2 Year Old Cooking?

I think it is great that you two get to spend this time together. If you feel it is done in a safe manner, than I say cook away! I let my daughter who is five help me, and she has always been my helper in the kitchen.
He will not always want to spend this time with you and sadly, the day will come when he will not even want to be with you. So, enjoy it while you can.

Oh how wonderful. I think it is great that he gets to help. I let my kids help to and guess what.....she wants to become a chef !!! She is 16 and has more cookbooks than me and her role model is Julia Child. Keep on doing what you are doing !!!

My son is two also and he does the same thing. We bring a chair from the dining room into the kitchen for him to stand on and he helps whenever I cook. When we are using the stove, I stand between him and it, which keeps him from getting too close, but I do try to let him stir. If I have to step away for a moment, I scoot his chair into the center of the room where he can't reach anything. If this is working for you, great. I know that for us, it has also helped when it is time to eat. My son is more likely to eat foods that he helped prepare, so for us, its win win.

Both my daughters (2 & 4) have always wanted to help. I let them stand on a stool and they have never attempted to touch the oven. They stir, dump in spices, pour in liquid, etc. I never let them do anything that involves a pan (i.e. flipping eggs but they can certainly crack them). I think it's a great way to spend time together....you have so little time to spend with your children during the day, that this is one way to take advantage of spending time together while doing something you HAVE to do (like cooking dinner). I think it will make him more responsible and eager to eat whatever it is that he has helped prepare. I see no problems! Have fun!

No, you are not crazy! I let my little one help me cook by pouring in the ingredients, etc. She knows the stove is hot and is careful. I think it's great you let him help you!

My son loves to cook we even got him his own kitchen for Christmas. I do let him stir things away from the stove and turn the oven light on so he can watch things cook and occasionally let him flip a pancake, but try to keep him away from the real oven as much as possible. Spattering grease or boiling water can burn sooo bad and after having to scrape a melted plastic pot out of my oven we have made a point to make the big oven and stove off limits. He does help set the table with plates etc, but no hot stuff.

Crazy? No, but maybe a little too early. My son loves to "help" and watch, usually from the arms of whichever of us isn't cooking. (I really need one of those towers.) But the stove itself may be a tad early. As others have mentioned, there is a lot of splashing and splattering that can go on. I usually don't even allow my son around my legs while I am cooking just for the fear of something getting him. I also make him stand next to the counter where he can see, but not reach, while I open the oven. He understands that hot is bad, but there are so many times that you have to glance away, it would frighten me. I don't know the right age, and maybe your son is mature enough to handle it. Only you can make that decision.

When my first son was two he also liked to cook with me in the kitchen. He could actually make scrambled eggs! I think it's great to get kids involved in the kitchen. You know your kid better than anyone so if you think he can do it and you are there to watch him there should be no problem. My second son is 3 and had always liked to help bake but has just recently begun to like cooking with me. He doesn't do nearly as much as the first and I don't trust him as much either. So I would have to be much more careful with him. All kids and moms are different. I don't think you're crazy at all. Just always keep an eye on him and you should be fine.

You are a wonderful amazing mom!
You raise a real good man!!!
Thank you for that!
Hurray!!!

My two and four year olds help me, although mostly with baking, not stove work.

It seems to be working fine for you. If you are right there and he understands, then I actually think that is great. I don't think there is anything wrong with teaching him such things when he is so young. He knows the stove is hot and he knows to be careful. He will probably now be the least likely of many two year olds to get burned.
It's like people who think it's crazy when others let their children handle or carry guns. Actually, when they are taught correctly, know all about the dangers and safety, they are the least likely to cause any harm. Unlike the child who has never learned about gun safety and becomes curious.
Your child is learning safety through cooking and will be less likely to be curious and burn himself because he knows. He has been taught. So there is one way you can look at. Obviously I would never leave him alone, but you don't. So there you go.

I’m of the mind set that our kids can do anything we do when it comes to helping around the house. I love cooking with my kids and always have. Great bonding time I think. There are certain things like cooking, laundry, setting the table, yard work, etc that just require guidance and supervision, and I believe (as I did with my kids) you can start them off on certain chores at a very early age (ex: sorting laundry by color). If your child wants to help you cook, then more power to him! You’re doing a FABULOUS job in getting him to love food by letting him be involved in the cooking of the food he eats. You go Mom!

