To encourage his budding chef skills we toyed with the idea of getting him a play kitchen for Christmas. We decided against it as we don't have enough space for another big item and I think, if I'm absolutely 100% honest, Aiden's Dad and I were concerned with the gender stereotyping associated with kitchen play-sets. Don't get me wrong here, I am in no way, shape or form suggesting that cooking is a girls thing or that boys should only play with so-called boys toys and vice versa. I think we were both worried about what his buddies would say later in life if he told them that he had a play kitchen when he was little. Silly in this day and age to worry about things like that, I know, but it was a worry nonetheless. And if you have a play kitchen for your little guy or a train set for you little girl, all the power to you, you go for it!
So in lieu of a play kitchen I decided to make a chef station for him in our kitchen. Here's what I did:
Homemade Little Chef Station
1. Clear the bottom shelf of your pantry or a low cupboard that has a shelf at your little person's height.
2. Fill the shelf with old spoons, measuring cups, plastic bowls, empty cereal boxes, pastry brushes and various containers.
3. Fill old spice jars with rice or pasta or Cheerios or cereals that your little person can use to make their concoctions. Put these on the shelf.
4. Make imaginary food out of construction paper. I just tore up pieces and placed them on the shelf in a container for Aiden to imagine whatever he wanted them to be.
5. Show your little person their new chef station and ask them to make you a snack...you'll be amazed at what they create.
This activity not only encourages your little person to use their imagination and teaches them about measuring and food preparation, it is also a great way to keep them entertained while you prepare breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Happy chef-ing,
Creatively yours,
Maya :)
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