Every parent worries about little hands getting cut or burned in the kitchen, but once again, if you teach them good habits from the start, you can prevent most accidents. Always cut with the blade facing away from you. It's a good idea to have kids use small serrated knives for most of their cutting needs, since these do not need to be razor-sharp in order to get the job done. It's important, however, not to teach your children to be afraid of knives, just to be extremely careful. Fun for All Ages Kids of all ages can have fun helping out in the kitchen.
Toddlers can help wash vegetables and fruits, as well as stir things into bowls.
Elementary-school age kids can start making their own snacks and be in charge of one dish for dinner. Pre-teens can handle making an entire dinner on their own if you help them choose recipes within their capabilities and take them shopping for everything they will need. Encourage your kids to read the entire recipe before they begin. There's nothing more disappointing than finding out halfway through a recipe that you don't have all the ingredients you need. While kids should follow the directions in order to ensure success, encourage them to be creative in their cooking, too.