Cooking with a Toddler

Helping out in the kitchen is one of the most enriching activities there is for a toddler: it combines motor skills, language, counting, and self-confidence all at once.

Assign a real task

A toddler can spot a make-believe chore right away. Stirring, sprinkling spices, removing leaves from a branch, or kneading dough are real tasks with visible results. That works better than having a play kitchen right next to it.

Make sure it's at eye level

Climbing onto a chair by the sink is unsafe. A learning tower or a sturdy high chair at the table makes it possible for your child to join in without you having to hold onto them the whole time.

Expect it to take twice as long

If you're in a hurry, it won't work. Pick a day when it doesn't matter if it takes longer—then the mess won't be a problem either.

Talk as you go

Describing what’s happening introduces many new words: cold, slippery, heavy, cutting, mixing. See “Encouraging Language Development Without Exercises.”

Helping out makes eating easier

Children are more likely to try something they've worked on themselves. That's no guarantee, but it does make a difference for children who are reluctant to try new things.

Safety, in brief

Hot pans, knives, and the oven should be kept out of reach. Assign tasks that can be done on the cool side of the counter, and always turn pots and pans so the handles face inward.

See also: Why Your Toddler Wants to Do Everything on Their Own.