Sanity Saving Tips When Prepping Dinner During The Witching Hour

When the witching hour comes around conveniently during dinner prep time, I have found that sometimes the best hack is to include my kids in what I am making. It may feel like more work but I have found these tips to be helpful when including them so that it is an enjoyable experience for everyone:

1. Keep It Simple
   Focus on easy, age-appropriate tasks. Your toddler can help with washing vegetables, stirring ingredients, or pouring pre-measured ingredients into bowls. Having ingredients pre-measured has really helped me stay calm when cooking with my toddlers. Avoid complex recipes that require sharp utensils or precise techniques.

2. Use Child-Safe Utensils
   Invest in child-friendly kitchen tools like plastic measuring cups, wooden spoons, and non-slip mixing bowls. These tools are designed to be safe for little hands and will help your child feel more involved in the cooking process. I bought this kit, and I have loved the knives that are included in the set. They have helped my 3.5 year old learn how to safely use a knife and they do actually cut food.

3. Make It Fun
   Turn cooking into a game. Sing songs, tell stories, or create a theme for the cooking session. If you’re making cookies, let them decorate with sprinkles or chocolate chips. The more fun and interactive the experience, the more engaged your child will be. These quality kids aprons are a great price and your kids will love looking the part!

4. Encourage Creativity
   Allow your child to express themselves creatively in the kitchen. Let them choose a fruit for a smoothie or suggest a fun way to arrange ingredients on a plate. Encouraging creativity helps them feel like their ideas are valued and fosters their imaginative skills. I have also found this helps expose my kids to foods that they usually steer clear of.

5. Practice Patience
   Cooking with toddlers can be messy and time-consuming. Be prepared for spills and take your time. Use these moments to teach your child about cleaning up, and remember, the goal is to enjoy the process together.

6. Safety First
   Always supervise your child closely, especially around hot surfaces and sharp objects. Emphasize the importance of safety and guide them through tasks with gentle reminders about what is safe and what isn’t. With supervision this veggie chopper is a hit when cooking with kids. This foldable toddler step tower also helps keep your child safe when they are helping in the kitchen.