Pretend cooking is one of the most popular ways kids can engage in natural imaginative play – after all, they love helping mum in the kitchen so it’s even more fun when they can magic up their own kitchen fun when they get busy with pretend cooking.

What you need:

• Old kitchen utensils
• Plastic cups
• Plastic cutlery
• Wooden spoons
• Cake tins

Activity:

Using the kitchen equipment you have assembled, create a space in your kitchen or outdoors where your kids can get busy with pretend cooking.

Notes:

• A plastic jug of water will encourage water play and add an extra dimension to the cooking play.
• Sand, earth, flowers and leaves can make great ‘ingredients’ for pretend cooking.
• Some children enjoy making an oven and stove to use in their pretend cooking play.