The holidays have a way of nudging us back into the kitchen. It’s the season of slow simmers, rolling pins, handwritten recipe cards from a relative or times gone by, and dishes that only make an appearance once a year. But beyond the menus and shopping lists, there’s another ingredient that can make holiday cooking truly magical: welcoming kids into the process.

Whether you’re a parent, aunt or uncle, grandparent, or simply someone who loves sharing food with the next generation, cooking with kids during the holidays offers far more than an opportunity to check a few tasks off your to-do list. It’s a season-shaping, memory-making experience—and research shows it can positively impact their confidence, skills, and relationship with food.

Here’s why opening your kitchen to kids might be the best holiday tradition of all.

It Turns Recipes Into Shared Memories

Years from now, most kids won’t remember what gifts they unwrapped during the holidays. But they will remember sprinkling cinnamon onto cookie dough, shaping their first dinner rolls, or being trusted to stir the pot of chocolate ganache. Holidays are defined by traditions, and the kitchen is one of the most natural places for those traditions to take root.

When kids cook with you, they become part of the story—hands-on, messy, giggly, and all. These moments become the building blocks of family lore: “Remember the year we spilled flour everywhere?” or “Remember how you used to sneak extra chocolate chips?” This is the kind of nostalgia you can’t buy or plan; it happens naturally when little hands join big holiday projects.

Kids Learn Real Skills (Without Even Realizing It)

Cooking is a masterclass in life skills, cleverly disguised as fun:

Math: Measuring cups, fractions, doubling recipes, timing the roast.
Science: Watching cookies rise, butter brown, or gelatin set.
Reading: Following a recipe, scanning instructions, sequencing steps.
Fine motor skills: Stirring, chopping (with supervision!), pouring, kneading.
Patience: Because holiday baking always takes longer than they think.

During the holidays, when recipes are a bit more involved and everyone is spending more time indoors, kids naturally absorb an even broader range of practical skills. And because it doesn’t feel like “learning,” they stay engaged and curious.

It Encourages Adventurous Eating and Better Food Habits

Kids are far more likely to eat something they helped make. When they see the ingredients, touch them, smell them, and participate in the transformation from raw to ready-to-eat, it demystifies the food. Brussels sprouts roasted with balsamic? Cranberry-orange compote? Herb stuffing with fresh sage? They might surprise you.

Holidays offer the perfect setup for this kind of exposure—flavors are festive, ingredients are beautiful, and the kitchen is buzzing with excitement. By involving kids, you help them develop a positive relationship with food that lasts long after the decorations are packed away.

It Builds Confidence and Independence

There’s a special kind of pride that comes from hearing, “You made this?” Kids blossom when they’re given responsibility, whether they’re whisking the gravy or topping the sweet potatoes with marshmallows. Holiday cooking gives them a safe, structured environment to take small risks, make decisions, and see real results.

Even simple tasks—like washing herbs or pressing cookie cutters—boost their confidence. And when they contribute to the big holiday meal, they feel genuinely valued as part of the family team.

It Strengthens Connection in the Busiest Season of the Year

The holidays are joyful, yes—but they’re also busy. Between shopping, decorating, hosting, traveling, and trying to maintain some semblance of routine, it’s easy to rush through the season without truly connecting. Cooking forces everyone to slow down.

When you invite a child into the kitchen, you’re giving them your time and attention. Working side by side offers space for conversations that might not happen otherwise—stories, questions, laughter, even the occasional “why doesn’t our gravy look like Grandma’s?” Cooking together helps shift the focus from hustle to presence.

It Honors Traditions—and Creates New Ones

Passing down family recipes is a profound act of connection. Teaching kids how to braid challah, roll tamales, shape pierogi, or whisk the perfect gravy isn’t just about food. It’s cultural, emotional, and deeply personal.

And if your family doesn’t have a trove of old recipes? This is your chance to create brand-new traditions. Maybe it’s an annual gingerbread decorating night, or a kids-only cookie dish they make start to finish. Holiday traditions don’t have to be inherited—they can also be created.

It's a Gentle (and Delicious!) Way to Teach Generosity

Cooking with kids naturally lends itself to talking about giving—whether you’re baking cookies for neighbors, preparing a dish for someone who can’t travel home, or welcoming guests around your holiday table.

Letting kids participate in this kind of generosity helps them understand the meaning of hospitality, gratitude, and community. These are values that shine especially bright during the holidays.

Tips for Making Holiday Cooking With Kids a Joy (Not a Stressor)

Let’s be honest: cooking with kids is wonderful but also… can be a little chaotic. These quick tips help keep it fun:

Choose recipes that fit their age and skill level.
Arm them with the tools they need to get the job done. (My 2025 Holiday Gift Guide has some excellent options for budding future cooks!)
Prep the messiest parts ahead of time.
Give them real tasks—not “pretend” ones.
Expect spills. Embrace the flour. Laugh a lot.
Build in extra time. Then add 10 minutes.
Celebrate the effort, not the perfection.

The goal isn’t a flawless dish—it’s the experience.

Final Thoughts: The Kitchen Is Where the Holiday Magic Happens

At its core, holiday cooking with kids isn’t about producing beautiful dishes (though that’s a nice bonus). It’s about connection—letting them feel the warmth, the welcome, the rhythm, and the love that the holidays are meant to bring. Consider playing the kids’ favorite holiday tunes in the background while you cook.

So this year, make a little extra room at the counter. Hand over the wooden spoon. Let them help frost the cookies or stir the pot. The memories you create will last far longer than any centerpiece or gift ever could.

And who knows? You might just be nurturing the next great home cook in your family.

The Joy of Cooking With Kids