Toddlers and preschoolers love to imitate Mom and Dad, especially in the kitchen. Instead of trying to make chicken wraps with children wrapped around your legs, embrace their willingness to learn. Bring them into the kitchen to act as your right-hand prep cooks.

Plus, the more you get them involved now, the more likely they’ll be to help in the future. Here are some tips for cooking with kids.

Supervision Required

First, establish a set of rules for your children to follow in the kitchen, such as: never touch the stove, only adults use knives, etc. Always keep a close eye on your little ones for their safety.

Pint-Sized Workspace

Let a child sit on a stool or chair to reach the counter, or better yet, move your workstation to a kid-friendly table where little hands can easily reach. If your child is too young to really help in the kitchen, set him up with some play food and dishes. Playing with play food can be a lot cleaner than playing with real food—and it’s still fun!

Measurements Made Perfect

Turn a cooking class into math class when you show your children how to use measuring cups and spoons. Teach them what each line of measurement means, and then let them try their hand at measuring. If they are too young, allow them to pour what you’ve premeasured into the pot or bowl, or have them count ingredients—eggs, chocolate chips, etc.

Get Cracking

Let your children do the fun, messy parts of the cooking process, such as cracking eggs (make sure to wash their hands afterward), sprinkling cheese, squishing and shaping the meatloaf, stirring the batter, or spreading the icing. Delegate tasks based on their age and abilities.

Keep It Simple

For younger children, make sure the recipes you choose to prepare aren’t too long or complicated. Otherwise, you might lose your audience to a more exciting coloring session, or worse, a temper tantrum stemming from boredom.

Taste Time

The best part of cooking is tasting the final product, so be sure to let your children sample the fresh goodies. Wait until your dish has cooled, and then cut a small bite or two for your little chefs to taste. They’ll love knowing that they helped to make a real meal. And get ready: Soon you’ll have new helpers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!