You don't want to spend tons of time in the kitchen - and with the right recipe, you won't need to. If you have to get dinner on the table for a certain time, figure out when you'll need to start in order to have the meal ready. Most recipes include the amount of time it takes to prepare them in the instructions. It might be a good idea to add 10 or 15 minutes to that time when you first try to conquer the kitchen - just to be on the safe side. Assemble all your ingredients in one place before you start.
Some chefs like to measure out each ingredient ahead of time before cooking.
Pull out the utensils, measuring cups, and spoons you'll be using and keep them handy, so you won't need to run all over the kitchen. An apron is a good idea if you want to keep your clothes from getting dirty. Always wash your hands before any kind of food preparation. Don't cook without a parent's permission. The Nemours Foundation is a nonprofit organization devoted to children's health and is the largest physician practice delivering subspecialty pediatric care in the United States.