Baking to me has always held ties to special memories. My Grandmother bringing out her special twix bars at family dinners, my father slapping down the shortbread cookies as my siblings and I watch patiently waiting for a scrap of dough, and me baking cookies as a young girl to share with my sister and brothers.
As I got older my passion for baking continued but I found that I was baking less and less (my husband doesn't really have a sweet tooth). Then something changed, I had two beautiful children and became a stay at home mom. If you're a mom or know someone who is a mom you know being a mother is one of the most rewarding but difficult things you can do. One of the biggest things I struggled with was finding activities to keep my two toddlers happy and busy.
One random day while baking a batch of peanut butter cookies I let my then 2 year old son stand on a chair and help me stir the dough. He loved it! He was filthy and the house was a mess but it was all worth it for the amount of fun he had.
Fast forward another year and my son is now 3 and my daughter is 1.5 yrs and baking together is our favourite activity. So much so that as soon as I place my stand mixer or mixing bowl on the counter they run to grab their chairs so they can reach the counter and help.
Baking with toddlers takes a lot of patience, you have to be able to let things go, and you have to know that there is going to be a large mess to clean at the end. However, it will be worth it!
I've found baking together has improved my children's fine motor skill, their listening skills, and some vocabulary. It's also just nice bonding time together, and the biggest bonus is after you'll have a delicious treat to enjoy!
All my recipes are made with the help of my children and I welcome you to try them as well! Bake them with your kids or bake them by yourself, either way I hope you love my recipes and get to enjoy them with your family!