Looking for info on how to teach kids to cook? I help you troubleshoot common problems and make it easier, more enjoyable and less stressful for you to cook with your kids!

*Originally published 8/2020. Updated 4/2025*

Hi friends!

I’ve been working hard for a while now to put together this ultimate guide to teaching kids to cook for you guys! If you’ve been around, you know that one of my favorite things to do with my kids is to spend time in the kitchen!

I have been cooking with kids at home since all 3 of them were about 16 months old and I get tons of questions about how I make this happen! I know a lot of you wish you could do more with your kids in the kitchen but many of you have shared roadblocks and hurdles that are keeping you from doing it!

Benefits of Teaching Kids To Cook

There are so many benefits of teaching kids to cook. Everything from increasing confidence and building life skills like independence and responsibility to practicing reading and math skills. I want to make it easier to get your kids in the kitchen so in this post I will address:

• Reducing the mess & increasing your patience
• Age-appropriate kitchen tasks
• Common concerns like kitchen safety, multiple kids, small kitchen
• Easy, forgiving recipes to start with
• My favorite kitchen tools for kids

Kids in the Kitchen – Mess and Anxiety

By far the most common roadblocks I hear from parents are:
Having the kids help means more time and a bigger mess.
Having the kids help is a huge source of anxiety for me.

First of all, let me say that I understand. There’s no way around it – cooking with kids is MESSY. And it often results in spilled or wasted ingredients, dirty counters and floors and it definitely adds some time to your cooking/baking sessions.

How To Make Cooking With Kids Less Stressful

The good news is, there are some things you can do to help minimize the inevitable mess:

• Set up a trash bowl and spoon rest. This immediately gives the kids somewhere to set their stirring utensils to help keep the counter cleaner and a place to throw peels, veggie scraps, egg shells and more without you running back and forth to the trash can nine million times. In this same vein,  give them a “kitchen shirt”  or apron to avoid tough stains on nice clothes.
• Limit the area. Get a learning tower or place their stool/chair at one end of the counter and remind them they need to stay put until you’re done. Place a high chair mat, an old bed sheet or even a piece of plastic under the chair/counter to catch crumbs. Then just gather it up and take it outside to shake it off when you’re done.
• Size up. If your recipe calls for half a cup, let them fill a one cup measuring halfway instead of a half cup one up to the brim to help minimize spills.
• Include them in cleanup. They need to learn right away that cleaning up is part of cooking. They don’t get to just do the fun part and leave the mess to you. And you might be surprised how much they actually enjoy cleaning up! Get a small broom, dustbuster or cordless vacuum that young kids can easily handle for the floor. And get some non toxic spray cleaner and a rag to let them go to town on the counter.

As far as increasing patience and minimizing anxiety goes, I would address them with this three part plan:

Strategy: 

• Be smart. Don’t choose to include your kids for the first time when you’re already stressed or crunched for time. You’re setting yourself up to fail. Pick an open afternoon or a slow morning.
• Be reasonable. Expect some mess. Expect it to take a bit longer. Prepare for a few spills. Then if things go better than expected you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
• Train for patience. Practice being patient all day every day, with little tasks that are less important or require less patience so that when you need a lot of patience for something like cooking with kids, you’ve already been working on it.
• Time it! Set a timer to see how long a few of your cleanup sessions actually take. I bet it’s less than you realize. Sometimes I think we build up a mess in our heads to epic proportions but i’d venture to guess that almost any mess they make (under supervised conditions) can be cleaned up in under 15 minutes.

Control measures:

• Remember that you can control the ingredients you get out and the amounts. If you want them to practice pouring and you need half a cup of milk, pour one cup of milk into a smaller vessel and let them practice pouring instead of giving them the whole carton to potentially spill. Same thing with dry ingredients. Pour 2 cups of flour into a bowl and let them scoop out one cup, instead of scooping directly from the container. 

Mantras – Find one & repeat it over and over:

• What’s the rush?
• Intentional and present.
• Be in this moment.
• Does the mess REALLY matter?

Age-Appropriate Kitchen Tasks

What is the best age to start teaching kids to cook?

Many parents are willing and ready to bring your kids into the kitchen but don’t know where to start. They’re not sure how old kids need to be or what they can be doing at what age. 

Every kid is different but I think a lot of people are surprised when they see how early I bring my kids into the kitchen.  We have a learning tower (aff link) that I’ve used with all three kids and they all started helping around 14 months. I’ve found that from months 14-16 they’re really just kinda excited to be there. They like being able to see what’s on the counter. They’re happy to stir a spoon around a few times or press the button on the food processor. 

