How to include a toddler in the kitchen can be a daunting thought. They are typically in the way, messy, and have almost no capability to contribute anything helpful to the project at hand.
That is until we change our mindset and the goal of including them.
Why should we include a toddler in the kitchen?
It teaches practical skills at an early age.
It gives kids a basic understanding of how food “appears” when they are hungry. This helps them with both gratitude and patience as they grow.
It fosters intentional time for my relationship to grow with my child.
These are three of the reasons why we decided to include Ellanor (and soon enough Lewis) in the kitchen work with us as soon as we could. We desire to raise mature, responsible, adults who love the Lord. When we know our goal in parenting, it’s a lot easier for me to be intentional in areas where I would rather do things by myself.
Is it dangerous to include a toddler in the kitchen?
Technically yes. Just like it’s technically dangerous to let them do basically anything. This is why we include them, meaning, bring them into what I am doing. Everything is supervised and I only give projects that are appropriate for my toddler’s physical and mental capacity.
Should toddlers be in the kitchen?
Of course! And let’s be honest, if I’m in the kitchen, they are usually in the kitchen too. So if my child is learning at an early age how the kitchen works, they quickly learn what is and isn’t helpful and to appreciate the process.
What tools do you need to include toddlers in the kitchen?
You don’t need anything special to include toddlers. They are happy with whatever you have. The things that we have found to be incredibly helpful are a step stool that our daughter can pull up to our side so that she is at a comfortable height, but you can use a chair if you feel comfortable with that.
If you don’t feel comfortable having them stand, bring the supplies to the spot where they sit at the table or in their high chair. We also use this Montessori kitchen set for toddlers and have enjoyed the amount of stuff it has allowed our daughter to safely do.
Also, if you have something you use often in the kitchen, it’s a great idea to get a mini version for your little one. I use an apron almost every day and a wonderful friend gifted our daughter one for her birthday and she uses it almost every time we are working in the kitchen together. These are some toddler aprons I found on Amazon that are adorable.
What are ways to include a toddler in the kitchen?
Pouring and Mixing
The first way to include a toddler in the kitchen is by letting them pour and mix ingredients. If you know that you’re going to let them help, have things premeasured in bowls or cups that are easy for your toddler to grasp so that they have an easier time pouring it in, and you know that the correct amount has been added without having to count while also manage chaos.
When it comes to mixing, let them mix with spoons or whisks. Use a bigger bowl than you think and make sure to hold onto it while they are mixing.
Once you are comfortable with how well they do these two things, they can help with things that are on the stove. I let Ellanor stir things on the stove if it is something I’m not rushing with, doesn’t burn easily, and won’t boil over. I never let her do anything with a cast iron skillet or the oven.
Get Their Hands On The Food
The second way to include a toddler in the kitchen is to let them cut or peel or “break down” whatever we’re going to be eating. For this, we use the Montessori kitchen tools. It has kid-friendly tools that are effective and helpful. I was a little hesitant about the peeler but it worked great for peeling butternut squash. Ellanor helped cut salad vegetables over the summer and when she was hungry I would get out the cutting board and cookie cutters and she could cut out her shapes (she still had to eat the whole slice of cucumber, but she enjoyed that she could see the shape in both pieces).
I let her help me remove the seeds from the butternut squash and she will help me shred cooked chicken with her hands. If it’s not an extremely hot or cold food, I will let her help me break things down.
We encourage her to do a lot of the cutting and peeling but we don’t let her use it on slippery food right now. So she can work on apples, but not a ripe peach or tomatoes.
Setup and Cleanup
A third way to include a toddler in the kitchen is to bring them into the setup and cleanup. They participate in the fun part of it, they should do the not-fun parts of it, but don’t make it sound that way! Express to them that they are big enough to help and give them small jobs like running stuff to the trash or the table.
I will pull out silverware and give it to Ellanor to set the table with or I’ll pull out condiments that are in plastic containers and have her bring those out. I will also ask her to get small supplies that are easily identifiable from the pantry.
Ellanor brings her step stool up to the sink and she rinses off the soap from the non-fragile items like silverware and kids’ plates and bowls. When I unload the dishwasher, she is responsible for emptying the silverware container. (There’s nothing sharp for her to hurt herself with.) It took some practice for her to get it, and a lot of grabbing for spoons but getting forks, but she knows where a lot of things in the kitchen belong.
Intentional Conversation
The last way to include the toddler in the kitchen is with your words. Sometimes it’s easy to get to work in the kitchen and power through so that you can get done. I do it a lot. But when I slow down and take the time for intentional conversation in the kitchen, my daughter shines. It’s a great place for education, relationship building, and encouragement. We talk about each item of food that we have and where it came from. Sometimes it’s the grocery store and sometimes it’s the garden. Each one brings up its branches of conversation. We count ingredients and practice saying hard names of ingredients. Ellanor practices her colors and shapes while we cook too. Our conversations started choppy but are becoming more natural because it’s what we do in the kitchen, we talk.
I don’t know if these ideas sounded simple or hard to you but either way I encourage you to try them. Whether it’s with your child, a niece or nephew, or a grandchild, intentional time spent in the kitchen will reap benefits. The kitchen is always considered the heart of the home because it’s the center of it, but it could be the heart of your home because it’s where you’re taking the time to fill up the hearts of the little ones entrusted to your care.
Do you have any tips for including toddlers in the kitchen? Or a memory of when you did? Share it in the comments below.
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