5 ways your child can help with dinner without driving you mad

It's not often Eloise and I get alone time these days.  With her being at school and her sisters not having afternoon naps anymore I miss those times where it would be just me an her time.  I think it's important so when opportunities arise where I can spend time with any of my girls one-on-one I grab it.  Whether it be just a walk to the local shops or hanging out the washing - giving my frills that one-on-one attention is not only good for our individual relationships, it is fun !

Eloise being 6.5 is starting to have a real interest in cooking.  She's always loved food but she asks questions about how I cooked something, what herbs go with what and 'Mum, is there xyz in this?'  it seems she's inherited my forensic eating skills..

So I'm starting to teach her how to cook.  I mean really cook.  Simple recipes that we can eat on a regular basis that bit-by-bit she can assume more responsibility in making.  Obviously I'm doing all the knife work and stove to oven stuff but I'm explaining how things are done and involving her in the preparation.

So here's some of my tips to introducing your kids to cooking in the kitchen and ways you can get them involved that actually means they are helpful rather than hindrance in the kitchen - whilst also gaining some skills!

1. Measuring.   

Kids love to measure.  Start off with dry goods - pasta is good - 5 scoops, cups etc.  Move onto measuring cups and spoons, measuring using scales.  Kids LOVE this.

2.  Sifting

My little frills in particular love to sift flour.  Even if your recipe doesn't call for sifting your flour, do it anyway!  It is a great time waster when you're busy sometimes!

3.  Understanding and picking smells

This year with Eloise I've got her more involved in herbs - she can identify most now and I can just ask her to grab me this and that whilst I'm cooking.   We sometimes play games 'guess that herb'.  She also tries to identify them in food for fun too.

I also get her to take the leaves off, and she's just learned to use a herb mill.

4. Washing up

My girls loves to wash up and we're getting better at not drenching ourselves and the kitchen floor.  It's actually great to have the dishes washed whilst you cook.   When I was growing up as one of three daughters I would be detailed to the washing up most nights.  I would ask my parents (read whinge to my parents) why we didn't have a dishwasher.  My Dad would say: 'I do - I have three dishwashers in fact...'  I can see that line making an encore in this house.

If you had a real dishwasher nothing stopping you from teaching the kids how to at least stack the top shelf is there?

5.  Stirring. 

This is their favourite.  It doesn't need to be at the stove - it can be whisking eggs, stirring batter (even if it really doesn't need it

So what little jobs do your kids do whilst you cook?

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