7 brilliant ways to use labels to empower kids in the kitchen. And get them to do your bidding. (Really.)

I admit it: I refer to our family kitchen as my kitchen. And then I wonder why my kids aren't more helpful with the cooking. Hmm.  My boys have been cooking alongside me for ages, but now that they are getting older, I want them to be more autonomous. Well, I can tell you how not to get them to do more on their own: by asking over and over. And over. So instead, I've decided to shut up and let the kitchen do the talking. In a way. I grabbed the P-touch D210 label maker from Brother -- our latest sponsor -- and started printing out reminders and nudges that help the boys take ownership in the kitchen when it comes to packing their own lunches, helping prep dinner, choosing good snacks on their own, and even remembering to clean up when they're done. Turns out, my awesome trick has been pretty effective so far! Probably because the labels are funnier than I am, and say things in 14 playful fonts with over 600 fun symbols that can be printed on super durable tape -- not in an irritated voice FOR THE 100th TIME. Feel free to steal my idea, by the way. It works!

Label lunch boxes or bentos with the elements of a healthy lunch and kids can pack their own! Because bread + crackers + chips = not balanced.

Group and label foods in the fridge so that kids can pack their own healthy lunches, mixing and matching from each category.

Create a space for the kids to put their own -- unbreakable -- dishes and kitchenware.

You know, just in case they need reminders of the other healthy options we've got for snacking.

Remind kids how to use ingredients or condiments -- as in, how not to overuse them. Psst, this works as a reminder for me too. Especially with butter.  

Organize your pantry and use labels to differentiate between all-the-time snacks, once-in-a-while snacks, and ask-Mom-first desserts. 

A good reminder of how seriously I take clean-up duties! And since Brother P-touch labels are water-resistant, fade-resistant, and dishwasher-safe, I plan on adding more reminders everywhere I see a mess.

Or then will my labels be nagging too?

Buy the Brother P-touch PT-D210 to help make getting kids in the kitchen a whole lot easier and way more fun, especially for them.  Plus, it's ridiculously easy to use and set up, which means that my boys are obsessed with making their own labels too. Mostly just to taunt each other.