I totally let my child cook! I think it's a great way for them to help out and learn how to cook. My challenge is sometimes finding different things for them to help with. My friend has a child who goes to a montessori school and from about 1 1/2 the kids make lunch twice a week.

Just an extra fun thing for him to help with -
Home made pizza - you can buy the crusts if you're not up for making it home made.
My daughter LOVES doing this. She will be 3 next month and has BEAUTIFUL pizza making skills! She does the tomato sauce, cheese and all the veggies. I just don't let her handle the raw sausage. (too difficult to keep her from licking her fingers yet! :p)

My son has been helping in the kitchen since he was 2, including stove and microwave. He's 11 now, and a whole lot less helpful. Be diligent and keep up the good work, mom.

i have a three year old, and i guess my short answer is, i don't think you're crazy. i think it's awesome when they want to help, and while i don't let my son stand over the stove on his stepstool (he is ssssuuuuch a clutz!) i do let him stir, get things out of the pantry, etc, whatever else i can find for him to do. just please be very careful! we all know that two year olds have the attention span of a gnat - you can be having the conversation about how hot it is with him one minute, and literally the next he could set his hand on a hot burner. please don't think that he "knows" not to touch it. he may know in two year old terms, but in reality, it's probably just luck he hasn't touched it yet. my three year old son has been told a million times, because he loves to be in the bathroom when i'm getting ready, my straightening iron is hot, don't touch it. can't tell you how many times we had this conversation. well one day i was standing at the sink, fixing my hair, with a hot iron not a foot from my elbow, and i looked down right as he reached for it. burned the snot out of his little fingers. on the one hand, it was just a burn and he got over it. on the other, it could have been MUCH worse. and he literally did it right under my nose. they don't think before they act. unless you have had the conversation in the last 30 seconds, it's likely at some point he will touch it. i won't call you crazy or a bad mom, just encourage you to be super super watchful. i imagine you might get a lot of people telling you you're crazy...lol. off to read those now!

Hi J., no I do not think you are crazy. I am the mother of five adult children and I believe that children need to learn to help around the home as young as possible, I would not have put my 2 year old up to the stove but it sounds like you are being very careful. The only problem I have is that children that young can loose thier balance quickly and accidents do occur so check with your local child services to make sure if an accident does occur that they will not hold you for neglect.

Your not crazy, I take my 2 yr old daughter to work. I manage our family restuarant. She helps and hinders from the front to the back, and does a better job than most of the employees. I think that its great to teach them new things, especially in the kitchen. Who knows maybe when your little man grows up he will be a famous chef?
I hope this helps, especially coming from a single mom.

My 2.5 year old LOVES to "help" cook! I think it's great! Get them interested early! Plus, I think when they help out, they are more likely to EAT what they've made, and be less fussy. :)

Have you heard about these Kids' Kitchen cards yet? They have 40 fun vegetarian recipes that are easy enough for kids to make themselves, and really fun! You can find them here- http://store.barefootbooks.com/kids-kitchen.html/?bf_affi....

Bon Appetit!
T.

my little girl has been helping daddy cook in the kitchen since she could stand. just as long as we're vigilant in making sure the kids are aware of the possible dangers of a hot stove and have close supervision, it's fine, have fun and enjoy these days when they want to help, it'll be too soon before we'll be fighting with them to do it them themselves!

I don't think you are crazy. We used to let our kids help at a young age too and they loved it. Our now-12 year old grew to love cooking and baking so much that she actually started her own bakery business a couple of years ago. She did a web site, sent out post cards, and started getting orders from dozens of people in town. Now she does it just for fun because she's awfully busy with school :)

Kids learn so much when they do activities like that, and some are more ready than others - so if your son can handle it, why not? It will build confidence and so many good things for him.

Enjoy and happy cooking.

I think it depends on the kid. My oldest did great at the stove at that age. He heeds warnings incredibly well, and is super careful. My second, however, is a spaz! He wasn't even helping me cook and touched the stove and burned his finger. So only my first one helps me near the stove.

