I have always had a slight heart attack when my kids got anywhere close to the kitchen while I was cooking.  I was so worried that they would get cut, burnt, or flattened by pots and pans.  As my oldest starts to get more curious, I see my kitchen as less of a danger zone.
 
He just turned 3 a few months ago and is a picky eater.  He would eat peanut butter and jelly for every meal if I let him.  Unfortunately for him, I'm the type of mom that cooks one meal and if you don't eat it, then you don't eat at all.  I recently noticed that he gets excited to eat whatever I'm cooking as long as he's had a hand in making it.
 
I still make sure to keep him away from the stove, but he helps me get the ingredients ready.  No matter what I'm making, I can find some way for him to get excited about helping.  Usually it is simple things like stirring or pouring ingredients into bowls from the measuring cups, but he can't wait to tell everyone we know that he helped make the meal.
 
He never used to eat chicken and dumplings, but last week I had him help me roll the dough in flour and he thought that was the best job ever.  He even had to call my mom to tell her that he was helping.  I was more than excited when he ate every bite on his plate that night.
 
It might be more time consuming and messy, but having my "little helper" in the kitchen is worth it.  We're having fun bonding time and he's finally eating more than PB&J.  Seeing him beam with pride makes me want to bake all day.

By Guest Blogger Dee from Two of a Kind Working on a Full House

While we're fortunate to live in a city that gets at least 325 sunny or partially sunny days a year, this is not the norm in most parts of the country.  This winter has been surprisingly wet, and trying to keep a 3 year old entertained for the day has put my creativity to the test. While movies are a feasible option, many children will only sit for so long, particularly if they're used to running, jumping, and playing. 

Here are some of my tried and true activities for keeping a young child entertained on a rainy day.

Rediscover your library: From time to time, we'll get into a pattern of reading the same books over and over, leaving an entire library undiscovered.  Rainy days are the perfect opportunity to pull out those books that have been gathering dust on your shelves.  Rather than simply reading those books, why not act them out or retell them with new endings you've created?

Pull out those puzzles and games: Invite neighborhood friends over and make it a playdate.  For a unique twist, make up new rules.  Don't forget to use this opportunity to help your child learn through play.  Many games teach colors, numbers, social skills and more.

Dress up!:  Whether it's donning those fall Halloween costumes, dressing up in pre-made costumes, or creating your own with clothes you already have, dressing up is a fun, imaginative way to spend the day.  Once you've gotten into character, play a game or tell a story in costume.

Explore the baker within you: Rainy days are the perfect opportunity to try out that new recipe you've been wanting to experiment with.  If you'd rather not bake from scratch, cookie kits and store-bought cake mixes work well, particularly for smaller tots who may not have the attention span for an all-out baking project.

Get the wiggles out:  Just because it's raining doesn't mean you have to stay home.  Head to your local museum (many have free days) or play space to learn, discover and play.

Get crafting:  I try to have a supply of crafting materials on hand for those days when we're stuck indoors.  Think outside the box...beyond coloring and painting.  Perhaps you can work on a simple woodworking project or paper mache.

Be smart about video games:  Gone are the days of mindlessly zoning out on video games.  Today's gaming technology gets kids off the couch and moving with fun fitness games.  You can also play family games and educational games.

Rainy days don't have to dampen your mood.  You're only limited by your imagination. Spending some time indoors allows your family to regroup, reconnect, and catch up on some much needed down time.  And when all else fails, don those rain boots and a brolly and stomp in a few puddles.

By guest blogger, Caryn Baily, Rockinmama