Cooking and baking with children

[SJM1975]

I really like the thought of baking and cooking with the kids but I usually find it so stressful. I get so anxious with them using scissors/knives/mixers etc I usually end up taking over.
Does anyone know of any kid friendly cooking utensils that take the stress away and let them learn?

I taught my kids ot use an electric hand mixer from an early age (this is 1 2 1 baking, not with several of them)

That way we could make any cakes etc.

She held the mixer in one hand and the edge of the bowl in the other, and my hands were over hers. By teaching her how to do it, and showing how a spoon gte caught in the mixer, by the time they were 5 thye could do it safely.

i think kids are much more capable than you think.

Until then, use recipes with cup measures, then they can do it all, or a blunt knife chopping stuff like mushrooms, while you do the onions.

soften butter in the microwave and mix with wooden spoons

My 2 girls are 8 & 6 so capable - maybe it's more my fear factor with sharp implements. Making pizzas for example - cutting peppers, grating cheese I find it so stressful. Blunt knives don't work - they make it worse! They love cooking and I want to encourage them but I do struggle with this age - as they are beyond just stirring mixes but aren't yet safe enough for the next stage!

Trust them.The 8 year old is perfectly old enough to cook most things and to use ‘dangerous things’ like knives and scissors with some supervision. Both can cut and peel vegetables using a peeler, slice softer vegetables but maybe not swede or turnip, whisk, hold electric mixer, use scales, use food processor. You’ll be surprised what children can do very competently. Children of 10 used to manage to cook for a family including roast meals by themselves. I certainly could.

My DGS aged 3 cooks with me. I tell him “only there” where he can put his hands and he is pretty obedient with it. He stands on a stable step so he can see and I give him little jobs to do like rolling out his own bit of pastry. Today he made two mince pies from scratch including the pastry and filled all 24 in the tin. We did the lids together and he cut out most of the holly leaves and stars for the the tops. Then he stood “far away” whilst I put them in the oven. Then he ate some but only liked the pastry! hopefully it will be a happy memory for him. I always cooked with my kids and the ones who loved it still love cooking now. The others just like eating!