Looking to get your kids acquainted with the kitchen? Check out these 11 fun (and safe!) ways little sous chefs can serve up big kitchen help.
*This post is sponsored by FOX Television Network.
Easy Tasks Kids Can Do In the Kitchen
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Let 'em wash!
When it comes to having kitchen fun, it has to start with clean hands, surfaces, and foods. After the kids have washed their hands, assign them the task of washing the fruits and vegetables you’ll use for your meal.
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Let 'em roll!
Whether you’re making sugar cookies or whole wheat pizza crust, let the kids roll the dough. Lightly flour a clean countertop and rolling pin and have the kids flatten a ball of dough into a disk. Instruct them to press down on the disk with the rolling pin and push it away from them, rotating directions until they get a flat circle of the desired size.
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Let 'em tear!
Looking to work more vegetables into your family meals? When kids help prepare a dish, they are more likely to eat it. Assign your children the task of tearing up the greens. Give them a clean head of romaine or iceberg lettuce or a bag of spinach and let them go to town tearing up bite-sized pieces that will create the base of your family’s dinner salad.
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Let 'em put away!
Help the kids learn their way around the kitchen by encouraging them to help put groceries away. Create a snack bin in the pantry or fridge and have the kids toss their designated goodies into it. Kids can also put away other dry goods like oatmeal, cereal and granola. Added bonus? They’ll be eager to bring you requested ingredients if they know where to find them.
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Let 'em watch!
The upcoming series, MasterChef Junior has kids taking over the kitchen. This culinary competition series—in which budding cooks between the ages of 8 to 13 showcase their gastronomic talents and compete to become a MasterChef Junior—will get your kids excited about cooking. Catch the series premiere on Friday September 27 at 8PM ET/7PM CT on FOX.
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Let 'em stir!
Kids can lend a hand stirring up both wet and dry ingredients. Provide a step stool, a medium-sized bowl and a wooden spoon for this important task. Older kids can even measure out ingredients—with close supervision.
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Let 'em frost!
What kid won’t love the chance to be cupcake king? Give your little baker a wooden ice cream spoon, butter knife or craft stick and a small cup of icing and let her frost the cupcakes. For added fun, provide a few decorations like chocolate candies and sprinkles for fun finishing touches.
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Let 'em stack!
Making sandwiches? Create an assembly line of sandwich fillers and have the kids put the sandwiches together. Deli meat, sliced tomatoes, lettuce and cheese are great sandwich foundations that kids can stack together to create their own lunches. You can also use this assembly line approach on taco night!
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Let 'em pour!
Premeasure ingredients for your dish and help your little one pour them into a bowl. Since it’s tempting to dump, rather than pour, encourage your little helper to gently add the ingredients to a large bowl.
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Let 'em shake!
Cheese please? Whether it’s parmesan cheese or fajita seasoning, if your recipe calls for adding a liberal amount, pass the task off to the kids. Be sure the cover of your shaker is on tight and let your little helper shake in the necessary addition.
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Let 'em clean!
While you may loath this chore, chances are your little one will love it. From helping to bring dirty dishes to the giving measuring cups and spoons a bubble bath in the sink, your little one will take pride in lending a helping hand.
