CM Club - those of you with under 5's.

[saltire]

For those who have under 5's. What do you do with them when you are cokking lunch or evening meal?

I mean cooking!

Sit them at the kitchen table in a highchair to colour/playdoh/singsongs?

Unfortunately, my kitchen can't have mindees in when I'm cooking - no room. I therefore let them watch tv whilst I prepare lunch and dinner (parents all fine with this) as it's the only way to calm them down ready for their meal and allow me to get on with it without them fighting (as I found when I didn't have tv on, they would really play up to get my attention and mealtimes ended up far too late!). Luckily I have a hatch between my kitchen and lounge so I can see everything. The just turned one year olds are put in a highchair facing me and they do wooden puzzles etc whilst I'm in the kitchen.

Today I prepared spag bolognaise and apple crumbles at 7am so I only had to do the pasta & heat up. But all the young ones have been collected early so I could have managed leaving the older ones playing a board game while I went to kitchen.

I prepare what I can early in the morning or during nap times. I've made the children all their own laminated placemats with their names on, so I seat them at the table early & they practice air writing their names while I dish up. It also helps to get the children involved laying table/playing waiter.

lucky for me in the mornings we go out then arrive home about 11.30 and all 3 children go to sleep i then make dinner and eat mine in peace

all the babies have gone by 4 so the older children just play while i cook tea

... this all reinforces my current routine of children bringing their own lunchboxes (either meals to zap in microwave or cold food) ... I sometimes have aspirations to provide lovely, organic, healthy stuff (which I eat in addition to mountains of chocolate and crisps) - and then realise that I do not need to offer this additional service. It is definitely a lot more work!! Hats off to all those who do it.

Sorry i never got back to this last night. i asked because i'm struggling with one of my mindees. The past three weeks or so he has become, for want of a better word a monster, into everything. I have his older brother, who's 3 1/2 and him, who is 18months from 9.30 to 6.30 three days a week. The older one is pretty good and will sit with my DS and watch tv, or play happily. However the little one will leave nothing. My kitchen isn't big enough for a high chair to go into, so have to sort of let him wander around, if he's in the kitchen with me he tuns the freezer down, pushes buttons on the washing machine, opens the fridge, guddles int eh bin. So everything now has loads of child locks on, washing machine is never on at all during the day when i have him. Yesterday he jammed a DVd in the machine, pulled all the books out of the lower shelves of the bookcase, and DH is now moaning that he will have to move the computer upstairs as the wee boys pushes buttons, he's always pushing things on it. There mother always send things that need heated up for their evening meal - baens, soup etc, so i need to get it done, and i also need to feed us, but it's just so stressful. I tried leaving it until they went away, but it was 7pm before we got to eat and that wasn't good for the Ds, any one got any ideas how i can keep an eye on him and feed us and them? Thanks

Is it possible for him to be in the highchair and outside the kitchen door or somewhere else but in sight? Sorry, not really got any other idea's but sympathise with you. I know some people don't agree with tv but if the only time they watch it is when I preparing food then it's not too bad and to be honest, I couldn't cope with preparing meals before I did this (I can't cook at 7am as I start at 6.45am most days).

I know what you mean about button pressing. I have locks on everything as there is no door to the kitchen to stop the children coming in. They sort of crawl up the back of your legs if they are hungry when you are cooking.
Fortunatley the little ones have a nap after lunch and I prepare what I can then - and extra if possible to freeze but do vegetables nearer the time. Sometimes I resort to putting them at the table in the chairs with playdough, crayons, etc, and as I am dishing up they have to sit at an empty table and wait, or if they are very hungry with breadstick or ricecake etc in hand.

Oh and all children in the house eat at 5 with the little ones if they are eating - I eat with DH late after my children go to bed at 7 as DH doesn't get home until at least 6.30

This may sound a bit of a pain but on a quiet evening or weekend afternoon have a cooking day and put the meals in freezers bags. Prepare potatos on a quiet period or use steam fresh veg that go in the mico(or put a pan of pasta on etc) and you can do dinner in 20 mins without you really being in the kitchen. Once he has settled again you can go back to your routine - you are still providing fresh home cooked meals for everyone and you will not be tied to the kitchen as such. (i know it sounds great in theory but I cook for 2 weeks in one go and save so much time as my little one has just starting walking) I hope this helps.