This 24-Year-Old Mom Has Been Teaching Her Baby to Cook Since 12 Months Old — and He's Already a Pro

Most parents wait years before handing their kids kitchen duties. Deanna Knight decided her son was ready by his first birthday.

Deanna Knight and her son, Russ, became an internet sensation when the 24-year-old mom of two decided to start filming her youngest child helping her in the kitchen. She started him young, at only 12 months old.

Knight began by easing Russ into simple meal-prep tasks and gradually increased his responsibilities from there.

"We began with really simple things like washing fruits and vegetables, transferring ingredients, stirring and helping with snacks," she told People in a recent interview.

"As he's gotten older, we've slowly given him more responsibility," she added. Knight said she tries to include Russ in kitchen tasks several times a week, particularly when preparing his snacks, noting that the toddler "loves" being involved.

"He gets so excited when he gets to help and is always eager to participate. I've also noticed how proud he is when he gets to try what he makes!" she shared.

The Tennessee mother believes that involving children in cooking gives them a chance to develop real-life skills while also building confidence and independence.

"They're capable of so much more than we sometimes give them credit for. Cooking also naturally teaches practical life skills, fine motor skills, language, math, concentration and following a sequence of steps," she said. "But beyond the skills, I love that it gives us meaningful time together and allows him to contribute to our family."

These days, Knight lets Russ "take the lead" with "small, manageable jobs," and notes that "children are naturally curious, so once you give them an opportunity, they often want to participate."

Still, she admits it hasn't always been easy adjusting to a slower pace in the kitchen, acknowledging that the process now takes longer and gets messier than if she did it herself. "It can be tempting to just do something yourself because it's faster, but I've learned that the extra time is worth it," she shared.

Knight regularly documents Russ' progress on her TikTok and Instagram accounts, hoping to encourage other parents not to wait until their children are "old enough" to get involved. The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive and heartwarming.

"There are age-appropriate ways to involve children from very young ages," she emphasized. "When we give them real opportunities to contribute, they learn that they are capable and that their contributions matter."

While she keeps knives and other potentially dangerous tools out of reach, Knight notes that Russ has his own set of child-safe cutting utensils. She reiterated that the approach comes down to "starting small and meeting your child where they are."

"You don't need a complicated recipe or a perfect Montessori kitchen. Give them one simple job and gradually build from there," Knight said. "And expect a little mess! The goal isn't perfection — it's giving them the opportunity to practice."

"Cooking with my children has become such a normal and meaningful part of our everyday life, and I wanted to show other parents what it can actually look like with a young child," she added.

"I think sometimes social media makes Montessori activities seem complicated or picture-perfect, when really it can be as simple as letting your toddler help make their own snack."