Tag Archives: role play

How to occupy a toddler while cooking

28 Monday Jan 2013

Posted by in Motherhood, Play

≈ 9 Comments

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You know that time of day where your child turns into a demon, your phone starts ringing and the uncooked supper screams at you from the fridge? For me, that hellish point in the day always arrives at around 4pm. *BANG* – it hits us like a train.

One of the hardest things I find at this time is multi-tasking; answering the phone, while juggling a tantrumming toddler on one hip and cutting up an onion with one hand. Anyone with children will tell you – it’s a hard job to occupy a toddler while cooking. Especially if that cooking involves more than just bunging something in the oven.

I experienced a revelation today though. 4pm arrived and there was no sign of the metamorphosis from angel to demon in my beautiful child. She remained happy, calm and content. She occupied herself and didn’t once asked to be lifted up, to “help”, to have “CHOC CHOC!” or for ketchup to be smothered over her uncooked supper. Continue reading »

Fancy a cuppa?

17 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by in Play

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Review

For all her tantrums and diva strops, my daughter is at a lovely age right now.

Every day I can see new cogs in her brain whirring into action, as she shows me she’s remembering stuff – like numbers, shapes, colours and letters – and going through ideas in her own little head.

My favourite part of this phase is watching her imagination develop and unfurl in front of me.

She talks to everything – dolls, teddies, a pebble on the ground – as if it’s her best friend. I find the responses she gives for these inanimate objects fascinating. After asking her toy tiger if he’d like some “bing bangs” (bangles, to those in the know), she makes him reply, “Yes please. Like bing bangs. Pretty on me. ROAR!” Continue reading »

How to bake without baking

28 Monday May 2012

Posted by in Play

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I won’t lie to you. I’m not a particularly “bakey mum”. I only trundle out the flour and mixing bowls once every few weeks, when my 23 month old daughter is particularly grumpy and it takes the promise of baking some cakes to calm her.

So the cute kids bakeware items sent to me by Dunelm Mill have remained untouched until today.

And, the thing is, it’s too hot to use them for what they are designed for. At least, it was today. Who wants to be stuck in a boiling kitchen when it’s shady and cool in the garden? Continue reading »