Kitchen Tasks for Kids Ages 6 to 8

So you’ve survived cooking with pre-schoolers. Congratulations! I have good news for you: the next stage is really, really fun.

From rolling meatballs to chopping apples, watching the Yorkshire pudding rise or turning fruit into sauce, the kitchen is now a science lab, the heart of the home, and the best restaurant in town.

Around age six and continuing through seven, children graduate from play cooking to serious cooking and they are eager to make a good impression. They can plan a simple menu and pull together an entire meal, if given the chance. Now, more than ever, it’s important to give them space to be creative. Guide them, give instructions, but don’t hover. And heap on the praise.

Kitchen Tasks for Kids Ages 6 to 8

If ages six through eight feels like a big span, you’re right. Most children will learn to read along the way (some may come in already reading) and following a recipe becomes one more way to practice academics in the kitchen.

If you haven’t already, now is a good time to get rid of the learning tower or kitchen chair, because the kids can get by with a small step stool now. Oh and you might want to brush up on your basic kitchen science, because you’re going to get asked a lot of questions.

As always, remember that skills will vary greatly at this age, so take this list with a grain of salt. Don’t be alarmed if you child isn’t quite up to some of these tasks or isn’t that into cooking at all.

Breakfast

• Scramble eggs.
• Make & butter toast.
• Mix, dip and perhaps cook French Toast.
• Beat whipping cream.
• Microwave Homemade Instant Oatmeal.
• Build a simple fruit-bottom yogourt.
• Mix up a Cottage Cheese and Yogourt Parfait.
• Mix a Baked Apple-Gingerbread Pancake and cook with help.
• Mix together Scottish Oat Scones and bake with assistance.
• Stir together Noah’s Easy Peasy Pancakes (possibly fry, too).
• Mix together ingredients for Overnight Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal.

Lunch/Snacks

• Build sandwiches and wraps.
• Make toast or grilled cheese sandwiches.
• Mash a simple guacamole.
• Make quick pizza on tortilla or English muffin
• Grate cheese and prepare Baked Cheese Toasties.
• Wash and chop vegetables for Easy Greek Salad.
• Mix up Basic Chia Pudding.
• Roll and cut Cheese Crackers. Bake with assistance.
• Make Simple Chicken Noodle Soup from scratch (My post for Jamie Oliver).
• Assemble Frozen Fruit Skewers with Honey-Yogurt Dipping Sauce.
• Roll  Sun Butter Bites
• Make homemade microwave popcorn.
• Squeeze lemons for Peach Lemonade.

Looking for more? Here’s 42 simple summer lunch ideas kids can make.

Dinner

Mateo has been eager to help with dinners lately, and recently he whipped up a recipe from my cookbook that we love, Spinach and Ricotta Tagliatelle. He was so proud. With spring spinach on the way, we might keep his dish on regular rotation.

• Cut with a pairing knife and learn to tuck their fingers in and out of the way.
• Butter and line a baking tin with parchment.
• Wash and chop salad ingredients for a basic salad bar.
• Roll homemade tortillas, pita or homemade pasta.
• Dip and bread Buttermilk Chicken Strips
• Mash potatoes and sweet potatoes too.
• Mix and pat together meatloaf, meatballs, or Maple Sausage Patties
• Beat together Yorkshire Pudding.
• Thread Shrimp & Tomato Kebabs and any meat on a skewer
• All the grating, mixing, beating you can give them.
• Prepare Spinach Ricotta Shells and Lemon and Arugula Pasta with assistance for cooking the pasta.

Baking

Start by reading these Simple Steps to Baking with Kids, because they are absolutely solid. Now is a good time to get a good handle on measurements.

Cinnamon rolls inevitably make the top of the baking list for children (and grown-ups, too), and understandably so. What is more fun than rolling pillowy dough, sprinkling it with sugar and baking the coils into everyone’s favourite brunch item? I’ve included a recipe below.

• Cinnamon-Pecan Rolls with Vanilla Bean Glaze
• Mix and shape homemade Focaccia.
• Chocolate Baked Doughnuts (my recipe for Jamie Oliver)
• Mix, roll and cut gingerbread.
• Mix, roll and help with shortbread cookies.
• Measure ingredients and help with drop cookies
• Mix, measure and assemble a Blackberry Vanilla Clafouti.
• Make and freeze Chocolate-Peanut Butter Dipped Banana Pops
• Juice lemons and mix ingredients for Lemon Polenta Cake.
• For a special project: Buche de Noel.

Oh, and did I forget to mention…you can now take an occasional night off if you play your cards right. First take a peek at one of my oldest, most popular posts: Ten Guilt-Free Non-Suppers. Next, instruct your child on how to prepare 2-3 (or all ten!) of these snacky-suppers for themselves and you’re all set.

Let’s get those big kids in the kitchen!

What kitchen tasks do your 6,7, and 8 year olds enjoy?