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Everybody Bake! Kid-Friendly Baking Tips by Age

By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Created January 10, 2017
Learn how to make cooking baking a family affair with these simple tips for getting kids involved in the fun.
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Letting children help bake cookies can get a little messy. But by assigning tasks based on their ages, you'll sprinkle in a sense of pride at the same time they learn key skills. See our age-related cookie-baking tips below.

Ages 2-4

Your little one will adore helping you with some of the easier tasks. Check out these cookie-baking ideas for preschoolers.

Mom or Dad can:

  • Mix the cookie dough in advance (your child can shape the dough for baking).
  • Bake cookies in advance (your child can help decorate).
  • Have a sturdy stool or booster seat available to help children reach the countertop.
  • Spread newspapers or towels on countertops to contain the mess.
Preschoolers can:

  • Crack eggs into a small dark bowl. They'll love fishing out pieces of egg shell while you supervise.
  • Pour already measured ingredients into the mixing bowl.
  • Roll cookie dough into balls and flatten the balls with their fingers.
  • Roll balls of cookie dough in sugar.
  • Transfer cookie balls to a cookie sheet.
  • Help Mom or Dad press the oven's "bake" button.
  • Frost the cookies. Or simply drop decorative sugar or sprinkles on cookies that you frost for them.

Try out these skills with Russian Tea Cakes, Chocolate Snowballs, and No-Roll Sugar Cookies. 

Ages 5-7

Your child is ready to take on a little more responsibility. Check out these cookie-baking ideas for early school-age kids.



Mom or Dad can:

  • Have a sturdy stool or booster seat available to help shorter kids reach the countertop.
  • Spread newspapers or towels on countertops to contain the mess.
  • Premeasure the ingredients so all your child needs to do is pour or drop ingredients into the mixing bowl.
  • If making cutouts, roll the dough to the correct thickness. Prepare cookie cutters for use by dusting them with a little flour.
  • If cookies need to be decorated, set up an area with frosting, decorative sugars or sprinkles, and icing spatulas.
Early grade-schoolers can:

  • Use a hand-held electric mixer to combine some of the ingredients. (They'll feel very grown-up!) You should take over when the flour needs to be added.
  • Stir in chocolate chips, raisins, or other fun add-ins. You should pretend not to notice when they swipe some chips. It's part of the fun!
  • Cut out cookie shapes from the rolled dough. But you should transfer the cookie cutouts to the cookie sheet for baking.
  • Unwrap and press chocolate kisses into the tops of cookies.
  • Frost and decorate cookies by themselves.
Try out these skills with Classic Gingerbread Man Cookies, Festive Peanut Butter Blossoms, and Jolly Snowman Cookies. 

Ages 8-10

Your child is now old enough to handle most of the cooking-baking responsibilities. Check out these ideas for older school-age kids—and get ready to sit back and supervise!


Mom or Dad can:

  • Make sure you have the right ingredients on hand for this recipe.
  • Get out the measuring cups and measuring spoons.
  • If cookies will be decorated, set up an area with frosting, decorative sugars or sprinkles, and icing spatulas.
Grade-schoolers can:

  • Spread newspapers or towels on countertops to contain the mess.
  • Measure and pour ingredients into the mixing bowl.
  • Mix the ingredients with a hand-held mixer. You may need to step in when the flour is added.
  • Shape or cut out cookies for baking.
  • Put the cookie sheet into the oven and remove it—under your supervision. Don't forget to get out the pot holders!
  • Frost and decorate cookies by themselves.
  • Dip cookies in melted chocolate.
  • Drizzle melted chocolate over the tops of cookies.
  • Put together sandwich cookies.
  • Pipe frosting features on gingerbread men.
Try out these skills with Easy Holiday Cutout Cookies, Ginger-Brown Sugar Cookies, , and Ginger-Ski Men. 

Get more fun ideas for baking with kids.