Learning in the chaos: preschooler's in the kitchen
Since we've been cooking and baking together for a while now, the mess is usually minimal. Recently, we were trying out a new vegan pancake recipe, and my little guy's reaction to an accident he made sending flour all over the counter, inspired me to write this article. Observing him really compounded my reasons for spending time in the kitchen together.
Here are some things I observed and what I think he's learnt during our time in the kitchen:
What he did next made me giggle and realize everything is a learning opportunity for kids. Back up on his tower, just as I was clearing away items to wipe away the flour, he decided to use his fingers to write in the flour! Simple, but genius. Learning amidst the chaos at its best.
We paused cooking to embrace this random moment of writing practice before getting back to our pancakes, which he thoroughly enjoyed with a side of fruit.
How do you feel about a toddler in the kitchen? From reviewing comments across social media platforms, it seems a bit divided. Some people think kids should be kids and don't need to be in the kitchen just yet. On the other hand, some people are amused to see little ones maneuvering in the kitchen solo, or with parental assistance.
I fall into the amused category, and I spend quite a bit of time in the kitchen with my pre-schooler. In fact, we have dedicated time in our homeschool schedule for cooking or baking, in addition to making breakfast or another meal together.
To be honest though, cooking with a toddler takes loads of patience, and it's best to start with low expectations because at the end of it all, something WILL spill on the counter or floor, sugar and chocolate chips will be snatched away while baking, and food will likely end up in their hair.
Being responsible and accountible
Not what you expected to see right? After messing up the counter and floor with flour, my toddler immediately climbed down his tower, went for his broom, and promptly began to sweep it up. He hasn't learnt how to do this properly yet, so he was more so spreading flour around the floor.
My belief is since he was whole heartedly involved in the activity, measuring and mixing ingredients, he felt responsible for the mess and acted accordingly. I was simply an assistant helping and guiding where needed.
Being Creative
Ultimately, my message here is to step into the kitchen, explore foods with your toddler, and continue learning in the midst of the (inevitable) chaos. You never know what they might discover in the moment. Don't get upset over spilled milk or flour everywhere. Spending time in the kitchen might end up forming the fondest memories they carry as they grow up, and not being penalized or yelled at for accidents and messes, the kitchen will continue to be a place of learning and enjoyment.