Our Favourite Cooking Tools for Kids and Toddlers

Start with the right “knife” for your child’s development. From wooden ulus to crinkle slicers to nylon blade sets and even metal blades, this set has it all. The right tool will depend on their skills, age, and confidence, as well as your ability to watch a child use a knife. 

If your helper is working with metal blades like graters and slicers, you may want some cut resistant gloves. They’re designed to deflect the blade from the skin, and add an extra layer of protection while your child is learning new techniques like dicing and mincing.

Working at the right height is the easiest way to make sure any task is performed safely, and with less anxiety for parents. Learning towers allow your child to safely work at the counter without worrying they’ll fall.

Smaller hands require smaller tools. From a safety perspective, if the handles and grips are their size, they’ll be able to safely and confidently use the tool. You can find smaller tools in-store with most retailers, but if you’re looking for a specific aesthetic, you may want to shop around first.

Related: Kids Will Love This Frybread Stuffed Pizza

If you’ve ever seen a child figuring out how to do anything, you know that they often don’t know their own strength (anyone seen a kid try and crack an egg?). Having a non-slip cutting board is key in your battle to keeping them on task, instead of watching the cutting board fly across the kitchen followed by “oops.”

Beyond the basics of food prep, the alchemy of baking is like one big science project. Take this opportunity to lean-into the STEM of it all and explore time. If your child is not already working with timers for activity changes, this is a great way to pace a project. You can also start with hourglass timers if that visual is more compelling.

Speaking of STEM, it’s never too early to start bringing in visual representations for concepts that may be harder to grasp. These visual measuring cups are a fun way to break down the idea of a whole into smaller parts – plus you know they’ll stack well.

A passion for food starts somewhere, so whether your child is looking to create recipes they already know and love, or want to start with something new, take a trip to your local library for a cook book, or start with a piece meant to introduce your gourmand to a little bit of everything like this IKEA book.

Related: 5 Steps to a Better School Lunch With Junior Chef Showdown Winner Nazaree

You and your child will be messy when this is all said and done with. Investing in a smock or an apron is a must, and something you can easily make or re-use from your art and crafts supplies. We recommend one that won’t look dirty and stained after a few uses like this brown linen one from IKEA.

Few things in life are more fun than grinding, smashing and mixing. Your child is likely already doing all of this with a stick in the mud outside, so hone the movements and define the purpose with a mortar and pestle. A big spoon and a bowl also works!