The summer is a great time to introduce new activities to your little ones, and cooking is a skill that will serve them well throughout their lives.

From the time they’re toddlers you can begin teaching them about food, explains Ceri Marsh of Sweet Potato Chronicles.

“Pull the high chair right up to the counter while you’re prepping dinner,” she suggests. “Let them hold an uncut avocado and play with and explore it. It’s fun for them to be close to you and seeing the action. As they get older, it develops into them sitting or standing beside you.”

Baking is a natural place to start, with the added bonus of a treat at the end – sure to get any child interested in being part of the action. Pancakes, cookies and muffins are all easy first baking projects. Have them help you measure the dry ingredients, teach them how to crack an egg, or get them to pour milk into the bowl.

From there, you can help build your little one’s kitchen confidence by having them assist you with dinner prep. Sweet Potato Chronicles’ Laura Keogh recalls her three-year-old daughter Scarlett’s pride when she helped bread chicken.

“I saw a huge difference in Scarlett’s personal confidence when we started the site,” Keogh says. “I would give her trust in things that normally I might not want her to do, [for instance] handling raw chicken. But she made that dinner, and it was a way for us to talk about germs and how you have to always wash your hands before you cook and after you cook. Dad came home, we sat down and I said, ‘Scarlett made dinner tonight.’ The pride in her face, that she made dinner? It was a huge deal.”

Need another reason to get your kids involved in cooking? Studies have shown that when children have a hand in preparing their food, they’re more likely to eat it.

“If you do have a picky eater, I’m not saying it’s going to solve it, but it’s one way to tackle it,” Marsh suggests. “If you’re at the grocery store you can say, ‘We’re going to try asparagus – you choose which bunch you want. Now let’s talk about what we’re going to make with it. Should we make it into a frittata? Should we make it into a stir-fry?’ Get them involved right from the beginning, and then get them to help make it. It’s not a guarantee, by any means, but it certainly helps to pave the way.”

As they get older, you can use cooking as a way to work on their reading (help them read the recipe aloud) and mathematics (especially addition, subtraction, and fractions).

It’s important to note that things will get messy. Very messy. So leave yourself time for the inevitable clean-up.

“You need to put aside your need for cleanliness, because a toddler in a kitchen is a nightmare. But you have to embrace it,” Marsh says. “Know that it’s going to take twice as long and be twice as messy, but in the scheme of things, it’s time together and it makes them love the kitchen and love food.”

Ready to get started? Our Sweet Potato Chronicles friends suggested these three easy recipes to try with your little ones:

Corn Pancakes: We have a mild obsession with pancakes and love them as an early cooking project for kids. You’re usually making them on the weekend so you can slow down and the result is always a hit. These are particularly awesome as they make a great breakfast for dinner.

ABC Quesadilla: This is more of an assembly job than anything else, which makes it perfect for getting kids involved in. No need to mention this meal is packed with superfoods, right?

Wholegrain Blueberry Muffins: A healthy twist on the classic blueberry muffins. But there’s no compromise on taste – these are moist and delicious. Perfect Sunday baking project and then you’ll be ahead of the game for the next week’s lunches.