Kids always want to help and are ready to learn new things; with these tips on ensuring your kids are safe in the kitchen, your child will learn life skills and spend quality time with you.
Being a mother is one of the most satisfying things; giving life, nurturing your children, and seeing them achieve the biggest milestones in life is so rewarding.
Children are curious beings; they always want to know how things work and how to get things done.
Their energy levels are on another level, and you will find them trying to copy what you are doing at all times.
One of the things that most kids enjoy is joining their mothers in the kitchen while cooking or even doing some cleaning.
In as much as most moms are a bit skeptical about letting their children join them, the truth of the matter is that the kids actually enjoy it.
Besides, it is also an excellent way for you to bond with your kids and teach them a thing or two.
However, ensuring that the kids are safe while in the kitchen is vital.
And for this reason, we will be looking at some safety tips while having your kids with you in the kitchen.
How To Ensure Your Kids Are Safe In The Kitchen
Do not leave them alone
First things first, you should establish a rule that your kids should never go to the kitchen if you are not there.
Also, while in the kitchen, you should never leave them unsupervised.
As aforementioned, kids are very curious people, and they will touch almost everything in the kitchen if you are not careful enough.
And it would not be good to have your child get burned by a hot pan only because you left them alone in the kitchen.
Do not allow them close to the oven
There are a lot of things that your child can help you with in the kitchen, for example, mixing the dough, rolling it, or even washing the vegetables for you.
With these activities, kids are safe in the kitchen.
You should not allow having them close to the oven area.
Kids might start playing with the fire and eventually get burned or even cause a bigger accident in the kitchen.
Those between the ages of 1-4 should stick to the other sides of the kitchen other than the cooking area.
No, this is not to say that you should let those above five years in the cooking area!
ut at least at that age, you can stand by their side as they help you stir the food while it’s cooking.
Keep them off from the gas cylinder
LPG gas bottle sizes are different; while some might be able to fit under one of the cabinets in the kitchen, some might not.
Nevertheless, by all means possible, please do not allow your kids near it.
This is so because they may start playing with it and, in the process, open up some of the knobs and cause the gas to leak.
As you know, gas leakages in the kitchen are dangerous and may cause serious fires.
Let your kids know that the gas cylinder area is a no go zone, and anyone who goes near it deserves to be punished.
Put knives and sharp things away
You do not want your kids to play with knives in the kitchen and get cuts.
As such, ensure that you put the sharp objects away from them.
Let them know that knives must be handled with a lot of care, and poor handling can cause them to cut themselves and start bleeding.
Well, we all know that forbidden fruits taste sweetest, and that’s why you should have plastic knives in the kitchen for your kids to use before they get to start using the real knives.
By doing so, at least, they will have learned how to hold the knife (NPR) and use it.
Additionally, while letting them wash the dishes, ensure that there are no sharp objects in the water, such as knives and forks.
Keep electrical appliances away from water
Kids always enjoy using new appliances in the kitchen, but yet again, ensure that you supervise them.
For example, you can teach them how to put on the microwave, what the different buttons mean, etc.
While using the portable electronic equipment in the kitchen, always ensure they are away from water.
This is so because they may electrocute you and your child when you put them on- something you do not want.
More so, after using the electrical appliances in the kitchen, ensure that you return them in the cabinets to avoid breaking them.
Take Away
It is always fun to have your kids around helping you out in the kitchen, but remember to ensure that you follow the above-mentioned tips for it to end well.
With time, they will learn how to use the different kitchen equipment and coordinate their kitchen activities.