Make a mini kitchen. Your child can imitate you while pretending he is making dinner too. If your child has a play kitchen in her room, consider moving it into the kitchen where you can cook side by side. Seat your child at the table in front of two plastic washtubs with beans or colored rice, provide a funnel and some spoons, and show your child how to pour the beans and rice back and forth, suggests Kathy Kenworthy, who teaches preschool at the Broadway Children's School in Oakland, California. Play dough creations.
Kids love to use play dough to make their own cakes, cookies, and more.
When the mixture looks smooth, let it cool and give it to your child to play with. Kenworthy suggests setting up a tray with the colored dough and some objects for your child to shape the dough with. Cookie cutters, toothpicks, and bottle caps are all good choices. Homespun place mats. You'll be surprised at how the TV will pale in comparison when your child is presented with an art project, even a simple one, Kenworthy says.