7 Fun and Effective Tips for Cooking with Toddlers
Our children want to help in the kitchen, but cooking with toddlers can feel like a daunting task.
How do we include them in the kitchen?
Try these tips about how to get into the kitchen with your kids.
Be sure to check out even more of my helpful parenting tips, too!
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I can’t think of a better way to teach your child about eating well, right from the start, than to involve them in the cooking process.
While it can be messy and time consuming, kids love helping prep food, mix bowls, get down and dirty, and assist you every step of the way—including getting to taste their creation.
Cooking with your child also opens up the door for communication.
Think of it as a chance to spend quality time together, working as a team, and exchanging lots of dialogue.
Your little one will also become more proficient with following directions, and it teaches them a useful skill they will use for the rest of their lives.
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7 Fun & Effective Tips for Cooking with Toddlers
Here are seven tips to consider when cooking with your toddler!
Don’t Stress About the Mess
Most likely, your toddler is going to make a mess. It’s inevitable!
So, put off cleaning your kitchen until after cooking your meal or snack (I once found batter on my ceiling).
And, be sure to dress them in play clothes that are ok to get gunked up.
I have even put one of my child’s art smocks over them so I didn’t have to even dirty my son’s play clothes.
I also find that it’s helpful to have a bucket of soapy water and wash cloths on hand, or even a package of baby wipes to use for damage control as the cooking is underway.
Set Up First
Toddlers have a short attention span.
And, they also aren’t known for their patience.
So it’s a good idea to lay out all of your materials before your child even enters the kitchen.
This will require you to go through every step of the recipe in your head, and having all of the bowls, spoons, ingredients, and measuring cups in place.
I like to use my island and have everything set out in order for added ease.
Always Have a Recipe in Mind
When it comes to cooking in the kitchen, I really don’t like to just wing it.
As mentioned, most toddlers are not going to sit and wait for you to look up a recipe, let alone gather your ingredients.
So pick out a recipe in advance so you can also make sure you have all of the ingredients in stock, as well.
I learned the hard way when I didn’t plan ahead and had to make a quick run out to the store.
Needless to say, my toddler was not amused, was completely impatient, and even uninterested as soon as we got back home.
Use an Age-Appropriate Recipe
When it comes to having your toddler help you in the kitchen, it all boils down to their motor skills.
Very young children may have a difficult time gripping objects, spreading, rolling, or mixing.
So, it’s best to search for a recipe that really complements their developmental stage.
Check Out Toddler Safe Cooking Utensils
There are a number of cooking utensils that are designed just for toddler chefs.
I have a set of nylon knives that are not sharp to the touch, but can cut through objects with ease.
Certain tools and utensils also have easy to grip handles, which are perfect for little helping hands.
I even purchased my son a set of his own measuring cups, silicone prep bowls, and his own wooden spoons (designed in a smaller, shorter size) to help me mix batters.
Keep in mind that some tools are more age appropriate than others (nylon knives are recommended for ages 5 and up), but explore online; you’re sure to find something that your toddler will love using!
Taste Test
Mmmm, what chef doesn’t like to taste what they’re cooking along the way?
It’s just good practice, right?
This is actually a great opportunity to teach your child when it is safe to taste something raw, and when it is not.
It will also teach them that they have to use different spoons to do the tasting, due to cleanliness and hygiene.
It’s never too early to get your child into healthy habits, and by taste testing, they will also tend to be more adventurous when it comes to eating overall.
Have Fun!
I try to teach my little ones to not take themselves too seriously.
So dab some icing on their nose, or toss some powder up in the air.
Play some music while you cook, or even have a small and special apron made just for them to wear (I am also a huge fan of chef hats).
Your child will be excited to step into the kitchen with you, and by having lots of fun, you’ll be making a lifetime of memories.
Wrapping Up
As a child, one of the fondest times I spent with my mother and grandmother was in the kitchen.
And as a mom, I hope that both my daughter and son will look back someday and feel the same.
It’s also really important to me that my kids eat as healthy as possible — something I’ve tried to do since they were both babies — and being able to prepare meals with them makes this even easier!
So consider these seven simple tips for a fun, healthy, and successful cooking activity in the kitchen.
For more kid friendly recipes!
