Kid-Friendly Cooking Tools That Make Family Cooking Easier

Child-Safe Knives

What We Use: Tovla Jr. Kid Safe Knife Set

Kid-friendly knives allow kids to cut soft fruits, vegetables, cheese, and bread while learning proper knife skills without sharp blades. We’ve had this set since my first son was two, and they are great for teaching kids how to hold and use a knife.

These safe knives work well with most things that do not need perfect cutting, but easy things to start with include bananas, strawberries, cucumbers, mushrooms.

Learning Tower or Sturdy Step Stool

What We Use: SDADI Mother’s Helper Kitchen Step Stool

A kids kitchen stool brings kids safely to counter height so they can actually see and participate. A wide, non-slip step stool works well for older kids too!

We have two of these kid-friendly kitchen stools, and our kids use them daily for all kinds of activities. They are great to keep your kiddo in one place while they are helping and tall enough to bring them safely to counter height without having to worry about them falling off.

Mini Waffle Iron with Shapes & Themes

What We Use: DASH MultiMaker Mini Waffle System

The Dash mini waffle maker is one of the easiest ways to get kids genuinely excited about cooking, especially breakfast.

With fun shapes and themed designs (including hearts and seasonal patterns), kids can help pour batter using their mini measuring cup, wait for the waffle to cook, and see a quick, rewarding (and delicious) result.

Visual & Voice-Activated Kitchen Timer

What We Use: Google Nest Hub

Alternative: Amazon Echo Show

Using a Google Nest Hub or similar device as a kitchen timer is a simple but surprisingly effective way to involve kids in cooking, without adding more gadgets to figure out where to store. Kids can say things like, “set a cookie timer for five minutes” or “set a pasta timer,” which gives them ownership of the process while keeping everything hands-free.

Our kids especially love the Google Nest Hub because certain timer types trigger cute, playful sounds and themed animations when the timer goes off. Instead of harsh alarms, it plays fun tones often tied to what they’re cooking, which makes waiting feel more like part of the experience than a chore.

Kid-Friendly Aprons

What We Use: BeeGreen Kids Cooking Aprons

Aprons help kids feel like real helpers, and they also protect clothing from spills. Adjustable straps allow the apron to grow with your child. Whenever I have my boys help me in the kitchen, they instantly run to get their aprons—dressing the part adds to the fun!

These kids aprons have proven the test of time in our household. Even better, hang the aprons in a spot where they can go and get them themselves.

Lightweight Cutting Boards

What We Use: Epicurean Kitchen Series Cutting Board

A lightweight cutting board gives kids a clear, defined prep space and helps prevent sliding and spills. We love these cutting boards because they are lightweight, plastic-free (paper composite), easy to clean, and come in different sizes for different tasks. The smaller sizes are light enough for our kids to pick up on their own and scrape food into a bowl!

Plastic Mixing Bowls

What We Use: Martha Stewart Round Mixing Bowls

While we try to stay plastic-free as much as possible, mixing bowls can be a whole other playing field. Sometimes our kiddos enthusiasm about mixing overpowers their coordination, so plastic is the safest prep bowl for most things with young kids. We love our Martha Stewart plastic mixing bowls, and her updated set even comes with lids!

Mini Silicone Tools & Whisks

What We Use: Kuhn Rikon COLORI Rainbow Silicone Balloon Whisk

What We Use: Sur La Table Mini Utensils

What We Use: Sur La Table Mini Spatula and Spatula Spoon

Soft silicone utensils are lightweight, flexible, and safer than metal tools. And smaller sizes are easier for little hands to control. Almost all of our stovetop tools are silicone at this point, and I always try to pick out ones that I know they kids will enjoy!

Our kids love the Sur La Table mini utensils, mini spatula and mini spoon linked above (including the seasonally themed versions), although the star of the show is usually the rainbow whisk!

Measuring Cups & Spoons

What We Use: Farberware Professional Stainless Steel Measuring Cups

What We Use: YellRin Magnetic Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons

Measuring tools turn cooking into hands-on math practice. Measuring helps kids learn fractions, sequencing, and portion sizes while following recipes. We love these measuring cups and measuring spoons because they are stainless steel and magnetic, so they are easy to clean and store.

Dedicated Kid Kitchen Drawer or Bin

What We Use: ClearSpace Clear Plastic Storage Bins

Designate one drawer or bin with only kid-safe tools. When kids can access tools independently, they are far more likely to help. We have a cabinet dedicated to the kids plates, cups, silverware, and kitchen tools.

We use these clear storage bins to help organize the chaos, and our boys love having a section of the kitchen that is theirs.

When you’re juggling work, pickups, or meal planning, the right tools can make home cooking drastically simpler. These kitchen essentials are absolute musts!