in the kitchen and have tasks and special jobs they do on their own. We recommend doing these tasks with supervision or hand-over-hand, at least in the beginning as kids learn. We also love these kitchen step-stools and toddler-friendly knives to keep everyone safe!
- Washing fruits and vegetables
- Stirring or mixing ingredients
- Cutting soft foods with a plastic knife (bananas, strawberries, butter, avocado)
- Breading or flouring foods
- Tearing lettuce or herbs
- Smashing fruit for muffins or jam
- Pouring pre-measured ingredients into a bowl
- Cracking eggs with assistance
- Transferring ingredients with a spoon or small scoop
Kitchen skills for ages 5-6
Kids ages 5-6, or kindergarten-aged children, can definitely be helpful in the kitchen! After a child has learned these skills with guidance, they can be done independently.
- Setting the table
- Rolling and shaping dough
- Using cookie cutters
- Using measuring cups and spoons
- Buttering bread and spreading soft toppings with a butter knife
- Cutting herbs with kitchen scissors
- Using a vegetable peeler with supervision
- Cracking eggs independently
- Making simple sandwiches
- Measuring ingredients independently
- Kneading dough
- Clearing and wiping the table after meals
Kitchen skills for ages 7–8
Older children can accept more responsibility and share the responsibilities of running a home. Here are some tasks we recommend delegating to this age group.
- Putting away groceries
- Washing dishes by hand
- Unloading groceries
- Wiping counters and tables
- Using a small sharp knife safely (with instruction/oversight at first)
- Grating with a box grater or microplane
- Measuring fractions and doubling recipes with help
- Beating, folding, and whisking ingredients
- Greasing baking pans
- Peeling oranges and hard-boiled eggs
- Setting the table thoughtfully for different meals
- Using a toaster, microwave, or electric griddle safely
- Cooking simple foods on the stovetop with supervision (scrambled eggs, grilled cheese, pancakes)
Kitchen skills for ages 9–10
As children grow, they can participate in planning and using more of the tools and appliances in the kitchen.
- Preparing simple breakfasts and lunches independently
- Following basic recipes
- Making a shopping list
- Helping plan family meals
- Locating ingredients and supplies independently
- Using a handheld whisk
- Making salads and simple side dishes
- Opening cans safely
- Using a stand mixer
- Baking simple recipes independently
- Using the oven safely (with check-ins)
- Cooking basic stovetop meals (soups, pasta, eggs, tacos)
- Reading nutrition labels and recipe directions
- Cleaning the kitchen after cooking
Kitchen skills for ages 11+
After age 10 children turn a corner and are ready to accept more responsibility. It’s great for kids to be able to take ownership and full responsibility. Some of these ideas are specific skills, but others are goals that children can work toward over time.
- Preparing for cooking by considering the time it takes and having all ingredients ready
- Considering quantities, like how much a recipe yields or how many people you are feeding
- Understanding the cost of recipes, like utilizing what you have on hand or what is easily available or in season
- Preparing complete family meals
- Improvising and adapting recipes
- Grocery shopping with a list and budget
- Packing lunches and snacks for themselves or siblings
- Presenting and explaining a dish and its ingredients
- Planning a week’s worth of meals
- Comparing prices and making substitutions
- Using most kitchen tools safely and independently
- Hosting a simple meal for guests
- Managing kitchen cleanup from start to finish
- Understanding basic food safety, storage, and preventing cross-contamination
- Cleaning up after a meal and storing leftovers
- Goal to learn to prepare 3-5 meals independently
Ready to try something new with your children? Print the Age-Appropriate Kitchen Skills checklist below (Printable PDF).
10 fun recipes for kids to make themselves
Ready to let kids help in the kitchen? Here are some ideas for kids to try making snack, meals, and treats on their own.
- Make a sandwich or quesadilla
- Create a charcuterie board with salami, cheese, crackers, and fruit
- Scrambled or hard-boiled eggs
- Make pasta sauce, like this simple spaghetti sauce (Super Healthy Kids)
- Sheetpan nachos (This Pilgrim Life)
- Make a salad
- Homemade chicken tenders (The Mom 100)
- Pancakes (All Recipes)
- Homemade brownies (Love & Lemons)
- Sheet cake with frosting (Sally’s Baking Addiction)
You could also let kids take the lead on a recipe that coordinates with your curriculum or unit study, or grab a cookbook for kids like the America’s Test Kitchen Cookbook for Kids. Let children take the lead and enjoy making sweet memories together.
Which skills would you like to teach your children? Share your favorites in the comments below.
