When it comes to kids chores, not all are created equal. But there’s one chore that almost all kids love. And if we tap into that interest, it can benefit the whole family.
For as long as I’ve been a mother, the arrival of the dinner hour has brought stress. Once I had kids, cooking no longer meant whatever I felt like because there were other palates and nutritional needs to consider.
I don’t hate cooking. It’s just that I prefer cooking when the urge strikes and taking my time with it. This doesn’t really translate to my life right now though.
As my kids got older, I was still doing the cooking, but they were becoming a little more independent. The older kids making a basic lunch, then Sunday pancakes. The younger kids were warming up their own oatmeal in the microwave.
Then 2020 came. Suddenly, we were not only home all the time, but also dealing with grocery staples that were missing from store shelves. We needed to be creative and frugal. And with me working more since I worked from home, we needed a new kitchen plan.
Kids in the Kitchen
The thing about chores and kids is that they need to buy into them. What I mean is that they need to know that they are doing something important and necessary. It reminds them that they are important and needed. And that they are helping you.
This can be a hard sell when it comes to chores like cleaning up toys and scrubbing toilets. But it’s a lot easier to see in the kitchen. Everyone eats, so everyone knows the importance of the cook.
With my husband working outside the house and me working inside it, dinnertime became the domain of our kids, specifically the (then) 11 and 9-year-olds.
It started with the kids assisting me with meals. Just getting the rice started or getting ingredients together.
But soon they were making the entire meal on their own based off my monthly meal plan. I didn’t ask them to – they asked me. I could tell they really liked the process, as well as the accolades when the dish came out great.
The kids started writing up grocery lists, organizing the pantry. They were looking at recipes and watching cooking shows. Soon they were asking to change my meal plan for something they wanted to make. They became experts at converting regular recipes to gluten-free, dairy-free, and delicious alternatives.
By the end of 2020, I had handed the reins of dinner over to the kids. Each had assigned nights to cook. They just needed to get recipe approval from me and then they were on their own.
Why kids cooking is so beneficial for them
I already mentioned that chores that are necessary, like cooking, give kids a boost because they become helpful members of the family. But other great things come from assigning this chore to kids:
- Time management- Kids need to plan their meals so they’re served around the dinner hour, whatever that is for your family. They also need to know how to multitask, prepping ingredients while water boils, for example.
- Nutrition- They learn what a balanced meal entails and actually come up with ways to make the usually-rejected items (e.g. broccoli) more palatable. They also learn to appreciate why pancakes for dinner can’t happen every night.
- Math- No worksheet teaches a kid how to convert fractions as well as a recipe written in 1/4 cups, when all we can find is the 1/3 cup measure. 🙂
- Team work- Sharing a counter with a sibling isn’t always easy, but they need to manage it when working on a big meal, like Thanksgiving. That’s right, I let my kids cook everything except the turkey. This year, I think they’ve earned the bird.
- Responsibility- You can’t put off meals because you’d rather play. Cooking teaches kids that they have a responsibility to the family and they need to meet it each day.
Why kids cooking is so beneficial for you
This chore also has a lot of benefits for you. Here are a few to consider:
- Free time- If you have other responsibilities in the house that only you can accomplish, this frees up time so you can handle them.
- Independence- I once read that a good mother works herself out of the job. We want our kids to be independent, to be able to feed themselves when they leave the nest. This is a part of that process.
- Variety- I don’t know about you, but my kids come up with dishes I wouldn’t even attempt to try. They are more curious, ambitious, and hard-working in the kitchen than I am, and we all benefit from their creations.
- Peace- If you’re tired of trying to force vegetables, whole grains, or any other hard sell to your kids, you’ll enjoy the peace of no longer having to. My kids rarely complain about a meal made by another kid, even if there are GREEN THINGS IN IT!
- Cleaner kitchen- While kids normally make quite a mess while cooking, they’re also the ones cleaning it up (at least they should be…). I noticed my kids take a lot more time cleaning up the kitchen since they will now be one of the people using it.
How to get your kids started in the kitchen
If you’re thinking about handing the cooking chores over to your children, that’s great. I think you’re going to love the change for you and for them.
Before you do though, make sure your kids are interested. Even if they’ve never done more than pour cereal, an interested child can learn so much more than a resistant one.
My older kids love cooking and baking. But my middle child is not as enthusiastic, which is okay. She cooks once a week with one of her siblings’ help. She’s only 8 and her interest may increase, but for now, that’s enough for her.
Once you’ve ascertained that your kids are interested, start them in the role of sous chef. Teach them how to prepare ingredients, safely work with knives and other kitchen utensils, and how to practice safety in the kitchen. Slowly step back as they become more confident and capable.
Now it’s time to let them cook on their own. They may have some ideas, or prefer your meal plan. Either way, allow them to work up to preparing the meal solo. And then praise them profusely. Feedback is great, but for the first go, be positive. Confidence is important in cooking and creativity.
Finally, let them explore what they want to cook, so long as it’s within your guidelines. I have recipe veto power because I’m sometimes presented with dishes that include duck, lobster, or 3 pounds of sugar. I’m their reality check. You can set your own boundaries, allowing your kid chefs to roam freely within them.
Cooking is a chore for many of us, but for kids, it’s often a privilege. Giving them the opportunity to explore and help in the kitchen will not only enrich their lives, but those of the family.
Do your kids cook? How old were they when they started and what’s their favorite dish? Let me know in the comments or on social media!
Looking for more on chores and cooking? Try these popular posts:
15 Chores Your 5-Year-Old Can Do On Their Own
6 Meal Planning Strategies for the Non-Cook
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