Baking with kids is a wonderful way to spend quality time together while teaching them important life skills. Once kids reach around 6 or 7 years old, they can start to take on more responsibility in the kitchen, and their curiosity about cooking makes it the perfect time to get them involved. Here are a few tips for safely including your kids in the baking process and helping them build confidence in the kitchen:
Give Them Real Responsibilities
At 6 years old and up, kids are ready to take on more challenging tasks. Let them read the recipe out loud, scale ingredients, crack eggs, or even knead dough. These hands-on activities not only build kitchen skills but also help develop math, reading, and fine motor skills. Plus, they’ll feel a sense of pride knowing they contributed to the final product!
Focus on Kitchen Safety
Safety should always be the top priority. Teach them about the dangers of hot ovens, sharp knives, and electric mixers, and show them the proper way to handle each. For example, older kids can learn to use the appropriate tools to frost a cake or practice carefully placing trays in the oven with adult supervision.
Encourage Creativity
Kids love being creative! Let them decorate cupcakes, shape cookie dough, or experiment with new ingredients. Give them the freedom to try new things — whether that’s adding sprinkles or creating fun designs on a cake. Baking is both a science and an art; letting them explore helps build their confidence and excitement about baking.
Start with Simple but Engaging Recipes
While older kids can handle more complex recipes, it’s still best to start with simple ones. Think sugar cookies, muffins, or a basic cake recipe with lots of decorating opportunities. The more they enjoy the process, the more eager they’ll be to keep learning!
Want to Take Their Skills to the Next Level?
If your kids are really getting into baking, why not sign them up for a class designed just for them? At Eat The Art, we offer Kid’s Classes for ages 7 and up, where they can learn everything from basic baking skills to creating edible art in a fun, structured environment. These classes teach kitchen safety and creativity, all while letting kids bake up their own masterpieces. We offer cupcake decorating, cookie baking, cookie decorating, and chocolate modeling classes targeted for kids. If you live in the Nashville area or will be visiting Middle Tennessee, check out all the details for our kid’s classes here.
Baking with kids is a fun and educational experience and it’s never too early to start fostering a love for the kitchen. So roll up your sleeves and enjoy making something sweet together!