Children can begin helping in the kitchen at the age of five or six, starting with simple things like stirring and mashing. They can go on to work with simple tools, bake, and eventually, cook on the stove top. If you’ve ever seen the TV show Master Chef Junior, you know what they’re capable of!
I have a friend who has seven children ranging in age from seven to 23. She starts them off early with simple things like scrubbing the potatoes and peeling hard-boiled eggs. As they get older, their jobs become more challenging, according to their abilities. They play music in the kitchen while they are working and sing along to it. The children think helping in the kitchen is fun, not a chore, and that washing dishes is a privilege (it’s all in how you present it). By the time her children reach their teens, they’re accomplished cooks who enjoy what they’re doing.

The main rule to remember when kids are in the kitchen is to keep it simple. Be realistic about children’s abilities. Don’t let a five- or six-year-old use a food processor. To save arguments, before you start cooking or baking, define which steps you’ll do and which ones they’ll do.

Only put out the ingredients called for. Children can get carried away, and if a recipe calls for one cup of chocolate chips, they’ll think three cups would be even better. Remember that what seems obvious to an adult isn’t to a child who’s new in the kitchen.

Buy your child his/her own cookbook and help him/her make the recipes from it. There are some wonderful cookbooks designed for children.

As they mature, children can begin to work with small electric appliances, as long as they are supervised. If you have a bread machine, they’ll love experimenting with different breads and feel a great sense of pride in showing off the finished product. Teach them a variety of cooking skills and techniques. They can learn how to make salads, main courses and desserts, as well as snacks. Your children will not only learn to enjoy cooking, but it will take some of the burden of preparation off of you.

Allow time for mishaps and don’t get upset about them. Spills are easy to clean up, and mistakes can often be rectified. Keep the atmosphere light and hold onto your sense of humour – otherwise it won’t be fun for anyone. And keep in mind that these will be tomorrow’s memories for your children.

Passing on your family’s favourite recipes or customs is a wonderful gift to your children, one they’ll treasure long after they’re grown and have left the nest.

Children not only love to cook, but take a great deal of pride in what they produce in the kitchen. Here are some simple recipes to get your children started in the kitchen.

PIZZA PINWHEELS

1 flour tortilla
1/3 cup shredded cheese
pizza sauce

Place flour tortilla onto a microwave-safe plate. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. You can top it with sliced mushrooms or other favourites. Heat on High for 20 seconds or until the cheese melts. Carefully roll up tortilla. Cut into pieces and serve with pizza sauce for dipping.

CHEESE QUESADILLAS

8 oz. sliced cheddar cheese
4 oz. sour cream
8 flour tortillas
4 oz. tomato salsa

Preheat oven to 400. Lay out four tortillas on a cookie sheet. Spread an even layer of sour cream on the tortillas, then top with cheddar cheese. Place another tortilla on top of the cheddar cheese and press together with your hand. Place in oven for 10 minutes or until cheese melts. Take out of oven, cut and enjoy. Dip in tomato salsa.

S’MORE COOKIES

This recipe for S’mores Cookies will be a hit with your family. Bake them right on top of the graham cracker – fun and delicious!

1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup chocolate chips, or one large -chocolate bar, chopped
1 cup mini-marshmallows
24 graham crackers, split in half to form squares.

Preheat oven to 350. Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. In a separate mixing bowl, stir together the flour, salt and baking soda. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Add chocolate chips and marshmallows and stir gently.
Place graham cracker squares on an ungreased cookie sheet, about 1 inch apart. Top each cracker with a heaping spoonful of cookie dough. Bake for 10-11 minutes. (After 11 minutes, the graham cracker will burn. Remove the cracker from your cookie sheet immediately and let it cool on a wire rack. Makes 48 squares.