5 tips for baking w a toddler (without losing your sanity!)
1. Keep it simple - box mix, easy recipes, things you know they can handle w very little intervention and not too complicated that they lose their interest and attention span.
2. Plan ahead and prep before you invite them to the baking space - clear off the counter, premeasure ingredients so all they have to do is dump in (eg I precracked the eggs into a bowl or else I knew Ella Grace would want to help me and we would have shell everywhere or she would dump flour into another bowl while I did it etc) I also chose to mix by hand instead of using the mixer because I knew she would enjoy it more and it would be less chaos!
3. Walk them through what you are making and your expectations of behavior and "rules" - eg. Ella Grace was standing on her high chair/step chair (Tripp Trapp) and my rule for her is that she has to stay on so she is safe and I remind her of that before we start.
4. Limit temptations - remember that they have very very poor impulse control so instead of battling it out or asking them to go against what they can't really control, limit temptation. Move things out of the way that you don't want them to touch, have a confident momentum of what is expected to happen then follow through. I also don't let her in the kitchen when the oven is on or I'm taking something out or when I was cooling the cupcakes because although she's a good listener, why tempt her?
5. Have fun! Enjoy the process, laugh together, pick your battles, try not to stress. Honestly, if it wasn't because we actually had to sell these, I would have totally let her spoon it all into the trays! 😂 Remember, they're not meant to be perfect, it's not what you both will remember for years to come. It's that simple memory of baking w mama in the kitchen just because. Xx
Part 1 of baking w a toddler w mama's mad baking skillz : box mix edition!! Totally not organic, totally not healthy, totally fun! 😂❤️
Come join us at the IBU bake sale tomorrow! Our friends SUPA DUPA Circus and BonBon Glitter Tattoos will be there along with our favorite Miss Sarah (fondly known as "sticky sticky" for her and gluten-free playdough skills and kindness) from The British International School of Kuala Lumpur
Details in comments (of original post) w tips on baking w your little one! Stay tuned for part two!!
