We asked chefs: How do you involve your kids in Thanksgiving food prep?

Kids might not be the most efficient sous chefs, but having them be part of the kitchen can be an enriching learning experience to learn about family traditions.

“We look at it more as bonding than it is anything else,” said Aaron Melendrez, chef and co-owner of Uptown Provisions in Whittier, who often cooks with his 3-year-old Rio, and has taught kids’ cooking classes.

Here are some tips on how to get your kids involved in Thanksgiving prep.

Helping with the smallest of tasks

Even though he’s only 3, Melendrez’ son has been familiar with the kitchen for a while, helping press the blender button for smoothies, or helping to pull his toast out of the toaster oven.

Aaron Melendrez and his toddler, Rio, often cook in the kitchen together.

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Courtesy Aaron Melendrez

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“This has been his breakout year, but he’s always been involved in the kitchen — it’s just slowly immersing him in, in kitchen prep, even in the littlest of tasks,” he said. His son has a stepstool and learning tower to get him to counter-height.

For younger children, they can help mix stuff or press buttons on the oven, or even cut their own vegetables with a kid-friendly knife. It’s more about getting them familiar and comfortable in the kitchen, Melendrez said.

Talk through it 

Children might not be able to help with everything, but parents can talk through what they’re doing with their kids.

“Every step, talk through it. You have to assume [they’re] going to pick up one of the things that you teach, so just keep talking and teaching them,” he said.

Employ the senses

Cooking is a sensory experience, and Melendrez said to have your kids experience what’s going on in the kitchen through their senses.

“If you pull something out of the oven, call them over to take a look, to smell,” he said.

And while you won’t be letting your child put things in the oven without your help, they can experience it with you.

“Feeling the heat when you open the oven, it’s an immersive experience," he said. "It's very sensory and you want your kid to kind of experience these emotions and feelings while they're cooking."

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes

For parents who might be anxious about keeping their kids in the kitchen, he said it’s important to realize mistakes can happen.

“He's gonna hurt himself. He's gonna cut himself. But look, it’s part of it,” he said. “It's better that these kids make mistakes now and it's gonna happen, and don't get discouraged from it.”

That said, there’s always parental supervision. His son will often work on the stove, with him nearby.

“I might grab his arm if I see his arm is getting a little too close to the pan or side of the stove because he doesn't have the full self-awareness yet,” he said. “But he’s learning it, and we don't stop him from learning any of it.”

Tasks Can Vary By Age

Felicity Curin, founder of Little Kitchen Academy, which has a location in Century City, says you can set up tasks by age to foster independence.

Toddlers can help wash produce, six to nine-year-olds can whisk ingredients over a stovetop, and pre-teens can help with the planning process of picking out recipes.

"Children really do want to contribute. They want to be a part of it. And if you want to encourage creative risk taking eaters who are willing to try something new, you've got to get them involved," Curin said.