These eleven kitchen tools for kids – made specifically with children in mind – will build your child’s cooking confidence and independence.
It’s difficult to remember what life was like before parenthood.
I have a vague memory of being able to wake up on my own, stumble downstairs, pour myself a bowl of cereal, and read through the news as I enjoyed my breakfast in – get this – silence.
Little did I know how much my life and eating habits would change once I had kids.
Shortly after giving birth to my second daughter our mornings grew hectic: changing diapers, nursing, making rice cereal, cutting fruit into tiny pieces, filling a sippy cup with milk, and oh yeah, trying to grab a little breakfast for myself before we’d all go upstairs to get dressed.
But as my daughters grew and became more capable, my husband and I had them take over more of their own breakfast and lunch preparation.
Now as they scurry around the kitchen preparing meals, I sit quietly to the side enjoying a cup of coffee and lazily catching up on the latest headlines. (Ha! Who am I kidding? I’m still interrupted every 20 seconds with “Mom, where’s the butter?” or “Can you help me slice this bread?”)
Even if life hasn’t entirely reverted back to what it once was, my girls are still learning valuable skills by making meals on their own. And here’s why that’s important:
- Whenever we let our kids be independent, it lets them know we have confidence in them to take on new tasks
- Cooking becomes less intimidating when kids prepare basic meals as a first step
- Kids begin to learn (with our guidance) what a is included in a nutritiousmeal with hands-on practice
Helping Kids Achieve Independence in the Kitchen
One of the first steps to raising confident kitchen helpers is to make sure kids have access to everything they need: countertops are accessible for their use, dishes and food are where kids can reach them, and gadgets are easy-to-use and built for little hands.
Having the right tools in place can help, such as thisLittle Partners Learning Towerthatlets kids be apart of the cooking process and is adjustable based on height. This tower is also great for letting kids do art projects or other activities where a kitchen counter is the best surface.
So much of kitchen prep involves knives but young kids aren’t ready to use the sharp kind. ThisKuhn Rikon Dog Knifewith a serrated edge is not only cute but also builds kids confidence in choppingwhile still being safe.
TheCurious Chef 3Piece Nylon Knife Set is also a good chopping option with different size knives for different tasks.
And when children begin using sharp knives, thisOpinel Childs Knife Finger Guard can help keep fingers out of the way.
Other tools that help kids with kitchen prep include:
- Mini-colandersperfect for small hands
- Mini potato masher
- An apple slicer designed for kids
- A fruit and vegetable peeler with a protected blade
One of the biggest issues for kids during breakfast time, in particular, is being able to pour from a huge milk gallon or juice container. ThisLuminarc pitchersolves that problem with its small size that is perfect for kids. Little hands can wrap their fingers around the handle and easily pour into cereal bowls or glasses.
The toaster can be a tricky situation for kids with the hot metal potentially burning their hands. These bamboo toaster tongs let kids safely take bread out of the toaster oven once it’s done.
Other hot items can be held with these kids mitts set that are just the right size for small hands.
Kids’ Baking Sets
Most children’s first introduction to cooking in the kitchen is through baking. What kid doesn’t love to make cookies, cakes, brownies or breads? (And then eat the results)
Having the right tools can help kids feel more confident, not to mention that it’s fun to have one’s own tools.
Here are a few kids baking sets to get kids started:
From left to right:
Pop Kids Baking Set: comes with a spatula, whisk, brush, rolling pin, large baking pan, cake trays and chocolate molds
Dikor Children’s Baking Set: comes with a children’s cooking apron, a child-sized whisk, spatula, and rolling pin, a specialty cupcake pan, and a full-size silicone baking/rolling mat
Turning Kitchen Helpers into Cooks
I’m grateful my girls have become confident kitchen helpers – but I’m not going to stop there.
Ultimately, I’d like my kids to learn how to cook – just a few basic skills at aminimum – so they’re able to prepare meals at home as adults.
Research shows that people who frequently cook meals at home eat healthier and consume fewer calories than those who cook less.So teaching kids how to cook often means setting them up for a healthier diet in the future.
Plus, home cooked meals are often less expensive than prepared foods. So adults who know how to cook also have the ability to keep their food budgets in check.
But where to begin? And how to know if you’ve covered all the basics?
Just recently my girls began taking online classes through Kids Cook Real Food. I shopped around for other cooking classes and this one stood out as the best. Courses are clustered around age ranges and abilities and cover everything from how to crack an egg, to independently following a recipe, to learning the safe way to use knives.
So one day I won’t just be sipping morning coffee on my own but also relaxing in the evening, reading a book as my girls prepare a three-course dinner for our family to savor. (A mom can dream – right?)
You May Also Like:
Teach Kids to Cook by Age and Ability
15 Life Skills Kids Need Before They Leave Home
What Kids REALLY Need to be Independent, Confident, and Self-Reliant
Help guide your young child through everyday tasks with these Simple Directions for Young Children Cards. Each card serves as a reminder of how to carry out a task and allows children to eventually take on tasks independently. Click here to learn more.
What to do next…
1. Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Kids’ email list.
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2. Take one of my quizzes!
Find out if you’re raising a self-sufficient kid (click here) or if you’re doing too much for your kids (click here). At the end of each quiz, you’ll be asked to provide your email address to see the results.
3. Get your kids started on chores.
Learn how to get your child started on chores (& keep them motivated + avoid power struggles) by enrolling in my Get Your Kids Successfully Started on Chores course. Click here to learn more and sign up.
About Kerry Flatley
Hi! I’m Kerry, the mother of two girls and a certified parent educator. I believe it is possible for parents to have a supportive, loving, and warm relationship with their kids while raising them to be independent and ultimately self-sufficient. Over the years, I’ve read numerous books and articles that support this belief and I’ve put these ideas into practice with my own kids. Read more about me and Self-Sufficient Kids here.