Usually around 16-18 months is when they really start getting excited to help. I’ve looked at a lot of “age appropriate kitchen task” lists and quite honestly, I disagree with most of them. I feel like toddlers can do A LOT more than people give them credit for if they’re given the opportunity. 

Foundational Cooking Skills For Kids

Kitchen Tasks for Toddlers

Here are some ideas for things kids can do starting as young as 16-18 months:

• Pour & Drain – Measure the ingredients for them and let them help you pour or dump them into the bowl/pan/strainer. You can start by guiding their hand and then move to letting them do it on their own.
• Stir & Whisk – Hand them a spoon or whisk and a bowl of ingredients and let them go to town!
• Rip & Mash – Give them a head of lettuce or stem of kale and show them how to remove the leaves, tear them into little pieces and put them in the salad spinner. They can also mash potatoes, bananas and other soft fruits.
• Wash & Spin – Set them up at the sink and let them rinse of fruits and veggies. Let them rinse greens in the salad spinner and spin them dry and then have them help you portion them into bowls.
• Scoop – Make cookies or muffins and let them help you scoop the batter onto a tray or into muffin tins. Cookie scoops are great for this! You can also have them scoop ground meat to make meatballs. 
• Retrieve & Store – Let them help you put away the groceries and put specific items in their place. You can also have them retrieve items from the pantry that you need for a recipe.
• Seal & Push – Let them put the lid on and  press the button to turn on the blender or food processor
• Other ideas: let them knead and shape bread or pizza dough, brush things with oil or melted butter, wipe down the counter with a rag, help you thread things onto skewers to make kabobs, etc

Kitchen Tasks for Young Kids

As they start to gain confidence and get more comfortable in the kitchen, try these tasks:

• Peel – Give them a vegetable peeler and show them how to peel carrots and potatoes. They can also practice peeling hard boiled eggs.
• Chop – Get a kid-safe knife and let them practice cutting soft vegetables like mushrooms, zucchini, cooked potatoes, peppers and fruits like strawberries and bananas. 
• Crack – Let them practice cracking eggs and then washing their hands
• Use – Help them use a hand mixer, lemon squeezer, can opener or box grater
• Clean – Have them sweep or vacuum after cooking, let them wash dishes and load the dishwasher and practice spraying and wiping down the counter

Next steps:

• Let them start chopping harder fruits and veggies
• Let them stir things in a hot pan on the stove and use a griddle
• Practice reading, math, etc when following recipes

Common Challenges and How To Overcome Them

Kitchen Safety For Kids – What Safety Rules Should I Teach My Kids In The Kitchen?

I hear from a lot of parents that their own knife skills are not the greatest and they’re worried about kids cutting themselves in the kitchen. The best tip I can give you is to improve your own skills. There are tons of basic knife skills videos out there that can help you learn the basics and then just practice, practice, practice! Share the basics with the kids. Get them a safe knife to learn with. Show them where to put their fingers etc. This video may be helpful: Basic Knife Skills.

Another safety worry is eating batter or dough once raw eggs have been added. If this is something you’re worried about, try making a pre-egg tasting ritual so they can satisfy their tasting desire or doing some vegan baking with flax eggs. 

If you’re worried about them touching raw meat, just let them! Watch them carefully, remind them often about the importance of handwashing and set a good example by frequently washing their hands. Maybe you could make up a fun cooking handwash song to get them excited about washing hands. You could also have them wear gloves and take them off immediately after handling the meat. And if they really can’t seem to stop putting EVERYTHING in their mouth, then just wait until they’re a little older for the raw meat aspect of cooking!

Handling Multiple Kids In The Kitchen

If you have two (or more) kids of helping age,  it’s likely easiest to start with one at a time. Set up a special activity for the other(s) – maybe a new coloring book or playdough. Let them sit at the kitchen counter or table so they don’t feel like they’re missing out and be sure to let them know when they will get a turn. If they’re older, help them put your cooking date on the calendar and let them spend the time planning their own recipe etc.

If you need to entertain a baby who needs to be entertained so an older kiddo can help – set the baby up on the floor – give them pots and pans, Tupperware, silverware etc and let them make a mess and bang away. If they’re crawling, buy a popup play yard to keep them in a contained space or put them in a carrier or sling. If you’re new to bringing kids into the kitchen, really try to maximize nap time or another time when you have someone else to watch the baby to minimize your stress level and so that the older one can have your full attention. 

Beginner Recipes for Kids

For many people, not knowing what recipes to start with is the biggest hurdle. Maybe you’re not the best cook to start with or aren’t super confident in your skills. Maybe your kids want to make cookies but you’re not a baker. 

