Before kids begin cooking, they need to learn basic cooking safety. Not only can burn accidents happen in the kitchen, there's always the chance of a cut with a knife or getting hurt on a kitchen appliance.
If You Spill it, Clean it
Start teaching kids' cooking safety by teaching them to clean up spills. Spills anywhere can cause a variety of problems. First, they are accidents just waiting to happen. If kids spill something like milk or another liquid on a hardwood floor, it may become a slipping hazard. Messes such as those from raw eggs and meat can also spread disease-causing bacteria. It's vital that kids clean all spills immediately after they're made.
When the kids get ready to cook, get out the cleaning supplies. A sponge, some paper towels and some diluted vinegar should be enough to clean most messes. The quicker you get to the mess, the more likely it'll be easy to clean.
Oven Safety
Burns could be frequent if kids don't obey safety rules. Discuss oven safety with the kids before they start cooking. Here's a list of some common oven safety tips.
Always turn in the handles of pots and pans on the stove top. This prevents the small hands of younger siblings from reaching up and pulling down a boiling pot of water or soup.
Never place anything else other than the pots and pans on the stove. This may sound like common sense, but many people are tempted to place cookbooks, bags, containers and even utensils beside the pots and pans on a stove. Avoid a potential fire by removing these items from the oven top.
Use a utensil dish or a spoon rest for utensils used while cooking. Find a fun, kid-themed spoon rest. Search around for one at a kitchen specialty store or on the Internet.
Buy some kid-sized oven mitts. Always use the oven mitts when handling things from the oven. The mitts provide protection from heat. They also provide a grip so the pots, pans and baking dishes don't slip from kids' hands while they are removing things from the hot oven.
Be watchful of oven lights. Many ovens today have a flat top and it's hard to tell whether the oven is hot. Most of these ovens have warning lights to tell you if it's hot or not. Remind kids to be mindful of these warning lights.
Kitchen Safety Supplies
Kitchen accidents are likely to happen. Discuss the possibilities with the kids and teach them what to do in case of an emergency. The first thing is to teach older kids how to use a fire extinguisher. Make sure they know this instrument isn't a toy and that they should not to be afraid to use it if there's a fire.
Always have a first-aid kit on hand nearby in case of minor burns or cuts. Take care of these injuries right away. Keep basic supplies in the first-aid kit, such as bandages, antibiotic ointments and gauze. Make a booklet that lists the safety supplies in the kit. Replace older supplies as they are needed.
Post a kitchen safety rules poster somewhere in the kitchen to help younger ones know what to do in case of an emergency. Teach all family members what to do in case clothes catch on fire. All kids should know how and when to call 911.
No Socks, Please
Another cooking safety issue to discuss with the kids before cooking is what they're wearing. Avoid loose clothing that could potentially get caught on cooking pots, pans and other utensils. Have kids wear shoes or non-slip socks if the kitchen is not carpeted. This will prevent the kids from slipping and having an accident.
Adult Supervision
All kids should have adult supervision when they begin to cook. Kids younger than 13 should always have adult supervision, while kids older than this can usually cook things on their own. Make sure even older kids tell you when they are going to cook something. Teach them that they always have to be in the kitchen while they are cooking.
Cooking Safely
Cooking is a rewarding and exciting skill to learn and use. Kids can enjoy cooking. But with learning how to cook comes great responsibility. Teach kids cooking safety and have fun starting the cooking adventure.
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