How to include toddlers in the kitchen

Learn 8 simple ways to include toddlers in the kitchen.

You want to include your toddler in the kitchen but you just don’t know how to start?

I made things easier for you!

Here’s how to include your toddler in the kitchen. (1 to 3 year old’s)

These are a few ways I’ve been including my daughter in the kitchen.

1. Playing / Exploring with Kitchen Tools
2. Peeling
3. Pouring
4. Put Away Groceries
5. Cleaning
6. Baking
7. Meal-Prep
8. Setting the Dinning Table

If you’ve been following me on social media, either on Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook. You know how much my daughter Evelyn loves to help in the kitchen. Mostly when we bake cookies, cupcakes, and mini donuts.

The best time to introduce your little one in the kitchen is at 1-3 years old. Start involving your little one by observing you while you’re cooking.

Most toddlers enjoy helping out in the kitchen however, their attention spans are short, so you are very unlikely to have them be there for a full recipe or cleaning.

At this age, they will need lots of instruction and supervision so short quick tasks are best to keep them occupied and focussed.

Make it short, simple, and fun!

I purchased this counter height kitchen step stool for my daughter and I absolutely love it! We use the kitchen step stool the most when she helps me bake, wash dishes, and hand wash by herself.

I also have a functional toddler kitchen for her and she uses it mostly for prepping her snacks.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means that I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you

Remember these tips to keep yourself and child safe in the kitchen.

• Always make sure to turn and keep hot pot handles out of reach, and off to the side.
• Sharp/heavy utensils, hot food and liquids out of reach.
• Cleaning products are not at reaching distance.
• Always supervise, never leave toddler alone in the kitchen!

Have FUN!!!

8 WAYS ON HOW TO INCLUDE TODDLERS IN THE KITCHEN

1. Playing / Exploring with Kitchen Tools

This is a great way to get familiarized with the kitchen first.

I introduce Evelyn in the kitchen at a very young age. (10 months) I would bring her high chair in the kitchen while I was cooking and would give her a few cooking tools to bang around. Spoons, wooden spoons, spatulas, mixing bowls, measuring cups, etc.

She would see what I was doing, I would talk about I was doing. We would also do plenty of sensory activities, for example, a rice sensory bin, bean sensory bin, flour sensory bin, cereal sensory bin.

Whether your little one is 10 months or 1 year, playing with kitchen tools is a great way to include them in the kitchen and they will have so much fun!

2. Peeling

Have your toddler help you peel a banana, a clementine, a hard boiled egg. These are great starters for your little one.

3. Pouring

Next time your recipe calls for 1 cup of flour or 1/2 cup of milk, or 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Get those measuring cups and spoons out and let your toddler help you pour the ingredients into a bowl.

Pre-measure your ingredients so that your toddler can then pour the ingredients into the bowl.

4. Put Away Groceries

Kids love to take things of of containers, baskets, and bags. You can easily have your toddler help with the job of taking care of groceries.

• Grocery bag helper – have your toddler take out the items from the grocery bags and hand them to you.
• Load the refrigerator – consider giving them items that go in the lower cupboards of your kitchen.

5. Cleaning

Cleaning doesn’t have to be boring. With good music and a little cleaning helper will be so much fun.

• Putting dishes away – have your toddler help you unload the dishwasher
• Wipe tables and counters – give your toddler a wet towel and clean the counters together
• Wash dishes together – bring in the kitchen step stool and have your toddler help you wash dishes.

6. Baking

Baking is my favorite way to include Evelyn in the kitchen. It allows many benefits, from bonding with each other, to helping her improve her attention span, language, cognitive, and motor development.

• Reading the recipe out loud
• Counting the cookies, muffins, cupcakes when they’re out of the oven
• Pouring ingredients in the mixing bowl
• Mixing the ingredients to get everything incorporated

7. Meal-Prep

Is your toddler always behind you pulling your leg while you are trying to cook a meal? Try including them in the kitchen while you’re prepping a meal.

• Refrigerator helper – toddlers usually like to take things out of the refrigerator. tell your little one to take out the carrots or the ketchup from inside the refrigerator
• Wash Produce – Toddlers enjoy water play time so why not allow them the chance to play in the water as they wash produce. If you’re serving up some fresh produce with dinner or need it for a recipe, then call your toddler out to the kitchen with their step stool to wash off that produce.

8. Setting the Dinning Table

You can teach your toddler how to help set the dinner table for a meal.

This a quick video of Evelyn setting up her dinner table using the placemat and utensils by Lovevery

So whether your little one is 1 or 3 years, you can train up a little sous chef!

Let me know in the comments, how your toddler helps in the kitchen?