My daughter, age 6, loves to watch me in the kitchen, but I have a hard time finding jobs she can do. How can I get her involved with making dinner without putting her at risk?

Having your daughter help with meal preparation is a great way to spend quality time together while teaching her healthy eating habits, reading and even some basic math. Remember, when cooking with your children, it’s not always going to be perfect. But the life lessons and quality time will be well worth the over-topped pizza or under-mixed muffins. 

First things first: Prepare your daughter to be a master chef by giving her a kitchen apron or art smock to keep her clothes clean. Don’t forget to discuss the importance of hand washing before and during food prep. It’s also important to have a work area for her that she can comfortably reach. This could be at the kitchen table or counter – have her stand on a sturdy step stool -- safely away from the stove and hot pots and pans.

There are many age-appropriate tasks little kids can help with. For instance, gathering ingredients from the pantry and refrigerator, measuring ingredients (as long as they’re not hot), chopping softer foods with a butter knife, selecting different herbs and spices to season vegetables and sauces, washing fruits and vegetables, tearing apart lettuce for salad or tacos, and of course, setting the table.

As your daughter gets more comfortable in the kitchen, there are several good kids’ cookbooks available, all with age-appropriate instructions. Let her plan and help make dinner once a week while you watch your budding chef blossom.

Nicole Mydy is a food science expert -- and mother of two -- specializing in product development.