I just made Chocolate Balls and Apricot Balls with DS and the kitchen was a complete mess and it took about double the time but it was fun and he loved helping. Otherwise I just wait until he is asleep and I do it at night.
When DD and DS were the age of your little one I sat them in the bouncer or on a mat with toys. When DD could stand holding onto something my plastic cupboard was the entertainment now she helps with all cooking/baking and loves it. Everything made in our house comes with a warning that DD helped as she has to taste test every ingredient and every step. She even has her own apron. She's so cute. Don't know what I'm going to do when DS wants to start helping too, LOL!!
Under 1 year old: DS sat on the worktop and watched me cook. He was given vegetables to eat. I also "TV chefed" it: I read the recipe and told DS what I was doing, counted the spoons of ingredients, dramatised smelling what I was cooking etc.
1-3 years: DS's play-table in the kitchen, he is given a "job" to do (eg I'm mixing something on the hob so DS gets rice pops and milk to mix together with a big spoon in a pan... and eat too). He can use his baby knives to try cutting a carrot. Sometimes sharp shape cutters, but with my help.
NOW (just under 3), I have just bought him some sharp knives that don't cut skin, only vegetables. I've tried it and doesn't cut my hands or wrists. So DS will be able to properly cut things up for me under some supervision, but not with me holding things too. DS can also stir cake mix and add ingredients from small bowls when we make sweet treats together.
Same as a lot of the other girls, I do it at night when they are in bed or I put J down for a sleep & as soon as I know she is actually sleeping I start, then I know I have a minimum of half an hour to get things organised & started at least.
I second the high chair as well, we have a Fisher Price one that reclines, so we had her reclining but up at my level so she could watch.
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