Our Kids Cook Dinner (One Night a Week)

Something we started this past summer was adding a cooking night to our boys’ schedule. By the way, they started this when they were 10 years old and 6 years old. Starting this new routine in the summer made it a bit easier since we had more time. More than 6 months later and they’re still cooking once a week. Yes, sometimes it feels like pulling teeth and I’m in the kitchen the whole time guiding and encouraging. Other times they really are able to bust out a great meal on their own! I’d love to share some things we’ve learned along the way.

Keep it Simple

I can’t emphasize this enough. The less everything the better. Less packaging, less chopping, fewer components, less cook time – all of it! I think their first meal to prepare was frozen corn dogs and frozen corn. It seems easy but they had to manage the oven, figure out what type of pan to cook the corndogs one, set a timer, pull something hot out of the oven, etc. Not as easy as you would think. Cooking the corn on the stovetop also had its own learning curve. So many questions arise. Should a lid be placed on the pot? Should they add salt and pepper? When is the corn actually ready?

Teamwork

They are learning to work as a team and communicate. Of course, at times they get off course. That’s why I need to be close by, but mostly once they get started they get into the groove.

Choosing the Menu

They pick the menu. I do have limits and require a vegetable but it’s much more fun for them to cook something they want to eat.

Kids Cook Night: Safety

A lot of my time is spent teaching safety. I feel like once they know how to use the stove and oven properly, use a knife correctly, and stay in the kitchen closely paying attention to what they are cooking they are on the right path to becoming successful and not hurting themselves or each other.

Meals Our Kids Cook

• Ground Turkey Tacos
• Chicken Sausages and Peas
• Breakfast for Dinner
  • Pancakes and Bacon
  • Waffles and Breakfast Sausage
• Turkey Burgers and Sweet Potato Fries
• BLT’s on Croissants with Roasted Potatoes
• Corn Dogs and Corn
• Hamburger Helper and Peas
• Chicken Noodle Soup
• Quesadillas
  • Cooked Chicken and Cheddar Cheese
  • Black Beans, White Corn, and Cheddar Cheese

Would you let your kids cook dinner by themselves? Try it, you might be surprised!

You may also like My Battle with the Kitchen Dishes or Our Spring Traditions (including Irish Soda Bread).