National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day (Wednesday, Sept. 13) is a great time to stir up your young chef's passion for all things culinary.

Katie Cook, an instructor at Little Kitchen Academy in Bridgeport Village, shared four tips on how to empower and encourage them.

Get hands on with kitchen tools. This improves motor skills, self confidence, and so many other things.
Know children are capable. Adults can model the correct and safe ways to do things, but they will learn faster if they can do the problem solving on their own — even if this sometimes means a bigger mess.
Focus on farm-to-table food literacy. Children are more likely to taste and enjoy a recipe when they feel like a part of the process from start to finish.
Highlight the many life skills that can be taught. In the kitchen, they gain independence, plus math and science skills. They also learn to clean up, reinforcing respect for the workspace and themselves.

While simple, this recipe incorporates ingredients that may be unfamiliar to kids. | Recipe by Little Kitchen Academy

If you can't wait to get cooking, try making this Leeky Galette recipe with them. It's a good introduction to alliums (milder than onions) and teaches egg as a thickening agent (rather than starches). Fresh parsley and sage contribute a pleasant earthy flavor.