From about age 15 months, children are able to participate in preparation and cleaning up. Provide a low work surface or a stool at the kitchen counter.
The toddler child can:
wash fruits and vegetables
tear lettuce
slice fruits, vegetables, cheese (unless very hard)
peel fruits, vegetables, hard-boiled eggs
pour water a cup at a time into a pot (for boiling pasta)
pour ingredients (rice, flour, liquids) into a pot or mixing bowl
crack eggs
stir batter
spread peanut butter, cream cheese, butter
knead dough
roll out dough, cut cookies
set the table
carry dish to the kitchen
wash the dishes
load the dishwasher
scrub counter, table
sweep and mop the floor (provide child-sized tools)
put groceries and dishes away in low cabinets
http://www.littleredrobin.com/pages/cooking_with_toddlers.asp
