Kids in the Kitchen

We all have fun cooking in the kitchen with our little ones sometimes and other times it is a challenge!

Here is the best tip I have learned for cooking with the under 3 crowd in the kitchen: Have something else for them to "cook" until you get to the part of the cooking that they can really help with!

Toddlers really want to help, but life can be tough when they hear "no" or "in just a minute" over and over again...but of course maneuvering a toddler around a stove or oven often requires many "nos" and "just a minutes" so frustration levels between parents and children can peak pretty quickly. To solve this I have several "cooking" activities for my little ones to help with while I am at the stove or doing a more difficult task. Shown here is a the Plan Toy Fruit and Vegetable Play Set and Plan Toy Breakfast Menu , but two bowls of water and a spoon works wonders too!

I keep these toys and activities just for cooking so they are a special and don't loose their appeal.

It is nice to have him right there when I am ready to let him scoop the muffin batter or put pepperonis on the pizza, or any other appropriate task but not have to be frustrated with his "helping" either!