6-7 year olds and up
This age group usually has developed fine motor skills so they can take on more detailed work, like using measuring spoons and forming evenly sized patties. They may still need reminders to watch their fingers during grating and peeling.
They also excel at: Dicing and mincing vegetables, grating cheese; peeling raw potatoes, ginger, mangoes and other fruits and vegetables; slicing and scooping out avocados, greasing pans, using a microplane zester, de-seeding tomatoes and roasted peppers, draining and slicing tofu, rinsing grains and beans, forming cookies and patties, pouring liquids into small containers, and garnishing (or “decorating”) dishes.
8-9 year olds and up
There is a wide range of skills in this age group. Some 8 year olds are not mature enough to work at the stove. Others have the focus and diligence of an adult. You’ll have to decide if they should continue with the 6-7 year old tasks or if they are responsible enough to do more.
This group can take on more sophisticated tasks such as: Using a pizza cutter and can opener, scooping batter into muffin cups, scraping down the (unplugged) electric mixer bowl and food processor bowl, putting away leftovers, pounding chicken, proofing yeast, skewering food, slicing bread, and chopping hot chili peppers (latex gloves are a good idea!).
From this research, it is clear that eight-year-olds can hold their own in a kitchen quite well. They may still need assistant from adults, especially when doing more difficult and dangerous work, but I don't think that I need to 'dumb-down' my cookbook for them to be able to understand.
Stefania Patinella, director of food and nutrition for the Children's Aid Society of New York City says: "Cooking is about self-efficacy. When kids cook, they think, I can do this! And that self-esteem can be more important than the actual skills they gain at this stage."
Teaching children how to cook is a wonderful way to encourage them to develop new skills and have them work by themselves, with a little assistant from someone else. It is also a great bonding time between relative and child. Creativity should also be encouraged, perhaps with the decoration of food or adding extra ingredients.
Besides building confidence, cooking can give your grade-schooler the power of choice. Hmm, she might think. I can eat what I want if I can make it myself.
The BBC meanwhile provide references for 8-11 year olds.
Along with the skills suggested for 3 - 5 and 5 - 7 year olds, when children reach 8 +, they can start to get involved with planning and undertake activities with a bit more independence. Supervision is still key due to the number of hazards in the kitchen but take a hands off approach where possible.
Activities to try with 8 - 11 year olds
Gradually introduce your children to the above and make sure they are aware of the dangers involved. If you feel they are not ready, hold off for a while. Cuts and burns are common in the kitchen so always keep an eye on them. However capable they may be, it's easy to get distracted or try to rush an activity.
- Planning the family meal
- Following a simple recipe
- Finding ingredients in the cupboards and fridge
- Using a peeler
- Whisking, using a balloon whisk or handheld mixer
- Using heat on a hob, oven and microwave
- Making salads
- Opening cans
From this research, I have discovered that my target audience, eight year olds, can be very competent cooks. They just need a little bit of assistance, especially when doing potentially "dangerous" things.
This website also contains recipes for 7-9 year olds:
http://www.kraftcanada.com/recipes/recipes-for-kids-aged-7-to-9-yrs
References:
http://www.thekidscookmonday.org/about/kitchen-tasks-for-different-age-groups/
http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/everydaycooking/family/cooking-with-kids-gradeschool
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/guide-cookery-skills-age
http://www.kraftcanada.com/recipes/recipes-for-kids-aged-7-to-9-yrs
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