keeping them entertained while making dinner

[MrsBone]

Any tricks? My 2 year old DS gets so clingy and wants to eat "right now" while I'm cooking dinner. I used to give him little snacks while I was cooking, because I figured he's hungry, he needs to eat, but then come dinner, he wouldn't eat any of it. Tonight, I made him wait but it was torture, he was opening the fridge, bugging me the whole time. I have also been guilty of turning on the TV while making dinner cause that usually works, but I'm trying not to default to the TV for every distraction. I know it's not good for him! What do you all do to keep your kids busy while you make dinner. DH doesn't get home til after dinner, like close to 8 or 9, so asking him to play with DS isn't really an option. :)

[SpuglyRoo]

I found that if I do most of my dinner prep during his afternoon snack time (several hours before dinner) everything goes much smoother.  It has many benefits for us: we are both less far along on our patience quota for the day, he gets curious about the veggies I'm chopping up and wants to try them in addition to his snack, I'm less rushed and so I can be more creative in our meal, etc.  Not everything can be done in advance, but lots of things can. Even something like filling the pot of water for pasta and having it sit on the stove for a few hours means that is one less thing I have to do later and he can come with me to quick pop in to turn the stove on, and then we are back to playing.  For my DS, the later the day gets the more needy he gets and we've taken to referring to him as being "broken" when he gets beyond a certain point.  Once that happens nothing but a good nights sleep will fix him so I try make it so I am in a better position to give him the attention he needs at that time of day by making dinner early.  Rarely, when I am really ambitious, I get it done during morning snack time when his is still bright and cheerful because it's a new day.  But like I said, that is rare.  I aim for doing it around 3 and we have dinner around 6/6:30.

[autumnfairy76]

I admit to using the TV sometimes too, and I hate it. But there are other things we also do.

Prepping during naptime and snack time are good to get a head start. It really helps, but sometimes gives me the feeling I've been in the kitchen all day. 

During the summer, I stick a small chair in front of the kitchen sink w/ some unbreakable dishes, give her the scrub brush and let her "wash" to her hearts content. It keeps her busy for a looong time. I also take off her shirt and I use a towel on the floor to clean up the spills and do a quick wipe down of the kitchen floor with all the spilled water.

Most toddlers love to play on the kitchen floor w/ some bowls and measuring cups (I shy from the pots and pans as my ears are quite sensitive)

We also have some electronic fridge magnet toys one is an animal farm matching thing and the other teaches letters and letter sounds.

If I'm not too rushed I let her help cook too, mixing and adding ingredients and talk to her about cooking and what we are making.

[crunchy_mommy]

Honestly, we wait 'til DH is home, then one of us cooks dinner while the other entertains DS. 

Otherwise, DS & I cook together earlier in the day -- and this usually involves throwing ingredients in the bread maker & soup in the crockpot, keep it simple so *I* don't get stressed about it.

[AuNaturaleMama]

We filled our lower cabinets with unbreakables like wooden spoons, pot lids, etc. While I'm cooking he can "cook" or play with his magnets on the fridge. Usually he stays occupied long enough for me to get all the prepping done. Then when I'm actively cooking he stands on a chair in front of the stove and "helps." by helping i mean that he holds a spoon for me that I ocassionally use to stir things. He loves it.

On the really whiney days I just put him in my carrier on my back!

[Courtney-Ostaff]

Perhaps you should move your afternoon snacktime for the kid closer to dinnertime, so it's not tortuous.  Perhaps he could "help" make dinner, so he knows when it's done?  At 2 1/2, he should be able to set the table, with perhaps the exception of heavy, breakable plates.  Also, perhaps you two can eat something simple earlier, and then eat a late snack with your husband?