So, I decided it was time to get the little ones involved in the kitchen more, specifically with baking. Seemed like a fun idea. I went looking for some childrens baking tools, figuring smaller sizes would be easier for their hands.
Found a set online, didn’t look too pricey, had a bunch of stuff in it. Tiny whisk, a small silicone spatula, a little rolling pin – looked like wood but felt lighter – and some colorful plastic cookie cutters shaped like animals. Ordered it. When the box arrived, it was, well, small. Everything looked pretty toy-like, which I guess is the point. The materials felt okay, not super sturdy, but maybe good enough for supervised use.
Putting Them to the Test
Alright, the weekend came, and it was time for action. Pulled out a simple sugar cookie recipe. Got the ingredients measured out – doing that myself mostly, let’s be real. Then, handed over the new tools. The kids grabbed the small rolling pin first. It actually worked alright for their little arms, much better than my heavy marble one, obviously. Flour went everywhere, but that was expected.
Mixing with the small whisk and spatula was a bit messy. The whisk felt a bit flimsy, like it might bend if the dough got too thick. The spatula was fine for scraping the bowl sides, though. Then came the cookie cutters. These were a hit. Bright colors, fun shapes. They pressed them into the rolled-out dough. Easy enough for them to handle, and the plastic meant I wasn’t worried about sharp edges like metal ones.
- Rolling pin: Good size, easy to grip.
- Whisk: A bit weak, okay for liquids.
- Spatula: Worked fine, flexible.
- Cookie cutters: Big success, easy and safe.
How It All Turned Out
We got the cookies onto the baking sheet, somehow. Used my own oven mitts, naturally. The results? Well, the cookies tasted like cookies, shape definition was a bit blobby here and there, but the kids were proud. They definitely enjoyed using tools that were theirs and sized for them. It made them feel more involved than just watching me do everything.
Was it worth getting specific kids’ tools? Yeah, I think so. They aren’t pro quality, far from it. Some pieces feel like they won’t last forever. But for getting kids started and making it manageable for them, they did the job. The smaller size really is the key benefit. Regular kitchen tools are just too big and heavy for little kids to use effectively or safely sometimes. It was chaos, sure, but the fun kind. We managed to bake something together, and these little tools definitely helped make that happen without too much frustration.
