Will a Play Kitchen Help Prevent Real Kitchen Mischef

My son has a little plastic "Black & Decker" tool work bench his overly macho daddy bought him - when he wants to "cook" I put aluminum foil over the top of it (you could do this on a box or cooler) & I draw spiral circles with a black marker to make the stove burners. I let him have an old wooden spoon, my plastic measuring cups and a tiny saucepan we usually use for boiling eggs because it's so small. Some red yarn makes great spaghetti(my son came up with that on his own)and I bought him a wooden veggie & fruit set at Target that is velcroed together so he can pretend to chop. The set is really cute and he loves it.
Now that he is almost 4, I let him stand on a stool and help me cook - he gets to dump the ingredients in the bowl when we make banana bread, and push the button for the blender when we make smoothies. He is really proud of whatever he helped with and tells his daddy "I'm a good cooker!!"
Also, if you can spare the space - set aside a bottom cupboard for him - fill it with old plastic containers and maybe an old pot or pan - the turkey baster is a big hit - I always loved running a wooden spoon over a grill rack to make music when I was a kid.
You do need to put tot locks on anything dangerous - cleansers under the sink - the knife drawer, etc. if you haven't already. Be prepared for the play kitchen to be close to the real kitchen so he can watch you and copy you and call your attention to his culinary achievements ;)!!

I think it depends on whether he is pretending to cook (then yes on the play kitchen) or he just wants to explore, climb, be on your turf (then nope)

They do need to learn HOT, and you dont want them learning that by burning themselves. So when you start heating up something, take your child's hand and hold it over the stove so he can feel the heat. Do it until he understands. (just warm wont be enough perhaps, as he may think "hot" means "feels nice to cold hands" and he'll touch it one of these days.)

Make sure he has a healthy respect for sharp, hot, filled pots on the stove, etc. He absolutely should not touch the dials but I am not sure I agree with turning off the power to the stove (or he'll learn that it's ok to play there, then one day, a real accident will happen because he didnt know that they can and do get hot)

Tot lock some things, but not all. At least one (the one filled with pots, tupperware, etc) should be open and, yes, your dear will make messes, and yes, you will wonder WHY you left that one un-totlocked, but it's GOOD for them. Just make sure it is the one most out of your way (not by/between the stove & sink for example).

When my toddler was pushing our swivel bar stools around to the countertops, that was when they all got loosely tied together, he/we could move them enough to pull out and sit at, but he certainly couldn't pull all 4 to the countertop!

Here in my house, even though my son is past toddler age (but still love to be in the kitchen!) I make sure to have my knives on the far side (ie, a toddler would not reach them if s/he opened and reached in) Spoons are in that first area, then forks next, then knives furthest away.

Pot & pan handles should ALWAYS be turned in. Good habit to ALWAYS have, kids or no! And when things are boiling, cooking, sizzling, you should be there too.

I recommend (on days you have a little bit of patience!) having your son with you in the kitchen when you're there, giving him chores, "teaching" him (at his age, it's all play to you but it's learning to him, by repetition) You've had a lot of great suggestions already on how to incorporate your son and allow him kitchen play, etc. Teach him what he cannot have/touch/do by replacing it with what he CAN. Always be teaching and reminding him what is hot, no he cannot use these knives, etc. (Pampered Chef has a serrated red kids knife - I believe $6 or so? worth it. They can cut like mommy does and not cut themselves.)

I have been in homes where the chairs were all on their sides along the wall, or up on the table, because there was a very active toddler. This phase usually only lasts a few months at most, I believe, only until the toddler has learned how to climb "safely" (or not at all!)

I don't think that he helped at all. But what did help was giving him is very own drawer or cabinet. We went to the dollar store and let him pick out what went in his kicthen and put it in his drawer. Now when he goes in there he goes stright to his stuff and play leavingmy stuff alone. Don't get me wrong there are still times that he just can not resist him self and gets into the silverwear anyway but it is much much less. I think it worked because the things we got were real kicten supplies. My son has always perfered the real thing. Toy phones, remotes, ect.. were never played with but the old cell phone he played with for hours on end.

Give it try the worst that happens is that you spent $20 at the dollar store/
Good luck

So much good advice! My daughter (she's just over 2 years old) scales the counter and tabletop, too. And now she's been using the drawers to climb the dresser and has figured out how to climb the backyard fence. I am always chasing her down and telling her no climbing. It helps to take her to the park where she can climb, but I don't have an infant in the mix! I also try to set her up with a dun game or toy before I go take a shower or go to the bathroom when I know I won't be with her for a few extended minutes: playdoh works well now that she won't eat it. Blocks also keep her busy long enough for me to get stuff don: we have the regular wooden blocks as well as the Lego type blocks that hook together.

