I love to cook! I want my daughter to be entertained (activities?) during this time. I also have a 7 year old son. His famous words are "I'm bored what can I do mom?" My husband doesn't get home until 6pm sometimes later and we eat as a family. Any suggestions from other moms?
2007-12-23 03:31:08 · 13 answers · asked by laura 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
My mother in law taught me a great little trick she uses when the grand kids are over.This will work for the 2 year old.She has a cabinet for the kids.There are big plastic bowls,wooden spoons, pie tins any normal kitchen item they cant hurt themselves with is bound to be found in there.The big draw back to this is it does tend to get loud.Some quieter things I've found effective drawing, coloring,blocks,play dishes and food.With the older child helping with just about anything will keep him occupied and be educational.It will also help him to be more self reliant.I started helping in the kitchen when I was 3,cooked for myself by 6 and honest to God, I prepared Thanksgiving dinner for the first time when I was 8. You also might want to try serving appetizers.Not restaurant style but things like cut up fruits and veggies.Its close to dinner so you know there hungry and that's a good time to get them to eat things that may be harder to get them to eat other times. Good Luck and Happy Cooking
2007-12-23 04:01:46 · answer #1 · answered by melissa f 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Set up a small table and some bowls and spoons and give them something to mix. Getting them involved in the kitchen not only entertains them, you can teach measurements and fractions to the 7 year old.
Even something so simple as telling the 7 year old to stir the mixture 40 times will have him using his couting skills and the 2 year old will be all ears and pick up on some of it.
2007-12-23 03:37:23 · answer #2 · answered by James Watkin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
kids dont have to be entertained all the time - its OKAY for them to be bored. infact they need to learn how to mentally cope with being bored
there is going to be a massive problem 10-15 years from now for todays kids.. parents who parents have been entertaining round the clock.. kids who need so much entertainment they cannot even sit in a car and look out the window - they need bloody TV's in front of them...
just cook and ignore the kids...a coloring book, lego.. something like that is good....
when you hear "what can I do, I am bored?" put him to work setting the table or helping you - DONT feel you must entertain...
2007-12-23 03:38:42 · answer #3 · answered by CF_ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give her a "job" when I am cooking, sometimes my son will be under my feet the whole time so I will get a pan and put some cereal or marshmellows...(something not too hard to sweep up later) and give him a big wooden spoon and he thinks he is helping me out and it keeps him entertained. Or I will get a big poster board out and put it in my kitchen floor and let him color while I am making dinner.
2007-12-23 03:36:50 · answer #4 · answered by Cruz and Kinsley's momma 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I sit her in her high chair - My 2 year old is tiny. I then let her paint. They have paint books that you use water and a brush. I give her a paint brush with a little bit of water in a glass. She will do that for a good 30-45 minutes.
I also allow her to help. She is great at mixing and looks forward to helping mom cook.
If she is very hungry at the time I will give her vegetables to munch on.
2007-12-23 04:00:55 · answer #5 · answered by VenFmly4-2010 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have them help with dinner. The seven year old can help rinse the vegetables, set the table, make tomorrow's dinner menu, tear lettuce for the salad, etc. Your two year old can also help, or just color at the table or play with the magnets on the fridge.
Kids love to help and be involved with things, and enjoy the fruit of their labor!
2007-12-23 04:11:49 · answer #6 · answered by Marissa B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make a special area in the kitchen where she can see you but is safe from your cooking and give her pots and pans to play with or even get some fake food and have her cook as well.
2007-12-23 04:18:48 · answer #7 · answered by treecesherry 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let them help you cook. Give the 2yr old a pot/pan and spoon and let them make their own dish. Maybe they could help you set the table, napkins or spoons. I've run some water in the sink and put soap in it so it's bubbly and let my 2yr old "wash" some plastic dishes and he thought it was the funnest thing ever.
2007-12-23 03:58:33 · answer #8 · answered by pookiesmom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I give the kids jobs. My little one will stir an empty pot, or bang on pots making 'music'. The older two will tear lettuce, chop veggies, or help in some other way.
2007-12-23 04:57:46 · answer #9 · answered by not'cho_average_soccermom 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
give the baby her own kitchen cabinet to play in only put things in there that she can't get hurt on tupperware etc. she or he'll have a blast.
2007-12-23 11:17:05 · answer #10 · answered by Grapeape 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