In the Kitchen - Toddler Tips

Preparing and cooking food in the kitchen is both a necessity and a balancing act when it comes to taking care of a toddler at the same time.  The two tips I have heard the most for entertaining toddlers in the kitchen are 1) have a lower cabinet within the toddler's reach where he can take out Tupperware and pots and pans (non breakable items) to play with and 2) take out pots and pans and a spoon and encourage him to bang and play.  Neither of those two tips work for me, so here are some experiences and tips of my own.

1) Choose one thing your toddler can do and set limits.  When my little boy first started pulling himself up to stand he would crawl into the kitchen with me and open the lower cabinet doors.  My rule with him was he could open any of the doors (but no drawers) and he could look inside, but he was not allowed to touch anything.  His curious mind wanted to see what was there and his drive to see how things worked made opening and closing the doors fun.  He would even inspect the hinges and try to figure them out.  I removed him if he broke the no touching rule and he was no longer allowed to open any doors for a period of time; I was consistent.

2) Bring toys into the kitchen and direct the play.  Now that he is older and walking around on his own just fine he also has lots of toys that hold his interest.  Sometimes I bring his box of Mega Blocks into the kitchen for him to build and start helping him and once he's engaged I can leave him to build while I cook.  Since he loves his toy vehicles sometimes I bring a few in the kitchen or encourage him to drive them into the kitchen and he will park them along the wall one by one.

3) Get a play kitchen for your toddler so she can "cook" her own food while you are cooking.  This would probably work the best if your kitchen has space for a play kitchen.  My son's play kitchen is in the living room adjacent to the kitchen where I can check on him as needed.  Also, a play kitchen does not have to be new or fancy.  There are plenty of used kitchens or ideas on the web for self-made simple kitchens that kids will love to use.  I recommend looking on Craig's List, at resale shops like Once Upon a Child, and at yard sales.  Just add a few items like spatulas and play food - check out the Dollar Store - and the kid's kitchen is set.

4) Finally, include your toddler as an assistant while you cook.  This is something for older toddlers who can stand on a stool without falling, who can follow instructions and it is the parent's discretion as to whether the child is ready for this.  My son has his own little apron now and a chef's hat he will wear and he will happily join me at the counter and stir ingredients or watch me cut up food while he plays with something on the counter (often a container and lid since he loves lids).

I hope these tips are helpful to other parents - feel free to share your own tips in the comments!

Singing off...patty cake patty cake
Gina