For Brent Jackson, who was diagnosed with autism when he was 6 years old, cooking is a part of his independence as an adult. This is the story of his relationship with cooking and his advice for parents who want to teach their kids to cook.

The Power of Independence in the Kitchen

Kiddos in the Kitchen is up for a Signal Award Listeners Choice Award. Please cast your vote before Dec. 22.

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Signal Awards Listeners Choice Voting

Autumn Michaelis, mother of five and author of the new cookbook Whole Food for Your Family, shares a story of kitchen magic.

Making Magic in the Kitchen (Small Plate)

Here’s an easy kitchen activity that anyone can do — seasoned pretzels. Less than 25 minutes in the kitchen plus baking time is all it takes. No special kitchen gadgets required.

Bonus: Let’s Make Seasoned Pretzels (Small Plate)

Before you can teach your kids anything in the kitchen, you need them to be paying attention. Screens off, toys away, brains focused. Learn how Autumn Michaelis, founder of the blog WholeFoodFor7 and author of the new cookbook, Whole Food for Your Family, keeps her five boys engaged in the kitchen — and why it matters.

Keeping Kids Engaged in the Kitchen

Laura Fuentes, founder of MOMables.com, shares her thoughts on the kitchen tasks
kids should learn — and at what age. Author of five cookbooks and mom of three,
Laura wants to help parents who want to learn to cook, feed their families and
teach their kids. Plus, meet our latest Cooking Kiddo, Rhea Dhingra, from
Toronto, Canada.

Kitchen Tasks By Age

Alison Settle, executive chef at Barn8 at Hermitage Farm in Kentucky, shares
what she’s learned about different personalities in the kitchen — and how she
prepares to cook with her 5-year-old son, Arlo. Plus, what’s one kitchen gadget
she says you don’t ever need? And meet our latest Cooking Kiddo, William White.

Kitchen Personalities

Let’s go back to Banana Bread Day 2021 and our special Small Plate episode.
Follow along as we bake banana bread with a 6-year-old.

Small Plate Revisited: A Kiddo Makes Banana Bread

Cooking is an art that leans into science. Time in the kitchen is an opportunity
to teach a life skill and do some fun experiments, too. Today, Phoebe von Reis
shares her insights on fermentation and how to make this kitchen activity an
interesting one for the whole family. Plus, she gives her take on what makes a
perfect sourdough.

The Science of Fermentation

As parents, we can pass down recipes and teach kitchen skills. But perhaps
nothing is more important than sharing a love of cooking and time in the kitchen
— than the example we set. Martin Diez, a pastry chef with the global chocolate
giant Barry Callebaut, shares how he and his wife are doing just that. Plus,
learn what a ragu is and the kitchen gadget one chef says could take your
cooking to new heights.

Setting an Example

There are plenty of jobs for kids in the kitchen, including food prep, clean-up
and even simple flavor exploration. Join host Stephanie Conner in Kiddos in the
Kitchen and find inspiration plus real tips from chefs, cooking instructors,
health experts and more on how to turn kitchen experiences into family
experiences.