We have a play kitchen and both my son and daughter play with it often, but in spurts- and it doesn't replace their curiosity about the real thing. If you want to give your son a play kitchen, you can make one out of an old night stand, end table, or entertainment center- even a sturdy box will work. Use old CDs for burners (like the CDs that AOL always sends) and a stainless steel bowl for a sink.

Best wishes!

Hi S.. The answer is yes, at least it helped with my daughter. Every time I go to cook she wants to help but she's too little so I brought her kitchen in my kitchen and she was off and running and not with my utensils! See if Grandma or someone can buy it for christmas or go to a flea market and frequent garage sales, craigslist and thrift stores! We wanted a second kitchen for my in-laws house, I found one for $12 in 2 weeks and really only tried for one! Good luck!

I recommend a child gate immediately to keep your son from accessing things when you are busy with the baby. Let me tell you of my husband's daughter. He heard the scream from outside and went in to see what was wrong. Her mother was just pulling her little shirt off and flesh came with it. She was a year and a half, had pushed a chair to the stove and there was a pot of water boiling to make spaghetti. She pulled it off and it spilled across her chest. She spent a year in the hospital with multiple surgeries and skin grafts. Do whatever you have to and keep him safe.

ahhhhhhhh, this sounds like my life, only a little different. I have a 2 yr old and an 8 mth old. Here is what I do to "curb" my 2 yr olds interests in the kitchen. Depending on the day these are things I have done. 1- I give him a "chore" to help with the dinner....cutting (smooshing really) olives for enchiladas, holding cheese or putting it in piles (even though they don't need to be), filling up the sink for him to play in while I cook. I also have ONE spot that he needs to stand in when I tell him "hot", it's in a spot where he can see everything, but he knows that if I say hot, go stand in the hot spot, that's where he goes or he goes to timeout. No questions asked.

As for natural curiosity, I just stay on him ALL the time about the counter tops, the chairs, etc. He is a big tall boy so he actually sits in a regular chair at dinner and has since before he was 2. I think consistent messages when he's in the kitchen helps. This way he knows when you say to help that he gets to be in there, and when you say there's nothing to help with, hopefully he gets the message and goes somewhere else to play. It works with my little guy.

However we DO have a play kitchen and some play food but it's all outside, so he does play with that stuff.

I don't know if there is a coralation or not.

Sorry
good luck!
K.

While you are cooking, give him a little job to help you. Like fill the pot with water. Give him something to stir. He just wants to help you and learn what you are doing. You can also give him his own pot or bowl to pretend with!

Hope this helps

Children model directly after you. Is it possible he can help you? Put the baby in a high chair nearby and have the little guy cut(w/ a hand chopper), peel, wash, load/unload dishwasher etc.? I have been a Montessori toddler teacher and we always involved them in the kitchen. I am now a 3-6 Montessori teacher. The children have a "Practical Life" area. They learn polishing, dusting, sweeping, slicing, spreading grating etc. etc. If you have the patience and the time look at the Practical life Montessori Curriculum. You can see an on-line Montessori album. Look at Shu Yen's Montessori Album for ideas. You can buy a play kitchen.....your child is always going to be more interested in "REAL" experiences. You won't have to invest in expensive Montessori schools either.....You can start one at Home sweet home!!

i have wondered the same thing with my son, who is almost 3. my guy is a little older, but i bet there are some parallels. i have not gotten the play kitchen because i have a feeling that it would be ignored in favor of the real one. maybe not if i am not cooking, though, and it sounds like your problem is when you are not in the kitchen and he is. what we do is i try to let my kid help me with dinner as often as he wants, and i let him push his stool up to the stove and participate. i help him stir the hot food and i let him put things into the hot pan. there are some things that we have decided he can not be near, like a hugs pot of boiling pasta -- i just keep that on the back burner. what i do notice is that allowing my son to feel the heat and really reinforcing the respect for the process has really eliminated his unsupervised visits to the stove. he knows he can get hurt and he knows that if he does not listen to me he is out of the kitchen immediately. another way to get him to help with the cooking is to set him up on the floor with towels and a bowl of water and let him wash the veggies for you.

