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National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day

Let your little chefs take charge on National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day and watch them whip up delicious meals for the whole family!

Sunday

September 2026

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATESeptember 13

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYRelationships

SUBCATEGORYChildren

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Get ready for some delicious chaos in the kitchen on September 13th because it's National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day! This fun and unique holiday encourages children to step into the role of chef and cook up a storm in the kitchen. It was created by mom and food blogger J.M. Hirsch in 2010 as a way to get kids interested in cooking and spending quality time with their families. So put on your aprons, gather your little ones, and get ready to whip up some tasty treats together!

TIMELINE

National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day Timeline

Inception of the Day

National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day was established by J.M. Hirsch to encourage children's interest in cooking.

First Celebration

The first official celebration sees children across America cooking meals with parental supervision.

Spread of the Holiday

The concept of the holiday starts to gain popularity, spreading to Canada and parts of Europe.

Celebration in Schools

Schools begin incorporating themed activities in their curriculum, promoting the holiday further.

Celeb Chefs Join the Fun

Famous chefs start creating kid-friendly recipes for the day, enhancing its appeal.

Decade Celebration

The holiday marks its 10th anniversary, celebrating a decade of fostering culinary interest in children.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day

Plan a kids' cooking competition

Gather up some friends and have a friendly competition in the kitchen! Each team can come up with their own dish and then have a panel of judges (parents or other adults) taste and score each dish.

TRY

Try out new recipes together

Take this opportunity to explore new recipes with your kids. Let them choose a recipe they want to try and work together to make it in the kitchen. It's a great way to bond and learn new skills!

CREATE

Create a themed menu

Pick a theme for your kids' takeover in the kitchen. It could be a specific cuisine, a color, or even a movie or book. Then, plan out a menu that fits the theme and have fun making and eating it together.

DECORATE

Decorate aprons or chef hats

Get creative and have your kids decorate their own aprons or chef hats before heading into the kitchen. It'll make them feel like professional chefs and add a fun element to the day!

TEACH

Teach kitchen safety and basic cooking skills

Use this day as an opportunity to teach your kids about kitchen safety and basic cooking skills. Show them how to properly use knives, handle hot pots and pans, and measure ingredients. These are valuable skills they can carry with them for a lifetime.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day

It empowers kids to try new foods

Giving kids control of the kitchen for a day allows them to explore different flavors and cuisines. They may be more likely to try new foods if they have a hand in making them. This can lead to healthier and more adventurous eating habits in the future.

It encourages kids to develop important life skills

National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day is a fun way for children to learn essential cooking and kitchen skills, such as following recipes, measuring ingredients, and food safety. These are important skills that they can carry with them into adulthood.

It promotes family bonding and teamwork

Cooking together as a family on this day allows for quality time to be spent with each other. Parents can bond with their children over preparing a meal, and siblings can work together as a team in the kitchen. It's a great opportunity to strengthen familial relationships.

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