I do a lot of baking in the month of December.  This past weekend, I made Russian Tea cookies or you might know them as Mexican Wedding Cookies.  My daughter helped me.  We had a lot of fun.  I explained everything to her.  How to measure the ingredients.  What amount each measuring cup measures.  Together, we measured out the ingredients and mixed up the batter.

 

   Then came the fun part.  Making small, round balls.  It took her a couple, but she got the hang of it fast.  We placed them on the cookie sheet, and baked them.  I did the powdered sugar.  By the time the cookies were baked, she was ready to go on to doing something else.  Typical for a 5yr old.  I was really proud of what she did do.  Of course, she kept coming back to me to get a cookie to eat.

 

  One thing I noticed, was how proud she was of her accomplishment.  She did an amazing job helping me with the cookies.  So I ask you, who needs an Easy Bake Oven, when you have the real thing?  Her grandmother, my MIL, wanted to(and did buy) give her one for Christmas.  I told her No.  My daughter is not old enough to have one.  I believe that there is a reason that manufacturers put suggested ages on their products.  She would want to operate it by herself, and it would not be safe for her to do so at this time.

 

  Not to worry, my MIL is putting the Easy Bake Oven away until my little girl is old enough.  I know she was dissappointed to be told that she could not give this to Lizzie, but I have to be practical.  Some gifts are just not appropriate based on age.