Toddler in the Kitchen

2 days ago
4 min read

I can’t stand our open floor plan. From my kitchen, it’s a straight shot into the living room. Before kids, it was perfect; I could watch TV while I cooked or stay part of the conversation when friends were over without ever leaving the stove. Now, I find myself wishing the kitchen was completely cut off from the rest of the house.

I keep thinking back to my grandmother’s kitchen. It was tiny, tucked in the back of the house and barely big enough for three people, but it was her sanctuary. She had a little TV in the corner to watch her shows and a small table where she’d sit and prep dinner in peace. While the rest of the house was a chaos of kids and noise, she remained undisturbed. But if you saw her come out the kitchen with a spatuala in her hand, you knew we got a little too out of hand.

However, that is not my reality.

With this open floor plan, there is no "sanctuary." I’m trying to cook dinner while simultaneously breaking up arguments, answering a million questions, and serving as the front-row audience for my daughter’s K-pop performances. And because the kitchen isn't tucked away, my two-year-old is always in the middle of everything.

Instead of constantly kicking her out of the kitchen, I’ve learned to work with it. She’s still at the age where she wants to help out and clean. Running water and a spray bottle are still all it takes to keep her busy. The secret isn’t keeping them out of the kitchen—it’s giving them a job.

My Toddler-in-the-Kitchen Tips (They’re Not Foolproof, but They Might Help)

Use simple cleaning tasks.

I keep a spray bottle filled with water and a small amount of lavender oil so it smells nice. I have her wipe cabinet doors, the table, or chairs basically any area I’m not working in. There's obviously no expectation that she's really getting cleaning done but she has fun doing it so that's all that matters.

Let them help at the sink.

If I’m not using the sink, she can wash a few safe dishes. She just likes to wash and dry the same dishes, over and over again. Adding a little dish liquid for the bubbles is a plus.

Choose food prep they can manage.

Some tasks she can do mostly on her own:

shucking corn (she loves this one)
snapping green beans (I have to go behind her on this one)
pulling kale or greens off the stem (she can do this on her own)
washing fruits and vegetables

Setting the table is one of her regular jobs.

For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, she sets the table. This isnt all the time, I have her do this mostly when she’s up under me asking when dinners gonna be ready. We keep the kids dishes in our low cabinets so that it is easily accessible to them. She puts out the plates, forks, and cups for herself and her siblings, which keeps her occupied while I finish cooking and gives her responsibility.

Use a butter knife for cutting soft foods.

One of my toddler’s regular kitchen jobs is cutting soft foods with a butter knife. I know there are kid knife sets everywhere now, but I don’t feel the need to buy extra tools when a butter knife is safe and works just fine. She cuts things like bananas, hard-boiled eggs, roasted carrots, and boiled potatoes.

Kitchen Table Activities That Help

Another thing I keep at the kitchen table is play dough. It’s one of my toddler’s favorite things to do while I’m cooking. I use a homemade version because it’s cheaper, and I can make large batches that last for weeks. I also stick to a recipe that doesn’t use cream of tartar. It costs less, and it’s one less ingredient to worry about not having when I need it. When she’s at the table, I let her use real kitchen tools I picked up at the dollar store—a small roller, a citrus squeezer, popsicle sticks, a butter knife, small pie tins, and cookie cutters.

Water play at the kitchen table is another easy and inexpensive way to keep a toddler busy while I cook. It’s nothing fancy. I just put some water in a large bowl, set it on top of a tray, and give her a few cups and spoons. Sometimes I’ll add a little bit of food coloring, which is enough to hold her attention for a while.

Homemade Play Dough (No Cream of Tartar)

This is the play dough I keep at the kitchen table. It’s inexpensive, easy to make in big batches, and lasts for weeks.

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour

• 1/4 cup salt

• 3/4 cup water

• 3 tablespoons vinegar

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

• food coloring

• optional: a few drops of essential oils for scent

Directions

Start by mixing the dry ingredients in a bowl.

In a medium nonstick pot, heat the water, oil, and vinegar over medium heat.

A nonstick pot really helps here. I keep a cheap one just for making play dough. Don’t let the mixture boil.

Add food coloring and essential oils, if using.

Pour the dry ingredients into the pot and begin stirring. Keep stirring continuously until everything combines and the dough starts to pull together and form a ball. If it’s still sticky and not forming, add a little flour.

Once the ball forms, place it on a cutting board and knead until it becomes soft and smooth.

Let it cool before giving it to your toddler. Store in an airtight container when not in use.

I’m trying to appreciate this stage while it lasts. Right now she wants to help. She wants to be involved. She wants to stand right next to me and feel like she’s part of what’s happening.

One day I’ll ask her to wipe a counter and it’ll suddenly be a whole issue.

For now, I’ll take the help where I can get it.