Keeping Kids Engaged in the Kitchen

For Brent Jackson, who was diagnosed with autism when he was 6 years old, cooking is a part of his independence as an adult. This is the story of his relationship with cooking and his advice for parents who want to teach their kids to cook.

Kiddos in the Kitchen is up for a Signal Award Listeners Choice Award. Please cast your vote before Dec. 22. Vote here: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2022/limited-series-specials/general/family-child-raising

Autumn Michaelis, mother of five and author of the new cookbook Whole Food for Your Family, shares a story of kitchen magic.

Here's an easy kitchen activity that anyone can do — seasoned pretzels. Less than 25 minutes in the kitchen plus baking time is all it takes. No special kitchen gadgets required.

Before you can teach your kids anything in the kitchen, you need them to be paying attention. Screens off, toys away, brains focused. Learn how Autumn Michaelis, founder of the blog WholeFoodFor7 and author of the new cookbook, Whole Food for Your Family, keeps her five boys engaged in the kitchen — and why it matters.

Laura Fuentes, founder of MOMables.com, shares her thoughts on the kitchen tasks kids should learn — and at what age. Author of five cookbooks and mom of three, Laura wants to help parents who want to learn to cook, feed their families and teach their kids. Plus, meet our latest Cooking Kiddo, Rhea Dhingra, from Toronto, Canada.

Alison Settle, executive chef at Barn8 at Hermitage Farm in Kentucky, shares what she's learned about different personalities in the kitchen — and how she prepares to cook with her 5-year-old son, Arlo. Plus, what's one kitchen gadget she says you don't ever need? And meet our latest Cooking Kiddo, William White.

Let's go back to Banana Bread Day 2021 and our special Small Plate episode. Follow along as we bake banana bread with a 6-year-old.

Cooking is an art that leans into science. Time in the kitchen is an opportunity to teach a life skill and do some fun experiments, too. Today, Phoebe von Reis shares her insights on fermentation and how to make this kitchen activity an interesting one for the whole family. Plus, she gives her take on what makes a perfect sourdough.

As parents, we can pass down recipes and teach kitchen skills. But perhaps nothing is more important than sharing a love of cooking and time in the kitchen — than the example we set. Martin Diez, a pastry chef with the global chocolate giant Barry Callebaut, shares how he and his wife are doing just that. Plus, learn what a ragu is and the kitchen gadget one chef says could take your cooking to new heights.