Age Appropriate Kitchen Jobs for Kids

A few of my favorite ways to interact with kids is in the kitchen, and I realized that what I let them do has really evolved as they grow up. All too often I hear that kids are allowed to do all sorts of things in preschool but at home we still baby them, so I make a conserted effort to find just the right jobs for them at home.

As soon as they can sit up - 18 months:

Mash bananas for Banana Bread

Mix or stir (with a huge mess)

Taste-test

1.5 - 3:

Scoop

Stir

Place cookies on a cookie sheet

Pour on sprinkles (use this method where a tupperware catches the extras!)

Kneed bread dough (see my challah recipe here)

Cut strawberries with an egg slicer (for strawberry shortcakes)

Use a juicer to squeeze lemons for lemonade or oranges

Assemble their own grilled cheese sandwich toppings

3-4:

Measure flour or sugar, leveling off the top

Count ingredients

Cut with a blunt edged knife

Peel Bananas

Turn the mixer or blender on or off

Spread frosting on a cake (see our construction machine birthday cake here)

Gather needed ingredients from the pantry

Shake a sealed Ziploc bag with meat and marinade in it

5-6:

Cut with a sharp knife with close supervision

Measure out all ingredients

Divide ingredients equally (ie. half in one bowl, half in the other)

Possibly read you the recipe

Gather all needed ingredients

Crack eggs

Separate eggs

Jessica

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I link to these awesome parties:

Sunday: I Heart Naptime, Nifty Thrifty Things, It's Overflowing Monday: DIY Showoff, Between Naps on the Porch, Thrifty Decor Chick, Home Stories A to Z, Evolution of Style Tuesday: Coastal Charm, Nest for Less,  My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, A Bowl Full of Lemons,  Centsational Girl , Primitive and Proper  Wednesday: Savvy Southern Style, Organize and Decorate Thursday: House of Hepworths, the 36th Avenue,  Crafty, Scrappy, Happy, 52 Mantels Friday: Making Lemonade, Blissful and Domestic, One Artsy Mama, Serenity Now, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk Interiors, At the Picket Fence