Comments on: Cooking With Littles http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/04/cooking-with-littles.html Naturally inspired living for the Christian homemaker Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:36:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: She Pregnant » Blog Archive » Cooking With Kids: Ways to Involve Young Children in the Kitchenhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/04/cooking-with-littles.html/comment-page-1#comment-48496 She Pregnant » Blog Archive » Cooking With Kids: Ways to Involve Young Children in the Kitchen Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:27:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/04/cooking-with-littles.html#comment-48496 [...] Cooking With Littles [...] [...] Cooking With Littles [...]

]]> By: Hesterhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/04/cooking-with-littles.html/comment-page-1#comment-20634 Hester Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:14:31 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/04/cooking-with-littles.html#comment-20634 -feed them first -feed them during -occupy those busy hands with simple tasks (although this increases cooking time a great deal at first, my kiddos - well, not J - are at the point that they're actually helpful) -prep food (or make the entire meal) first thing in the morning when everyone's happy -keep meals simple -leftovers :-) Rod & Staff's "Mother's Little Helper" Cookbook is very sweet - one page has the child's instructions, the facing side is for "Mother" -feed them first
-feed them during
-occupy those busy hands with simple tasks (although this increases cooking time a great deal at first, my kiddos - well, not J - are at the point that they're actually helpful)
-prep food (or make the entire meal) first thing in the morning when everyone's happy
-keep meals simple
-leftovers :-)

Rod & Staff's "Mother's Little Helper" Cookbook is very sweet - one page has the child's instructions, the facing side is for "Mother"

]]> By: Nolahttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/04/cooking-with-littles.html/comment-page-1#comment-20633 Nola Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:12:38 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/04/cooking-with-littles.html#comment-20633 I'll have to check that out, thanks! My kitchen is very small, so I do not allow kids to play in there, it would be too dangerous. I do allow my 3 year old to stand on a chair and help me with things at the sink and counter of course though! That is the best way I accomplish things with her around. If I give her some time, then often she gets bored after a while and she will go play in the living room. It helps our house is open concept so that makes up for the small space. With the baby I often wear her in the Moby wrap or ergo that I have, unless I am working with hot stuff or at the stove etc. I have a little bouncy seat thing that I can set her in for that, but often she doesn't want to be there long. Sometimes I set some simple stuff up for her (3 year old) at the dining room table too, or put on music for her, which makes it more fun for her. I also give her small jobs to do that are age appropriate. Having a cupboard (for me in the adjacent dining room) with real (but safe) kitchen things at a child's level can help when they are about 1 or so and into that getting into everything stage. I'll have to check that out, thanks!

My kitchen is very small, so I do not allow kids to play in there, it would be too dangerous. I do allow my 3 year old to stand on a chair and help me with things at the sink and counter of course though! That is the best way I accomplish things with her around. If I give her some time, then often she gets bored after a while and she will go play in the living room. It helps our house is open concept so that makes up for the small space.

With the baby I often wear her in the Moby wrap or ergo that I have, unless I am working with hot stuff or at the stove etc. I have a little bouncy seat thing that I can set her in for that, but often she doesn't want to be there long.

Sometimes I set some simple stuff up for her (3 year old) at the dining room table too, or put on music for her, which makes it more fun for her. I also give her small jobs to do that are age appropriate. Having a cupboard (for me in the adjacent dining room) with real (but safe) kitchen things at a child's level can help when they are about 1 or so and into that getting into everything stage.

]]> By: Sarah Mhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/04/cooking-with-littles.html/comment-page-1#comment-20632 Sarah M Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:59:30 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/04/cooking-with-littles.html#comment-20632 although I have a toddler and a newborn (who just hangs out with us in the kitchen!), this isn't super hard to do IF you adjust your time schedule. Instead of dinner taking 30 minutes to make, I find it is much more relaxing and FUN(!) if you begin with the idea that it's going to take twice as long (at least). This is something that our family has done for the 10 months (our son will be 2 in june) since our little guy could walk well. He climbs up on a stool, puts anything measured into the bowl for baking, and often helps with rinsing dishes to put into the dishwasher (and unloading them!). I think the biggest hurdle moms have to get over --including me on less patient days-- is that they take longer to do things than we would like. If we're patient with them, it not only becomes something fun to do together, but they are learning responsibility and chores at such an early age!We have some of our best times in the kitchen! Good post! Sarah M although I have a toddler and a newborn (who just hangs out with us in the kitchen!), this isn't super hard to do IF you adjust your time schedule. Instead of dinner taking 30 minutes to make, I find it is much more relaxing and FUN(!) if you begin with the idea that it's going to take twice as long (at least). This is something that our family has done for the 10 months (our son will be 2 in june) since our little guy could walk well. He climbs up on a stool, puts anything measured into the bowl for baking, and often helps with rinsing dishes to put into the dishwasher (and unloading them!). I think the biggest hurdle moms have to get over --including me on less patient days-- is that they take longer to do things than we would like. If we're patient with them, it not only becomes something fun to do together, but they are learning responsibility and chores at such an early age!We have some of our best times in the kitchen! Good post!
Sarah M

]]> By: Allysonhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/04/cooking-with-littles.html/comment-page-1#comment-20631 Allyson Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:24:08 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/04/cooking-with-littles.html#comment-20631 Here's a post I wrote awhile back on involving children in household tasks. <a href="http://a-heart4home.blogspot.com/2008/09/living-simply-saturday-involving-our.html" rel="nofollow">http://a-heart4home.blogspot.com/2008/09/living-simply-saturday-involving-our.html</a> Now, I'm headed over to the Panel Post to read all of your ideas! Allyson <a href="http://a-heart4home.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">http://a-heart4home.blogspot.com</a> Here's a post I wrote awhile back on involving children in household tasks.

http://a-heart4home.blogspot.com/2008/09/living-simply-saturday-involving-our.html

Now, I'm headed over to the Panel Post to read all of your ideas!

Allyson
http://a-heart4home.blogspot.com

]]> By: Sarahhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/04/cooking-with-littles.html/comment-page-1#comment-20630 Sarah Sun, 19 Apr 2009 00:31:44 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/04/cooking-with-littles.html#comment-20630 I have my 16-month old daughter "help" me. I set her up with a chair and let her watch me as I cook. I have a drawer in my kitchen with all her "supplies" that she can play with as she helps. She'll sample all the food as I'm preparing, which has been a great way to introduce her to some awesome raw veggies. It takes oh-so-much-longer to get anything done (and is super, super messy!), but she has a great time, I feel like we are really bonding and it allows me to live my life as an example to her. I have my 16-month old daughter "help" me. I set her up with a chair and let her watch me as I cook. I have a drawer in my kitchen with all her "supplies" that she can play with as she helps. She'll sample all the food as I'm preparing, which has been a great way to introduce her to some awesome raw veggies. It takes oh-so-much-longer to get anything done (and is super, super messy!), but she has a great time, I feel like we are really bonding and it allows me to live my life as an example to her.

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