Assistant Chef Lesson 1: Kitchen Safety

For the first Assistant Chef lesson, introduce children ages 3-6 to basic kitchen safety. Read and discuss simple kitchen rules together before beginning any cooking activity. Safety is one of the most important skills children can learn in the kitchen.

In each lesson group, a few topics repeat because they are important life skills to practice alongside cooking. These core lessons include kitchen safety, etiquette, and nutrition.

Kids Cooking Activities Teaching Materials

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Core Life Skills in These Cooking Lessons

These beginning cooking lessons also help children learn important everyday skills:

• Kitchen safety
• Etiquette and manners
• Nutrition and healthy habits

Kitchen Safety Rules and Printables

You can print and review the kitchen safety rules and food sanitation page here. That page also includes printable kitchen safety checklists you can add to your lesson.

Child-Size Equipment

Teach children which equipment they can touch and use safely, and which tools and appliances always require adult help. Using child-size utensils and tools can help young children feel more confident and successful in the kitchen.

Create a Child-Friendly Kitchen

Set up a cupboard or shelf at the right height for your child so they can store their own safe kitchen equipment. This helps children learn where tools belong and encourages them to put everything away after cooking.

When children have their own utensils and cooking items, they often take more interest in learning how to use and care for them. Let your child help as much as possible with simple tasks such as stirring, mixing, pouring, and measuring. These activities also build early math skills while they learn to cook.

Child Safety in the Kitchen

Children need to learn that ovens, stovetops, and grills get very hot and can cause serious burns. When children understand this from an early age, they are more likely to stay safe in the kitchen.

Keep all sharp knives and dangerous equipment out of your child’s reach. Even if your child is usually careful, they may not always understand the difference between a child-safe utensil and a sharp kitchen tool. It is best to be cautious and make sure unsafe tools are only handled by an adult.

Kitchen Safety for Kids Video

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