Cooking With Kids

Match your kids' skill levels with various tasks for safe kitchen fun. Here are some suggestions for age-specific tasks: Cooking Skills by Age

Tasks they can do: Wash fruits and vegetables Stir ingredients in a bowl Tear lettuce Pour liquids like adding measured amounts to batter. 3-Year Olds

Tasks they can do: Grease pans Open packages Peel scored oranges Snip fresh herbs with dull scissors Mash bananas with a fork 4-Year Olds

Tasks they can do: Measure ingredients Cut soft foods with a blunt knife Set the table Garnish food 5-to 6-Year Olds

Tasks they can do: Help plan the meal Roll and shape cookies Beat ingredients with a whisk Find ingredients in a cabinet or spice rack Make a salad 7-to 8-Year Olds

Tasks they can do: Open cans Make simple recipes with few ingredients Use a microwave oven Prepare oven (with supervision) Use a knife (with supervision) Shred cheese and vegetables 9- to 12-Year Olds

Top 9 Safety Rules for Kids

Rule #1 Check that the oven and other cooking appliances are turned off before you leave the kitchen.

Rule #2 Keep electrical appliances away from water to avoid shocks. Stay away from electrical sockets, especially if your hands are wet.

Rule #3 If you burn yourself, tell an adult immediately and hold the burned area under cool running water. If you burn yourself, tell an adult immediately and hold the burned area under cool running water.

Rule #4 Dont put knives or other sharp objects into a sink full of water. Someone could reach in and get hurt. Dont put knives or other sharp objects into a sink full of water. Someone could reach in and get hurt.

Rule #5 Watch out for sharp knives. Let an adult cut or slice foods or help you do it. Watch out for sharp knives. Let an adult cut or slice foods or help you do it.

Rule #6 Never put water on a cooking fire - - it could make the fire bigger. Never put water on a cooking fire - - it could make the fire bigger. Ask an adult for help! Ask an adult for help! Put out a fire with a fire extinguisher. Put out a fire with a fire extinguisher. If the fire is small, it can be put out with baking soda or smothered with a lid. If the fire is small, it can be put out with baking soda or smothered with a lid. Leave the house and call 911 if the fire has leaping flames. Leave the house and call 911 if the fire has leaping flames.

Rule #7 Dont put cooked food on an unwashed plate or cutting board that held raw food. Always use a clean plate. Dont put cooked food on an unwashed plate or cutting board that held raw food. Always use a clean plate.

Rule #8 Always turn pot handles in toward the back of the range top. This way no one can bump into them and knock the pot over. Always turn pot handles in toward the back of the range top. This way no one can bump into them and knock the pot over.

Rule #9 Keep paper towels, dish towels and pot holders away from the range top so they dont catch on fire. Keep paper towels, dish towels and pot holders away from the range top so they dont catch on fire.

General Safety Rules for Care Givers

Adult Supervision Adult supervision is mandatory. Ovens, knives and bubbling pots become potential accidents when kids are left on their own in the kitchen. Adult supervision is mandatory. Ovens, knives and bubbling pots become potential accidents when kids are left on their own in the kitchen.

Cleanliness Instill cleanliness by washing hands in hot soapy water before and after handling food, pulling back long hair, or cleaning countertops. Instill cleanliness by washing hands in hot soapy water before and after handling food, pulling back long hair, or cleaning countertops.

Danger Zone Always return unused portions of perishable foods, like dairy products and meats, to the refrigerator right after using them. Dont let them sit out on the counter. Always return unused portions of perishable foods, like dairy products and meats, to the refrigerator right after using them. Dont let them sit out on the counter.

Microwave Safety Teach microwave oven safety. Show how to select a microwaveable bowl and to use pot holders when removing containers from the oven. Teach microwave oven safety. Show how to select a microwaveable bowl and to use pot holders when removing containers from the oven.

Tasting Foods When shaping foods with hands, caution children not to lick their fingers or put their hands in their mouths. This is especially important with raw foods, such as cookie dough and meat. When shaping foods with hands, caution children not to lick their fingers or put their hands in their mouths. This is especially important with raw foods, such as cookie dough and meat.

Cooking When Sick Instruct children to direct sneezes and coughs away from food, to use a tissue to cover mouth and nose and to wash hands immediately afterward. Instruct children to direct sneezes and coughs away from food, to use a tissue to cover mouth and nose and to wash hands immediately afterward.

The End. The End.