You have to do it almost every night, and it's pretty tough to do with a toddler clinging to your leg. We're talking about making dinner- which, at least for us, also happens to fall at that cranky time- somewhere between five to six-thirty PM. So-what do you do?
Of course, there's always the television. Many parents say this is the only time in the day that they'll let their little one watch. But if you'd rather not go that route, or don't have one like us, there's still hope! (Depending on the age of your toddler, certain things may or may not work for you).
• Start early! We find if we start dinner prep around 4:30 even, we can cook in parts. We might spend a few minutes washing/chopping up veggies, and then spend a few minutes reading or playing with our daughter. This way she only has to entertain herself for relatively short periods of time.
• Many parents keep a cabinet in the kitchen dedicated to things the toddler can sort through and play with. Ours has some old baby food containers, paper cups, and a few cookie tins. A couple of pots and a variety of spoons have also kept her busy. If you want to keep your child interested longer- mix things up from time to time or add a surprise toy.
• Another option is to sit your child in the high chair or in his seat at the table and give him an activity. Things that have worked for us are play dough, magnets on a cookie sheet, blue painters tape cut into pieces for her to stick onto paper, water color painting, and big, bubbly stickers.
• There's also the snack option. As long as it's earlier and won't fill her up for dinner, we'll put out a plate or bowl of crackers for her to munch on at her "snack table" in the living area.
• If your toddler is a bit older, they'd probably love to "help" in the kitchen. You can give them small, safe tasks to do or even pretend to do. Many parents keep their child's play kitchen in the real kitchen for just this reason.
How do you occupy your toddler while you cook or clean up after dinner?
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We went the "help" route at an early age (15 months or so) and now there's no turning back. They hear the clang of pots and pans and they come running.
Here's a recent shot of my 4 year old cutting pineapple with a very big knife.
http://pennycarnival.typepad.com/penny_carnival/2010/03/kid-food.html
There are definitely times when I'd just like to do it myself, but I tell myself the benefits of them learning to cook/gaining confidence with life skills outweighs my desire for speedy, clean cookin'.
When we get to a point when they can't help (i.e., hot stove), I fill the sink with warm water and let them do the dishes.
Kitchen tower (folding Guidecraft version), and dinner at the best time for her (5:30). We militantly start food prep 45 minutes before sit-down.
And that has made our meals smooth most days for the last year. Which was a miracle we really needed, phew! The hanging-off-the-legs thing...oooooh, the worst.
pennycarnival, your daughter has excellent knife skills! good work.
raw broccoli: it takes my son ages to finish it, it's healthy and doesn't undermine his appetite. broccoli and a picture book. am i lucky?
My two year old "washes" dishes. Since he's too young to be trusted with breakables I fill the sink with plastic containers and let him have at it. Here's a pic of him doing his thing:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/_bb_/4436560398/
We have a tiny kitchen but we make it all fit. The toddler stands in the Learning Tower and paints with watercolors, the baby sits in a bumbo and bangs on pans, and I get two inches to prepare dinner.
Use the crock pot and prep it in the morning or during nap! Then you're off the hook. I tend to do this especially on days when I just *know* our tot is going to have a rough one...
I can't say enough good things about the Kitchen Helper: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13756623@N06/3263468227/
Every evening my 15 month old "works" in the kitchen with me. With the Kitchen Helper, he can stand up to the counter, watch what I'm doing, and make his own preparations for dinner (wooden spoons/tupperware/pots). It really helps him feel that he's a part of the process.
I don't know why they designed it with the back open. I attached a heavy burlap panel so my toddler can't fall through.
i try to do most of my cooking while they nap - if not then i have them color, play with playdoh, build legos or sometimes if what i'm making is easy then i let them go in the backyard and watch them while i cook - they are a bit older but when they were younger i almost always made dinner while they slept or they colored while i cooked - here is an adorable pic of them all dressed up to color while i was cooking:)
http://lovelybud.typepad.com/lovely-bud/2010/03/a-perfect-moment.html
Actually, the toy kitchen pic is what we do. While I make dinner, my daughter runs to her play kitchen and "cooks" as well. She'll run back and forth with things for me to taste (raisin soup, anyone?) and often asks for a taste of whatever I am chopping. I wish I had room in my kitchen for the play kitchen- I think that would be even better.
My daughter was always content making a mess with water and flour when she was little, or just playing with bowls. For those really cranky nights when she was two - I saved TV time for dinner prep. That's right, TV.
TV!! I ADMIT IT!
Now, she's "big" (3 years old) and she loves to help. Sometimes its hard to be creative and find ways for her to help, but she loves making bread, playing with ice cubes, pouring in spices (pre-measured, of course) and "doing the dishes," i.e., covering things with suds in the sink and playing with them.
Our bathtub is off the kitchen, so its perfect for when its time to clean up. I can watch her, and she can play in the bath while I do the dishes.
But for those really cranky nights - well, a half hour of signing time or Dora lets me clean up before book time if my husband isn't home to read books while I clean up.
Its cool, cause I sing along with her. The benefits of a small house.
My 13 month daughter goes back and forth between husband (watching tv or on the computer) and I. Recently bought the Duktig cookware set http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00130167 and she likes to "cook" by my feet while I cook.
I let her touch the food (not raw meat, etc. of course) and see how I cook as we go along. When she stops putting everything in her mouth and get's more hand eye coordination I'll let her start helping.
I am impressed with everyone who has the fortitude to cook with children. This is something I can't do. My daughter started full-day kindergarten last fall and now my children are so happy to see each other and play together (usually peacefully and happily) that supper time has become a pleasure (along with my meal planning resolution!)
The activity at the table idea rarely works for us. We find our daughter (2 years) gets bored and fussy too quickly. It often leads to tears and an unsuccessful meal.
But we've started getting her to help make dinner if the plans allow for it easily. And she loves it. She always wants to taste what we're making too. So something she might not normally eat at the table makes it into her system at the prep stage. So great. We can get a lot more raw vegetables into her this way. And it's nice to have her involved.
We don't have one of those tower things, so assisting with preparation is something we've only done when we're both around. One of us will make sure we've got our hands on when she's sitting on the counter.
Either that or it's a chance for her to run around the house and/or play at her own little kitchenette. Usually we're both around though, so one of us can attend to dinner and the other can help to keep her entertained.
Standupstapler, me too. :) It's off, but when I need 30 minutes to cook, it's her treat. Usually Yo Gabba Gabba is on, which I can tolerate as well, so the sound drifting in and covering NPR doesn't bug me much.
That being said, a small dish of frozen peas is a lifesaver. Doesn't fill her up, is sweet and very healthy. My mom used to do the same when I was a tot.
Now that she's nearing 3, she'll often go play in her room while I cook and I can trust her to be safe, but when she was 18 mo-2 , I did need her dad around at that time of night to referee (between her and me, mostly.)
Ditto on the frozen peas. My daughter loves them! Frozen corn is another one she loves.