Health & Safety in the Kitchen for Kids

The safety of children in the kitchen is important.

Children and kitchens definitely do not go well together. With so many appliances at one place and so much activity all the time, a kitchen unfailingly gets a child’s attention. A child soon learns if he is hungry, he can find food in the kitchen. However, no parent would want his small kids to explore the kitchen unsupervised or alone.

General Hygiene

Keep antibacterial hand soap by the side of the kitchen sink. Be it an adult or a kid, make it a point that everyone washes his hands with soap and water before touching food in the kitchen. This is especially true of hungry kids when they return home from play, and all they want to do is grab something to eat. Unclean hands contain many germs. You can pass these germs to foods, and kids are most susceptible to infections from disease-causing microorganisms. Never allow used dishes to pile up for more than a night. Keep the sink clean and dry to prevent growth of microorganisms.

Food

Always keep food covered. Wash fruits and vegetables before cooking or giving them to kids to eat. Check the expiration date of food items in your kitchen. Throw away any food that has passed its expiration date. Always wash utensils before using them for cooking or cutting foodstuff.

Kitchen Safety

Never leave utensils especially those that are sharp, lying around in the kitchen. Always keep pot handles turned in so your child cannot grab them. Keep all tablecloths and paper towels out of reach of toddlers as they may pull these and bring everything on the table down. With a small child, install locks on the latches of kitchen drawers and cabinets. Never keep a stool or chair that a child can move easily. He may use it to reach the stove. Keep the kitchen floor clean and free of clutter. Keep bleach, cleaning agents or other chemicals well out of reach of children.

Electrical and Fire Safety

Keep all electrical appliances out of children's reach. Have a fire blanket in the kitchen; let everyone know of its place and make it accessible to every family member. Install a fire extinguisher. Check the smoke alarms regularly so they are always in working condition. Do not use long curtains in the kitchen. If you do, make sure they are nowhere close to the stove.

Good Habits

Teach your child to keep knife blades away from her body and use a chopping board while cutting anything. Help children develop the habit of washing their hands before eating anything. Explain to your kids they should hot touch things in the kitchen, especially when unsupervised.

References

• University of Wyoming: Kitchen Safety for Young Children
• University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension: Kitchen Safety for Children on Their Own

Resources

• Kids and Cooking: Kitchen Safety