There's no doubt about it. To a kid, making cupcakes is fun.
Actually it's probably more decorating the cupcakes that is the fun part, right?
It's been a long week. I set them up with their supplies and retreated to some relative peace and quiet.
But, let me ask you this. Is the 30 minutes of peace and quiet worth the 60+ minutes it takes to clean up the kitchen afterwards? I don't know, I keep going back and forth on that one.
Note to self: don't buy the little circle sprinkles ever again.
That's a good question. Maybe if you put newspapers or one of those $1 tablecloths from the dollar store under them it wouldn't be so hard to clean up. I'm sure the memories they are making are worth it. Too bad, little man wasn't happy after eating all those m&ms. I would be in heaven! But, then, my days of sugar highs are over. I just get sugar lows and fat hips!
ReplyDeleteTry putting a paper plate or cookie sheet under the cupcakes to help contain the little sprinkles. Also, it is my opinion that if they make the mess they need to help clean it up. That should help with the 60 minutes it took. Just some thoughts.
ReplyDeleteFor me it depends how badly I need to the little bit of time to myself.
ReplyDeletehee, hee! i was thinking the same thing after my daughters party! but in my book its worth it, look at your cute pictures. and after all that cleaning you get to sit back and have a cupcake and a glass of milk.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry these events turn out like this for you and your kids.
ReplyDeleteI bake together with my 2.5 year old son. We find it exiting and wonderfull, both of us. We don't use sprinkles etc., he doesn't know they exist and I don't have to bother. He is very precise, so if I would use them, I would put the cupcakes on a baking plate and he would be thought to sprinkle them only on top of that. Wouldn't work 100% but 90 % suffices for me.
My thought is: if you want them to have fun with it, stay with it and go with the flow. If you want time for yourself, waite untill they sleep or bring them with friends. If you want time for yourself while they are around you, teach them to leave you alone and play for themselves. Sometimes that works, sometimes not. Being a mother is going with the flow all the time.
I don't give a hoot if my house is messy or not clean, as long as we are in harmony with ourselves and eachother. Maybe letting go of what you think should be the "propper state" would give somewhat less pressure. And ofcourse - they should help clean up. Don't they?? No more baking for a while...
Hee Hee! It looks like they had fun! I know what you are saying about those round sprinkles. I always think that I've swept them all up and then I find more in a corner of the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteI hear ya' about those little circle sprinkles! ;) To answer your question, yes! 30 mins of peace & quiet for mom that comes from 30 mins of your kiddos working together and being creative is def worth the 60 mins it takes to clean up the kitchen! Have a great weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, the cleanup! I try to remember that while I'm getting 30 minutes of peace, the kids are getting lasting memories, building their confidence and exploring their creative sides. Just keep repeating that over and over until all the sprinkles are gone!
ReplyDeleteIt is totally worth it! My kids help me cook/bake all the time and the messes are totally worth it in the end :) I am adding two teenage girls to my family this week (5 kids total!) for spring break and I can't wait to see what messes come out of that!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh the sprinkles. I can't stand any sprinkles all over the place. That is when the hand held comes in handy! Don't sweep those things..suck them up!
ReplyDeleteI think it is way worth it in the end. Fun memories and family time together. Love it!
I love baking with kids - so cute! I try and put parchment or newspaper down for easy clean up. and you might also want to try flat circle sprinkles (less bounce)
ReplyDeleteHere's my thoughts. Buy a great big plastic tablecloth and put it underneath your kitchen table. Put the decorating squad at the table and when done, IF you are lucky you'll be able to pick up the majority of that mess by take that tablecloth outside to shake it off.
ReplyDeleteThen, to give yourself more than 30 minutes. Triple the recipe so you have more cupcakes to decorate. Give the kids a pep talk that they get to keep a certain amoount but the rest they are going to take to a local nursing home (or children's home if you have one of those nearby) to give to the people that live there and don't get home baked goodies. That would hopefully keep them in there long enough to decorate all of them thus giving you more quiet time alone. AND it would teach them about giving to less fortunate people although make 'less fortunate' isn't the correct word here since they are just old I suppose but still, it has to teach them a lesson either way right? Of course, in this day and age, I'd check with the place you decide to take those home baked goodies to see if they will even accept them.
I bet you could totally vacuum those circle sprinkles instead of sweeping them. Or just never buy them again, ha. I'm lucky, my strange shitzhu likes to eat sprinkles. I mean, it's not good for her. But it saves on cleanup time. Yesss!
ReplyDeleteMy sil thought I was hilarious the other day because I prepped for a cookie decorating spree for 3 yr olds by putting a fitted crib sheet on my table. However, the sheet makes it harder for the sprinkles to escape. PLUS you remove it carefully, shake it out outside, and then toss it in the wash. Yay for less cleanup!
My husband dropped and broke a full jar of circle sprinkles on the CARPET when he was a kid. My MIL claims she's still finding them (he's 38). Thankfully they come in plastic containers now!
ReplyDeletei know what you mean! but they love it soo much, how can we not let them do create masterpieces like that every so often.
ReplyDeletei love, love, love the vacuum, all those little sprinkles just get sucked up.
happy weekend to you ♥
we use a baking tray under the cakes to catch sprinkles and a rule that my son cleans up after he has finished, from Montessori theory, the work isn't finished until everything is cleaned up and put away.
ReplyDeleteI woud put the caces in a backingpan ,so the most will not fall down. With 5 and 7 years they can help cleaning up!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I only let my daughter use the round sprinkles with direct supervision. Have you tried the tube version? They roll but at least they dont bounce like the round ones.
ReplyDeleteThree words:
ReplyDeleteGet a dog.
I'm with the ladies here - get out the vacuum or swiffer vac and let the kids help clean up. I have yet to meet a 5 year old boy that doesn't love to track down and suck up dirt (or sprinkles!) with a vacuum. You can make it a game :). Make some sort of animal or monster head sticker and attach it to the end of the hose. He will have a ton of fun getting his 'monster' to eat the sprinkles and dust bunnies.
ReplyDeleteAlso, have you tried adopting the dipping method for sprinkles? Put them in bowls and have the kids dips the cupcakes. It really saves on the mess and they can still stick on the bigger things like smarties or gummie worms.
But to answer your original question, I think because you're questioning the whole situation, than it wasn't worth it :)
The sugar induced meltdown might not be worth it, but the pictures you priceless!!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness those look so yummy !! But i can't have any. My husband and i are doing p90x right now. You can check out my blog here http://sailingwithbarefeet.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI dropped an almost full container of those little round sprinkles. You are right. . .they don't sweep up. I had to chase them with a vacuum and I am pretty sure I'll find some behind the fridge when we spring clean!
ReplyDeletemake them do the clean up... or most of it. Or else they get to watch you eat all of their cupcakes...
ReplyDeletethough that could be more punishment for you than them! lol