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Cooking With Your Toddler - A Fun Way to Connect
By metropolitanmama | March 18, 2008
One fun way to spend quality time with your toddler is to put on an apron and cook a few meals together. Get out the ingredients, assign a few tasks, and enjoy whipping up some kid-friendly creations.
I have to admit that when I received Annabel Karmel’s newest book - The Toddler Cookbook - I was hoping to find some ideas for the younger toddler set (12-24m). The book, though, is geared more to the 2-5-year-old set. The kids in the photos are in this age range and are seen grating cheese, chopping bell peppers, and adding ingredients into a hot skillets (all tasks that my 18-month-old daughter isn’t quite ready for).
That said, Annabel Karmel’s cookbooks never fail to disappoint me when it comes to the quantity and the quality of the photos - and the “fun factor” of the finished food items. After all, what kid wouldn’t want to eat lettuce boats, little pita pizzas with smiling faces, salmon fishcakes (shaped like little fish), and peanut butter bears? So cute!
The author writes to the toddler, which is a bit odd since most toddlers don’t read very well (if at all), but it does add to the child-centered “feel” of the book.
Also, the book only features 19 recipes - which is a little skimpy by adult cookbook standards - but perhaps perfect for the toddler. This book stays on my daughter’s bookshelf instead of with my cookbook stash. It truly is geared to the child rather than to the parent.
My daughter may be too young to follow the directions in this book right now, but I already love “cooking” her and I bet we’ll end up pulling this book out together sometime very soon. 
WIN IT! One mama will win The Toddler Cookbook by Annabel Karmel. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post prior to Sunday, Mar. 23, at midnight (don’t forget to follow the rules). The winner will be announced and contacted on Monday, Mar. 24. * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.
* UPDATE * The winner is #20 Megan. Congratulations!
Topics: book review, contests, nutrition for toddlers |
March 18th, 2008 at 4:54 am
This would be so much fun… Maybe this will get us all in the kitchen! I’m not so thrilled with cooking, but I can make some mean cookies!
March 18th, 2008 at 5:20 am
my princesses just love helping me in the kitchen, they would love their own cookbook
March 18th, 2008 at 6:10 am
This looks like fun for me and my toodler! She loves to put on her cute little apron.
March 18th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Too cute- I love the idea of cooking with a toddler, but you’re right, until they’re a bit older, there would be a lot they cant do and the waiting to help ‘here and there’ might lose their interest quickly. I have hopes that when our kids are older (13ish-18), they’ll be responsible for cooking one dinner per week. One can hope/dream, right? Would love this book to start them off in the right direction- healthy, at home cooking, and being self-sufficient in the kitchen! Thanks.
laurachilton (at) hotmail (dot) com
March 18th, 2008 at 10:31 am
This would be great, I love to trya nd let my toddler help but with some foods its really hard. A cookbook would be nice!
March 18th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Both my kids love to help me cook. This book would be great.
March 18th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Yeah, under twos usually can’t manage more than dump and stir…
Check out The Pretend Soup cookbook for other great preschool recipes. We LOVE that one!
I’m always up for trying new cookbooks, though!
March 18th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
My husband and I both love to cook. This book looks like a great way to get Riley involved in the kitchen with us.
March 18th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I’m always looking for new things to do with my toddler-looks like fun!
March 18th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
My daughter likes looking through my cookbook that I had when I was little (a Holly Hobbie one - which has probably seen better days), so it would be pretty cool for her to have her own cookbook. She really likes helping in the kitchen (she’s 4) so it sounds like this would be perfect for us. Thank you for this giveaway.
jtpirillo at nconnect (dot) net
March 18th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I love anything that can involve kids! Great giveaway:)
March 18th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
T loves cooking with us. The chopping part’s not happening yet, but she loves to stir, pour things into the pot, etc. This sounds like some fun mommy-daughter time! Thanks.
March 18th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
I have Karmel’s others book and would love to have this as an additional resource for cooking with my son.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Karmel’s books have gorgeous photos and her recipes look yummy. I’d love to have this book to share cooking with my toddler (and I’m extra hoping to win the Learning Tower to cook without her pulling at my legs all the time!) when she’s a little older to help cook these recipes. I think having your daughter in the kitchen is wonderful. A great learning experience for her. I never helped my mom in the kitchen; she was probably way to busy to have four children “helping”. I never did develop confidence in the kitchen until I was in my late 20s. Well, okay, I’m still working on it!
March 19th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
My daughter doesn’t help me cook yet, she is too young right now. She sits in her high chair and watches me. But she will be able to help out soon so this book would be a wonderful resource. Thanks! katebeth45(at)gmail
March 19th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I have heard great things about this book…My little man loves to help me in the kitchen, so this would be a great book to have onhand! Especially for those rainy days!LOL! Thanks for all the great toddler products you are featuring this week…They couldn’t be more perfect for me!
sblilly14(@)yahoo(.)com
March 19th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Awwww, I LOVE the idea of keeping this book on the child’s bookshelf. Definitely something I’d do if I won! I can already see her bringing me the book wanting to cook something yummy
March 20th, 2008 at 12:51 am
I have read very good reviews about this Toddler Cookbook. Thanks for sponsoring another fabulous giveaway contest. Please put my name in the hat! Thanks,Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
March 20th, 2008 at 1:20 am
This is a great way for parents to bond with their children!
March 20th, 2008 at 2:26 am
I have been wanting to get some cooking with kids cookbooks so that I could have some easy recipes to do with my kids. Thanks for offering this giveaway.
mopsmomut[at]yahoo[dot]com
March 20th, 2008 at 4:15 am
Great because we have a little cook in the house!
grace [at] sandierpastures dot com
March 20th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
my daughter always wants to cook with me but my recipes are not kid friendly for cooking. i would love to see what this book offers
bwalleshauser(at)yahoo(dot)com
March 20th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
This book sounds like so much fun! I would love for them to be able to try to do it all themselves! cookiecutter72 AT hotmail DOT com
March 20th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I love kid focused cookbooks.Great giveaway! Count me in. bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
March 20th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
We would have so much fun with this! Thanks!
March 20th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
I can’t wait until Brea is old enough to join me in the kitchen. I’m thinking we are going to make some pretty big messes. I would love to have a cookbook that is geared for kids. Thank you.
March 22nd, 2008 at 2:18 am
we could defitinely use more variety=) I think when the phrase chicken nuggets or pizza rolls became part of our regualr lunch routine- its time to change!
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:12 am
we love the kitchen… this would be great
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:51 am
Haha..this would go great with the learning tower you highlighted! : ) I like your toddler series. Lots of great ideas and products for when little Josh and I are at that stage…
March 22nd, 2008 at 11:48 pm
This would be awesome for my budding chef!
dansan826 at yahoo.com
March 23rd, 2008 at 11:17 pm
My little guy loves to help me cook - and I’m determined to give him the skills he needs to actually help his wife in the kitchen some day!
I bet he would get a real kick out of this fun-looking cookbook.