Cooking With Kids — Age by Age Guide

I want to get my kids involved in cooking but I don't know what's safe or age-appropriate.

Children's ages: [AGES]
My cooking confidence: [beginner / intermediate / confident]
Kitchen setup: [small / average / spacious]
Biggest concern: [safety / mess / they'll lose interest / I'll lose patience]

Create a complete guide:
1. **Age-appropriate tasks** — what each age group can safely do (2-4, 5-7, 8-10, 11+)
2. **Starter recipes by age** — 3 recipes per age group that kids can mostly do themselves
3. **Safety rules** — simple kitchen rules that work without hovering
4. **How to handle the mess** — practical setup so cleanup isn't a nightmare
5. **Making it fun** — themes, challenges, and ways to keep them engaged
6. **Building real skills** — a progression so they're genuinely confident cooks by their teens
7. **Recipes the whole family eats** — things they'll be proud to serve at dinner

I want to get my kids involved in cooking but I don't know what's safe or age-appropriate.

Children's ages: [AGES]
My cooking confidence: [beginner / intermediate / confident]
Kitchen setup: [small / average / spacious]
Biggest concern: [safety / mess / they'll lose interest / I'll lose patience]

Create a complete guide:
1. **Age-appropriate tasks** — what each age group can safely do (2-4, 5-7, 8-10, 11+)
2. **Starter recipes by age** — 3 recipes per age group that kids can mostly do themselves
3. **Safety rules** — simple kitchen rules that work without hovering
4. **How to handle the mess** — practical setup so cleanup isn't a nightmare
5. **Making it fun** — themes, challenges, and ways to keep them engaged
6. **Building real skills** — a progression so they're genuinely confident cooks by their teens
7. **Recipes the whole family eats** — things they'll be proud to serve at dinner