How to Let Your Toddler Help in the Kitchen

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By rarendarczyk
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Let Your Toddler Help in the Kitchen

You can instill a life-long love of cooking as well as bond with your toddler and help them develop by involving them in meal preparation.

Here are a few tips on how to let your toddler help out in the kitchen.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Step stool
Meal or baking ingredients for your recipe
Access to a variety of measuring cups, spoons, plastic zip baggies, and plastic containers

Step 1

Mise en Place: To use a culinary term, mise en place (have everything prepared) BEFORE you let your toddler in the kitchen to help. Particularly, chopped ingredients. That way you can put any knives and sharp items, like vegetable peelers, before your toddler joins you.

You should also be sure you have ready access to everything you will need to prepare your meal or recipe. This includes the ingredients, utensils, pots/pans, etc...

The more prepared you are, the less likely you will be distracted while you are working with your toddler in the kitchen. Fewer distractions = lower risk of accidents!!
Step 2

Mise en place mentally! That means think about the components and ingredients of your meal or recipe and identify the simple and safe things your child can help with.
Step 3

Invite your toddler into the kitchen and cook away! Have your child stand on a step stool or chair somewhat off to the side, but still in the mix so he or she can be involved, reach items, and help you "cook". Remember to keep things simple. In general, preparation activities are where your child can help the most. Your toddler can easily help measure, mix, pour, stir, and whisk.

Let your toddler use measuring cups to measure both wet and dry ingredients. If they are too little, you can measure and scoop and have them dump into the larger mixing bowl or pot. Mixing batters, stirring wet and dry ingredients, whisking eggs or gravy mixes are all good for toddlers. Use a zip-top bag and let your child shake the baggie to coat pieces of meat. This is very fun for them and there is zero mess! You can use a simple mixture of bread crumbs and seasonings or use a ready-made, store-bought coating mix. You can also let your toddler place biscuits, cookies, or dough on the cookie sheet before you bake.

Once the food is actually cooking or in the oven, there won't be much for your toddler to do. Have them help set the table instead!
Step 4

Make things fun, but also incorporate learning as much as possible. And... talk to your toddler while you work! Explain what you are doing, count, sing songs, and even make silly faces. Smell, touch, and taste! You can also review colors, learn about hot and cold, do simple math (if they are ready), and just have a good time in general.