Kids in kitchen need age-appropriate tasksThe kitchen seems like a fairly harmless place -- until you have children. The knives, the open flames, the jammed toaster just waiting for some pint-size mechanic to enthusiastically probe it with a fork? They can fill parents with dread.

But Katherine Cason, director of the Center for Healthy Living at Clemson University in South Carolina, urges moms and dads to consider the upside of cooking with the kids.

"The kitchen's a great place to learn about food, where food comes from, what you do with it -- very basic life skills," she says.

She also points out that kids learn kitchen safety by spending time in the kitchen. Even 2- and 3-year-olds can perform meaningful kitchen tasks under adult supervision, such as wiping tabletops, rinsing apples and tearing lettuce for salads.

Kids 6 to 8 can generally open cans, use a dull knife to do light chopping or melt butter -- again, with adult supervision, which should continue until at least 12. As a general rule, kids can start using sharper tools in the 9-12 range, Cason says.

"A lot of it depends on your child, as well," Cason says. "There might be some teenagers who shouldn't be using sharp knives."

Here are age-appropriate tasks (all requiring adult supervision):

2: Wipe tabletops, pour measured ingredients and snap green beans.

3: Pour liquids into batter, mix ingredients, knead or roll out dough and wrap potatoes in foil for baking.

4-5: Mash a soft fruit with a fork, beat eggs with an eggbeater or whisk, cut parsley or green onions with dull scissors, and cut fresh fruit with a blunt knife.

6-8: Gather utensils and ingredients, do light chopping and open cans.

9-12: Operate small appliances such as blenders and microwave ovens, do moderate chopping and saute, pan-fry, broil or bake.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE