2. Scissor prep
Equipped with a pair of round-tipped kids' shears, your helper can mince herbs like a pro.
3. Lego the table
To keep the waiting throngs occupied while dinner is in the oven, have them design and build a napkin holder, napkin rings, or a centerpiece.
4. Label leftovers
Call attention to lunch and snack possibilities in the fridge. Nontoxic dry-erase markers let you write relevant notes on containers and wipe the ink off easily.
5. Do rags
Teach kids to clean up their own spills with color-coded cloths, hung in an accessible spot. (Shown here: Trader Joe's Super Amazing Kitchen Cloths, which hold up well in the washing machine; 2 for $4.)
6. Silver simplified
If you store your utensils in a sturdy bucket, kids can quickly unload them from the dishwasher and find what they're looking for at table-setting time. So long, silverware sorting — not that we'll miss you much!
