Parenting Advice From Your Physicians at Kaiser Permanente

I get it – you’re already so busy taking care of your family that helping your kids learn to cook seems like extra work you really don’t need. You just need to get dinner on the table, and the thought of letting them anywhere near a stove or mixing bowl will slow you down! Sharp knives, flour everywhere, sticky messes to clean up?

But here’s the thing: teaching your kids to cook is one of the best (and most fun) ways to connect as a family, while also giving them skills they need for life. And if you put a little time in now, they will end up genuinely helping you later on!

So, take a deep breath, grab those aprons, and let’s talk about why cooking with your kids is worth it—and how to sprinkle a little joy (and maybe some basil) into the mix.

Why teach kids to cook?

Give them life skills for the future

Knowing how to cook is an essential tool to give your kids. Once, my high school best friend was left home for the weekend caring for her siblings while their parents went away. She wanted to cook dinner for her brother and sister but didn’t know how. She called me to ask how to make spaghetti. I’d been raised by a single mother who made sure I knew how to cook, so I started by telling her to chop some garlic and onions. My friend stopped me. “I have a jar of sauce, but how do I cook the noodles?”

You don’t want your kids to grow up without these life skills! Learning to cook teaches independence and gives them confidence that spills over into other areas of their lives. And soon, you’ll have a kid in the house who can really be helpful when it’s time to get dinner on the table because you’ll have taught them the basics.

Teach them math, science, and more

Measuring ingredients, timing recipes, and even figuring out how to double (or halve) a recipe involves math and problem-solving. Watching batter rise in the oven? That’s science in action! And let’s not forget the patience and focus cooking requires – that’s just as important.

Transform picky eaters

Some kids are naturally adventurous eaters, but for others, trying new foods is really hard. Cooking gives kids a sense of ownership over the meal. If they help make it, they’re more likely to taste it. Even broccoli can be tempting when it’s “their broccoli.”

Grow it, cook it, love it!

Another brilliant way to tame pickiness is to have kids grow some of the food they cook. It doesn’t matter if you have a big backyard or a few pots on the patio – growing your own food adds a whole new dimension to the experience. They’ll definitely want to taste the radishes or beans they grew themselves! Try these easy-to-grow choices:

• Cherry Tomatoes: Sweet and bite-sized.
• Herbs: Basil, parsley, and mint grow like champs, even on a windowsill.
• Carrots and Radishes: Quick growers that are fun to pull up and eat.
• Zucchini: Great for kids because they grow big and fast.

Bond (and giggle) as a family

Cooking together is an excellent way to bond. Yes, there will be messes and some eggshells in the pancake batter. But those moments turn into stories you’ll laugh about for years. Plus, time in the kitchen means less time for your kids to be online using their devices – instead, they’ll be talking with you.

Try these kid-friendly recipes to get started

Here are a few easy, fun recipes to try with your junior chefs.

• Smoothies. A great place to start because the “cooking” is as simple as throwing the ingredients in a blender!
• Tofu dip with apple slices. This dip is a terrific after school snack – and super easy to mix up.
• Mini veggie pizzas. Top make these easy, use store-bought pizza dough, pita bread, or English muffins as the base. Let kids spread the sauce, sprinkle cheese, and add toppings like bell peppers, olives, and basil leaves from the garden.
• Rainbow salad jars. Layer chopped veggies in a variety of colors (think carrots, cucumbers, corn, and cherry tomatoes) in mason jars. Shake them up with a little dressing when it’s time to eat!
• Overnight breakfast oats. Put oats, fruit, nuts, seeds, yogurt and milk in a mason jar and stir. Let sit in the fridge overnight and let them dig in for breakfast.
• DIY fruit popsicles. Blend fresh fruit with a little yogurt or juice, pour into molds, and freeze. Let kids choose their own combos – strawberry-mango? Blueberry-basil? Yum!

Tips for a (relatively) smooth kitchen adventure:

Set realistic expectations

Your kitchen will get messy, and that’s okay. To help keep it manageable, start small with simple recipes that don’t require much chopping or heat. It can also help to start with recipes that don’t need long cooking times so kids get “instant” gratification for their efforts.

Be flexible

Does your kid want to add an extra spoon of cinnamon to the cookies? Why not? I still have a recipe my youngest wrote up himself. It reads:

1 egg

¼ cup canola oil

2 scoops flour

5 little scoops sugar

2 pours sprinkles

2 pours chocolate chips

1 cup water

1 pour baking soda

We made it just like that (I controlled the “pour” of baking soda) and you know what? It was delicious, and we made it several times! Cooking can be all about creativity and fun.

Teach safety early

Talk about stove safety, knife handling (for older kids), and hand washing. Even little ones can learn to respect the tools they’re using.

Celebrate the effort, not just the outcome

Even if the pancakes are lumpy or the veggies are unevenly chopped, praise your child’s hard work. Remember, the goal is to have fun and learn – not to churn out Michelin-star meals.

A word to the overwhelmed parent

Listen, you don’t have to turn your kitchen into “MasterChef Junior” overnight. Maybe you start with one meal a week where the kids help. Maybe they just stir the batter or sprinkle the cheese at first. That’s okay. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about spending time together and creating something as a family.

So, the next time you feel tempted to shoo your kids out of the kitchen, remember: those little hands covered in flour might just be the start of a lifelong love for food, and a lot of fun for you both. Happy cooking –  you’ve got this!