Cooking With Toddlers

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It is rewarding for both parent and child to prepare meals together at home. From about age 15 months, children are able to participate in preparation and cleaning up. Provide a low work surface or a stool at the kitchen counter. The toddler child can:

wash fruits and vegetables
tear lettuce
slice fruits, vegetables, cheese (unless very hard)
peel fruits, vegetables, hard-boiled eggs
pour water a cup at a time into a pot (for boiling pasta)
pour ingredients (rice, flour, liquids) into a pot or mixing bowl
crack eggs
stir batter
spread peanut butter, cream cheese, butter
knead dough
roll out dough, cut cookies
set the table
carry dish to the kitchen
wash the dishes
load the dishwasher
scrub counter, table
sweep and mop the floor (provide child-sized tools)
put groceries and dishes away in low cabinets

Patiently showing the child each step in these activities, and providing appropriate tools, will result in the child becoming very capable in the kitchen. Allowing him or her to help will then take only a few extra minutes.

We observe the children prefer to do meaningful work, especially when they are spending time with a parent. Including them in our daily activities, rather than excluding or distracting them, gives them the possibility of contributing to the family in a way that they are able. Preparing dinner together will help bring peace to the late afternoon hours.

Now, turn off the TV and get into the kitchen!

Susan Tracy, M.Ed. is a parent educator, Montessori teacher, teacher educator, and mother of four. She is the founding director of Learning Together Parent Education Center (www.ltpec.org). She can be reached at (847)567-5873.