Kitchen Utensils “Toy Room II” (Ages 3-8)
At the center of your child’s universe is Mom, and quite often the center of Mom’s universe is the kitchen. Logically then, your child will probably spend a great deal of time in that room of the house. Ho-hum, boring, right? Wrong.
The kitchen, in fact, could be the most exciting room in the house for your toddler. It is, after all, the very nerve center of your dwelling. Feeding into this room are gas, water, electrical, and communication lines. Terminated at the end of these lines are a whole array of appliances furnishing sights and sounds, tastes and smells, to assault the senses.
Toaster * Can Opener * Stove * Microwave * Blender * Oven * Dishwasher * Coffee Maker * Refrigerator * Garbage Disposal * Stove * Stove Fan * Mixer * Phone * Ice Maker * Radio * Faucet
There is enough action to hold the fascination of your child for a good while. When things are quiet in the kitchen and interest wanes, there is one last sense that hasn’t been addressed to recapture his or her attention—touch. Take a baby lock off one of your kitchen cabinets, fill it with some of the following utensils, and your child’s sense of touch won’t be denied for long.
Pots * Pans * Cups * Plastic Bowls * Containers * Salad Spinner * Scale * Egg Beater * Wooden Spoons * Spatulas * Ladle * Whisk * Basting Brush * Garlic Press * Tongs * Ice Cream Scoop * Nut Cracker * Baster * Rolling Pin * Hourglass * Oven Mitt * Sponge * Cookbook * Coasters
Anything that isn’t too sharp, too small, or too expensive. Then with those items he or she can:
Bang—Roll—Fit—Hide—Brush—Pickup—Squeeze—Stack—Spin—Turn—Wear
Later, when your spouse comes home and asks, “What are you making for dinner?” Your reply can be: “Reservations, Dear. How can I cook when the toy room is such a mess?”
Rex Bowlby is the father of two boys. He is the author of the book, Why Would I Want the Toy, When I Can Have the Box? (101 Ways to Make the Most of Your Children, With the Least from Your Wallet*) *For parents with children ages 3-8. He lives in Los Angeles, California, USA.