Kids Kitchen Activities for Dinner: An Age-by-Age Guide
Do your kids love hanging out in the kitchen or asking to help make dinner? Between busy schedules and worries about extra mess, saying “yes” can feel like a lot. The good news is that cooking with kids doesn’t have to be complicated or chaotic. It works best when you keep things simple and choose tasks that match their age and abilities. That’s why we created an age-by-age guide to kids’ kitchen activities, showing how even a few small jobs can build confidence and life skills without adding stress to dinner prep.
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🤔 Why Involve Kids in Cooking?
There are so many good reasons to cook with your kids. When we invite our kids into the kitchen, we’re doing more than just making dinner—we’re sharing an experience. Letting kids help with meal prep gives them a sense of ownership and sparks curiosity around food, which can make mealtime feel more fun.
Cooking together also comes with some real, tangible benefits: kids build confidence, learn important life skills, and picky eaters are often more willing to engage with meals they helped prepare. For parents, that can mean fewer power struggles, smoother dinners, and a more connected family routine.
Check out our favorite age-appropriate ways kids can help grown-ups prep and make dinner.
🍳 Kids Kitchen Activities by Age
Ages 2-3
- Help gather ingredients. Kids can help grab items from the fridge, cabinet or pantry!
- Wash/rinse vegetables.
- Peel or tear veggies by hand (corn, garlic, lettuce).
- Dump pre-measured ingredients into bowls.
- Stir or whisk together ingredients (as long as not hot). Thermoworks’ mini spatula is perfect for stirring with little hands.
- Make choices between two options (pasta shapes, veggies, toppings).
- Taste test (pasta, sauces, toppings).
- Set timers– Our kids love this adorable cat timer 😸⏲️ from Kikkerland.
Ages 4-5
All of the above, plus:
- Spread butter, baste or glaze food items.
- Mash soft food items with a fork (avocado, bananas, crackers).
- Juice lemons.
- Start to measure liquid and dry ingredients with assistance. We love Pyrex Measuring Cups and these Curious Chef teaspoons.
- Assemble simple food items (sandwiches, sliders, quesadillas).
- Sprinkle on cheese, seasoning or other toppings.
Ages 6-9
All of the above, plus:
- Crack eggs.
- Grease pans or baking dishes.
- Start to chop veggies with kid-friendly knives. We love Curious Chef knives and Zulay Cutting Boards for little hands. Note: When chopping onions, consider inviting kids wear goggles to protect their little eyes from tearing up.
- Peel veggies with a kid-friendly peeler.
- Operate can opener with assistance.
- Cover and uncover pots with supervision. These Alselo mini oven mitts are great for little hands.
- Stir things on the stove (with close supervision).
- Break up meat on the stove (with close supervision). We love using a potato masher or this awesome ground beef chopper by Zulay.
- Toss salads.
- Press buttons to power on mixers or blenders (with close supervision).
- Use kitchen shears to trim herbs and veggies (with assistance as needed).
Ages 10+
All of the above, plus:
- Make grocery lists.
- Read labels.
- Follow recipes independently.
- More precise chopping, slicing and dicing using kid-friendly knives like these beginner’s chef knives.
- Flip ingredients-We like these handy tongs!
- Operate the microwave.
- Set the temperature on the oven.
- Check the temperature of meat. We love this Thermapen® meat thermometer!
- Taste to adjust seasoning.
🖨️ Print this Guide!
Love these ideas? Download and print this Age-by-Age Guide and hang it on your fridge!
❓FAQ for Cooking with Kids
Yes—when tasks are matched to a child’s age and abilities and parents are close by. Using kid-safe tools, explaining basic safety rules, and supervising closely helps create a safe and positive kitchen experience.
It’s completely normal for kids to lose interest. Kids’ attention spans are short, especially in the busy kitchen. Let them help for as long as they’re interested—even if it’s just a few minutes. Those small, positive moments build comfort and confidence over time and make kids more likely to help again
👍 Helpful Reminders
- Pick a night when you’re not super rushed. Inviting kids into the kitchen often adds time, but it’s worth it.
- Expect and plan for a mess. A bit of mess is a natural part of cooking with kids. Prepare by laying down a towel and keeping wipes nearby.
- Choose simple recipes with fewer steps and minimal ingredients. Short cook times keep kids engaged and reduce frustration if attention wanders.
- Prep a little ahead. Do the difficult chopping or measuring in advance so kids can jump right into the fun parts without long waits (or safety stress).
🍜 Recipes to Make with Your Kids
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