Little ones love to take part in the prep work for a special gathering, like cooking, setting the table and creating a fun centerpiece. This month, our focus is on letting kids help with the cooking.

Even the littlest chefs can help out in the kitchen, whether they're assembling a salad or icing cookies. Follow these expert cooking tips to help keep your kids safe and inspired in the kitchen.

• Spills will happen, so expect a mess. (Think of it as a chance to practice patience - and to teach them the importance of cleaning up!)
• Keep young children away from a hot stove, sharp knives and cheese graters. Wooden or plastic mixing bowls and measuring cups are also safer and easier for kids to handle than glass or ceramic ones.
• Choose simple tasks for very young kids, like pouring ingredients into a bowl and mixing them together with your help. (If you're using an electric mixer, remember to unplug it first!)
• For slightly older kids, start with easy recipes like mixed berries, smoothies, dips and simple hors d'oeuvres.
• Let novice cooks practice cracking a few eggs into a separate bowl at first. (This way you can take out any shells before adding the eggs to the other ingredients.)
• Look for cookbooks that include illustrations for each step of the recipe. This helps even young kids develop their ability to follow sequential directions.
• Even if the final result isn't exactly as expected, pour on the praise for your child's cooking skills. And let them know that you appreciate the help!

When it's time for the grown-ups to move on to the more complex cooking, kids can pretend to create their own festive dishes in our life-like kitchen sets modeled after yours. Add a table and chairs, a few pots and a cupboard to turn the corner of a bedroom or playroom into a kid-sized kitchen. Our mini kitchen sets and play food items are perfect for aspiring chefs who are perfecting their imaginary recipes for chocolate chip cookies, apple pie and mugs of cocoa.