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It’s really important to me that my kids learn responsibility and life skills during the time they are in their home. I want them to know how to mend clothes, grow vegetables, take care of animals, clean bathrooms, save money, and cook food for themselves.
The kitchen is the place that we have the most opportunities to teach our kids life skills. I spend SO much of my day in the kitchen, and it’s natural that my kids would end up alongside me much of the time.
There are a lot of academic skills they can learn in the kitchen (chemistry, math, reading, just to name a few), but there are also just practical skills. And one of the biggest ones: I want my boys to leave our home capable of making meals for themselves!
In our home, we start this young. As soon as my kids can climb up onto a chair, they are next to me while I’m cooking!
Some helpful tools for kids to safely help you in the kitchen:
Some tips to make letting your kids help you in the kitchen a little easier:
Give them small tasks
Start with small tasks like mixing the batter, chopping veggies or fruit, or setting the table. This gives them a sense of independence, hands off a small low-risk responsibility, and gives them confidence when they move on to bigger tasks.
Start with one meal
As they are able, hand over the responsibility of breakfast or lunch. Teach them how to make a simple meal (grilled cheese, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, toast and cream cheese, etc). Or yes, even teaching them to pour their own cereal or get yogurt from the fridge into a bowl. You may still want to and enjoy making meals for them, but part of your job is to teach them these skills too.
Make things accessible
Put dishes they use frequently (plates, cups, etc. ) within reach, like in a low drawer or cabinet. If they constantly have to ask you to get a plate, they can’t be independent. And you’re less likely to worry about them falling off a chair because they’re trying to reach what they need. We keep our toaster in a low cabinet so that my 5yo can pull it out and make himself toast. We have always kept cereal in a low cabinet so that even our littles could get to it and practice pouring themselves a bowl. Obviously, you know your child best and what they should or shouldn’t have access to, so do what works for your kids and your family. But kids are capable of a lot more than we give them credit for!
Be okay with mistakes and messes
There will be messes. They will spill the whole box of cereal sometimes. They will serve themselves too much oatmeal. They will burn the food or maybe themselves. Mistakes and messes will happen, but that’s part of learning! Don’t be afraid of the mess or mistakes. If you are worried your kids are going to dump the entire gallon of raw milk onto the floor (Have I been there? Yes. Yes I have), don’t give them the whole gallon. Pour a small amount into a mason jar with a pouring lid, so that they can be confident without risking the entire gallon.
Passing off small responsibilities to them is important, because over time it teaches them to be able to take care of themselves. The same is true of homeschooling – instead of me teaching them all the topics, they are slowly learning to take over the responsibility of teaching themselves and find answers to their questions, instead of relying on someone else to teach them.
This isn’t just about teaching them to cook meals or clean up after themselves. Yes, those things are important. But this is just one way you are raising confident, self-directed, capable kids!
It extends so far beyond the kitchen. It moves into all areas – kids who see the garbage is full and take it out without being asked. Kids who want to learn how to whittle, so they open up a book and follow the tutorials. Kids who think critically about problems and look for solutions.
If you want to learn more about raising self-directed learners who are confident, think critically, and don’t need to be entertained 24/7, the Raising Self Directed Learners mini-course goes into more detail about this! (Remember VIPs, you have a coupon code for this and all courses and workshops)