Kids in the Kitchen: Cooking Tasks for Different Age Groups

Want to involve your kids in cooking up this year’s holiday meal? Here’s a list of age-appropriate ideas and tasks. 

Ages 3 to 5

• Get ingredients out of the refrigerator

• Measure and mix ingredients together in a bowl

• Pour liquids into a bowl

• Wash fruits and vegetables in cold water

• Use a cookie cutter to cut shapes out of dough or bread

• Lick the cake batter off a spoon (yum!)

Ages 6 to 8

• Open packages

• Use a butter knife to spread

frosting, cream cheese, peanut butter or soft cheese

• Peel vegetables

• Measure ingredients

• Stir ingredients together in a bowl

• Set the table

Ages 9 to 12

• Open cans

• Use electric kitchen appliances such as the microwave (with supervision)

• Use a grater to shred cheese and vegetables

• Turn stove burners on and off and select oven temperature (with supervision)

• Help plan the meal

• Make a salad

Ages 14+

• Operate the stove or oven

• Heat up food in the microwave

• Drain cooked pasta into a colander

• Take a tray of food out of the oven