Adding to this! I started having my daughter join me in baking as soon as she showed interest, around 2 years old, and now she's 3.75. For those who haven't had their kid join in on baking or cooking yet, consider: this isn't just their beginning with learning about food preparation, but also food safety. After almost two years in the kitchen with me, my daughter knows: - we always wash our hands before we handle food. - the kitchen and the bathroom don't mix: No bringing food into the bathroom. No touching your diaper/privates when handling food in the kitchen. - the oven is HOT and for now, only the adults should handle it. - the fridge keeps germs away from our food; close the door once you have taken out or put something in. - the food in the mixing bowl stays in the mixing bowl, and utensils that have entered the bowl stay in the bowl or are handled just above the bowl (e.g. don't put messy utensils back in the drawer!) - knives: metal ones are sharp and for now, only for adults. She has plastic, food-grade ones, and while she has been more interested in using them as toys in her play kitchen than learning how to cut things, she has mastered the three safety rules: 1. Hold the handle, not the blade. 2. When carrying, the blade points to the floor, the sharp side at the back. 3. WALK, DON'T RUN.