At 1.5, mine loved the salad spinner. I would also do things like hand them the cutting board after I cut up veggies and have them add them to the salad bowl (keeping the knife far away, of course). They could add toppings to pizzas (poorly).

Stirring things came a bit later, as it was hard for him to keep most of the ingredients in the bowl.

2 for my first, maybe 1.5 for my second (since she wanted to do what her brother was ASAP.)

At 1.5 some of the jobs he could do: tear greens (chard, kale) off the stem; do the salad spinner; if I cut something up, he could put it in a bowl; a little mixing.

We added chores as he was interested. Now at 4.5 he can follow a short recipe, and just recently started using a sharp knife for cutting up veggies.

Do you mean before it wasn't totally a waste?

Kids at 2 are going to lose interest really fast. Don't expect cooking to be an activity that last long and don't do it when you are in a rush. Also, I assure you it's a lie when they say if kids help they will eat it. My 10 year old helped a lot and never ate half the stuff she helped make.

Why not just try? Mine started really young, probably by 18 months. Theyd sit in boosters at the kitchen island and help dump and 'mix', sprinkle spices, etc. I'd let them play with a bowl of scraps and water or eat a snack while I did other things. It was pretty much our dinner routine. Granted, neither was a thrower or particularly crazy. My 3 year old now tells me he's my 'sous chef' and keeps me company whenever I cook (his 4 year old brother is no longer as interested, unless it's cookies or something).

At 2. She slices bananas, boiled eggs, mushrooms and strawberries with a butter knife. She stirs batters, tops pizza, pours liquids. She will occasionally help with the dishes now that she's 3.5!

It's been awhile, but between 2 and 3, I think.

At one and a half she started "helping" by pouring ingredients into a bowl or mixing. She had limited interest though - held her attention maybe five min.

Right about 2. Our youngest has been helping for a while and she just turned 2 last month.

I think I had my son helping me at two also. Before that, I'd have him sit in his high chair with a spoon or whisk and a bowl of cheerios or shredded cheese to stir around.

At 18 months, I think my son would have been too grabby to have him standing at the kitchen counter, but you could certainly try it out.

2 - same as above - cracking eggs (with good hand washing right after), mixing, etc.

2

at 2. snapping the ends off green beans, rinsing all produce, putting salt in water for pasta, pouring ingredients in pots, sprinkling in spices, etc.

2. I would let her stir pancake batter and things like that. At 5 can snap beans, measure and pour, crack eggs, etc.

Just curious when people have had their kids help out in the kitchen, like mixing things together or maybe scooping out ingredients. Our twins are 18 months and they seem too young, although they are interested, but just curious.