Tot kitchen cupboard revisited again - adding some independence and imaginative play

I first made Luath a tot friendly kitchen cupboard in February last year when Luath was 13 months.  The aim was to have one cupboard in our small kitchen that contained items that were safe for Luath to take out and investigate/play with.  All our other cupboards had child locks placed on them. 

I reviewed and altered the contents a few months later after I assessed the objects that she enjoyed exploring the most.

Since last May I have often renewed/altered and frequently tided the cupboard.  Changing the objects that are on immediate view keeps Luath interested.  There are some items that she loves and uses everyday but I wanted to also now store some of Luath’s crockery and cutlery to help give her some independence.

The top shelf now contains some tubs, lids and other kitchen treasures Luath enjoys playing with.  The shelf also is where we keep food storage boxes and jars.

On the middle shelf I have placed a few items of crockery and a container for Luath’s cutlery (a knife, fork and spoon).  We debated about the cutlery but we have made it a rule that the crockery and cutlery are for eating and not play.  After twice removing these items they have not been used for play.  We keep ice cube trays (various shapes) and some moulds here too, which Luath is free to play with.

Luath now is enjoying imaginative play so I have added some of our baking equipment. On the lowest shelf is Luath’s apron and hat, a a baking tray, mini muffin silicone tray with silicone cup cases; a mixing bowl containing a funnel, a microwave egg cup and small measuring jug; a basket containing measuring cups, a wooden spoon, a small salad fork and a whisk. Luath’s salad spinner is also here.  We use this baking equipment so I often have to give them a wash before we cook but the small amount of time is worth it for all the enjoyment Luath has baking cakes, making cups of tea, soup and loads more.

Shared at Living Montessori Now

(Luath is 25 months)

Tot friendly kitchen cupboard revisited

In February I cleared out a kitchen cupboard and made it into a tot friendly cupboard for Luath.  The idea is that she can take and play with any of the contents while we are in the kitchen together. The cupboard has been working well although it has become a little bit of a disorganised shambles.  Some things Luath chooses to play with a lot, others she overlooks.  Some days Luath enjoys pulling everything out of the cupboard.  I decided it was time for a thinning out of the contents, although there still is quite a few items in there.  I should have taken a before photo, especially when everything has been taken out and is all over the kitchen floor.

 How it looks now.

 Contents:

Some cookie cutters.  Two plastic jars with screwable lids.  A microwave pot with lid (that has a slight crack in base so can't use any more).  Two different tins with lids.

A tray of different lids, extra ones that fit the above two jars and one of the tins.  An extra bowl for transferring items into.  A bowl with various small sized cooking utensils - spoon, spatula, whisk and sieve.

 

Towards the back of the cupboard, items for me to take out as Luath not so interested in independent play with these.  Various ice cube trays - have used these for coloured ice cubes, playdough, sorting.  Small shaped jelly moulds - playdough, water play.  A cat shaped jelly mould - water play.  Ice lolly mould holder - coloured ice, sorting

At the back of the cupboard base.  A salad spinner and a bowl with coasters and some paper cases.

No doubt it'll get a untidy again, espeically as daddy tends to put Luath safe things in here when he isn't sure where they belong!

Tot Friendly Kitchen Cupboard



some of the things Luath had pulled out of the cupboard
I think she was off somewhere with the mini whisk


(Update - I have revisted this in May)

 Luath now enjoys spending time helping me with some housework.  She still has lots of times when she needs to cling onto me, but now she will at times happily keep herself busy as long as I am very close at hand.  When we are in the kitchen I usually hand her a few things to play with, but this week I let her investigate a cupboard.  Of course she found two things that were probably better than she hadn't.  I decided to have a change around of my cupboard space so we could have one that was 100% tot friendly.  I also wanted another smaller cupboard  for Luath cutlery, cups,dishes etc so that when she is ready she can select these items for herself.

It took a little bit of work to make the cupboard spaces work for us all, we don't have a lot of space, but we  now have a cupboard that I am happy to open and let her explore.  It has worked a treat, I made banana muffins and cheesy biscuits this morning, while Luath had a blast taking things out, playing with them and showing me her finds.

The wonder years has a post about creating a kid friendly kitchen

Shared with Tuesday Tots at Rainy Day Mum