I haven't let my kids help me cook dinner, but they have stood by the stove or sat on stools and watched. I wouldn't let them stir the pan or anything, but that's mostly because they can be clumsy at times, and I'd like to eat my food not clean it up off the floor. I think it's great that you're teaching your child how to cook and letting him help you. He's learning life skills and that's important. I say, WAY TO GO!

So many times, parents say "no, you're not old enough" or "no, this is too dangerous" and discourage kids from helping and learning when their interest levels are high. Then later, when kids ARE capable of helping, parents feel resentful that their children no longer have the interest and have not learned the skills necessary to help.
I think having a little sous chef in the kitchen is wonderful for so many reasons--togetherness, learning math skills, nutrition discussions, following directions, and on and on. My sons have "helped" me since toddlerhood with only a couple of minor burns that encouraged future carefulness. I did purchase a toddler-sized apron in kind of a thick vinyl-coated material to minimize both the mess and the risk of burns from any hot splashes.
Keep watching him closely, but enjoy your time together and know your inclusive, positive attitude about daily work will benefit your relationship forever. Bon appetit!

My grandaughter loves to cook and watches the cooking channel rather than cartoons. But I don't let her at the stove. To the side and to help with that part until older. Two is very young and if something does happen, it only takes one second is it worth it? No. Please don't let him help at the stove until a little older. There are so many other things that he can do that are safer. Emma likes to wash dishes, abit of a mess but much safer. Burns can be scarring. The reminder would always be there.

I think it is great! Of course, you have to watch him carefully to make sure he is safe and not leave him alone...but it sounds like you are doing all of the right things! What a great way to learn with Mama! :o)

PS...just because you allow him to cook with you doesn't mean other family members need to..... everyone at their own comfort level, right? :o)

What a wonderful mom and me time for your little one.
My children have always been in the kitchen since they were little too. By the time they were six they were cooking scrambled eggs by themselves and all I had to do was stand in the kitchen.
You are teaching a life skill that he will need. I hope he is still in there when he is 15 making you dinner. :o)

Good for you! Letting my son help me is the only way I get dinner made some nights. Yes, it is nerve wracking and you have to watch constantly (watch that he doesn't fall off the stool as well) but I don't think he is too little. I actually even let my son touch a not-quite-too-hot pan so that he would realize what I was talking about when I said no don't touch. I checked it (several times with sensitive parts of my arm and such to make sure it would not burn him) and then let him touch it when he tried again. He hasn't done it since. I do try to let my son do more of the stirring and stuff with items that aren't on the stove yet, and assembling things and avoid the stove altogether, for my peace of mind. And I agree with the other poster, since you showed him how to climb up on a stool and reach the stove, you need to make sure everything up high is also babyproofed in case he gets in there sometime without you. But I would just enjoy this time with your son while it lasts, what a great mommy-son time! And it is great for toddlers to be involved in meal-making to help with their eating habits throughout their lives.

what a great time you two can have together!! I must confess that my first reaction to the idea of a little one around the stove was "yike" but as long as he understands that it is a potential danger and as long as you are there with him CONSTANTLY I don't see the problem. My oldest daughter has a "learning tower" that her 2 month old son uses to get up on the level of all the action in the kitchen. It is this great little invention that keeps him safe because it has railings on all four sides so he can't accidentally fall off. she and our grandson work on everything together...he helps knead the bread dough, he stirs the ingredients into the cookie mix, helps "measure" things. It is a great bonding time AND a great learning experience for him.
Enjoy!!!

I have 5 children, 8 and under. All of them love to help in the kitchen! Like yours, they love to stand on a stool next to me at the stove. I let them all pour stuff into the pan, but I think they're more like 4 before they start stirring. By 8, my son can do a lot of cooking for himself: oatmeal, pancakes, muffins, mac and cheese, canned chili, ramen noodles... And it's because he's been allowed to participate since he was very young. I would not say others are wrong to have their children wait longer, but I don't think it is necessary, and both he and I enjoy the independence he has developed.

Sounds like great one-on-one time to me - as long as you watch carefully so he doesn't get hurt.

I do it too. You're not crazy, as long as you look after him really good, I think it's fine. In my opinion, the earlier you can teach them something the better.

