Life Kit: Parenting How to embrace the mess and teach your kids to cook
Jul 24, 2025
David Nayfeld, a professional chef and author of 'Dad, What's for Dinner?', shares insights on the joys of cooking with kids. He emphasizes how cooking can enhance family connections and create cherished memories, despite the inevitable mess. Nayfeld provides practical tips for age-appropriate cooking tasks and encourages parents to embrace imperfections in the kitchen. With easy weeknight recipes and a focus on safety, he inspires families to bond while fostering a love for food through shared cooking adventures.
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Start Cooking Without Perfection
- Don't let perfect be the enemy of good; start cooking with your kids even if you're not confident.
- Try ambitious recipes on days without tight schedules to avoid stress.
Childhood Cooking Mishap
- David Neyfeld cooked fried chicken for his family at age eight or nine and the chicken came out raw.
- His mom fixed it in the oven and everyone enjoyed the meal, showing that mistakes are part of learning.
Gradual Kid Involvement
- Involve toddlers in simple, supervised tasks like stirring and adding ingredients to build confidence.
- Gradually introduce more complex tasks like grating cheese with safety precautions.
