Cooking with Sundries

So after F was so enamored with the red lentils, when we made the Tactile Tiger Masks, I wanted to plan another activity where she could play with them. This is an easy activity for toddlers and older children alike, which doesn’t need much prep and it is such fun.

Set Up

I have lots of random jars of dried ingredients in the cupboard that all needed using up. So, instead of throwing them away, I planned this activity to use them up. Anything that you have to hand in the kitchen will work. Then I just put them into a Thali dish, which is a great way to put out a selection of items for your child to choose from, like this one. Added a couple of their childrens saucepans, these ones, and utensils for them to use and we were ready.

M, my eldest, wanted to know what some of the ingredients were but F just went straight for the dried coconut; grabbing a handful and sprinkling it into her pot. They were so happy playing with this and were so focused that I honestly don’t think that they would have noticed if I’d gone for a lie down. They were using the small spoons to add some of the ingredients. Big spoons were used for mixing (and the occasional taste). M started her own recipe, narrating the instructions of how to rustle up her own fantasy creation. F busily worked away, occasionally presenting her saucepan for my approval.

M also started her own salad bar style restaurant; where I got to choose which of the ingredients I wanted and she would mix them up and cook them for me. The bottom storage section of the unit, became their ovens. They could have happily played for hours and hours had it not been time for dinner, The floor was covered but was easy enough to hoover up. This is an all round fun, simple toddler activity that we will be playing again and again.