If you are interested in buying a second hand kitchen look on Craigslist.com There are always some posted, it just depends where you are located or how far you are willing to drive. No other advice, good luck

We currently have the kitchen gated off so our almost 3 yr old son can't access it. But I do have him do little 'projects' w/ me in the kitchen, like helping w/ dishes or mixing something. But for now, I've only got one kid to focus on, so it's a little easier. We're expecting # 2 in Jan. We also got a stool just for him called the Learning Tower (http://www.mylearningtower.com/). They're pretty spendy so I was very excited when I found one used for only $20 at a church rummage sale. He loves this thing and it's pretty safe. At this age, it's biologically difficult for them to impulse control. From what I've read, that doesn't start happening in their little brains until 3. So, until then, and for awhile after, we're keeping our gates up so we can limit his access to dangerous places. I also do a ton of redirecting to appropriate play things that are safe for him. Good luck!

take care,
J.

Hi S.,

Have you tried filling a lower cupboard with things that are just for him? It might not help him with trying to reach the stove but if he's going at it for the pans, maybe that's all he wants. When my girls were younger, I used to fill one of our lower cabinets with plastic cups, plates and even some canned goods because my younger one was really into taking out the canned goods from our pantry and arranging them. If you can't give up the space of a cabinet, maybe fill a plastic tub with things like play fruits and veggies or other kitchen toys. It can be anything that your little one likes, doesn't even have to be anything related to the kitchen. I know it's such a busy age. Good luck!

Hi! I am a mom of two beautiful girls, 21 month old and 4 month old, and I work as a behavior consultant for children with autism. When the kids I work with are getting into something or acting inappropriately we work on replacing the behavior with something appropriate that acheieves the same function. In other words, having his own play kitchen may meet the need of playing in the kitchen, if playing in the kitchen and pretending to cook like mom/dad is what he is doing. When he is in the kitchen see what he is doing (i.e., playing with dishes, emptying cupboards, climbing) and see if the toy/play kitchen you want to purchase will let him accomplish the same thing.
One more thing, I just purchased one of those play kitchens for my 21 month old for xmas and found some great deals on ebay. I searched only new products and went with a seller with 100% good feedback. The kitchen I bought normally retails for $80+, and I got it for $39.99. There are deals out there if you look hard enough. I recommend amazon and ebay. Good luck!

I agree with Alison and Thea and you've gotten great advice from everyone already! My son started wanting to get into kitchen stuff when he was just crawling. A family member gave us a second-hand play kitchen which has worked to some degree, but he still just wants the real stuff. I too have made certain cupboards okay and every once in a while I pull some gadget or cooking utensil out of the drawer and act like it is the coolest thing....he then goes to the container/pot or whatever I'm allowing him to use and acts like he's cooking. He still wants to see everything going on if I'm cooking, so I'll occasionally pick him up to show him what is in the pot, that it's hot, we don't touch, and I stir whatever I'm working on. Yes, it takes much longer to cook sometimes but in the long run I know he's learning and who knows...maybe our boys will end up cooking with us and for us later. So, a play kitchen would be great if you could find one second-hand, but try out what some have said and give him his own real stuff that you can do without for a little while. My son still has a favorite red pot that he is obessessed with because he always sees me using it. He loves finding it in the cupboard, BUT I don't allow him to take it out and explain that Mommy uses it. Something that has worked for me is that while I'm cooking, I allow him to open the pot cupboard (which is not near the stove) and give him a wooden spoon that he may use to stir and pretend cook with the pot still in the cupboard. Yes, I do have to remind him not to take it out and so far he has been good about it. He does play with the play kitchen everyday though, but not as much during prep/cooking time. He's now 18 months old and I'm sure I'll be dealing with the climbing up schemes very soon. I hope you find something that works. All the best to you!

Hello, I am a mother of 4 three of them are boys. Just to let you know boys are very active. I too have the same problem, one time I even caught two of them swinging from my chandelier. I bought a kitchen and they love it. I used to sit in their play room at let them cook me some food or have them feed their animals so it does work. The other problem is that they would want something more destructive, so we went to sams club and bought something called a super dome. Now with this they will play for a long time, we are even thinking about bringing it indoors for the winter. Boys are a little different than girls so they need lots of different things to keep up with their minds.

good luck

A play kitchen wont help because he is just being mischievious as kids will be. You probably need to block the kitchen entrance with a gate for his safety and your peace of mind. You will have to be very firm with him about the stove and put some of his toys or things to play with in a low drawer. I would be more for blocking it off. They have so many really good gates. I f you canmt find a bsby one you can go for the pet gate. Try petedge.com.

What we have resorted to doing is only using the stove/oven/grill if there are two adults at home. We involve him wherever we can since we don't want him to loose his interest in cooking.
If your Stove/oven is electric, turn it off at the breaker box when it is not in use. Cook enough so that there will be left overs and heat up using the microwave. Also, if you have an out of the reach place to put it, a crock pot is great.
Also, a note of caution if you give your son his own drawer - my son tried to use his as a step up to the counter.

