School is out and the kids are home. What to do? Keep them busy by creating, cleaning and cooking in the family kitchen.

While it’s true children under foot in the kitchen can make things a little crazier than normal, the laughter and learning far outweigh the mess.

Supervising young kiddos around heat, knives and appliances takes far greater patience, but some of my favorite memories were created working alongside my mom and my grandmothers in the kitchen. I keep that in mind when it’s my turn to do the same for the next generation.

Here are ten tasks kiddos can handle in the kitchen.

1. Chop, Chop, Chop (all ages)

Kids love to feel big. Teach your older children to use a small paring knife to cut soft foods like cheese or fruit. Invite your younger ones to participate as well by giving them a butter knife or a plastic knife and some bell peppers (already cut in strips). They will all feel big, and you will get some chopping prep done.

2. We Rollin’ and Poundin’ (all ages)

Rolling pins are a sure win in the kitchen. Give each child a ball of pastry dough and let them get down to business. All kids love to roll out pie dough to butter up and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, creating mini cinnamon rolls. Or, let them get out some aggression by tenderizing meat in plastic bags.

*Warning:  Some children (especially little boys) just can’t resist the urge to use meat mallets on each other. I’m speaking from experience here. 

3. Waffling (all ages)

Making waffles is a surprisingly fun and easy way to get children involved in the kitchen. First, they can all help make the batter. The little ones can help pour the batter onto the iron. Older kids can use an oven mitt to open and close the iron. And everyone gets to enjoy the waffles together. There are also a number of very creative waffle iron recipes out there that kiddos would enjoy - pizza, cinnamon rolls, and ham and cheese paninis to name a few. Also, to make handling the batter a little easier, place it into a squeeze bottle.  Every kid I know adores squirting waffle/pancake batter into a waffle iron or a skillet.

4. Microwave Meals (older children)

While you may not feel comfortable letting older children use the cook top or oven, the microwave is a great place to start teaching independence and basic cooking skills. Teach them to heat up leftovers, make macaroni and cheese, or even cook eggs and mug cakes. Then the next time they want a snack, challenge them to make their own. When an explosion happens (and it will), this is also a good time for them to learn how to clean the microwave. 

5.  Lock and Load (all ages)

It is precious to watch kids place silverware and dishes on a table with care for the people they love, even though it might be short lived. Stock up on pretty placemats to protect your table, and sturdy plastic dishes if you don’t want them using breakables. When the meal is over, teach them to load the dishwasher. As long as they get to push the start button, they’ll actually love doing this kitchen chore with mom or dad. 

6.  Kitchen Classroom (older children)

Cooking is a fun way to sneak in some learning without even thinking about it. Assign your older children a recipe, then watch them practice reading, fractions, science, chemistry, following directions and gaining valuable life skills.  It won’t take long before they discover the best part: they get to eat their homework!

7. Dinner is Done (all ages)

There are several kid-friendly meals that children at any age can help with. Think pizzas, quesadillas, tacos, sandwiches, salads and more. If you prepare the ingredients, kids will love to build their own meals. It’s a proven fact that kids who help with meal preparation tend to eat better due to the fact that they have ownership of what’s being served for dinner. And, at some point, your older children may definitely want to take over the majority of the grocery shopping so they can have a hand in selecting the ingredients needed to create their favorite recipes.    

8. Baking Bonanza (all ages)

If you ever watched them play, kids are professionals at stirring, mixing, kneading, pounding and measuring. Why not put those skills to good use in the kitchen? With your assistance, they can learn to mix, to crack an egg, to carefully measure liquids, to stir slowly, to pour cake batter, to cut out cookies, and so much more. The options are endless when it comes to baking.

9. Clean Up (all ages)

Children and water always equal fun. Setting your children loose at the sink with the dirty cups and plastic bowls (no knives or glass) is an adventure they will want to do often. Teach them to scrub well, rinse off and wipe dry. If you have several children, they can team up to make quick work of the dishes after family meals.  Remember to go into this kitchen quest telling yourself (ahead of time) there’s going to be a little bit of a mess involved.  Then, when there’s water on the floor that may need wiped up, it won’t seem like nearly the big deal.

10.  Quality Time (all ages)

While the learning, cooking and eating is fun, the most rewarding part of having children helping in the kitchen is the time you are spending together. Remember to smile, remember to laugh, remember to have fun; resist the temptation to shoo them out of the kitchen during meal prep time. Instead, invite them in to make some cherished memories with you.

Here are some yummy, kid-friendly recipes to try.