It seems knife vocational training starts early in the Fassnidge household.
Renowned chef and My Kitchen Rules Judge Colin Fassnidge has shared a picture of his five-year-old daughter Maeve wielding a pretty sizeable knife as she cuts into a block of cheese.
As well as showing off his youngest’s impressive knife skills, the 43-year-old was also giving his 48,600 Instagram followers a little insight into his parenting philosophy…
“We don’t do cotton wool kids in our house,” he wrote in the caption, “you cut yourself you don’t do it again…… start cooking young.”
Refreshingly, most of the commenters applauded both Maeve’s culinary prowess and Fassnidge’s laid-back attitude (#parentinggoals), with several saying they’ve taken the same approach in their own households.
“My 11 and 7 year old cook dinner once a week and my 5 yr old helps out all the time……. Plus they complain when the knives are blunt [sic],” wrote one follower.
“We’re the same with gardening,” commented another. “Never underestimate what kids are capable of!”
Hmm, tiny kids cooking, tiny foodies judging…
BRB. We’ve got a TV show to pitch.
Top Comments
Yep. My son got a chef knife i think for his 5th bday. Under supervision there is little danger; teach them to take their time and how to cut each ingredient.
I really think getting my son to help cook when he was very little and help grow and harvest herbs and veggies is why he now eats all foods. Life is easy when your kid isn't fussy and happily tries new things.
My daughter helps me cook all the time. She's 4. However i don't let her use an adult knife or the oven. She has a junior knife, which is safer, although it can't chop everything. She does however measure out cups, tsp, tbsp etc.... Cooking and grocery shopping is how I taught her all her colours and shapes and when we shop she finds all the ingredients. There's not a vegetable at the market she doesn't know. It's great for teaching maths too, ie how may quarters make a whole/1 cup. It's such lovely bonding time too and she's always proud to have made dinner. Great for getting little ones to try different foods too. have fun in the kitchen!