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Let's play chefs

Young children love role play and you can use their natural curiosity about cooking as a chance to interact.

Encourage them to prepare you an imaginary 'meal' and see where the conversation goes, just like the family in the video below.

Why play chefs with your child?

  • Playing in the kitchen inspires children's imaginations.
  • Pretending to be a chef offers them lots of opportunities to learn new words about cooking and food.
  • Acting out everyday routines can help reinforce their understanding of these routines.
  • Pretend play is a great opportunity for you to follow your child's lead in play and model new words for them.
  • Talking about food that's special to your family will help children to learn about their heritage.
Mum looking on as her toddlers play with toy kitchen.
Let your children come up with a special 'menu' for you. As you chat, use active words like 'cut' can help your child connect words to actions.

Top tips for playing chefs with your child

Pretending to carry out activities that adults do, such as cooking, provides lots of opportunities for talking.

Ask your child simple questions, for example 'I wonder what’s for dinner?' Give a long pause to see if your child will respond.

Make sure to mix up your questions with comments as well. Repeat what your child says back to them and add a word. For example if your child says ‘cake’, you might say ‘mmm, I love cake’.

Get out some child-friendly kitchen items for them to play with, like small pots and pans, wooden spoons, mixing bowls and plates.

Describe what they're doing using action words like 'mixing' and 'stirring' and 'frying'. Or you could use words for sounds like 'sizzle'.

Encourage them to make the sounds as their food is 'cooking'.

Mum looking on as her toddlers play with toy kitchen.
Let your children come up with a special 'menu' for you. As you chat, use active words like 'cut' can help your child connect words to actions.

Language learning through everyday routines

Routines are a perfect opportunity to help build your toddler's language skills. Check out the list below for more inspiration on how to make magic out of your mundane tasks:

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