Yes, we know this is the season of pure chaos.
Between school concerts, mile-long shopping lists and Quality Street wrappers scattered like confetti (and that’s just from me), the thought of encouraging kids into the kitchen might feel like tossing a stick of dynamite into the middle of it all.
But hear me out ... it could genuinely be one of the best gifts you give them this Christmas.
If all else fails, think of memories and chat. In my experience, this is where I get all the real information, certainly more than the classic “fine” you get when you ask about school.
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Get them one to one, screens away, doing something that makes them feel proud, and suddenly you’re in the depth of deep and meaningfuls. Add a few festive tunes into the mix and you’ve created a proper Christmas vibe.
But getting kids cooking isn’t as simple as handing them a recipe and hoping for the best. It’s about meeting each child at their level, using small techniques that make cooking safe, achievable and empowering, without any dumbing down. This goes far beyond Rice-Krispies buns and licking the bowl.
So, as a children’s cookbook author, here are my five tips to get kids into the kitchen this Christmas. And yes, actually enjoy it.
1. Plan ahead and give them ownership
Choose an evening in the week that’s likely to be less stressful – that’s Friday in our house – and let the young cooks decide what they’d like to make. It might be a recipe they’ve spotted on YouTube (don’t knock it – it’s a start), or perhaps they’d prefer to browse a few well-worn cookbooks for inspiration.
You could even put them in charge of a Christmas side dish and let them research it themselves. See what they come up with and you might be pleasantly surprised. It’s also a lovely way to begin a family Christmas tradition. In our house, the ritual centres around the stuffing on Christmas Eve, and it’s something we all look forward to.
But if you’re handing over responsibility, resist the urge to swoop in and take control. It’s a sure-fire confidence killer. Instead, play a supportive role and offer guidance only when needed. A little encouragement and praise will go a long way.
2. Get your gear ready
Lay out all the equipment you’ll need before you begin; no scrambling for a missing whisk or the right-sized pan halfway through the recipe. I don’t know about you, but rooting through cupboards mid-cook sends my stress levels soaring.
Having everything to hand means knowing what’s coming, and it helps the kids feel more in control too.
3. Read the recipe
Have them read the recipe twice before diving in. It may sound simple but it builds confidence, gives them a sense of the steps ahead and makes the whole experience far smoother for everyone involved. Line up your ingredients TV-chef-style while you’re at it.
4. The more they do, the more they’ll enjoy it
Look up age-appropriate techniques – when it comes to prep, they make all the difference. We rely on little tricks, such as grating garlic with the skin still on. The skin doesn’t grate, and it acts as a protective wrapper around small fingers. Peeling ginger with the back of a spoon is another simple, safe win.
And because an onion forms the base of so many dishes, we’ve embraced the fun and invested in a pair of onion goggles. They never fail to get a laugh. For younger chefs, peeling the onion and sticking a fork into the top before using a regular vegetable peeler is an easy, safe method.
The kids feel such a sense of accomplishment when they’ve done it themselves and that pride is what keeps them coming back for more.
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5. Embrace the mess and celebrate the wins
Let’s be honest: there will be flour on the floor, a rogue carrot rolling across the tiles, and possibly a little grated parmesan on the dog. But instead of seeing the mess as chaos, try to treat it as part of the fun.
Celebrate the little victories: a perfectly cracked egg, a neatly chopped carrot or even just the fact that they stayed interested from start to finish. Let them plate up, taste and proudly present their creation to the rest of the family. That moment when their faces light up because they made it by themselves is pure gold.
At the end of the day, it’s not really about the Insta-perfect dish. It’s about confidence, connection and making time together in a season that can feel frantic.
And who knows? You might just spark a lifelong love of cooking or, at the very least, create a Christmas tradition everyone actually enjoys.
Jolene Cox is the author of Now You’re Cooking!, a cookbook created with her 12-year-old daughter.
