I think my brain left my head for a while....

[MrsFabuloso]

For a few months now, when I go into the kitchen, my 18mth old DD will go nuts, she starts to cry and whinge and pull at my legs. I can't wash up or prepare food or clean the benches...nothing without her going psyco! It's strange and I have no idea why she does it, maybe cause I can't tend to her when I have bits of food or dishwashing water on my hands?? Whenever I cook or whatever, it usually ends in a big tanty on both our parts. And if it's close to her rest time she gets put to bed cause she ends up in a foul mood. If it's not close to bed time, she ends up in a foul mood for aaages!
Anyway, today I gave her a bucket half filled with warm water and some cups/conatiners on the towels that were to be washed today. Well, she had a ball!! And I got to prepare dinner, clean my kitchen properly(tiles, benchtops, cupboard doors), and wash the dishes. Yes I had to clean the cupboards cause of the drips of water from her playing, yes she upended the bucket and flooded the kitchen (hey, I also have a clean kitchen floor!), yes she took her clothes and nappy off and 'washed' them (not the nappy thank goodness), yes she put her dried fruit from morning tea into the water....
BUT!!! She had so much fun and was so fascinated with pouring the water into pots and cups and whatnot.
Why did it take me so long to think of this! For months I haven't been able to go to the kitchen without major tanties happening. I'm an early childhood teacher, I should know these things! I think my brain left the building for a few months...

[Arimeh]

Hmm.. what a good idea..

I resorted to having DS on the bench looking at what I was doing.. now .. everytime I go into the kitchen.. he chucks a tantie unless he is on the bench..

I don't know how to stop that!!!

I should have thought of the water idea...

[alioops]

Kel my brain is AWOL too. if you find it can you let me know? My girls play in the plastics cupboards while I am in the kitchen.

[MrsFabuloso]

Mel, I have Lil on a chair when I cook and prepare food sometimes. She likes to 'help'. I give her a bowl of food she can munch on and play with, or a bowl of water and a bowl of flour to make goo with. She loves it.

LOL, ali, I 'gave' Lily a cupboard too but she has lost interest in it when I go into the kitchen. If I'm not in there she will quite happily play in it, but she knows while I'm in there she's not what I'm focusing on, so she whinges like no tomorrow.