What I used, how I set it up, and why I do it this way every year.

Have you ever tried to decorate cookies with young kids?

Not the sweet, curated Instagram version, the real-life version.
The one where someone’s crying, someone’s licking frosting off the table, and you’re wondering why you didn’t just hand them a candy cane and call it a day.

Every year, I think about baking cookies from scratch with my kids. I imagine the bonding, the warm smells, the joy… And then I laugh and laugh because I could NEVER. I’m not a great baker; I’m terrible at baking, and my kids don’t need a mom who is stressed and trying to be perfect. They want fun, autonomy, and… sugar!!

My book But I’m Bored is officially open for pre-order. I wrote But I’m Bored for every parent who’s ever questioned the hustle. Who’s looked at the endless enrichment options and wondered, “Is this really what my kid needs?”

This book is for you if you’ve ever thought:
What if we just… slowed down? What if play is the thing that builds everything else? If you preorder But I’m Bored and forward your receipt to ButImBored@penguinrandomhouse.com, I’ll gift you six free months of my paid Substack, Something Playful by The Workspace for Children.

This means six months of deeper support, practical tools, and behind-the-scenes insight, completely free, just for helping me bring this book into the world. If you’re ready for a more connected and less pressured way to parent, preorder But I’m Bored today.

preorder now

WHAT’S IN THIS POST:

– The truth about “fun” holiday baking
– A real-life cookie station setup that works (and keeps your patience intact)
– Why individual sprinkle trays are the unsung hero of December
– How to adjust for toddlers, preschoolers, and grade school kids
– TL;DR checklist at the bottom

So here’s what I do instead:

I buy break-and-bake sugar cookie dough.
I roll it out (this year with a jar from the recycling bin, because, of course, the rolling pin is missing).

I bake the cookies ahead and set everything else up while they’re at school.

Some years, I’ve used the Trader Joe’s kit and skipped baking altogether. No notes.

WHY I SET IT UP THIS WAY:

Cookie decorating is exciting, which is fun until it’s not.
Excitement with no structure leads to:

– Grabbing
– Gobbling
– Frosting tears
– Someone screaming about the green sprinkles

So I set it up the way I set up play, and here’s how that clicked for me..

THE PRESCHOOL PARTY THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING:

Years ago, I sat at a preschool birthday party at a bakery where the kids were decorating cupcakes. And I was honestly stunned; no one was running wild. Every kid was focused. No one was crying. I started mentally taking notes.

Turns out? The party hosts were doing exactly what I do when I am setting up an art project for young children.
They gave each kid a defined space.
They provided individual materials.
They kept it short.
They used the environment to set the kids up for success.

prepare the space → simplify the choices → step back.

I’ve used that method for years now, and it always works.

THE COOKIE STATION SETUP:

Here’s what you’re going to do:

Want the full setup? The rest is for my paid subs…

Here’s exactly what I use, how I organize it by age, and the checklist I come back to every year

Keep Reading on Substack

PS If you missed these, read next:

– [What to Do When Your Kid Opens a Gift They Hate (in Front of Everyone)]
Because yes, your kid might say “this is boring” in front of Grandma — and no, that doesn’t make you a bad parent.

– [Let’s Find the Gift That Really Fits Your Kid]
A practical guide to choosing presents that match how your child actually plays and don’t end up in the donation pile by February.

– [Holiday Play, Reframed: Your 12 Days of Play Library]
Ideas that build on what’s already working, with zero pressure to do more or start from scratch.

Toys That Put Childhood First: A Curated Gift Guide from The Workspace for Children This isn’t about presents. It’s about play. Forget the hot toy lists. Here’s what your child will still love in April….