Tiny Top Chef Pint-sized foodies will love to create and serve their entrees by playing restaurant. Best for ages 5 and up.

• What you need: Food like soft bread, lettuce leaves, ham/cheese/turkey slices, jellies, fruit slices, baby carrots, crackers, etc.; paper and crayons for menus; paper plates.
• Ready, set, play: Both kids can be chefs, then servers, then patrons. Help them plan what to “cook” based on ingredients on hand. Set up a table with ingredients lined up like in a real restaurant. Older restaurateurs can design menus, even prep a simple brunch or lunch.

Tot Takeout Save empty pizza boxes, Chinese food containers and other takeout staples to help the children create a business. Best for ages 6 and up.

• What you need: Old takeout containers, art supplies.
• Ready, set, play one child can take orders from the moms; the other creates the food, toppings and such from art supplies. When the takeout’s ready, both can deliver and collect money. After, serve real pizza.

Going Crackers A simple paper plate becomes a canvas for food. Best for ages 3 and up.

• What you need: Paper plates; large crackers and/or English muffin halves; cream cheese, veggie and fruit slices, berries and raisins; alfalfa sprouts for hair; and so on.
• Ready, set, play: Set up plates and give the kids round crackers or muffin halves and a variety of foods to turn into funny people or cute pets. The plan: Create, photograph, eat.

Flipping Out Pancake batter in a squeeze bottle (think old ketchup container) makes for some creative learning and eating. Best for ages 5 and up.

• What you need: Pancake batter, squeeze bottle, griddle, syrup, berries.
• Ready, set, play: Have kids “write” their names in batter. Then cook each letter the way you would a pancake. The playdaters can then decorate their letters with syrup, powdered sugar and fruit.