The good news is there are tons of recipes out there that are very forgiving. They’ll still turn out great even if measurements aren’t exact.

Here are some general ideas:

• Banana muffins
• Banana bread
• Baked oatmeal
• Smoothies
• Tacos
• Spaghetti/baked ziti
• Granola
• Baked pancake
• Egg cups/ Omelet or Frittata
• Salad
• Chili
• Pancakes
• Cookies
• Rice Krispy treats
• Hummus
• Homemade Pizza
• Roasted vegetables
• Scrambled eggs
• Stir Fry
• Soup
• Quesadilla
• Oatmeal/overnight oats
• Meatballs
• Bread
• Mac and cheese
• Guacamole
• Enchiladas

We actually have a whole website called Let The Kids Cook where my kids share easy recipes for kids to make, complete with a video of the kids making each recipe. Perfect to let your kids watch and get excited about!

In addition, almost all the veggie-packed baked goods on my blog are very kid-friendly. The recipes are forgiving and it’ll be ok if some of the ingredients spill onto the counter or don’t make it into the pan.

Here are all of my Kid-Friendly Baking Recipes.

Kitchen Tools for Kids

What Tools and Utensils are Best For Kids Learning To Cook

While it’s certainly not necessary to buy all new kitchen equipment when you start cooking with kids, it can be fun! Kids enjoy having their own special stuff. Don’t feel like you need to buy it all at once. Most kitchen items are relatively inexpensive and make great additions to birthday presents, stocking stuffers etc!

Here are all of my favorite kitchen tools for kids.

How Do I Teach My Child To Use A Knife Safely

Here’s a great post about Teaching Knife Skills To Toddlers and Children! My favorite knives to start with are these plastic knives. (aff link) Once they’re ready, this is sharp like a real knife but is a great size for kids.

Hurdles To Teaching Kids Cooking Skills

Lack of Interest in Cooking

If you’re excited to get into the kitchen with your kids but you kids are less than enthusiastic, try one of these tips:

• Film a fast-motion video – my kids always get a kick out of watching themselves do anything at a super-fast speed
• Record them making a cooking show – set up your phone to record and let them go to town pretending their the star of their very own cooking show
• Show them videos of other kids cooking – you can find videos of my kids cooking here from a very young age!
• Watch cooking shows on TV
• Sign them up for a cooking class – in person or online!
• Let them choose the recipe and be completely in charge
• Let them create their own recipe even if it sounds gross – some kids need to ease into it and get comfortable doing things their own way before they’re willing to follow directions and make a real recipe.

Limited Kitchen Space While Cooking with Kids

If you don’t have much counter space, buy a kid-sized folding table or tray table that you can pull out to extend your counter space. Consider looking at smaller options than the traditional learning tower. There are plenty out there that take up less space and some that fold up! A folding step stool is another option if they’re a little older.

Also, think beyond the counter. When my kids were little and couldn’t reach high enough to add stuff to the food processor from the learning tower, I would just put the whole food processor on the ground. You could also use the kitchen table! 

Can Cooking Help Picky Eaters Try New Foods

Absolutely. Getting your kids into the kitchen is one of the best ways to encourage trying new foods. If you’re looking for a starting place to try new foods, here is a free checklist of 75 New Foods To Try! Also check out this post about How To Help Picky Eaters.

The Success is in the Mess

Remember that hands-on experience is the most effective way to teach kids. Just like adults, they get better with practice. Don’t let the fear of mess or mistakes cause missed opportunities.

And remember, cooking affords so many opportunities to young kids. Everything from building confidence to practicing math, science and reading to setting them up to succeed independently later in life. So grab your kiddos and head to the kitchen. I can’t wait to hear about all of your cooking adventures!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

These Indoor Activities For Toddlers are perfect for winter or a rainy spring or summer day and many will help develop fine motor skills. Plus tips to make them harder for preschoolers.

{Originally published Jan 2017. Updated Jan 2025}

Hi Friends!

If you’re looking for some fun new indoor activities for toddlers, this post is for you! It’s hard to believe it’s been so long since I first published this post. The little boy in the pictures is now 10 years old!

Easy Toddler Activities Inside

Whether you’re inside because it’s too cold, too hot, too rainy etc, these activities are helpful for entertaining little ones.

These activities have stood the test of time and I’ve enjoyed them right along with all three of my kids.

Indoor Toddler Activities

While this post was originally geared toward toddler activities, I’ve also included some ways to make them harder. As kids get older, some of the things they could do six months ago are getting too easy….but there are ways to add a bit of a challenge to most of them, to make them more developmentally appropriate for older toddlers and even preschoolers!