The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs by America’s Test Kitchen Kids
Little Helpers Toddler Cookbook: Healthy, Kid-Friendly Recipes to Cook TogetherFood Network Magazine The Big, Fun Kids Cookbook: 150+ Recipes for Young ChefsSuper Simple Cooking for Kids: Learn to Cook with 50 Fun and Easy Recipes for Breakfast, Snacks, Dinner, and More!
Kate Trout is the author behind Maternity Glow.
She’s a coffee addict, wine drinker, and cheese lover. Oh, and she’s also Mom to the two cutest little kids.
Thanks so much for letting me contribute, Jennifer!
Oh my gosh… are you kidding? Thrilled to have you on as a guest blogger 🙂
more useful information. Thanks you 😀
My daughter is 2 and I try to let her help! She helps pour ingredients into bowls and stirs a little bit before she gets bored. My hope is that I can include her more often and encourage her to try new foods, because this child is INCREDIBLY picky!
Getting your kiddo into the kitchen is a great way to help a child who is a picky eater. I know having a picky eater can be extremely frustrating — I actually have two posts with some great tips too!
1. https://mommyevolution.com/tips-for-picky-eaters/
2. https://mommyevolution.com/why-toddler-picky-eater/
Happy eating!
Great article! My kids love cooking with us and it is so important to have a recipe in mind… Ahead of time! LOL! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ha! I definitely find prep work on my part makes cooking in the kitchen with my kiddos go smoother 🙂
Setting out the ingredients is such a key component, couldn’t agree more. Turning your back for a second, even to grab a spoon is just asking for disaster in my house! In the end though, cooking with my kids makes for great memories. We’ll deal with the mess.
Ah, part of the fun IS making a mess. Right? 😉
I love getting in the kitchen with the kids, but it did take me a while to let go of the whole mess and stress thing. Now it’s a no biggie and I’m able to really enjoy our messy time together. #ALittleBirdToldMe
I had the same issue… worrying about the mess. Once I let that go, it was all fun 🙂
Great tips! All 3 of my kids enjoy helping me in the kitchen. One thing they liked to help with early on was homemade pizza. Thanks for linking up with the Everything Kids pin & link party this week.
Homemade pizza was one of the first things we started with in the kitchen… and it’s still their favorite 🙂
We love having our kids help in the kitchen, even when they were toddlers. It is amazing how well they can do things and what they learn from it if we only give them a chance. We have found that Montessori places offer a lot of cooking utensils for younger kids that make it easier for them to do cooking tasks. Sharing with my followers!! Thanks for linking up with Inspire Me Monday. Have a blessed weekend!!!
Thanks for sharing. And you’re absolutely right about a Montessori approach 🙂 We have fine motor challenges in our house, so we focus on what they can participate in. But if it was up to my boys, we’d do DIY pizzas every night!
SITSGirls brought me here 🙂 Great post, cause I’ve always found it challenging to be effective in the kitchen with my toddler, but I think being prepared using some of your tips is KEY. And not having PATIENCE! Lol. I’m working on it 😉
Toddlers test every ounce of our patience, don’t they? And I’m definitely guilty of skipping including them because it really can be quite a hassle. But I’ve definitely found with some good prep work it can be fun for everyone 🙂
My boys love to help me cook. I love it too … usually. But sometimes I just want to get something done quickly, and that’s when I have to remember to have lots of patience. Thanks for sharing this at Turn it Up Tuesday.
Ha! I understand wanting to get things done quickly. I set up cooking/baking with my kids when we have time and I’m not rushing to get dinner on the table 🙂
Cooking with toddlers are a lot of fun. They are so innocent and cute.
This is so good. I have cooked with my grandson who is now age 7 since he was about 2 or 3. We always make some kind of holiday treats together. His sister is just about 2 and we let her in on the fun for our Easter treats. Great suggestions that I know are true from experience. I have a post on my blog about our making Dipped Easter Eggs last week and I had everything ready to go ahead of time. Love the products you suggested. Tweeted & Pinned.
Thanks, Cathy! With my boys, I started with DIY pizza… which is still their favorite!
Some wonderful tips! Cooking with toddlers is definitely worth it. Thanks for sharing on #ToddlerFunFriday
Thanks for sharing the tips! Your blog is very interesting and useful. My kids love cooking as well.
Great list, was looking for ideas to keep my kids busy this weekend while my husband is out of town on business. It’s about time they started learning some of the basics, so this should be perfect! Thanks!