Spending time in the kitchen with your kids is a great way to make lasting memories. Give them lots of opportunities to lend a hand by adding or mixing ingredients. Focus on making them feel proud for helping. Realize that cooking with your kids will be messier and take longer than cooking on your own, but it will be rewarding in other ways. Helping out in the kitchen may spark an interest in food and cooking in your child, leading to positive life skills down the road. And cooking helps boost kids’ confidence as they spend quality time with you while contributing something the whole family can enjoy.

Before you get started, look over these tips to ensure a fun and safe cooking experience.

• Tie back long hair, roll up loose sleeves and cover clothes with an apron.
• Wash hands with soap and water, and dry them before handling food.
• Keep clean, dry oven mitts or hot pads handy near the stove, oven or microwave for safe handling of hot pans, pots and bowls.
• When cooking on the stove, point handles toward the back of the stove to prevent spills.
• An adult should always help with
  • Using the stove, oven or microwave
  • Reading entire recipe
  • Handling hot pans, pots and bowls
  • Using electrical appliances such as can openers
  • Cutting or slicing food with knives
  • Hot water
  
  
• Clean up spills on the floor immediately, to prevent slipping.
• Always turn off the stove burners and the oven as soon as you finish cooking.
• Keep a first-aid kit handy in the kitchen.
• Keep emergency phone numbers near the phone.

Check out these recipes, created especially with kids in mind, to get started.