How to Entertain Your Young Child While You Make Dinner

Sometimes, I find that I overuse the television as a babysitter. You probably have found yourself thinking at times that you need to turn the TV on so you can make dinner. This can be a useful strategy sometimes, especially after a long and particularly stressful day, but I think that dinner preparation time is one of those times where kids can really benefit from being nearby. They can most often help, even as toddlers, and even if you are not inclined to let them help on a particular night, it can be beneficial for them to just be in the room with you while you go about your business. It gives them a chance to see how food preparation works and more importantly, can be an opportunity for some valuable "together" time. Not sure what to do with your young children while you are trying to cook? Here are some ideas:

Have them help

This is obvious of course. It can be annoying at times to have young children help cook. They try to dump salt in when you're not looking, stir too fast and splatter batter all over the kitchen table and insist that they can put the casserole in the oven themselves. However, if you give them easy, specific jobs to do, they will really enjoy their time cooking and may actually end up really helping you! I sometimes give my two preschool-aged children butter knives and have them chop things like mushrooms and green peppers. They also like to use the garlic press and the onion chopper. Of course, stirring is a perennial favorite. Just make sure they don't stir too fast or you'll have a mess on your hands! The key is to find a job that is easy to explain, easy to complete, and will keep them busy while you are doing more complicated things in the kitchen.

Let them play in the sink

OK so you can let them help, but sometimes you just don't have the patience or the time to enlist help from small children. In our kitchen, we have a drawer dedicated to sink water toys. We have a couple little boats with men, a small tub to put water in, a pitcher and some measuring cups and spoons. Sometimes, to keep the kids busy while I cook, I will fill up the sink a bit with soapy water and let them play. This usually keeps them occupied for quite a while.

Fridge fun!

We try to keep an assortment of fridge toys on hand. We like the Leapfrog Fridge Phonics and I've noticed that this particular toy has become somewhat of a staple in the homes of preschoolers. Another Leapfrog fridge toy that my children enjoy is the Fridge DJ. I have often been amazed at how long they will play with this toy, just listening to the different songs and singing along. Another favorite is a set of shape magnets that we got from the dollar store. They are very low-tech: just magnets in different shapes and colors, but my son loves putting them together to make pictures.

Play dough

We also have, in the kitchen, a box filled with different colored home-made play dough, plastic knives, small rolling pins and cookie cutters for the kids to play with while I cook or do other jobs in the kitchen. They always get excited when I pull out the play dough box.

These activities have helped us get out of the television rut, at least at dinner time! And the time I have spent with my children as a result has been satisfying, even though I often end up with flour all over the floor (thanks, three-year-old!)