Are the parents always the ones doing the cooking in your house? Getting the kids involved in preparing and cooking dinner is a brilliant way to mix things up. It’s well worth encouraging children to cook from a young age — not only do they pick up handy maths and life skills as they measure, weigh and time things, but kids who help cook a meal are often much more willing to actually eat it. And the best bonus of all? You get to sit back and be served for once!
Here’s how to make dinner for your family in 10 simple steps.
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1. Decide On Your Menu & Recipes
The first step in preparing any meal is deciding on your menu. Will you have a starter, a main course and a dessert, or keep it simple with just one course?
If this is your child’s first time cooking a full meal, don’t get too ambitious — one or two courses is plenty to start with. It’s also worth picking dishes, or parts of dishes, that can be made in advance and reheated, or kept in the fridge until needed.
Once you know your menu, find the recipes you’ll use. Here are some handy links for inspiration:
- 20 Easy Delicious Recipes for Kids to Make
- Simple Pasta Recipes for Kids
- Easy Peasy Baking Recipes for Kids
- Healthy Desserts
- 10 Simple Ice Cream Recipes Kids Will Love to Make & Eat
- 50 Easy Family Dinners
2. Ingredient Check & Shopping List
Based on the recipes chosen, have a look through your cupboards and fridge to see what ingredients you already have and what you’ll need to pick up.
Make a shopping list of anything missing, and head off to the shops together with the list in hand — it’s a great way to practise reading, planning and even a bit of budgeting.
3. Plan Your Cooking Times
If you’ve ever watched a cooking show, you’ll know this is a crucial step in any meal plan. It’s important that everything is ready to serve at roughly the same time.
How long does each dish take to cook?
Work out how long each course, or each component of a dish, takes to cook, then draw up a simple timetable showing what needs to go on and when.
Can anything be done in advance?
If you’re making dessert, choose something that can be prepared ahead of time and reheated, or kept in the fridge until it’s needed. Mashed potato or vegetables can often be prepared early and reheated too, which takes the pressure off closer to serving time.
Recommended reading: 25 Tasty Ideas for Cooking with Kids
4. Advance Prep
Get ahead where you can. Potatoes and vegetables can be peeled in advance and left covered in water until needed, and herbs can be chopped ahead of time too — they’ll keep just fine until cooking starts.
5. Cooking
Using your meal timetable, start prepping and cooking, keeping track of your times as you go. A kitchen timer or phone alarm is a great help for staying on schedule.
Recommended reading: Useful Kids’ Cooking Skills Easily Mastered by Preschoolers
6. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Rope in some help — a sibling, friend or adult — if you’re running low on time or aren’t sure about a step. After all, every professional chef has a whole team working alongside them!
7. Create Your Menu
Add to the fun of the occasion by creating a “Today’s Menu” card. You could write it on a small chalkboard, hand-write it on paper or card, or design your own printable menu template.
8. Set the Table
Set the table neatly for the occasion, or ask a sibling or friend to help. Be as creative as you like — this is your meal, after all. Leave a copy of the menu near the table for your diners to enjoy.
9. Serve
Ask your “guests” to take their seats. It’s fine to ask for a hand with serving — getting everything plated up and to the table while it’s still warm can get a little hectic, so a helping hand from a sibling or friend makes it much easier.
10. And Relax!
Once dinner is served, sit back, enjoy the meal, and let everyone else tackle the washing up while you bask in the compliments!
P.S. If something doesn’t quite go to plan, that’s completely okay — practice makes perfect.
Over to you! Have you made dinner for your family before? We’d love to hear any tips you’d like to share in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age can kids start helping make dinner?
There’s no fixed age — even young children can help with simple tasks like washing vegetables or stirring, while older kids can take on more of the planning, prepping and cooking themselves. Start with tasks that suit your child’s age and confidence, and build up from there.
How do I get my child interested in cooking dinner?
Letting them choose the menu is a great starting point. Kids are far more likely to get involved — and to eat what they’ve made — when they’ve had a say in what’s on the plate.
What’s the easiest way to plan a family dinner with kids?
Keep it simple: pick one or two courses, choose recipes with steps that can be prepped in advance, and make a shopping list together before you start cooking.
Related Articles
- 50 Easy Family Dinners
- 20 Easy Delicious Recipes for Kids to Make
- Simple Pasta Recipes for Kids
- 25 Tasty Ideas for Cooking with Kids
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