Kid Friendly Cooking made simple with the right kitchen tools. Kitchen tools for kids can create a fun, safe environment for everyone. Each week I aim to allow time and space for my little one to help me in the kitchen. Since he was around 2 years old, we have been finding new ways for him to help bake or prepare meals together. Having plenty of kid friendly kitchen tools has helped a lot with these learning moments in our home.
The following is a list of six kid friendly kitchen tools we have at home. If you are one that loves to create lists for gifts for your children, these items are great additions to any list.
Aprons for Young Cooks
Protect those clothes by choosing an apron for your child to wear. There are so many great options out there. A quick search on Etsy will bring you to some custom options like this simple minimalist vibe or how about these great Vintage Looking Aprons with leather trim. There is also this option on Amazon. When looking for an apron, I suggest something with an adjustable neck strap or tie back, just so you can tailor the fit a little bit more at home.
Learning Tower – Kid Friendly Step Stool
We use our learning tower daily it seems. I purchased a learning tower for my son’s second birthday and it has been a wonderful gift. Our Learning Tower is SDADI brand and the color we have is Grey! Over the years this learning tower has been a great way for my son to stand at the counter on a sturdy platform. You can adjust the platform if needed, as well. This has worked much better than a standard steps tool that does not have the sides and back rail that the learning tower has.
Kid Friendly Knives
The ultimate of kid friendly cooking tools, knives! I highly recommend a set of kid friendly knives to keep in your kitchen for your child. Children love to help cut and help with dinner. Unfortunately, playing with sharp knives just isn’t going to work. When my son turned 2 and expressed an interest in helping in the kitchen, we purchased him a set of plastic child safety knives. I also think this all wood set is great. The set includes a wooden chopper knife like this one, which I have added to his Christmas List because I think he would love it. This entire set includes multiple options for kitchen preparation and cutting.
Accessible Kid Friendly Clean Up Tools
It is in the book Simplicity Parenting where Author Kim John Payne talks about the importance of having real tools available at the level of a child to help with routine chores around the home. We have hung a broom, hand broom, and dust pan from the Melissa and Doug set on the back of our laundry room door next to our household broom. The brooms are kid friendly tools he can use, but they still function like the real thing. This allows him to access useful tools to help with the cleanup. I have also plugged our cordless vacuum in in a spot that he can easily access if needed.
Teaching clean up is a important part of the kitchen learning process. What fun would it be to learn how to cook in the kitchen, but not properly clean up. If you are able, you can also slide over a learning tower to the kitchen sink and have your child do the dishes. I cannot express enough how much my son loves to help in the kitchen with real tasks.
Kid Friendly Cook Books
I have been on the hunt for a Kid Friendly Cook book with only photo instructions (since he cannot read yet) for some time. I have not had any luck, but I have found some amazing Kid Cookbooks for my little chef. I find it is not too much trouble to read and guide him. The recipes in this cookbook, Fun with Food Toddler Cookbook has so many great, simple recipes AND activities for little chefs. Little Helpers Cookbook has some great recipes too, but not all recipes have a picture of what you are making.
Another great options is to consider making crafts in the kitchen. Edible crafts are a dream if you are a mom who doesn’t like craft clutter. This book Edible Crafts Kids’ Cookbook is great for ages 4-8!
Stainless Steel Bowls
Consider investing in a set of stainless steel bowls with rubber gripping bottoms. When they are dropped, they do not break or crack, a huge plus in the kitchen with little ones. I really like the quality of OXO Good Grips or this set that includes lids and graters. Just be careful with the graters and little fingers.
Kid Friendly Cooking
I hope you have found this list of Kid Friendly Cooking tools helpful! The links throughout the blog post link to specific products, but you can also visit the entire list on Amazon here.
Don’t forget to sign up to receive free printable resources for your little one. If you are home and learning with your little one, you will want to download these free resources and access the printable library.
