10 Innovative And Effective Ways To Engage Your Child While You Are Cooking

"I recently saw a video of a mom on Facebook who was baking and creating all these out-of-the world fondant decorations - all with a baby strapped to her in a sling. The baby was sleeping peacefully straddled by the sling and her mother's warmth. It seemed almost impossible," said Swetha Jittanakatti, mother of a five-year-old.

But is it really impossible? Most of us struggle to keep the kids entertained while we cook. And there must be a better way to finish your cooking than having them hanging around your legs - asking you every two minutes, no, every 10 seconds - are you done, Amma?

Every parent would like to keep their child entertained while they cook a wholesome meal for the family, but sometimes it's easier said than done. The kitchen can be a dangerous place for a small child - it is, after all, a place with inflammable gas, sharp knives, boiling water, etc.

How do we turn time in the kitchen into a learning opportunity for children?

Here are some ideas to keep the children engaged and even create learning opportunities while you cook. Sounds great, right?

Children like to observe and learn from adults. Sometimes even when the child is surrounded by toys, they may prefer to bang a pot with a spoon. Your child is not just making a racket or bored with their toys but is learning about their environment. So, the kitchen can be a great learning field for your little Einstein.

Simple activities to engage kids in the age group of 3-to-5-year-olds

1. Counting Exercises: Give your toddler a bag of potatoes or tomatoes and ask them to count them. You can give them two baskets too and ask them to sort them according to size or colour (tomatoes). This could be a great learning opportunity for sorting, counting, and dividing. Do not give very small items to count, as this could be a choking hazard, and curious toddlers may stick a pea in their noses or ears.

2. Pouring, Filling, and Measuring: Give your toddler some dal or pulse and ask them to put it into a container. Get your child involved in activities like pouring, filling, and measuring while you are cooking. It's an excellent way to learn about basic concepts such as bigger and smaller and improve gross motor skills too.

3. Mixing and Mashing: Ask your little helper to mix salads for the family meal or let them mash food. Mixing salads and mashing bananas and avocados are good ideas. Sure, things might get a bit messy, but what fun! This is a great activity to improve hand-eye coordination.

4.Make Dough: When making dough for rotis or bread, give them a small bit to make their own dough. It's an excellent exercise for motor skills and to get those creative juices going.

5. Washing Fruits and Veggies: All this requires is a washing tray or bowl, some salt, and water, and kids will love it! Who doesn't love splashing about in water?

Simple activities to engage kids in the age group of 6-to-10-year-olds

1. Set the Table: Children can be involved in keeping small things on the table, such as placemats, spoons, and plates.

2. Work with Veggies: Involve your kids in shelling peas, breaking cauliflower and broccoli into small florets, peeling oranges, and tearing lettuce, and other greens. These are good ways to learn about textures and different fruits and veggies.

3. Kitchen Gardening: Your child will gain a sense of achievement by growing his own veggies and herbs. Start modestly with easy-to-grow plants such as herbs, tomatoes, and chillies. Your bambino will love it when the first tomato pops out, and they wash, cook, and finally eat it! Further, engage your child to source veggies or herbs from the garden when needed. First lessons in farming!

4. Cleaning: Get your kids to clean countertops with a spray bottle and a cloth. Make sure they don't squirt the spray into their eyes. Enlist them to help out in washing dishes as well.

10. Cooking: Your little champs can make their own snacks. Encourage them to make their own sandwiches and juices like lemonade. Or introduce them to no-fire cooking. Be firm - make sure they clean any mess they make. (of course, they will make a bit of a mess.)

All the activities mentioned are a great way to start your child to be self-reliant in the kitchen. It is definitely a life skill that both boys and girls need.

Safety measures you need to take before letting kids in the kitchen area

Before your kids enter the kitchen, make sure there are no hazards.

• Ensure there are no wires or heavy items they can pull on themselves.
• Hot stoves, ovens, and mixer switches should be out of reach (especially for toddlers).
• To reach the kitchen countertop, toddlers standing on a stool may be a safety hazard as they may topple.
• Seat them on the ground or on the countertop itself ( after taking the necessary precautions).

Pointers to start engaging children in the kitchen:

• Involve your children in the kitchen regularly.
• Bear in mind that there will be good days and bad.
• Do not make it a one-off activity.
• Make a list of things they can do to help and put it on the fridge.
• Involve them in grocery shopping as well.
• As they slowly get the hang of things, make their tasks longer and more complex.
• Be patient.

When it comes to involving kids in the kitchen and away from their gadgets, small steps will go a long way to make cooking and eating a social activity. It would also give you moments to bond with your child (also an excellent photo opportunity) and make your child more responsible. If you have other ideas on involving your child while you are cooking, share them with us. Happy parenting and cooking!