When is it to early to start cooking?

You can let her do the mixing. 4 is pretty young. I started mine off with baking cookies since you cannot really mess that up. I premixed all the ingredients and put them in measuring cups before we started. Then I would read off what goes next into the mixing bowl and my daughter would pour it into the bowl. I would let her mix with the big wooden spoon too. She was about 5 years old when she really wanted to start helping. As she mastered a task I would do more with her. Of course, she knew how to pour cereal and add milk :) She would help her younger brother with that on the weekend if they got up real early.

Of course you cannot let a 4 year old use the stove unsupervised...but you can teach her how to cook! Let her help with anything that is safe for her to do. Teach her proper protocol like wearing old clothes in case things splatter and always washing her hands. Let her mix dough, or stir things for you that are not hot. You can help her learn/practice how to read at the same time by getting her to read a recipe to you. You can let her add the salt or spices. You can teach her some math at the same time by talking to her about measures. You can explain that yeast makes the dough rise. You can explain to her about healthy food. Cooking is a wonderful activity to do with a child that opens the doors to so much learning!

Hello Donee and welcome to myLot. 4 years olds are so eager to learn new things and that includes cooking. As others have said you can start her with simple things like putting the ingredients in any mix. You can teach her to stir and mix things together. She can put cake batter in the pan or make cup cakes. I would get the ingredients measured then let my girls put them together for cup cakes. I had to leave the room because I didn't like to watch them make a mess. And they did make a mess but that is how they learn. It was easier to clean up the mess than to watch them make it.

that is so sweet, my daughter also wants to learn cooking and she is going to be five this month. what I did was pretend play with toy dolls and utensils and taught her to cook for her dolls without fire or knifes on pretend gas stove with real veggies, like tomatoes, cucumber etc. it was fun I cut a few pieces of cucumber and put them in her pot and told her to stir it with a spoon and she loved it. and she could eat it after wards. I did allow her to spread butter on the bread with a spon and eat it. we really had fun that day.

When children are in the kitchen they love to watch what you are doing. They are curious - why, how for what ...etc..etc.. My son behaved in that manner when he was young. Give them the simple things to do. Dangerous things keep away. Let them have some fun in doing. It's a development of a child. I love it when my son asked me questions why are you doing this , for what you doing this....Don't discourage them but intergrate with them. These are beautiful memories of my son as he was growing..I love it.

I believe my son started using the microwave around that age but only with supervision. Kids now days like to feel independent and you should allow that, just keep a close eye on them. Don't let it go further than the microwave though. Now my son is 6yrs old and he makes his own oatmeal in the microwave, heat up left overs and tv dinners but he is always cautious to ask me how long to let it cook in the microwave. He knows the dangers and understands that its still "hot" eventhough its just the microwave. Now my daughter has been cooking since she was 9 because my mom let's her in the kitchen with her to show her things and my baby girl is almost 12. With my disability, having both my kids knowing the basics in cooking is a plus for me cause I can't always get outta bed to fix my food so that's where they come in at.

It depends on the kid, and how you choose to define 'cooking.' My grandson has been helping me in the kitchen since he was about 3 1/2. I'd measure the ingredients, and let him dump it into the bowl to go into the pot on the stove. Making a salad? He'd wash the fruit, or peel bananas, or I'd cut stuff up and he'd stick it in the bowl and stir it to mix it. Nothing hot, and surely nothing major, but I think if they're interested it shouldn't be discouraged. He's 8 now, can read a recipe, and knows by heart the recipe for my breadmaker and can stick all the correct ingredients, and amounts, in (and it comes out great lol.) Even when they're little they are learning how to measure, use fractions (measuring cups & spoons). and how to work together. There's always something a kid can learn from helping out in the kitchen, no matter what their age. I don't think she's too young as long as it doesn't involve the stove. I'd let her help, stick an apron on her, and tell her she's the cooks helper:-)

I think that if she is showing an interest, it's a good idea to take advantage of that enthusiasm. when children cook something themselves, they are more adventurous trying different foods, and eating healthier things. there's always SOMETHING a child can do in the kitchen that is okay for their age. even if you just make some cakes, and let her mix the ingredients together. that's safe to do, quite messy, so it's fun, and the end results are good.

Hi. Donee06. Welcome to myLot! I think that it is okay if you teach her how to cook. You can do many things with her that will omit the use of the stove or a microwave. You can show her how you can mix foods. You can teach her how to make a sandwich. You can also seasoned meats and vegetables and let her watch. I also think that it is okay, if you would let her watch you, make a pie or a cake. I recommend you start off doing things that does not involve in her using the microwave or stove. If you must cook while she is the kitchen, let her sit as far back as she can, while you prepare the food over the stove or when you are using the microwave oven. Have fun and be safe!

I would not let her help with anything that means fire and heat. But it´s ok to make cookies together, decorate them (I have horror stories about my kitchen after such events with my grandsons), help make salads or decorate deserts.

Children are naturally curious and would want to know about many things including cooking. My children are always excited to help me cook. Since cooking has different phases, there are a lot of things that my kids can do to help. they can help in preparing ingredients. kids as young as 2 can measure ingredients that are needed. I even teach my kids math while cooking! As for sauteing or frying, kids can watch at a safe distance. Just remind the kids to be careful and always work with adult supervision.

It really depends, if the kid is really interested in it, you can start by allowing her to help you while cooking. Teach her about the basics, the DOs and DON'Ts, kitchen safety and other things needed. Then eventually you can teach her more about the kitchen and cooking. But please don't let her cook on her own. Adult's presence is still needed especially at her age. Try to watch Junior Masterchef, it's a kids competition who has passion in cooking and most of them had learned cooking at a very young age.

I would say around 12 to 14 as You need to Reach the Stove, Counter Top and the Refrigerator to. You need the Strength to Lift some Stuff and not Drop it. Plus Read the Labels or Directions and Understand somethings to.

no early or late for anything, You don't live forever. If your niece want to do anything , you should support her.