20 month old: cooking activities

[squizita]

I know from DD's nursery diary she likes cooking (and supermarket shopping, sorry 'people who take kids to tesco' haters!). Seeking recipes and food related activities for home - they sent a scone recipe so I have something to start with. I'm a pretty confident cook myself.

I have a tiny 'galley' kitchen, but a spacious dining room we could wash and prepare food in if I then do any hot stove bits (which she couldn't yet do anyway) with her safely watching from the door gate (needed as it is really tiny with a low hot oven door).

Please let me know what you do?

I've done cakes and biscuits mostly, but it's very messy!

You can get a child safe knife. Mine used to like chopping some fruit for a salad. You can just get them to stir the odd thing for you to. My dd was just happy to be with me and do the odd thing.

The CBeebies programme "I can cook" has some great ideas as to how you can get little ones involved in cooking. The kids on the programme are older than 20 months, but some of the same principles work for a younger child too. Also the recipes are really good, I use it as a guide for things to cook with my DD who is a similar age. You can get it on iplayer.

My DS loves makes crumble topping, messy but fun

I've only really done cupcakes and cookies with my DD (2.5) as she loves rolling, cutting, decorating them.

Yay to "I Can Cook". DD loves it, and started from around the age yours is. Recipes are online or there's also a book which is good for looking through together to pick something. Best thing is the recipe produces sensible portion sizes. Lots of savoury stuff as well as baking. We like the baked risotto - she loves being able to cook her own tea.

PS the programme makes a big thing of washing hands before cooking and washing up after, with songs about both. I give DD a washing up bowl full of soapy water and let her clean up afterwards, she sings away washing her bowls etc and it generally occupies her for longer than the actual cooking!!

We also have the 'I can cook' book, it's really good. Easiest thing I've found to cook are cheese straws, you can either make or buy the pastry, roll it out, cut into strips, twist and put grated cheese on. Quick easy and kids love them!
Sponge cake, biscuits, one pot meals like casseroles as they can cut everything up and just chuck it in the pot. Bread is another good one esp if you buy a cheat bread mix, my ds loves smacking the shit out of kneading the bread, then seeing it risen!

Thanks - will get that book. She likes recipe books too!

Forgot to say, check out your local library (if it's not been closed). They usually have lots of first cookbook/cooking with kids type books