OK, this is tough for me. My son has his 4th b-day coming up and my wife is trying to figure out what is the best gift for him. He loves to help us in the kitchen when we are cooking. She suggested that we get him a kitchen set to put in place in the kitchen so he can pretend to cook while we are making dinner. Am I being too much of a scared male by saying no. I mean, the easy bake ovens and barbie cook sets of my day were all pink and girlie. IF she could find something that had Emeril all over it I could see letting it fly, but I really feel like Im giving the go ahead for "Jazz Hands" here. Am I analyzing it too much or am I justified in saying no. Im really sorry for even having to post this. Thanks from an overly macho DTR member.

 

I like to cook but I optedfor the lil helpers tool bench when I was a kid....got lots of fun outta that. Im with ya on this one.

 

What would you say if your daughter wanted a tool bench set, or a dumptruck? If he enjoys it, why not? They have the kitchen sets in more manly colors too. What about a BBQ grill set?

 

Get him a little four wheeler. That will get his mind off cooking real quick. You can get a used little suzuki 50 for like $1000. just my take, but if I was in his spot, Edit yea.

 

Let the boy play with whatever he wants He is just mimicking you guys when you cook.

The only thing I would be concerned about is that he doesn't get confused and think the stove is a toy as well. Many children get horribly injured in kitchens, we don't want that to happen to your sweet child

 

All I have to say it is important for a man to know how to cook..............
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over open fires and BBQ's.

One example of this type of situation, is an ex girlfriend had an 11 year old some that grew up without a father figure since he was a baby to step out some of the girly things in his life. When that movie Brokeback Mounatain came out, she wanted to take him to see it. I asked her quite directly if she wanted him to be, well, limp wristed as an adult - he was pretty much a wuss already.

Now seriously, yes it is important for your son to know this stuff for later in life, but it is my opinion he should learn from Dad.

 

Meet in between with your wife...get him a toy BBQ pit trailer to pull with his tonka truck and let him grill on that while ya'll cook in the kitchen!!

 

I faced that same thing many years ago ... I lost the arguement.

It didn't turn my boys into flaming sissies .... so I think you are probably just fine . Honestly, there isn't anything wrong with it .... but it might make more sense for YOU to take the young fella into the kitchen and show him that us guys need to know how to cook & wash dishes too .... he will be a bachelor ya know !!! My boys loved learning how to make Dad's Beer Can bacon & eggs.

PISTOL

 

How many famous chefs are women? Yes, (some) men do have their place in the kitchen.

Personally, I enjoy throwing some meat and veggies in the crock pot and cooking up dinner on occasion. Yes, I've even sautéed. If that make me a wuss, so be it but then again, you might want to ask Wannadiesel how much of a wuss I am.

 

My Son will get one next Christmas So he can Cooken (His Words) Like Daddy and He love the Truck too all is well.

 

My mom taugt me how to make my self scramble eggs and toast when I was about 4 yrs old. I did the same for my kids and grandkids that I am around. The 5 year old grandson that love food can make french toast, eggs, heat up soup on the stove or in the micro wave. He likes it warm, not hot. So I would say, if he is intrested in cooking, teach him how.
On a flight, met a 70 old gentleman, he was the head chief at an upscale hotel in SF. Made good money, think it was $470.00 a day, for 7 hours work, but on his feet all day. Time and a half for OT. He learned to cook from his grandmother as a kid.
Teach them the correct way and go from there. I have a 14 year old grandson in the Seattle area that is an excellent cook, and can put on a great meal. He is all boy.

 

I have to agree that it would be tough for me ( or to even let the wife ) to buy a kitchen set for my son. However....taking the time to think about it and discuss it, usually makes me see that whatever makes him happy is what we should buy him! Now.........any friends have a kitchen set you could "have him play around" for awhile? Might lose interest real quick when it is just playing and not the real thing.........just a thought! I loved to cook when I was younger, and still do from time to time! Can't ever remember wanting to (or actually ) play like I was cooking........KEEP THE RECEIPT! That's all I got to say!

 

Get him some charcoal briquettes, lighter fluid, some matches, and call it good.

 

Well, why not get him a toy truck he can pedal around and teach him to cook and have a tailgate party at the same time!

 

I do not see the "limp wristed" or "pink ribbon" etc being a result from learning to cook at a young age. With my nephews (I ain't got own kids so take it for what it's worth) I found that they really do prefer the real thing- be it cooking, woodworking, wrenching etc.
They do like their toys too- but the quality time is when they can help (and learn) to cook, to wrench, to saw, hammer,file etc with an adult and with real tools and real results. Right after making their own scrambled eggs they are about 50 ft tall and muscled up like HE-MAN - not too bad for a 4.5 yo guy

Just my 2c

AlpineRAM