I agree with PP about getting him his own drawer. I would add that when you introduce the drawer, be very clear about the rules in the kitchen and then follow through. Clibing on the stove is a safety issue. You probably want to telln him that if he can't follow the rules in the kitchen, then he won't be allowed in the kitchen (then be prepared to put up a gate and keep him away from the kitchen).

Just say no to your son about the climbing on the chairs and tables and countertops! Explain to him chairs are for sitting only. That's what I've done with my son and it worked, though you have to tell him about 100 times! As for a play kitchen, I wouldn't count on it from stopping him from wanting to play with 'real' things (esp. at his age), but at least you could use it to explain to him that the play kitchen is his stuff and the real kitchen is your stuff. So, keep his hands off of your stuff, please! Besides, they're really fun, and with two kids it would be a good long-term investment and always a nice play thing your kids' when friends come over. Good luck and stay firm with your son, he'll understand 'no' if you reinforce it every time.

Dear S.,
Both of my children loved anything to do with kitchen stuff. Think about it....they see us spending so much time in there busying about...it looks like so much fun. And, that's where the food comes from.
My kids always had little play kitchens and pretend cook stuff. Some of the best things I ever got came from yard sales. My kids would play for hours and then we'd pretend to eat what they "cooked".
Your son is not too young to understand what NO means.
NO climbing on the furniture, NO touching mommy's stove, NO being in the kitchen by himself.
Give him his own things to play with and if he touches the real stove, pop him on the back of the hand.
Unfortunately, children do not understand what hot means until they find out the hard way. Do everything you can to avoid a horrible accident.
If you're nursing your infant, give your son a pan and a couple plastic bowls and spoons and let him cook for you where you can watch him.
They make all kinds of fake food...fried eggs, chicken legs, celery stalks, brocolli. They have really cute little shopping carts too that sometimes come with that stuff in it. Your little guy isn't quite big enough yet, but my son loved playing grocery store. I sat things around here and there in the family room and he would take his cart around "shopping" then pay me with play money. Then, he got to be the store clerk and I shopped. He was little. Still in diapers. It was the same way with him pretending he was cooking. He'd bring me something he cooked and say, "Here you go. 5 bucks, please."
EVERYTHING was 5 bucks.
My daughter had all that stuff but she had friends over playing with it outside and said they needed another stove. I made one out of a cardboard box, cut a flap for an oven door and drew electric burners on the top with a Sharpie. I even made some cardboard "brads" that could turn like knobs and served as a handle for the oven door.
They were all out there happily making dirt pies when my daughter ran in and said, "Hey Mom! The stove works great! Now we need you to make us a refrigerator."
Your son is very inquisitive and even though you have another very young child, you can still encourage imaginative and safe play time.
Pretending is fun.
Enjoy it.

I just had my 2 boys almost as close as yours (20 months), and it was really hard...especially for the older brother.

That being said, I think if he is even remotely interested in the kitchen, it's not a bad idea to get one if it doesn't break the bank. Although they are no substitute for your attention, toys will keep the big brother entertained when you can't do so. I'm not saying to spoil him with toys or to ignore him and just throw toys his way...but this is a difficult time for you guys and anything that will help is a plus for now. (in my opinion, atleast)

Oh, and my 2yo is totally in to climbing right now - so I think it's just your son's age, but whatever will keep him happy and promote development (even physical development like climbing) is good for him...

Good luck and if you have any other questions please contact me. :)

When my daughter started exploring our kitchen, we got her a plastic kitchen set at Big Lots, about $40. She used it quite a bit, but only because we gated off the real kitchen. The thing was pretty cheap, and it ended up outside, and then out front where we sold it at our garage sale for $10. One thing that did help her use it more was giving her some of the real strainers and spoons and spatulas, stuff you can part with temporarily. Good luck!

My third child is a boy(2 years), and after two girls, it has come as quite a shock what they can get into! My son loves playing with play kitchens, but he still wants to get into stuff that he sees me doing. I have most of the cupboards baby-proofed, but I do have one cupboard with tupperware type stuff, plastic bowls, spoons, whisks, stuff that he can play with. Sometimes, I'll just put a big towel down on the floor, fill up a bowl with some water and let him go to town. Sometimes, I'll even let him put a little flour into the water mixture and just let him make a mess. It's easy to clean and keeps his attention for a while. As far as the climbing, not much advice I can give, because mine still does it. For a while, we had to put the kitchen chairs on top of the table so he couldn't get to them and push them to the counters. There are things at Babies R Us that you can put over the stove to prevent him from turning it on accidently. It is so hard with a new baby, and with an adventurous little boy, but you'll get through it. Good luck!

-K.