My daughter has enjoyed helping in the kitchen every since she was old enough to walk and stand on a chair at the counter. Making cookies is a favorite of hers as well as making muffins and sweeping the floor. It’s fun to have planned projects and baking days but including your toddler in the kitchen doesn’t have to be a big production or stressful. In fact, I think it is best to do day-to-day kitchen tasks with your children, not just the fun stuff.
Including your toddler in the kitchen, even the boring stuff, is so important for your child. Even at the age of two, your child is starting to learn important life skills. For me, one of my goals as a parent is to teach my child the simple but important things of life like doing laundry and basic cooking skills. Sometimes, as moms, we just want to do things ourselves because it is faster. While there are times where that does need to happen, it is also important to make sure you are including your children and teaching them how to do certain things. Here are a few ways for including your toddler in the kitchen. This tips are also great for preschoolers.
Washing the dishes
No, your toddler can’t actually wash the dishes for you. But you can have them next to you while you are working. We use a chair next to the sink (I have always wanted one of these kitchen helper stools though). My daughter will sometimes hand me things to wash or would be happy splashing in a bowl of water on the counter. Just be sure to have a towel under the bowl and possibly an apron on your child. Things can get a bit wet…or soaked. π Also be careful to keep sharp and dangerous things away. My method for is to wash the dangerous things first then have my daughter come join me.
Baking cookies, muffins, etc.
This is one task my daughter has always loved to help with. For us, it isn’t so much a fun task as it is a weekly task. We make muffins for my husband’s breakfast and cookies for his lunch every week. This is a kitchen chore for us, not a special treat. My daughter has been helping me for almost two years now. She knows what items to bring over from the pantry even. She will help with measuring out the baking soda, salt, flour, etc. I do have to help her get the right amount, not a mounded over or half empty measuring spoon. She is even working on her counting skills. I use a 1/3 cup scoop in my flour so I need six scoops to equal two cups. She will count as I put in scoops.
Cleaning up
Yes, this is something my daughter has always loved to help with. I have talked before about making chores fun for kids. Cleaning up is another one of those super important life skills. When I sweep the floor, my daughter gets out her little broom and dustpan and helps sweep too. She will also help wipe up messes on the counter. If she makes a mess, like if she spills water all over the floor while helping with the dishes, she will be given a cloth to clean it up.
Making a grocery list/going shopping
Now, I know it is a lot easier and more fun to go shopping without a toddler in tow. I’m the first to jump at the chance to go shopping alone. However, most of the time, I am shopping with my child with me. I’ve lucked out and she is super easy to shop with as she loves to shop. But there is more to it that just taking her with me. We discuss meals as we go through the aisles or why eating vegetables is important or how we find the best deal on an item. She is learned a little bit as we shop. I also like to include her in the list making part of shopping. She will help me look through the pantry to see what we need to purchase. Sometimes she just plays with the expired coupons that I need to throw away. Either way, I try to include her in the “getting the food” aspect of kitchen work.
With a few steps, it can be very easy to include your toddler in the kitchen. It can be a fun and educational time. How do you include your small children in kitchen chores?
Barb @ A Life in Balance says
I love seeing all these great tips for including kids in the kitchen. My kids are foodies thanks to genes from their father and I. We’ve always included them in the cooking stuff. I’m happy to see we’re not the only ones!
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Julie says
I turned my husband into a foodie and hope to do the same with my daughter by keeping her active in kitchen activities. π
Life Breath Present says
Yes! We do these things too. As Baby Boy gets older and wants to be ever more involved in the kitchen, we certainly let him help with the dishes, spice the food, clean the table/chairs, and so much more! He loves it. We (mostly) love it. And, in the end, things get done, he learns, and we’re all a bit happier with a nice clean kitchen space! π
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Kelsey Ferguson says
I love this, Julie! My little guy is obsessed with baking and cooking. He always tells me, “you go get some ingredients, Momma. Let’s cook!” He also has a thing about cleaning, but I think that’s more because I turn on fun music when it’s time to pick-up! Thanks sharing your ideas with us. π
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Julie says
My daughter won’t let me get the ingredients. lol. At 2 years old, she knew what we needed for cookies and what we needed for muffins and would insist on getting them herself. π
Ashley says
Love the post! Thanks for these ideas, I’m always looking for ideas for things to do with my toddler! I found your article through the Shine blog hop π
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Rachael says
I love the idea of having her clean up as you’re in the kitchen. I think it’s great for kids to learn that their is satisfaction in doing chores, that it’s not something to groan about. Love the tips for shopping too! My daughter is just 4 months, so we’re not there yet, but hope to do some of these things with her in the future!
Julie says
Absolutely. Plus, cleaning is just part of cooking. The sooner those two things are taught together, the better. π
bPatty says
This is amazing! I never think to include my two toddlers into the kitchen unless we are making something together such as a dessert. I should start teaching them to do the dishes. lol! I bet that would be a messy lesson for a bit but they would like it
Susan Raber says
My kids are all older – the youngest is 14, but they thank me regularly that they were always included in the kitchen, at the grocery store, and in the laundry room. Few of their friends are as self-sufficient as they are, and they are very happy to be able to cook and shop for themselves.
You start with toddlers, but responsible grown ups is the end game.
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Julie says
Absolutely. I’m all about teaching kids how to be responsible grown-ups. The earlier you start, the easier it is to learn. It just becomes a way of life.