Cooking with Toddlers

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I have a DGD who will be 3 in August. She is getting old enough to have fun with. I have made sugar cookies in the past and let her decorate them. She isn't quite old enough to actually "cook" but she can still do many other things.

Does anyone have other ideas on what toddlers can do in the kitchen?

[Coll]

DeBora, Maddie has been in the kitchen with me since she was big enough to sit on my hip. She adds spices, stirs, cracks eggs, puts things in the sink. She likes to play restaurant so she will hand out napkins and silverware, she sets the table. She even likes to help mash the potatoes. (My other three always helped in the kitchen from a young age).
If you have a local craft shop, look for a child size apron for her.

Coll

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I haven't thought about the small apron. She has helped me stir, sprinkle decorations, and things like that since she was old enough to stand on a stool. LOL Thanks!

[ewriggs]

If your kitchen is big enough, a "short" table for her to work at would be safer than standing on a stool. If not, just be careful she doesn't fall off it.

My kids used to mimic me in th ekitchen when they were little, and my grandmother used to give me bits of pastry so i could make my own 'cherry pie' - with maraschino cherries! LOL! I loved doing that. I'd use a tart pan, line it with left over pastry, dump in about 10 maraschino cherries and cover with more left over pastry. Cook in the oven with the "real" pie, and then I would eat it all by myself!! Yumm!

Different kids have different levels of eye-hand coordination at the same age. So just assess where your DK or DGK is and plan accordingly.

Simple tasks:
setting table
getting out utensils, bowls, etc
sifting flour
cutting out cookies
sprinkling decorations on cookies and cakes

More complex tasks:
measuring ingredients
stirring in ingredients
cracking eggs (it's surprising how complex this task is!)
using an electric mixer

more advanced tasks:
separating eggs
whisking
making pastry

For 10 and older:
stirring boiling foods
frying foods
baking cakes and pies


For 12-13 and older:
learning good, **safe** knife skills (Alton Brown had a wonderful program about that with his "nephew" Elton)
http://www.goodeatsfanpage.com/Season8/soup/soup_trans.htm

Other tasks are dependent on the individual child in terms of maturity, eye-hand coordination, and interest.

Hope this is helpful!

Cheerio!
Elizabeth

[ajrsmom]

DeBora, Have your grandkids submitted a recipe for the Kids Cooking Contest here at MM? More info. is in the banner at the top of the page. My son won a wonderful box of stuff.....a kids apron and oven mitts and a box of S'mores cookie mix and I think that there was a cookbook too. :)

Here is his winning recipe: http://www.momsmenu.com/kids/column/sunshine_smoothie_pops.shtml




My DD loves to help with anything that she can get her hands on. She loves to tear lettuce and dump "stuff". She likes to help set the table too.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Well, DGD is just now old enough to help. In the past, she couldn't even put sprinkles on cookies without grabbing some icing! LOL I've had BOTH kids and I have also been getting ready for camping. So, I haven't been able to do much of the cooking that I like. I am planning to kidnap her after summer school is over and do something. Then, maybe we can actually cook something. I figure we can get one kid for awhile and then the other.

[cat lover]

These are a Disney characters mixture he came up with (so the story goes) so he can carry the snack around with him!

I think your 3 year old DGD will be able to "mix" this up just fine!


4 cups popped popcorn
3 cups puffed corn cereal
3 cups mixed nuts
2 cups mini pretzel twist
1 cup raisins

Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

This sounds good too. I am saving it.

[MAMA3]

Thanks For The Ideas; I Have Been Trying To Figure Out How To Get My Four Year Old Into Baking With Me And My Eleven Year Old Step-daughter. I Think Those Ideas Will Get Him Very Interested! He's So Smart. He Can Count Up To 30 And Do All His Abc's. I'm Going To Homeschool Him For A Couple Years Because He Gets Out Of Control With Other Kids Around. I Think Cooking And Baking Would Help With Counting And Other Activities. Thanks Again!!!

[cat lover]

Great, glad you are finding this helpful. Maybe as you get into cooking with them you will come up with some recipes also to share here. Will be anxious :) to see what works with what age group!

[cat lover]

This is one that doesn't require any "cooking" so to say; just assembling so even the smallst can prepare this with help.

Cookies & Cream Pudding Pie

26 oreo cookies
1 1/2 cups cold milk
1 cup vanilla ice cream, softened
1 pkg. (4 serving size) instant pudding chocolate flavor
cool whip, thawed

Place cookies on bottom and sides of pie plate. Cookies should cover plate evenly. Pour 1 1/2 cups cold milk into bowl. Add ice cream and beat with wire whisk till well blended. Add pudding mix and beat with wire whisk till well blended, about 2 minutes. Let pudding stand 3 mintues. Top with cool whip

[cat lover]

Puddin Cones

This is a "no- cook" so good for the youngest; just needs time to chill

1 1/2 cups cold milk
1 pkg. (3.4oz) instant vanilla pudding milk
3 envelopes whipped topping mix
8 cake ice cream cones
chopped nuts, miniature M & M's, or whatever toppings you prefer

Beat milk and pudding on low speed of an electric mixer in a bowl about 2 minutes. Blend in whipped topping mix and cover and refrigerate 1 hour. Spoon 1/4 cup into each cone and decorate with toppings. 8 servings

[cat lover]

This recipe was in our rural electric magazine, it was entered by a little girl, it would be easy for a very small child to make all on their own.

Bed bugs

peanut butter
raisins
1 slice bread

Spread peanut butter on bread. Put raisins on the peanut butter. Fold the bread and eat.