AIBU to let a 3 year old make toast and sandwiches?

[nappyaddict]

With supervision, but no help using children's knives and toast tongs?

[TruJay]

Not in my eyes, my son has been helping with food prep since before 3 obviously with supervision. He loves it! He's 4 now, his favourite thing to do is help make his favourite meal of pasta and tom soup!

[bonzo77]

Yanbu. Though I let mine use a proper serrated knife once u taught him how safely.

[Ohbyethen]

Yanbu.

Why? Has someone tutted?

[nappyaddict]

sorry just remembered I have already posted this question I thought I hadn't got round to it earlier

[arethereanyleftatall]

Why would that be unreasonable? Of course it's fine. They love cooking.

[Delphiniumsblue]

As long as you supervise it is fine.

[ouryve]

The nursery at my boys' school has a cookery session every week and some weeks they do exactly that.

[MrsMook]

My 3 year old has a very strong independent streak, and loves doing grown up thingss. Last week he took charge of the toaster and made the toast with supervision. It's usually easier assisting him to be hands on while I prepare food than to cook and set up alternative entertainment. He makes a great "gruffalo crumble", helps me pick the rhubarb too.

[RubyReins]

My wee boy is three and makes scrambled eggs for breakfast with minimal supervision. He loves making bread with me and he chops up veg and fish with a small knife. Important that kids know how food is prepared and that they take an interest IMHO. We planted carrots, courgettes and beans this weekend - hoping to fuel his culinary interests!

[ChasingDogs]

Better that than a bloke I worked with who wouldn't allow his 15 year old to use the cheese grater in case he cut himself.

[giraffesCantBoogie]

No, I get kids to help me with all sorts!

[3DcAndMe]

CheeSe graters are lethal though!

[D0oinMeCleanin]

My DH was not allowed to use the toaster until he was 18 (he had epilepsy I suppose the toaster could have caught fire, if you are really dramatic)

We are in the middle of splitting up, my 10yo reasons for not wanting shared access include "But I don't like Pizza"

She can cook omelet, pancakes, cheese sauce and pasta.

[nappyaddict]

RubyReins Which knives does your 3 year old use?

[giraffesCantBoogie]

Nappy you can get a special kids chopping knife that is safe.

I let 4 year old I look after use a sharp knife with me right beside her. But she has had years of my baking/ cooking rules. Very strict etc. I bake with the baby now.So I trust her.

[FreudiansSlipper]

ds used to love to help me cook didn't use a sharpe knife but would help make sandwiches, stir risotto (that was useful :) ), help mixing cake mixture load the washing machine and hang out washing

now at 6 he is too busy fighting all the baddies with his Lightsaber to help out though he does have his little chores

[nappyaddict]

giraffesCantBoogie What's it called?

[RubyReins]

Hi nappyaddict - it's just a small paring knife. He is watched very closely when doing that! His nursery let the kids use knives and scissors and I was initially a bit worried but it's been fine thus far.

[giraffesCantBoogie]

Er not sure am at home now, will look at it tomorrow and see if it has a brand on it. :)

[ChunkyPickle]

We got DS a lettuce knife.

It is large and impressive (and green) and he can chop anything that I'd want him chopping with it fairly safely. He could probably cut himself if he really sawed hard, but accidental injuries are unlikely, and it's big enough that I can teach him to keep his fingers out of the way more easily than with something small.

[giraffesCantBoogie]

www.pamperedchef.co.uk/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=10810&catId=4&viewAllOutlet= This is the one nappy

[nappyaddict]

Thanks giraffes

Does it cut hard things?

[giraffesCantBoogie]

Sometimes you have to saw more than cut! But I have tried to saw my hand with it and it wouldn't work! It is magic! I would say apples are it's limits - carrots are too hard really. I mean it is possible but isn't easy! But I have had kids make apple crumble with me and chop the apples easily.

[FryOneFatManic]

I firmly believe that the ebst way of keeping kids safe in the kitchen is to teach them to use things like knives safely.

So my DCs, aged 13 and 10, can get their own food, and I'm now teaching them more complex stuff, I consider this a life skill of real importance.

Not like a mum I know who didn't let her 12 year old use a normal serrated knife, and who practically screamed at me when I let my then 7 yr old DS use a serrated steak knife to cut his steak with. I judged her was perfectly safe, having taught him and having observed his use of said knife.

[HerRoyalNotness]

not at all. My 3yo is really proud when he makes his own toast or waffles. He normally just licks the nutella off the knife though, it's easier than putting it on the toast.

6yo uses the oven gloves to get toast out of the toaster, not sure why. He also makes himself a sandwich, 2 pieces of bread, 1 slice of ham, and declares it delicious! No knives, butter, or any other accompanient added. He cuts up fruit and what not for himself and younger brother when he feels like he wants to make their lunch. He's cut himself once. It's all part of learning how sharp things are, and how to handle them. We did a lot of cooking together when he was younger, at 2.5 he was helping me make dumplings. Putting the mix into the wrappers and dropping them into the broth and fishing them out. Wouldn't eat them though.