Rainbow wants so very badly to help me cook. I have a gate barring access to the kitchen. 90% of the time if I am cooking she is at the gate begging me to let her come in and help.
I do let her help sometimes. I should probably let her help more often. I feel guilty, but everything takes ten times longer with her “helping”. I usually don’t start on dinner until after my husband gets home and can help with keeping an eye on the baby, so I’m working within a time limit. I also have a very small kitchen. I like it that way. Heck it was one of the deciding features for picking this house.
The problem is there really isn’t anywhere for Rainbow to safely be in my wee kitchen. She ends up smack in the middle of the room. I’m constantly stepping over her. Since she can’t reach the counter we end up assembling dinner on the kitchen floor. Seriously. Putting together a roast on the kitchen floor. And having to shoo the damn cat out of the way.
I end up giving her “make work” tasks. Like while I was peeling the parsnips for the roast, I gave her the bag of mini carrots and let her place them one by one in the roast pan. I give her cloves of garlic to peel. I sometimes let her help measure stuff, or pour things into the mixing bowl. That usually gets pretty messy though. She loves to stir things. But again, messy!
I feel badly because not only am I giving her silly make work to do, but she also seems to be catching on. She wants to “really cook”.
I’m conflicted. On the one hand, I don’t want to discourage her. I want her to want to help, I want her to learn. I also want her to be safe. I’m not letting my three year old near the stovetop. And then there’s the mess/annoyance factor. I feel badly when she’s at the gate begging to be let in the kitchen, but sometimes I just want to cook in peace. I just want to get through getting dinner ready, get it over with, and not add another 30 minutes to the process.
Does anyone have suggestions for things she can help with? Some easy kid recipes? Or do you think that at three she is just too young?
The "silly work"? That's cooking! That's great that she's willing to do those things, the things that keep her "busy" while you do the grown-up stuff. It's still giving her hands-on exposure to cooking and food, ingredients and measuring. Just giving her the chance to hold and manipulate food gives her lots to learn about. She's definitely not too young! Even as (older) babies, I would put the twins in their high chairs and give them food to hold and inspect… tomatoes, bananas, whole unpeeled citrus fruit. It they get squished, it just adds to the fun! Now, if they're interested, I'll give them "silly work" too. We make cookies together from time to time… they especially like the chocolate chips 😛 My kids are not big eaters, but when they help cook I find they eat more!Perhaps a kid-sized table that will keep her busy in one area? That might prevent her being in the middle of the kitchen… or maybe even working at the kitchen table.As for things she can do… pizza? Have her put toppings on english muffins, tortillas, mini-pizzas etc. Stirring and measuring are always fun. If they make a mess, yes it means more clean up, but in the end it's worth it 😛 Kebabs – fruit, veggie, even candy kebabs are fun. Preparing salad – tearing lettuce, sprinkling toppings, etc. I think one of the parenting magazines out there (Today's Parent maybe?) has recipes every month, and they list the things kids can do to help with each recipe.Milk Painting! Add a few drops of food colouring to milk. Have her paint a slice of bread (not too much, don't want the bread to be soaking.) Toast the bread, and you'll end up with a pretty painting ready to eat!I have more… I'll look up stuff in my archives and send some ideas your way 🙂
My boys have been helping (and yes I use that term loosely) in the kitchen since they were old enough to sit on the counter. I can tell they are growing based on where their head sits under the cabinets. It does take longer and is sooooo much messier, but it's great bonding time and kids love to stir and pour. If you see me post a recipe, you will usually see a photo along with it of a boy on the counter licking spoons or stirring away. I only don't let them help if the food is intended for anyone outside of the family, I don't want them sticking their fingers into that or accidently sneezing in the food. yes, it happens, and that statement alone probably just summed up why you don't let her do it!
My son wants to help out a lot too. I sit him on the counter and I have him "steady" the bowl while mixing. I usually let him do the mixing at first and then say "Ok, now let momma get all the bits at the bottom. Thanks for helping!" He's a utensil passer. I also pre-measure stuff and have him dump it in the bowl all at once. He loves doing that!I like making dinner interactive like reading out the ingredients off the recipe card.I know what you mean about it taking so much longer to do…don't feel guilty about it…we all feel this way. I think it comes with the "Mommy badge".
Thanks for the suggestions guys!Sounds like you all have a lot more patience then I do.>;-D