TikTok Mom Faces Criticism For Letting 3-Year-Old Cook Dinner

Everyone has their own way of parenting. What works for one family might not be best for another. TikTok user @lauralove5514 learned the hard way that sometimes sharing your parenting methods online is an open invitation for all kinds of people to comment on them.

The now-viral video of her three-year-old cooking dinner has started a discussion online about how much responsibility a toddler can be trusted with.

Kids In The Kitchen Is Not A New Idea

Small boy in red chefs coat and black hat holding flaming sauté pan over stove.
Photo Credit: Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo Credit: Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images

In many cultures, children helping out in the kitchen is not a new concept.

Learning how to cook and prepare food is viewed as a part of growing up in a family.

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Little Baker Is A Mess-Maker But Mom Embraces It

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Little Chef Cooking
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Photo Credit: Lisa Wiltse/Corbis via Getty Images
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Letting young children play in the kitchen is proven to be great for developing fine motor skills and their sense of measurement.

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Even though it's sure to be messy, the experience for the kids is totally worth it!

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Children's Cooking Classes Are A Thing And They're Awesome

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A children's training program on how to become a chef
Photo Credit: Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo Credit: Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Most cities around the world now offer classes in the kitchen that are guided by instructors for children who love to cook.

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But that didn't stop online trolls coming for @lauralove5514 on TikTok when she shared a video of her three-year-old helping her make dinner.

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While Laura was excited to share her son Carter's accomplishment, people online were quick to try and cut her down.

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She started receiving nasty comments asking if she was forcing her son to participate and keeping him from playing.

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This Mom Had No Time For Mommy-Shamers In Her Comments

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Small boy pouring beef broth into measuring jar
Photo Credit: TikTok / @lauralove5514
Photo Credit: TikTok / @lauralove5514
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@Lauralove5514 responded quickly when this person suggested Carter was her personal slave. She told her followers that Carter loves to cook and is doing so because he wants to.

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She made multiple videos to defend herself and show that her son simply loves to cook in the kitchen.

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Toddler Has Been Helping In The Kitchen Since He Was 15 Months Old

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Screen shot from TikTok video in caption, young boy seasoning mixed peppers in saute pan on stove.
Photo Credit: @lauralove5514 / TikTok
Photo Credit: @lauralove5514 / TikTok
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Some users were shocked to find out that Carter has been helping his mom in the kitchen since he was 15 months old.

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His mom wanted to encourage his interest in cooking and now, at three years old, it's one of his favorite things to do.

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How Young Is Too Young To Cook Dinner?

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Screenshot of comments section from TikTok video in caption
Photo Credit: TikTok / @lauralove5514
Photo Credit: TikTok / @lauralove5514
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One commenter critiqued the mom for letting the child cook dinner, suggesting instead that she let the kid play with toys.

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She said she is teaching him valuable life skills and that he actually gets upset when he is not allowed to help with dinner.

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Toddler Has Mini Meltdown When Told He's Not Allowed To Make Dinner

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She uploaded this video in response to some of the hate she was getting about "making him" participate.

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Clearly emotional, the child is immediately soothed when he is told he can help make dinner. Poor little dude just wants to cook!

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These Are Just Some Of The Benefits Of Letting Your Child Help In The Kitchen

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Small boy in black shirt adding sauce to ground beef simmering on stove
Photo Credit: @lauralove5514 / TikTok
Photo Credit: @lauralove5514 / TikTok
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The mom strongly believes that her children are capable and smart enough to help her out in the kitchen.

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She says that her son is learning about caring, nutrition, measuring, and most importantly, he enjoys it.

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Do We Underestimate Young Kids' Abilities?

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Photo Credit: @lauralove5514 / TikTok
Photo Credit: @lauralove5514 / TikTok
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This forward-thinking mom ends her viral video by saying that she thinks people underestimate what toddlers and young children are capable of.

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She says if you give them the opportunity to learn they will prove to you what they are able to do!