How to Keep a Toddler Busy While Cooking?

My daughter had her "shelf" with all her plastic bowls, etc that she would sit in the floor and play with. Also, if my husband was home from work, that would be his time to have daddy-daughter time while I cooked. That backfired sometimes, though, because they would BOTH end up under my feet! LOL

If you don't mind the noise, have a cabinet drawer or cupboard specially for him (and usually child-locked so it would be special at cooking time). Have tupperware, big spoons, old pots and pans, etc. When you're ready for dinner prep, just say "let's go cook dinner" and open that door/drawer. It worked for my 3 children and I was used to the chaotic noise anyway.

Bon Appetite!

Hi K.-

I do totally the opposite of the others. And, it's not unique or engaging - but it's okay for times you don't want to be. I put in a movie for the kids - like a Baby Einstein or Thomas. Just a half hour episode so I can cook. I don't like them in the kitchen with me at that time. I've heard too many stories of kids getting burned accidently. I even baby gate them out of the kitchen.

They can play in there pretty much anytime during the day - with pots, pans, magnets on the fridge, etc.

The boys don't watch TV a lot, just a few shows a day, and I think it's a fine form of distraction when I'm cooking.

Good luck! C.

Have you thought about giving him some pots,pans and spoons to play with? You put him out of the way but where he can see you while you are cooking. He might be loud but he is not underfoot!

My boys are a little older than yours (2 and 5), but they still drive me crazy running around with swords or whatever. I've created two baskets, one for each of them, and filled them with "table toys". They only play with them while I'm cooking dinner and they have to sit at the table. The younger one has little books, playdoh, lace up toys and the older one has books with mazes, legos and sticker books. Of course you can adapt your basket so that its filled with baby/toddler toys. When I'm ready to set the table, the boys put there stuff back in the basket and help me with the napkins, utensils and whatever else I need. I don't always use it so that they don't get bored with it, but when I catch myself yelling across the house to referee an argument, its easier just to say put the balls and bats away and come play with the table toys. So far, they don't complain. Good luck with it.

K.,

I have given my daughter her own drawer with fun/safe kitchen stuff to play with...one that she can reach and do her imaginary cooking. She also has free reign of the bottom of my pantry where I have put her a little basket full of plastic fruits and veggies, a small chair and various other items(including spices) that she can play with. She loves this, and it keeps her very busy.

Our daughter will leave me alone while cooking if she has her own "cooking things" A spoon and a colander will provide a lot of fun for her and she's sortof copying mom, which she loves to do.

We have 2 different ways.

1. We have 3 sets of magnets (Leap Frog) on our fridge that i tell the kids to play with. It has music too so I will dance along with the music and they get a kick out of it.

2. Fish. We got a double beta tank for 2 betas. I will put the tank at their table and chairs and they will sit and watch them. This is the only time they are at their level and they love it.

Good Luck!

I found a little kitchen at a resale place that I put in a little breakfast nook area in the kitchen so she could cook dinner for her babies while I cooked dinner. She even set up her little table. Until I got the kitchen I had a drawer with some play food and wooden spoons and such that she could "cook" with when I cooked.

One thing I rotate in for cooking or rainy days, I tear off long sheets of freezer paper and tape them together to make a huge paper to draw on. He can sit on the paper with crayons and scribble away.

~ t

i let my daughter either help me, like stirring something in a bowl, or if it is something that she really cant help with & might get hurt then i take a little flour & water & make her a little piece of dough she can play with...or i will let her mix up something like instant pudding, i put her in her high chair & measure out the milk & let her stir it in...even if it comes out lumpy she likes it bc she made it!

Have him cook with you! He's still a little young, but there's plenty he can "help" do. Once my daughter started helping me cook, I could cook again! Plus, she eats a lot of raw veggies while we're cooking together - far more than she'd eat just sitting at the dinner table.

I got a step stool and had her stand on it so she was at a better height. She loves to help me stir, and helps me dump ingredients into a bowl, particularly when I make sauces. I talk her through the process and measurements. It's too early for her to really grasp math, I'm sure, but I'll say, "We need 1 teaspoon, and this is a 1/2 teaspoon. So, we'll need two of these to equal 1 teaspoon." Or we'll count things, like 3 cups of something, one at a time. It at least starts her thinking about it. I probably didn't start this until she was closer to two, but I think I could have earlier, and I certainly will with the next child.

If all else fails, I'll admit to letting my daughter watch an episode of Elmo or Wiggles at about that age. It was 20 minutes, and it at least gave me a little time!

Lots of good advice here. I still think my grandmother was the smartest woman in the world (after 9 children and way too many grandkids I think she had it down). She had a cupboard in the bottom of the pantry that had old spoons, pots, containers of various things she no longer used, an old box of macaroni usually lived here and empty boxes of oatmeal etc. These were only played with when we were "cooking". As my grandma added, stirred or seasoned she encouraged us to do the same with our "stuff". We all felt so uniquely privileged to be ALLOWED to help, and special from her "attention". I don't think any of us ever knew she was keeping us occupied.
K. @ The Nestingplace

This may sound bizarre, but I put an ice cube in my son's sippy cup last night (no lid) and it kept him entertained for about 20 minutes! He happily played with the ice cube, and put it in and out of the cup while sitting on the kitchen floor. Had I known how much fun he'd have, I would have done this months ago!

Break out the pots, pans, spoons and let him "cook" while you cook too... :) That what I've always done.

I have a son that will be 3 in September and he loves to help (so does my 5 year old) in the kitchen. But like you, I worry about them getting burnt or cut. The five year old is old enough to help more. With my nearly 3, I take my silver ware tray (no sharp knifes) and dump it on the kitchen table and have him "clean it up" while I cook. He loves organizing the silverware! If he gets done with that too quickly, he gets to organize my tupperware! If I'm doing something that he can't get hurt with I put it at the table and let him help. Some days he stays distracted in his bedroom with toys. When all else fails, pop in a movie!

'some days' my 18th old will be entertained for 20 minutes in the highchair with paper and Crayola stampers (pack of 3 for about $8). plus crayons - as long as your watching while you chop, the crayons are so tempting to put in little mouths. Sitting in the highchair is sometimes entertaining enough as they can see what is happening.

You can also try keeping him busy with some fridge magnets. Keep them in a box and only take them out when you cook so he doesn't get bored with them too easily. The advice the other moms gave about letting him play with kitchen stuff on the floor is a good one too!

I agree about letting him help, but have a further suggestion. If you can spend the $, I highly recommend the "Learning Tower". You can google it. It is a little platform tower with rails that will let up to two toddlers stand up high without falling. My oldest always wanted to help at a young age, but was two young to stay up on a chair without me being right there. Now she and her younger sisiter can both climb up and help or watch safely, and I never worry that theyw ill fall. It is pricey but has been well worth it for our two girls. GOod luck!

I let my daughter "wash dishes" while I cook. I fill the sink with a little water and bubbles and throw some plastic dishware in there. She has a little step stool she uses. And she takes the scrubber and sponge to her dishes. It keeps her busy for quite a while.

I let my daughter sit at the table or in a high chair and color, play with play dough, etc. If in a high chair, she's not going to get herself in trouble around the stove. When she'd sit at the table, I found enough interesting things for her to do, like the mentioned activities, to keep her entertained.

Good luck.

L.