When we talk aboutcooking with kidshere, we usually stress that children don’t need special kids' cooking tools—they can use the same utensils and pots and pans we use. But, just as adults love playing with a new tool or gadget (hello,fancy coffee pressandgrill-cleaning robot), a new set of their very own tools can help inspire kids to start experimenting in the kitchen and make them feel more independent when doing so.
Here are 10 kid-friendly tools to get them started:
1. Three-Piece Mini Spatula Set
This set of three miniature (just over 6 inches long) heat-resistant silicone spatulas includes a regular spatula, a spoon-like spatula, and a basting brush. The kids' cooking tools come in bright colors—pink, red, and green—and they’re easy to clean, as well as stain- and odor- resistant. Your children will love "painting" their food with the basting brush!
Astra Gourmet 3-piece Mini Spatula Set for Children, $11.99 on Amazon
2. Rainbow Whisk
This rainbow-colored whisk will appeal to kids for obvious reasons. In addition to its bright colors, it also offers an easy-to-grip handle that makes it simple for kids to learnhow to whiskeggs and cream and sauces galore.
Brandobay Good Grips 10-Inch Rainbow Balloon Whisk, $7.99 on Amazon
3. Plastic Lettuce Knife
Kids can start using a plasticserrated table knifewhen they’re toddlers, but when they’re ready to graduate to the next level, a lettuce knife is the perfect next step. It’s plastic and lightweight, plus it has a serrated blade that makes cutting easy. Kids will feel independent and capable with this real knife, and its design features make it easy to use, setting them up for kitchen success.
11.5" Plastic Lettuce Knife, $5.70 on Amazon)
4. Colorful Measuring Cups and Spoons
These colorful plastic measuring cups and spoons are perfectly stackable—they totally double as a Russian doll-like toy that can help kids learn about size and measurement in a tactile way. (Plus the stacked cups will fit well in your cupboard, too!) They also have large handles that make holding the cups easier for small hands.
Measuring Cup and Spoon Set, $7.99 on Amazon
5. Cool, Stackable Mixing Bowls
Kids will love having their own set of brightly colored bowls to bake and cook from. These are lightweight, making them easy for kids to maneuver, and feature handles on the side and grips. The bowls come as part of a set that includes the above-mentioned measuring cups and spoons, plus a colander. (And yes, you can totally use all of these when your kids aren’t looking.)
10-Piece Compact Mixing Bowls, $26.95 on Amazon
6. Kitchen Tongs
These kitchen tongs come fromCurious Chef, a line of cookware designed specifically for children. The handle is contoured for small hands and features soft-touch button grips. Kids can pretend they’re holding food in alligator jaws while using these tongs.
Curious Chef Serving Tongs, $5.99 on Amazon
7. Kid-Sized Oven Mitts
Curious Chef also makes kid-sized oven mitts. You’ll want to provide careful supervision, of course, but these mitts will make it possible for kids to learn to remove items from the oven and stovetop safely. Curious Chef says they are appropriate for children 5 years old and up.
Curious Chef Kids Child Chef Mitt Set, $7.86 from Amazon
8. Tomato Cutting Board
This 8-by-8 inch cutting board in the shape of a tomato is perfect for beginner cutting tasks. Its red border serves as a nonslip edge, and its manageable surface area is perfect for little hands.
Curious Chef Tomato Cutting Board, $7.49 on Amazon
9. Monkey Peeler
Peeling vegetables is a great—and useful!—introductory task to get kids involved in cooking. This one has a handle shaped like a monkey with raised arms that hold the blade. In addition to being cute, the handle is ergonomic and non-slip.
Animal House Monkey Peeler, $12.99 on Amazon
10. Mini Rolling Pin
Rolling out dough for pizzas and cut-out cookies is a lot of fun, but traditional rolling pins can be large and cumbersome for small children. This kid-sized rolling pin has a 2.5-inch handle and a 4.5-inch body, with a total length of 9.5 inches. It comes in great shades of green, purple, or red and has a silicone nonstick surface, making both rolling dough and cleaning up easier.
