I have a 1.5 year old and a 2.5 year old. How can I do something that involves knives, boiling water and fire for 20 minutes without one of the 3 of us crying?

[padboz]

If I leave them unattended in front of the telly while I cook the dinner someone will end up bumped or bruised. If I take one with me, someones feelings will get hurt. If I take them both into the kitchen - which is precisely this big - [] - then someone will get bumped or bruised and they will try and climb up my legs to see the exciting fire, sharp knife, cauldron action. Has anyone solved this because I think we have had a screaming fit around 5pm every day for months.

I'll probably get lynched for this but frozen veg is a lifesaver

(runs away to hide)

oh yes, those little bags of steam veg in the micro are great. actually, for those ages a bowl of frozen peas/sweetcorn would also be a distraction. and a tubbies vid, obv.

Or just give them cream buns and cake for dinner - no preparation and it fits handily with the ever changing advice on toddler nutrition!:

www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/13/children.health

Put both in highchairs with books and prepare as much as you can in the same room as them (so if you have a small kitchen prepare in the dining room). My dss have the same gap and I would sing (sometimes through gritted teeth) nursery rhymes whilst I chopped!

(i) Make the food with them - that'd involve doing it in your living/dining room - so maybe only works with sandwiches

(ii) Instant food - not very healthy but stuff like pizza okay just once

(iii) TV as babysitter - teletubbies good tip IMO

slow cooker

T. V. limit it to only the one hour before teatime. Couple of days a week when you've been working, won't do them any harm imo. If you feel guilty about the little one try Baby Einstein DVDs or the like.

It really is a nightmare isn't it - I have 2.9 yo and 8 mo DS'. I try to pre-prepare as much as I can whilst they nap and do big bulk cooking when I do cook so there is always something in the freezer.

When necessary I give them each some kitchen utensils to play with (they seem to love the sieve, spatula and fishslice as well as the wooden spoons. We also have a low drawer with all their plastic bowls, cups and plates etc in; I let them play with that to their hearts content - usually gives me enough time to do what I need to (where I can keep an eye on them both too )