Garages, plates, and toddlers in the kitchen!

Feb 14, 2013

child-rearing, Grace based parenting, Motherhood

I am linking up with KellysKorner today!! LOVE her blog. You can find her here.

Kelly asked bloggers to post some organizing tips. Here are some tips that enabled my toddlers and pre-schoolers to help in the kitchen.

Fifteen years ago, we were blessed with a new home. It has a large kitchen loaded with cabinets and counters. The house we moved from, had a tiny kitchen with no counters and just 2 cabinets. It was too small to have the children help me, although there was a lot of work to be done.

The two sweet moms who helped me organize my new kitchen gave me wonderful advice. They encouraged me to buy Corelle dishes because they are nice looking, but sturdy and rarely break. They then advised me to keep the dishes in a lower cabinet, so that even my 2 year old and 3 year old could empty the dishwasher and put the dishes away.

SUCH a great idea. They did exactly that! They also learned to set the table, and loved it!!

They also advised me to purchase fancy, reusable, plastic cups for the same reason, and keep them in a lower cabinet.

Silverware was also kept in a low place, (minus the knives).

I also created a place for sippy cups. I called it a ‘garage’, because I had 5 sons. I understand that sippy cups don’t leak, but I didn’t want them out of the kitchen. The ‘garage’ is actually a plastic placemat. I set it on a bench, and that is where all sippy cups are placed throughout the day. It was, and is, a wonderful solution to, “Where is my sippy cup????). Although my children are older now, I have not moved the dishes, and I still have the ‘garage’ for the 3 children that we babysit. It works so well!

I’d love to hear your ideas!

I’m linking to:
http://www.blogshe.net/
http://www.bigfoottribe.com/2013/02/friday-connection-blog-hop_14.html#.UR4g8zkhzwx

Bonni is the author of Mom By Example

4 Comments

Cristin February 15, 2013 at 10:31 pm

Hi Bonni - I found your post from Kelly's blog. I love the idea of storing your dishes low! Maybe when my 12 month old gets past the 'pulling everything out of the kitchen cabinets' stage, we can implement that! Thanks for sharing!
- Bonni February 16, 2013 at 8:01 am
  
  Thanks Cristin of taking the time to comment!!! Your comment made me laugh! Yes, I remember those days! We used locks on the cabinets that the 12 month old could figure out, and I couldn't!! Have a blessed weekend!
melissa February 16, 2013 at 10:53 am

Great idea!! My 18 month old wants to help!
- Bonni February 16, 2013 at 7:27 pm
  
  That's great! Use the 'many to help' stage to your advantage! It doesn't always last forever! If we can catch them when they want to help, and make it fun, it becomes routine! They understand that helping is just part of being a loving, happy, family!! Thanks for taking the time to comment!