I knew a chef who had a learning tower and her children helped her cook every evening too. I think it's great, but just be safe. Look at the learning towers. At 13 months my son LOVES to be in the kitchen with me - doing what I amdoing, NOT playign on his own!! I plan to get him involved soon as I think he will stand for longer periods.

My 2-year-old son helps in the kitchen, but I would never let him near the stove. He is very fast and though he knows that the oven is hot, he also forgets things and needs to be reminded all the time. Perhaps your son is more ready for the stove aspect, but my son is definitely not...instead he is completely happy to be a helper from the counter top (which has its own danger...he has fallen off a couple of times) and add ingredients for me.

On another note, be careful mommies about kids playing in the kitchen on the floor (which is why I keep my son on the counter). When I was growing up, our kitchen was one of those roundabout kitchens with the doors on either side so you could run around and around through the kitchen to the living room to the dining room and back to the kitchen...my mom was cooking bacon for breakfast and she did not realize my brother (who is very quiet) had wandered into the kitchen and was sitting behind her and she turned to dump the bacon grease from her pan in the sink behind her, tripped on my brother and dumped the full hot pan of grease on him, burning his arms and legs and bits of his face. To this day, my mom still feels so terrible (even though, thankfully, he was not scarred) and because of that, I will not allow ANY kids in the kitchen if I am using grease at all and I do not allow the kids to play on the floor of the kitchen!

I think its great that you let your son help you with dinner..he is being involved in what you are doing. Yes you may want to get some baby proofing items where he cant turn on the stove or anything like that. Good job for letting him to involved..he wont feel left out.

I know a ton of people have already told you this, but yes I let my 2 year old help. If I didn't he would probably just be driving me crazy anyway;) I think it's fine. I have place he can stand that is a safe distance away from the stove and I just move him close when there is a task he needs to do, then he goes back to his little spot. This way I think I can avoid him getting burned or starting a fire as we have a gas stove.

I don't think you are crazy but I also don't think it's a good idea. The kitchen is the most dangerous room in the home. He shouldn't even be in there. Just as an example, my friend was making mashed potatoes and splashed the boiling water down her front. .. 3rd degree burns. What if your little man is in the kitchen and something like that happens? We are all parents here and we all know that you can't watch a kid every single second. This is an accident waiting to happen.

You are not crazy and tell everyone else to just calm down. I have three kids and one of them took to cooking at around 1 1/2. I would let him stir on the stove, crack eggs, anything he was up to. He would even take a table knife and cut up potatoes and other easily chopped items. He was always fine, I always watched him very carefully and never had a mishap.

Now that being said, My other two children were never the kids that could be trusted in this situation until they were older. Although they knew the stove was hot, the chances of an accident was pretty high. I have just started letting my middle boy help on the stove and other things at 4 and my daughter - NO Way yet.

I did have a friend who's little girl was just under 5 and she wanted to help so bad and typically did just fine but one day grabbed the handle of the pan and dumped boiling water on herself and partially on her face. She has permanent scarring now. This is just a little reminder that as great as they seem and as careful as they are they are little and need to be CLOSELY monitored.

I think you encourage your little chef to keep with it. It is great fun and a great time for both of you.

Bon Apetit!

Lets put it this way my jaw dropped when I read the part about him helping you stir on the stove, before I got to the rest. Howevr he is your son and you can do what you wish. Kids are very smart and as long s you are right there and never go one foot away and you feel ok with it they keep doing it. I, even though saying that will not do it. As much as my daughterlistens very well and folows oreders and feel I can trust her not to touch thes stove, they do slip, fall, and have minor accidents like we all do even as adults but a toddler sometimes cannot catch themselves as fast or that hand goes somewhere and cause some serious injury and it was all an accident but could it have been avoided. Just be very VERY careful.

No I think its great that you are spending that time with him which he probably loves more than the cooking itself. Children are like sponges and remember what they are told and do from such and early age and it will stay with him that he has to be careful around a cooker and boiling pots and such. I always watch Jamie Olivers programmes, and watched him give his little girl a knife to help cut veg up for him. The truth is its not what they are doing but whether we are vigalint and dont forget that children can loose concentration easily and try to jump off a chair or run under your feet when your carrying something hot to the table.

