Top Tips for Cooking with Toddlers and Having Fun!
Doing just about anything with toddlers can be both a joy and a pain.
If your little ones enjoy helping, here are some tips for getting them involved in the kitchen.
They are amazing because they have their own little minds and want to do everything themselves.
If you plan on cooking with them, here are a few tips for cooking with toddlers.
Our Top Tips for Cooking with Toddlers
When you’ve found the perfect recipe to cook with your little ones make sure that you follow these top tips.
They help make baking and cooking together a real pleasure and your tots will grow up with fond memories of cooking at home as well as learn a valuable life skill.
Why not check out some of our Toddler Crafts for other activities to do at home with your toddlers.
1. Plan for Extra Time
While cooking can be time-consuming as an adult, just wait until you cook with toddlers.
Always give yourself quite a bit of extra time to complete a task.
Whether measuring, dumping, stirring, or trying to clean up a mess, remember that toddlers are learning and aren’t as coordinated as you are.
We recommend starting with recipes that are quick and easy to make together and can be enjoyed fairly quickly after they are finished – why not try a simple fairy cake recipe.
2. Preparation
To save a little time, have all your ingredients and tools out and ready to go.
Not only will you make sure you have everything you need, but you won’t have to turn your back on toddlers in the kitchen while trying to locate something.
Weigh out your ingredients before hand and place in bowls if they are lot of ingredients, use a visual recipe card like our Jam Tarts one for making it really easy to follow.
3. Set Rules
Some recipes require the use of knives or can openers or other items that can cause injury if handled improperly.
Make sure the toddlers know the rules (ie. only adults use knives, don’t mess with open cans, no pushing or fighting, etc.) and understand that they must listen well the entire time.
Help them learn knife skills with some knife practice for toddlers using playdough play food.
4. Create a Place
Be sure your kids have safe stools or chairs to stand on.
Everyone needs to see into bowls or at least up on the counter.
If you’re comfortable with little ones sitting on the counter, go for it!
If you want more space then why not move your cooking to the kitchen table. It’s where our grandmas did the mixing and baking as worktops were limited in small kitchens.
Check out our Rice Krispie Nests which were one of our favourite kitchen table recipes.
5. Wash Hands
I try to make sure the kids know how important it is to wash hands and not lick their fingers.
Especially if we are making something that doesn’t get cooked afterwards!
6. Everyone Gets a Job
Look ahead at your recipe and plan out which child can handle which job.
This can cut back on arguments or fighting in the middle of the process.
It can also save your sanity.
All of the recipes for cooking with kids on Rainy Day Mum have a function to print them out on the blue recipe cards.
You can then easily keep them aside and plan which jobs to do as you go along.
We are also making visual recipe cards that will be available to purchase in our store or to our cooking with tots subscribers each week.
7. Don’t Be Afraid of the Mess
Cooking with toddlers is messy, no way around it.
It’s hard to give up control, especially when it can mean a lot of work after the task is complete. But remember the kids are learning – and learning a valuable skill!
When you teach them how to function in the kitchen and how to read a recipe, you are preparing them to be self-sufficient.
And if a gigantic mess is made, make sure you include them in the cleanup!
See our top tips for getting your toddlers to clean up to help you on your way.
8. FINALLY Relax And Enjoy!
Messes can be cleaned.
It’s worth having a fun experience with your toddlers, even if it means a little extra elbow grease.
This is one of my favorite tips for cooking with kids!
Not only will including your toddlers in the kitchen boost their self-esteem, but you will also be teaching them valuable life skills that can benefit them their whole lives.
So let go a little and let everyone get involved.
Our Top 3 Recipes to Get you Started
Have we inspired you to get started? Then why not try these 3 easy recipes to cook together next
What are some tips you have for cooking with toddlers!
More Tips for Having Fun with Your toddlers
Cerys Parker
Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, teacher, mum, and home educator from the UK. She loves getting creative, whether it is with simple and easy crafts and ideas, activities to make learning fun, or delicious recipes that you and your kids can cook together you'll find them all shared here on Rainy Day Mum.