Some of Step2's Favorite Contest Entries

Although we could only select three winners, we were overwhelmed with fantastic entries detailing how families get creative in the kitchen with their children. We will be sharing some of these entries in hope to inspire creativity with your kids in the kitchen.

Fencing IS a Kitchen Sport

Kids and kitchens are a fabulous mixture. My son has been a regular ingredient of our kitchen activities since he was a baby in a bouncy seat. Certainly he became more helpful" once he could crawl. This is when he discovered refrigerator magnets opening cabinets exploring measuring cups mixing bowls colanders turkey basters and tasting as we cooked. Then when he could stand on his own he was ready for the step stool which opened up a cornucopia of opportunities to help. Selecting (& tasting) cookie ingredients inserting muffin liners pouring ingredients stirring washing produce or dishes at the sink unloading the dishwasher helping Daddy make & pack his lunch. It was around this time that we discovered a favorite kitchen activity for our son - fencing! We (my husband son & I) used strainers for our face masks and whisks for our sabres. We've had some intensely fun matches! Our kitchen is an enjoyable place whether we are cooking tasting cleaning eating or playing. Honestly we all prefer the latter in which LAUGHTER is the key ingredient!"

Themed Fun" Week in the Kitchen"

Every week I have a theme for my son that involves him helping me in the kitchen. Beginning of the month, I'll have a sheet of paper with what we would be celebrating. Each week has a theme: colors of vegetable, different types of food (eg. spanish, chinese, dessert, soups), food for all the major holidays. We would focus on what we are going over and we start with shopping. If it's yellow vegetable week he would pick out squash, potatoes and etc. I'll ask him to wash the vegetables and I'll chop them and incorporate them to our meal. Same goes for all the other themes. I also have a check list for him that asks what he liked/disliked about the food. Also asking him on the check list if he helped me and cleaned up after he ate. If he got many stars" from me by helping I get to by him toys of his choice. It's really important that little ones are exposed to different kinds of taste and palate. This also helps moms/dads who are working during the day to spend some time together with their children when they get home. This makes kids feel good about themselves by making choices in their lives that effects other people.

Please note: The above entries were not chosen as winners for the Creative Kids in the Kitchen Contest.