Lindam For the Safest Start in Life

Foster Your Child’s Inner Chef while Staying Safe in the Kitchen A guide on how to cook safely in the kitchen with children.

Introduction Lots of toddlers have a little inner chef and love to get their hands dirty in the kitchen. There’s something about using gadgets, making things and helping mum that makes cooking fun for toddlers.

 

The kitchen is a great place to teach your child basic things like taking turns, counting and patience. But, it also brings some dangers by way of appliances, utensils and gadgets. It’s definitely possible to let your little one help in the kitchen while still keeping him safe.

 

Keep in mind that your toddler should never be in the kitchen unsupervised. When you aren’t in the kitchen, use a baby gate to make it out of bounds so your child doesn’t hurt himself trying to explore drawers, cupboards and appliances.

Teach Basic Safety Rules  

First, teach your child basic safety rules that she can use in the kitchen to keep her safe. For example, tell her she’s not allowed to use the oven or knives. Or, maybe you could make some more general rules like your toddler isn’t allowed to use the kitchen without your help.

 

Set up some rules and then teach your child how important it is that she keeps them. You’ll likely need to remind her of the rules as you cook together, but eventually she’ll learn how to stay safe.

 

Another way to keep your child safe is to help her learn how to use things the right way. For example, you can teach her how to use a whisk to help you stir ingredients or how to use a measuring cup without spilling. These simple rules can help her avoid hurting herself on tools or dripping on the floor, making slippery spots she could fall on.

Choose Easy Recipes Some recipes are much more kid-friendly than others. Make cooking in the kitchen easy, fun and safe for your toddler by choosing easy recipes to make together. Things like cookies, brownies, soups and pastas can be great for toddlers, since they mostly entail combining and stirring ingredients.

 

Also keep in mind that your toddler doesn’t have to actually use a recipe to have fun in the kitchen. Things like peanut butter sandwiches, cheese and cracker plates, vegetables trays and mixing juice from concentrate aren’t really recipes, but they are hands-on kitchen activities your toddler will love and can easily help with.

 

Toddlers just love to help in the kitchen and aren’t picky about what they are making. Sometimes the simplest projects and recipes are the best for toddlers because they are fast and easy.

Make it Easy to Participate When you make it easy for your child to participate in the kitchen, you also make it safer for him. Instead of letting your toddler struggle to reach things or stand on an unsteady chair to reach the counter, use safety equipment and some common sense to make these tasks easier.

 

For example, you can buy a kitchen stand that provides a safe platform for a toddler to stand on to reach the kitchen counter instead of letting him stand on a chair he could easily fall from. You can also choose to work at the kitchen table, with your child in a booster seat, instead of at the counter so it’s easier for him to reach and help. Of course, you should do things like reach for ingredients, measure things that are harder to handle and use dangerous utensils and tools. You can also teach your child to look through the glass on the outside of the oven to check on his creation and then stand back when you open it.

 

When you make it easier for your child to participate in cooking and working in the kitchen, he’ll stay safer because he won’t be struggling to help or get involved.

 

Assign Simple and Safe Tasks An easy way to make sure your child stays safe in the kitchen is to assign her simple and easy tasks. You would never ask a toddler to chop an onion, so take that theory a step further and give your child the easiest tasks in food preparation.

 

There are actually a lot of things a toddler can do and working with safe utensils and gadgets can help her practice her fine motor skills. Some easy things toddlers can do include:

 

- Stirring Ingredients

- Dumping Pre-measured Ingredients into a Bowl

- Counting Ingredients with You

- Holding Safe Utensils and Tools

- Rinsing off Measuring Cups and Spoons for Washing Later

- Helping you Locate Ingredients in Cupboards

- Spreading Butter or Toppings

Cont. When you work on a recipe together, do the hardest parts yourself and then look for ways your toddler can help. For example, you could measure all the flour into a bowl and the when it’s time to add it to the mixer, let your child pour it in. You could even turn this into something special by designating your child as the “dumper” or the “stirrer,” which gives her a job and identifies her role in the process. Kids need to feel included and this simple tip will show your toddler that her contributions are needed and important.

 

Your child might be impatient at first, but as she learns that she will get to help when you ask her to, she’ll learn patience and how to take turns. She’ll also learn that it’s important to listen and follow directions. By making recipes a little more kid friendly and giving your child the easier tasks, she’ll feel like she is participating and staying busy while you don’t have to worry about her safety or whether or not things are done correctly. Letting your child help in the kitchen is a great way to spend time together, bond, practice practical skills and learn things like counting and the difference between healthy and non-healthy foods. As you help your toddler get involved, keep these safety tips in mind so that she can participate without being at risk of accidents or injuries. Put on those aprons and start baking!