How old for child to cook?

[AustinTink]

We have a gas stove so I don't let DS12 use it unless I'm around. Heck I don't even let DH use the gas stove.

DS uses the oven and micro whenever her wants

 

[disney1990]

My granddaughters started out the kitchen fairly young. By the age of 9 or 10 they were making complete meals from scratch -- and not just hamburgers & hotdogs.

Of course, an adults "must" be home at the time. If they are home alone, they can only use the microwave.

 

[golfgal]

Our kids started to help cooking as soon as they were old enough to stand on a chair and help. DH taught DS18 to crack eggs one handed when DS was 3--I still can't do that. By the time they were 10 or so they were cooking full meals, baking cookies, cakes, etc. They all went through phases where they wanted to cook, I loved those phases .

 

[happygirl]

My kids have to learn to do dishes first, then comes cooking

 

[SmallWorld71]

Mine are 8, 12, 15. They all use the microwave and have for some time.
They all can use the stove, but I do supervise the 8 year old with turning on and off. (gas stove)
The 12 and 15 year old can use the oven. The 8 year old is not tall enough to do it safely.

Mine started cooking with me as soon as they were old enough to not stick their fingers in their mouth. (around 2) Their jobs got progressively more difficult as they got older.

 

[justhat]

Why don't you hold the toddler once in a while and allow her to experience putting the pan in and out of the oven? I best getting to do those final steps herself would really make her feel proud

We were on DCL so it took me awhile to get back to this. Only reason I don't is that it's easier for me to make a hard and fast "no kids opening the oven door" rule than to risk a mishap. Too worried that the baby will be in another room so bigger kids think it is safe to check on their oven creation and she walks in and gets burned.