This article is a collaborative effort featuring words and images from from of my favorite instagram friends! I’m share my WHY behind cooking with toddlers, top tips from 2 moms @littlecookery and @baking_with_kids who are actively cooking with their kids, toddler SAFETY, some toddler friendly RECIPES to make and eat from @myhungrytoddler, and ACTIVITIES that involve food… that toddlers will LOVE to do at home, from @busytoddler! -Bethany
Why do you cook with your toddlers?
It’s my passion
For me personally, being in the kitchen, creating delicious food (and eating it) is my passion! I read cookbooks for fun and I get so excited when I find something new to make. Now that I am home full time as a mother I am obligated to think about cooking even more, being responsible for 3 other little humans and nurturing their bodies with nutritious food. So I am choosing to cook with them so that I can continue enjoying my passion for creating delicious food, with them, at home.
My gift to the world
Being a parent is a most amazing job. You get to instill every idea, every foundation in these children in their minds through your words, your songs and your actions. You are their everything! The best way I know to share my gift and love of food with the world is to instill it in them, and involve them in my dreams and my journey. I truly hope that by involving my dear young children in the kitchen they will in turn share this same love with the world they encounter the rest of their lives. Thus it will become my legacy and my gift to my family, and in turn, the world.
Work myself out of a job
Right now, my 7 month old depends on me for everything. Boy is that exhausting! My 3 year old still depends on me for a lot of things, but for quite a bit less than the baby. And my 4 year old can finally velcro his own shoes, get himself dressed, and even put away his own laundry. It is so gratifying to teach him skills that make my job easier. And ideally, in the long run, many of my responsibilities around the house, including food preparation, will be delegated to my kids. I would absolutely love for my kids to have the know-how in the kitchen to take a turn picking what to make, doing the shopping, and making a meal all by themselves. So every foundation I give them now will make this journey a reality as I train them up to help in our household and in our kitchen.
Mister four is a picky eater
My oldest has always been a very sensitive eater. He likes routine and predictability in his diet, hates trying new things, and is very resistant to many foods despite me presenting them repeatedly. One of my hopes for him is as I expose him to new foods and allowing him to be a part of the cooking process, that he can learn to love new things and expand his palate.
Cooking with toddlers is a great idea in general because…
- It allows toddlers to have a sensory experience while creating something edible.
- It is a great way for toddlers to practice fine motor skills, such as using their pincer grasp and gripping a spoon.
- They get to see what goes INTO food, and the process of making meals.
- It can help them be less picky, and especially as they touch and experience more fruits and vegetables, and new smells and textures.
- It creates great memories as a family unit.
Bethany is the founder of the website Toddler Test Kitchen. Besides her passion for cooking, and being a mother, she loves to read and be outdoors (preferably at the same time).
What is the first advice you’d give me before I dive into cooking with a toddler?
No two children are the same and their need for support while cooking differs hugely depending on age, communication style or even the time of the day!
For example, if you notice your kid is particularly needing your attention your goal in cooking might be togetherness and teamwork. If your child is having a hard time listening make your goal to practice following a routine. Likewise, if you are noticing they could do with a confidence boost find a recipe they can complete by themselves and praise them to heaven and back.
Once you have defined the goal you’re trying to reach you will find you can be very calm about the activity and won’t become upset if the activity results in a not-so-delicious-treat or a kitchen that resembles a post-hurricane situation. You’ll have defined your goal and can now find a way to incorporate cooking as a way to meet the goal.
Cooking with kids is great for teaching them a skill they’ll be able to use for a lifetime, but it can be so much bigger and deeper.
That’s why my other, number one, biggest, most important tip beside goal-setting is to celebrate.
Make a HUGE deal out of what they’ve made. Gift their treats to grandparents while you explain how they made this all by themselves or put on a pot of tea and throw a tea party with their dish as the centre piece.
Lottie is a cookbook author / illustrator at Little Cookery where she shares illustrated recipe project packs, courses for parents and educators and free tools. She’s a boys mom with a big love for minimalism, God, liquorice and Instagram
What advice can you give me to help me enjoy cooking with my children?
I have a 3 year old and a 20 month old and as much as I love cooking with them I can totally appreciate how frustrating it can be as a parent when you love to cook and your kids want to be overly involved. What starts out as a fun baking session can quickly escalate to full scale food fights which leave you scraping pizza dough off your dining chairs for about a week after.
Getting kids involved in the kitchen however, has so many benefits to their physiological and mental development. Kids who get involved in the preparation of their food are less likely to be obese and more likely to eat a varied diet. So embrace the mess and get your kids in the kitchen with these top tips:
Keep it simple.
There’s no need to take on four courses of French Cuisine. Allowing kids to wrap their own tortillas is an excellent start and you can build up from there.
Be prepared.
For very young children you can measure ingredients and chop vegetables in advance. Clear the surfaces of any sharp knifes or breakable items before bringing the kids in.
Lower your expectations.
The kids will think anything they’ve created with you in the kitchen is perfect, so don’t be hard on yourself if it doesn’t live up to your own expectations of perfection.
Be messy ready.
There will be mess-expect it and embrace it.
Timing is key.
Not so much the oven timer, more the mood timer. If you toddler is grumpy following a nap, give it half hour. If your toddler hasn’t napped all day, leave it for another day. If you’ve been up with a teething one year old all night and have run out of coffee, leave cooking with the kids for another day. The whole process will be so much more fun if you’re all happy before you start.
So if you’re ready to embrace the mess and get your toddlers in the kitchen why not try our simple cupcakes, because there’s always time for cake!
Catherine blogs at baking-with-kids.com and @baking-with-kids as a way to compile simple kid friendly recipes via posts and also to rant about life with 2 toddlers in a safe space. We hope that you enjoy making (and eating) the recipes as much as we have.
How can I keep my child safe in the kitchen?
The kitchen presents many hazards – sharp knives, hot stoves, boiling water – so it’s important to consider safety before bringing any child, and especially a toddler aged child into the kitchen.
Always supervise.
You know your child best and how impulsive or obedient they may be to instructions.
In general, nothing sharp, or hot.
When we are chopping I use a butter knife or a plastic knife for them to chop with, so that if it slips it won’t slice their little fingers. This way they can chop away without worry.
Safe station.
Create a safe place where your toddler can cook under your supervision. Make sure nothing sharp, or hot is even within reach. Make sure it is a place they can sit safely without falling. I often bring the cooking tasks to my kids at the dinner table which is away from the stove.
Focus on what they CAN do.
There are many safe tasks that toddlers can accomplish. Think ahead about the steps in the recipe and plan it out so that your toddler helps with the safe steps under your supervision. When it comes to chopping, stick to soft things like strawberries, so that they will have success without having to use dangerous kitchen knives.
What are some recipes my toddler can help me make – and eat?
Here is a little roundup for favorite toddler friendly foods from @myhungrytoddler! Click the image to see the recipe!
Playing with food… aka the easiest toddler recipes ever
Cooking with toddlers can be so simple. I absolutely love these ideas from Susie at Busy Toddler. She posts the BEST simple and easy activities for toddlers. These ones I’ve rounded up just happen to do with food! Click the pictures to find out more.
Plus, here is a list of 25 MORE jello activities for toddlers!
And that’s a wrap! What was your favorite idea from this roundup of recipes and food ideas for toddlers?? Give me a shout out in the comments, and come say hi on instagram!
