When Can Kids Make Their Own Breakfast?
Kids are far more capable than we think! Even a very young child can spread peanut butter on a slice of bread or slice a banana with a butter knife. In our house during the summer, breakfasts are largely a serve-yourself affair. I stock the kitchen with fresh fruit, yogurt, granola, oats, milk, eggs, and bread. They get to decide how much work they want to put into their breakfast. My 5-year-old enjoys pouring his own yogurt and topping it with frozen blueberries and chia seeds. My 8-year-old makes his own smoothies and homemade instant oatmeal. My 10-year-old doesn’t like traditional breakfast foods, so he prefers making himself a breakfast taco or even a grilled cheese sandwich and some fruit.For Very Young Kids
I usually did most of the food prep for them, then I let them assemble the pieces on their own in the mornings.I prepared foods like:- Baked oatmeal – they ate the leftovers cold
- Hardboiled eggs with fruit and muffins
- Pancakes – cold leftovers dipped in maple syrup
- Yogurt, frozen berries, and chia seeds (or with homemade granola)
- Homemade popsicles
- Cold egg & cheese muffins (actually delicious)
For Slightly Older Kids
I let them use the toaster oven or microwave to reheat food. Mine were capable of cooking their own scrambled eggs and slicing fruit (with supervision, of course). They made and ate breakfasts like:- Baked oatmeal (premade)- they reheated it in the toaster oven or microwave
- Hardboiled eggs with fruit and muffins
- Pancakes (premade from the freezer – try sheet pan pancakes!) – toasted to reheat and dipped in maple syrup
- Yogurt, frozen berries, and chia seeds
- Homemade popsicles
- Eggs & toast
- Avocado toast
- Fruit salad
- Breakfast wraps – cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, etc.
For Older Kids
With older kids, it’s just a matter of teaching them the skills they need to prepare their own food. Kids are far more capable than we think they are. Consider having older kids choose a day to make breakfast for the whole family. This encourages them to try recipes they usually won’t make for breakfast just for themselves.Easy Recipes for Kids to Make
Kids can help in the preparation for any of these recipes.- Instant oatmeal packs
- Yogurt parfaits
- Fruit salad
- Frozen berry whip
- Smoothie
- Eggs and toast
- Snacky breakfast: hardboiled egg, fruit, toast or muffin, sprouts
- Sausage
- Breakfast hummus
- Granola bowl
- Breakfast mudballs
- No-bake energy bars (for on-the-go breakfasts)
- Overnight refrigerator oats
- Paleo sweet potato hash
- Crispy baked home fries – use with eggs, frittata, and breakfast burritos
- Breakfast burritos
- Baked oatmeal
- Egg and cheese muffins
- One-bowl granola
Your kids can learn to cook, even if you don’t know where to start.
My 4 kids and I created the online Kids Cook Real Food lessons to help bring real food and independence to families all over. Over 10,000 kids have joined us and we’d love to invite you along for the adventure!
PLUS we’re so pleased to offer a little gift from our family to yours: “10 Snacks Your Kids Can Make” packed with our favorites for the road! GRAB THAT HERE!
Your Kids Need Life Skills
It’s up to us parents to prepare our kids for the real world. Get a free family pass to the #LifeSkillsNow Summer Camp!
Free Virtual Summer Camp June 13-17, 2022
Prepare your kids for life with solid skills for living that aren’t taught in school!
Do your kids help make their own breakfast yet?
Terrific ideas but no need to limit them to classic “breakfast” foods at breakfast. Eggsalad sandwich, noodle bowls, soups, leftover casseroles, tuna sandwich all serve as healthy first meals for the day!