This is really less a post about how to make a sugar cookie, cut it our with a heart-shaped cookie cutter, and frost it, and more about how I get all my kids in on the kitchen action. I like to find age appropriate kitchen jobs for each kid.
So, the "big" ones (3 and 5) usually just sit on the counters. The baby, now 15 months old, is SO not to be trusted to stay on a counter without falling off, so she gets a special spot. A Learning Tower.
The Little Partners Learning Tower
comes in a variety of colors now (mine is 4 years old and still going strong) so you can get it in red, or green, or something to match your kitchen. It's a total space-eating monster, and those little feet at the bottom that stick out to prevent it from tipping always catch my toes, but I could not do anything in the kitchen without it. All those rails on the sides keep toddlers inside, and bring them up to the right height for helping. Standing on a stool just doesn't cut it if you are under 3 in my experience.
comes in a variety of colors now (mine is 4 years old and still going strong) so you can get it in red, or green, or something to match your kitchen. It's a total space-eating monster, and those little feet at the bottom that stick out to prevent it from tipping always catch my toes, but I could not do anything in the kitchen without it. All those rails on the sides keep toddlers inside, and bring them up to the right height for helping. Standing on a stool just doesn't cut it if you are under 3 in my experience.
Cookie "decorating" with messy sprinkles? In a learning tower.
(Oh, see how I contain most of the sprinkles here)
Making breakfast? Baby in the learning tower.
Need to empty the dishwasher without any "help"? Pop em in the tower.
Crying all day over spilled milk? Off with their heads.
OK, not that, just got carried away with all the tower imagery. Maybe I should stop reading all those romance novels:)
Jessica
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These photos - with your older daughter on the counter? - while all your text is about the learning tower? Well, it totally made my morning. I'll go to school drop off giggling just a bit, with a smile on my face! ;-) (And just to be clear - my older kids sit on the counter all the time, too)
ReplyDeleteSo precious Jessica. I love that tower. Daven hates sitting on the counter. I believe he will be affraid of heights. So, that tower would come in handy when we bake.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
I have never seen a learning tower before, that is pretty handy.
ReplyDeleteMine just turned 3 and has done well sitting on a bar stool at the counter while we cook, but that would have been great when he was younger.
It looks like you made some great memories with your kiddos, and that is what it's all about.
I have so much fun working in the kitchen with my kiddos. Mila mostly just hangs out taking up floor space, but Weston's getting more helpful all the time, and he LOVES it!
ReplyDeleteSo cute! My daughter loves to help in the kitchen and my son loves to sit on counters {not so much with the helping yet}.
ReplyDeleteThe cookies turned out really cute. I love that they aren't perfect but really look like the kids helped.
Super sweet post! Love your little helpers! XO, Aimee
ReplyDeleteThese look delish! :) You should enter your photos from this project into Craftbaby's Hearts Craft Challenge :-) http://www.craftbaby.com/contests/43/those-tiny-toes-hearts-craft
ReplyDeletexo,
Candie