Ten Ways To Keep A Toddler
Entertained In The Kitchen
Entertained In The Kitchen
By Teresa Kolvek
toddlerdish.com
toddlerdish.com
Anyone who has tried to cook a meal while watching a
toddler knows how difficult a chore this can be. I know that
if I don’t keep my little girl busy and entertained, she’s
either off in another room scaling the furniture, clinging to
my legs and screaming for attention, or grabbing for hot
pots and kitchen shears. So, here are some ways I’ve
found to keep her safe and happy while I get dinner ready.
1. I have a cabinet for her to explore. I keep the bottom
three shelves of my pantry stocked with things like boxed
(sealed) macaroni and cheese, cocoa mix, small canned
goods, dry cereal - things she can take out, stack,
rearrange, sort, etc. We even got her a little plastic
grocery cart ($8.99 at Toys R Us), so she can shop in the
pantry to her heart’s content.
2. I’ll set her up in a high chair with a big bowl of corn meal
or oats, and some plastic measuring cups and spoons.
She has a ball pouring, measuring, and stirring. Note - this
can get messy but sweeps up fairly easily; or you could use
a drop cloth if your floor is carpeted.
3. My daughter likes to play with refrigerator magnets.
Toddler-safe magnets can be lots of fun and provide good
entertainment. We bought her a barn magnet puzzle kit (as
an alternative to potentially unsafe regular magnets) that
plays songs when she matches the pieces; it’s cute and
she enjoys it.
4. Stickers are always a good diversion, if you don’t mind
peeling them off the cabinets!
5. We will sometimes give her a task that can be done on
the floor or in a high chair, like “sorting” the mail. This
makes her feel as though she is helping out.
6. I will occasionally get a step stool and let her stand at
the counter and help to prepare the meal. She can do
things like tear up lettuce, or place chopped vegetables
into a bowl, or put shredded cheese on the lasagna.
7. I’ll position her on a stool at the sink and let her “wash”
some plastic dishes.
8. I give her a kid-sized broom and let her sweep the
kitchen floor (hopefully she‘ll still enjoy this type of thing
when she gets older!).
9. We will often turn on the radio so she can sing and
dance to the music. Note - this is much more fun (for both
of you) if you join in, too!
10. If all else fails, and she doesn’t want to go along with
any of these activities, I know it’s because she is hungry
and I give her a light snack. You don’t want to spoil their
appetite for the upcoming meal, so just be sure to make it
something healthy and not too filling, like diced fruit.
Cooking with toddlers is a challenge and a half. Try some
of these tips, and also remember to have fun! They’re only
this age once.
toddler knows how difficult a chore this can be. I know that
if I don’t keep my little girl busy and entertained, she’s
either off in another room scaling the furniture, clinging to
my legs and screaming for attention, or grabbing for hot
pots and kitchen shears. So, here are some ways I’ve
found to keep her safe and happy while I get dinner ready.
1. I have a cabinet for her to explore. I keep the bottom
three shelves of my pantry stocked with things like boxed
(sealed) macaroni and cheese, cocoa mix, small canned
goods, dry cereal - things she can take out, stack,
rearrange, sort, etc. We even got her a little plastic
grocery cart ($8.99 at Toys R Us), so she can shop in the
pantry to her heart’s content.
2. I’ll set her up in a high chair with a big bowl of corn meal
or oats, and some plastic measuring cups and spoons.
She has a ball pouring, measuring, and stirring. Note - this
can get messy but sweeps up fairly easily; or you could use
a drop cloth if your floor is carpeted.
3. My daughter likes to play with refrigerator magnets.
Toddler-safe magnets can be lots of fun and provide good
entertainment. We bought her a barn magnet puzzle kit (as
an alternative to potentially unsafe regular magnets) that
plays songs when she matches the pieces; it’s cute and
she enjoys it.
4. Stickers are always a good diversion, if you don’t mind
peeling them off the cabinets!
5. We will sometimes give her a task that can be done on
the floor or in a high chair, like “sorting” the mail. This
makes her feel as though she is helping out.
6. I will occasionally get a step stool and let her stand at
the counter and help to prepare the meal. She can do
things like tear up lettuce, or place chopped vegetables
into a bowl, or put shredded cheese on the lasagna.
7. I’ll position her on a stool at the sink and let her “wash”
some plastic dishes.
8. I give her a kid-sized broom and let her sweep the
kitchen floor (hopefully she‘ll still enjoy this type of thing
when she gets older!).
9. We will often turn on the radio so she can sing and
dance to the music. Note - this is much more fun (for both
of you) if you join in, too!
10. If all else fails, and she doesn’t want to go along with
any of these activities, I know it’s because she is hungry
and I give her a light snack. You don’t want to spoil their
appetite for the upcoming meal, so just be sure to make it
something healthy and not too filling, like diced fruit.
Cooking with toddlers is a challenge and a half. Try some
of these tips, and also remember to have fun! They’re only
this age once.
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About the Author
Teresa Kolvek and her husband, Tony, are the proud
parents of a beautiful and spirited toddler named Amelia.
Teresa Kolvek and her husband, Tony, are the proud
parents of a beautiful and spirited toddler named Amelia.
