How do they move so fast?

With a curious, busy 18 month old , the idea of actually preparing a meal without suffering serious property damage or charring the meal in the process can be daunting.

But by taking advantage of your toddler’s curiosity, desire for sensory stimulation, growing motor skills, and budding imagination, you can keep your child entertained, engaged, and right by your side while you work in the kitchen.  Here are four simple ideas to get you started:

1.  Do the Dishes:

Set your child up with a safe chair or step stool at the kitchen sink.  Add a little soap and water to the basin and give your child a few utensils to play with in the water.  Turn the faucet on to a slow drip to create more interest.  Once you’re done cooking, your sink will be ready for your dishes!  (Tips: Make sure there’s nothing near the sink that shouldn’t end up in it.  We are talking about toddlers here!  Also, I’ve learned by sad, soggy experience that anything that can hold water will be filled and likely dumped out onto the floor.  Measuring spoons, whisks, and spatulas work best here!)

2.  Get Cookin’:

Let your little one play along.  A small saucepan with a wooden spoon along with a plastic measuring cup for pouring will do the trick.  Sometimes an empty pot will do, other times you may need a little play food, water, dry pasta, or craft pompoms for pouring and stirring.  My little guy has also enjoyed having canned food around to pretend to pour in, or simply to place in the pot whole!

3.  Pull Out the Pans:

Your kitchen cupboards are full of fascinating containers!  Muffin tins and measuring cups are often toddlers’ favorites!  Add those with loose parts to manipulate and move from one container to the next.  (Note that this, as well as the other activities, assume that you are supervising closely as you work side by side in the kitchen.)  Items that work well for this activity include unifix cubes (above), craft pom poms, small crackers, cereal, or dry pasta.  You could also add in some tongs for another level of fun experimentation.

4. Fill Up a Bin:

Keep a flat storage bin and a drop cloth handy for some sensory play in your kitchen.  Using media like colored rice, dry pasta, craft pompoms,  or shredded paper, along with a few scoops, plastic figures, and/or toy cars will keep your child engaged and entertained so long you might start making gourmet meals!  Teach your child boundaries for sensory play by using these tips.  When  you’re done, hopefully the bulk of the mess will be on the drop cloth, and you can simply fold it all together and shake it back into the bin.

What do you do to keep toddlers entertained while you cook?