You're not crazy.

I always involved my son in the cooking. I never actually let him next to the stove itself (except to see or to add ingredients to the pan, from being in my arms) because we didn't have this small screen in front of the stove (to avoid pan to fall over by accident)
It's good for them to be involved and it teaches them many things (that they are valuable members of the family, that cooking is fun and eating veggies too, that hot pans can burn so they need to be cautious...)

I think it is GREAT that you have the patience to let your son help at such a young age. I don't think your crazy. My girls ages 4 and 2 also love to help. Since there is two of them I don't let them by the stove, they tend to fight sometimes and it worries me. I do let them snap beans, put salads together, stir things, set the table... How else will they learn? Besides if you get them in the habit of helping out now, with cooking, chores, brining in groceries... you won't have a fight on your hands when they are teenagers. Keep doing what your doing!

You are not crazy. If you are watching him, he won't have the opportunity to get hurt. I wish I could have the kids help me, but when I do it turns into something from the 3 stooges. Have fun with it while he still wants to help!

Hi J.,
I think you're off to a wonderful start. We have a 3 and 5 yo and both help in the kitchen with all that there is to do. Mixing, baking, frying, stirring, cutting and cleaning. They also know how to unload the silverware and set the table (properly mind you). Sometimes they are both in there helping out at the same time and I will admit that is very challenging for me. Our 3 yo (son) loves to cook but he all by himself is a handful so I have to watch him and work with him side by side. We've experienced some small ouches but once it's over it usually doesn't happen again because they remember it hurt. I do try to teach the kids the dangers of the kitchen so they learn to respect it and be serious about what they're doing. It's not much different then a ton of other things we do in our life that can be dangerous. Keep a watchful eye and enjoy your time together it will go fast. Blessings, L.

My DD has never been burnt using the stove or oven and she started at age 2 as well. The iron, OTOH was where she ended up with a nasty, nasty burn. Go figure.

My DH always thinks I'm a little nutty letting the kids into the kitchen, but he's the type that would rather see them wrapped in bubble wrap too. :)

My son, also just turned two, helps with cooking as well. Its normally with pots and pans that are empty, or just have some rice or water in them, and he DEFINITELY makes a mess. He isn't ever by the stove when it IS hot, but he gets it, and feels like he is helps. I don't think you are crazy. I would continue to be careful, and know that meals are going to take longer, but that is how kids learn and hey, some day, when he needs to cook YOU meals, you'll be very very grateful you taught him how!

We've done this for ages. Age 1-2 was dry ingredients... mixing, pouring, ripping, etc., 2ish was the stove plus wet ingredients, etc. My 7yo just "graduated" into using sharp -wustof & henkels- without mum's hand to guide him, but we've been allowing him to use them with our hands on his for about 2 years now.

<grinning> You're lucky with the stool... I would actually have to hold my son up to stir (scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, etc.) over the stove.

Of course we are, and have always been extremely careful and vigilant.

I've always thought play kitchens a colossal waste of money when there's a real kitchen RIGHT THERE. Only about 1/10th of cooking involves anything hot or dangerous. My son already knows how to cook better than his dad, and has good instincts as far as dishes go.

Speaking of another kind of "dish", he's also been helping clean up the kitchen since he was about 2.

I don't think you are crazy. I am a single mom and my kids always want to be helping me. I let them help flip the pancakes on the skillet or put the pasta in boiling water. They can stir things for me also as long as they use the long spoons. They love the responsibility and it helps them to understand how the food on their plates gets their and I think gives them a better understanding of healthy eating. They even like to make their own creations my son, loves a breakfast sandwich he designed. One slice of bread (not toasted) layer of pb, sprinkle on the cinnamon put a little syrup and then fold. Obviously not the healthiest but a heck of a lot easier then french toast. Let them be creative and have fun, just make sure they are safe.
N. - single mother of a 4yob and a soon to be 3yog!

You're not crazy, I think your son is lucky to have a mother that takes the time to let him help. Problem is, if he slips or loses his balance somehow, he may pull something down on top of himself. I think you would feel so bad. But only you know what he's like, only you get to decide. Maybe your husband has an opinion. But no one else can say.