In the Kitchen with Little People

� My two year old always wants to help in the kitchen. She is constantly taking the stool from one end of the kitchen to the other. She is also under my feet, so much so that I almost fall over her at least a few times.

I like to try to include her in meal time preparations. Meal time preparations include not only preparing the food, but also setting the table. My two year old wants so much to be “big” like her older sister and brother. She wants to do what they do.

Here are a few ways that I have included my two year old in meal time preparation in an attempt to help her feel “big” and to keep her out from under my feet.

Ways to help:

• Have her add the seasoning to the food during preparation
• Have her help mommy stir the food for dinner
• Give her a bowl and spoon to stir
• Have her put the salad dressing on the table
• Give her the silver ware to set the table (Of course the first few times she did this, the silverware ended up on the couch, but after a few tries she got it to the table. )
• Clear her place at the table (She began this one recently, and she is doing well.)

My little person, Daisy, enjoys being a helper. She likes to contribute and help with the family meal time. It helps her to feel valued and important, also known as “big” to her.

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Stacey Walker has a Homemade Gourmet Home Business. She uses her Homemade Gourmet products regularly for cooking fast and easy to prepare meals. She is currently using Homemade Gourmet in her meal planning and when teaching her children to cook. Visit her website at www.4minutemeals.com

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