Cooking with Kids (starting at birth)

My mom used to cook with me in a sling or on her back when I was a baby. I used to cook with Little A in a wrap. Then, when she got too squirmy, I put her swing in the kitchen so she could watch. When she was able to sit up, I put her in a "sandbox san sand" or on the floor with toys. We have a very small kitchen, so she was always really close to me. When she was able to start eating solid foods, I would put her in her high chair and give her little bits I was cooking. Little A didn't crawl, so I had to get real creative once she was standing and walking. I wasn't even thinking when one day she pulled herself up on my step stool and climbed up!

Learning towers and cooking surfaces

Learning towers are amazing. A friend has one they built using directions on the internet and stuff from Ikea. I originally wanted to get one for Little A (or hoped we'd get one handed down), but she really took to the step stool, thus eliminating the need for more baby furniture. The key is that when a child is in a learning tower or step stool, they are always supervised.

For reference we have basic Cosco folding two-step step stool my mom bought me.

We don't have a pantry, so I often fill up empty diaper

boxes (because they are big and have handle holes). Little A decided these were going to be her counter tops. Sometimes I bring in our small folding outdoor side table and use a dish towel as a tablecloth and let her use that.

If she doesn't want to stand, I put a plastic tablecloth (we reuse for paint, playdoh, etc. anything messy) on the ground. I use her lap tray (from Michael's for $7.50) as an additional table to hold spices, additional bowels, etc.

Tools

I love kitchen tools because they are all food grade, meaning safe for mouth. Most of the ones Little A has I got from the dollar store or TJMaxx. Her stuff is things I can use and things that can easily be replaced.

Our essentials:

*wooden spoons

*measuring cups and spoons

*plastic bowls (I prefer mixing bowls and spice bowls because they are durable)

*cups with spouts

*plastic shot glasses (she uses them as her pretend cups but they also hold premeasured spices well, and liquor)

*whisks

*spice grinders (I was surprised to see she has mastered twisting the grinder)

*spices and sprinkles (I have found spices that come in glass jars are pretty durable, though I recommend plastic - we have yet to actually break a store bought spice in glass)

When Little A is actually cooking, I only let her handle the garlic and onion powder, these are things I don't measure and typically don't mind if she adds too much. Another suggestion is plugging up a few of the holes, so only a little bit of spice comes out.

When Little A is pretend cooking she gets sprinkles (they're colorful and I keep the lids on so she doesn't eat them). When she is making her potions or her own recipes, I give her spices I no longer want or ones that are super cheap. A warning, if mixing spices with a water base, chances are the spices jar will get dropped in - so don't count on being able to use that one again for yourself.

*food coloring (beware, skin will stain and to be mindful of clothing)

*colored spices (like turmeric, beet root, crushed freeze dried blueberries from Trader Joe's)

Methods

Stove top: Once Little A learned "hot" I was able to teach her how to use the stove. We first practiced with it off. But she understood where her hand goes and to hold the tip of the spoon. She has only "burnt" herself once on accident and it didn't leave a mark and it wasn't anything running it under cold water couldn't fix. I really don't advise people do this unless their kid can listen to the word "hot" and "no"

Stirring and mixing: We love baking and making omelets. However, both use raw egg - which require her being able to understand "no touch", "yuck", "no eat", and "we have to wash hands now". If she's not in a mood to listen, I just have her mix dry ingredients - usually results in needing two bowls where she just transfers everything back and forth. If she is listening or I can supervise we do wet ingredients together. She likes using the electric hand-held mixer because using a whisk on dough can be difficult.