"Can I help?"

When you are rushing to get dinner on the table, this question can feel overwhelming. But for a toddler, the kitchen isn't just a place of chores—it is a laboratory of wonders.

At Hicooo, we believe the kitchen is the heart of the home. And thanks to tools like our Rabbit Learning Tower, it is now a safe space for your child to explore.

But don't just take our word for it. According to Nimali Fernando, MD, MPH, FAAP, writing for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), cooking with children is one of the best ways to nurture their development.

Here are 5 great reasons to pull up your learning tower and hand your child a spoon, inspired by Dr. Fernando's insights.

1. Engage the Senses (The Cure for Picky Eaters) Does your child refuse to eat broccoli? The solution might not be at the dinner table, but at the prep counter. Dr. Fernando notes that for hesitant eaters, tasting new food can be intimidating. However, "kneading dough, rinsing vegetables, and tearing lettuce all involve touching food and being comfortable with texture." Hicooo Tip: Use the tower to bring them up to the sink. Let them wash the veggies. When they engage their hands and nose first, their taste buds often follow.

2. Use Cooking to Raise Smart Kids The kitchen is a practical classroom.

• Math: Counting eggs, measuring flour, and understanding fractions (half a cup).

• Science: Watching how heat changes dough into bread, or how ice melts. As Dr. Fernando points out, these concepts "naturally unfold when navigating a recipe with kids." It’s learning without the worksheet.

3. Make Cooking Part of Family Culture Food is memory. When you invite your child to help make a family recipe, you aren't just making dinner; you are passing down heritage. Use this time to prioritize health over processed food. It helps your children "buy into a culture of wellness" and creates seasonal traditions that they will carry into adulthood.

4. Keep It Safe (The Priority) Safety is the foundation of confidence. The AAP emphasizes the importance of teaching kids how to hold tools safely and staying away from heat. This is where Hicooo shines. A toddler cannot be safe if they are balancing precariously on a chair. Our Birch Plywood Learning Tower provides a stable, anti-tip enclosure. It allows your child to focus on the task (cutting a banana or stirring a bowl) without the risk of falling, making supervision easier for you.

5. Ask for Input Children feel invested when they have a say. Collaborate with them! Let them choose: "Should we make carrots or peas tonight?" Let them critique the flavor. As the article suggests, letting children be "in charge" of details helps them feel included in mealtime.

The Hicooo Promise We know that cooking with kids takes patience. There will be spilled flour. There will be water on the floor. But as Dr. Fernando beautifully puts it: "Over many years, cooking as a family will help develop a happy, adventurous eater with some pretty valuable life skills."

So, invite them in. Help them climb up. And let’s cook up some memories.

Reference: 5 Great Reasons to Cook with Your Kids - HealthyChildren.org