I have even more toddler activity ideas in this post: Cheap Toddler Activities. Even though some of the pictures are outdoors, most of them can be done inside!

Indoor Activities For Families

If you need activities for slightly older kids – those in preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, etc….or you have multiple kids of different ages to entertain, check out these posts:

• Indoor Activities for Kids
• At-Home Activities for Kids
• Kid-Friendly Baking Recipes!

Indoor Activities for Toddlers

Fun Games To Play With Toddlers Indoors

Balloon Hockey

I blow up a couple of balloons, we each grab a fly swatter and go to town hitting them around the room. I let him hit it around for a while and then we also work on hitting it to keep it up in the air.

Make it harder:

• Set up a goal and let them try to score.
• Have a contest to see how long they can keep it from touching the ground.
• Let them try to keep two balloons in the air at once!

Indoor Fine Motor Activities For Preschoolers

Pom Pom Push

Take a plastic container and cut holes in the top and let them push the pom poms through the holes.

Make it harder: 

• Draw circles around the holes with a marker and let them push the blue pom poms through the blue hole, the green ones through the green holes, etc.
• Set a timer and see how many they can get in the container in 30 seconds or a minute.
• Give them tongs or tweezers and have them use those to pick up the pom poms
• Have them sort the pom poms into different containers by size, color etc.

Simple Toddler Activities

Pom Pom Drop

Save your toilet paper or paper towel rolls. Tape them to a door or wall and let them drop the pom poms through.

Make it harder:

• Give them tongs or a clothespin to make picking up the pom poms more challenging.
• Let them tape the tubes up and see if they can get the angles right so the pom poms go through all the tubes on the way down.
• You drop the pom poms from the top and see if they can catch them in the bottom in a small bowl.

DIY Toddler Activities

Straw Threading

Cut plastic straws into pieces. Let them thread the straw pieces onto the pipe cleaners.

Make it harder:

• Have them thread the pieces on in a pattern of colors.

Indoor Winter Activities For Toddlers

Ring Toss

Twist some pipe cleaners together to make rings and toss them into bowls or buckets.

Make it harder:

• Have them stand farther away.
• Set up multiple buckets and tell them to throw them into a specific one.
• See how many they can get in a row.
• Use something like bean bags and make the hole they’re throwing into smaller

Indoor Physical Activities for 2-3 Year Olds

Golf Tee Hammering

Poke golf tees into a cardboard box and let them hammer them in.

Make it harder:

• Give them a smaller hammer.
• Tell them which color nails to hammer.
• Let them practice pulling them out and setting them back up again.

Fun Daycare Activities

Ziploc Bag Fingerpainting

Put a few blogs of paint into Ziploc bags. Seal them tightly and tape to a window or table. Let them fingerpaint just like they would on a piece of paper.

Make it harder:

• Ask them to draw specific shapes or objects.
• Talk about what colors mix together to make new colors.

No Prep Indoor Activities For Toddlers

Card Slot Drop

Cut a slot in the lid of a container and have them drop the cards in.

Make it harder:

• Cut some holes as well and have them put q tips in.
• See how fast they can get them all in.
• Have them put them in by color or number.

Easy Games For Preschoolers

Cheerio Threading

Cut pipe cleaners in half and let them push them through the holes of a colander.

Make it harder:

• Give them the pipe cleanr to hold and have them thread the Cheerios while holding it.

Car Ramp

Draw lanes on a cardboard box to make a car ramp. Let them race their cars down it.

Try making the ramps longer or building ramps out of blocks, magnatiles, hot wheels tracks or any combination of the three!

Creative Activities For Toddlers

Fun with Cans

See how high they can stack them up. Set them up like bowling pins and let them bowl with a wiffle ball or tennis ball.

Things To Do With Toddlers at Home

One of my favorite things to do with my kids is get them in the kitchen with me. If you’re not sure how to start, check out these posts:

• Kitchen Tasks For Toddlers
• Ultimate Guide For Teaching Kids To Cook

Toddler Meal Ideas

If your kiddos are hungry after all these activities, check out these posts for meal ideas:

• Simple Toddler Meal Ideas
• 150 Toddler Meal Ideas
• 100 Healthy Toddler Meals

How To Build A Mud Kitchen

And when the weather gets nicer and you can go outside again, try your hand at building a mud kitchen for the backyard with these simple instructions:

How To Build A DIY Mud Kitchen

Rainy Day Activities For Toddlers

Let’s chat:

What’s your favorite indoor activity for the kiddos? I’m always looking for new ideas!

Need more ideas? Check out some of my favorite blogs:

• Busy Toddler
• Days with Grey
• Toddler Approved

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–