Trying to get ahead on meals for the week and my 8 and 10 year old have turned it into complete chaos. They want to help so I'm letting them but it's taking 3x as long and there's flour everywhere. The meatballs are huge and misshapen. The pasta sauce looks questionable. But they're having so much fun and actually learning something so I guess that's the win here.
Haha this is why I do my meal prep after they're in bed now. 9pm my kitchen, 100% focus, zero tiny hands touching everything.
Kitchen chaos is real. My solution was giving them their own 'prep station' with soft stuff they can't hurt themselves with. Keeps them in the action without driving you nuts.
Letting them help is the right call even if it's messy. My kids learned more about teamwork helping me prep than anywhere else. The chaos is temporary but the memories stick around.
Man, I feel this in my soul. With three kids here in Denver, meal prep day usually turns into finger paint with flour. My advice? Set them up with their own "station" so they feel helpful but contained. Game changer for me.
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8 and 10 is prime age for actually putting them to work though. My boys that age are now legit helpers. Takes longer but they feel included and you get stuff done.
My kids are younger but I'm already dreading this phase. Do you just accept the mess or do you actually manage to keep it contained?