It is a proven truth that if your children are exposed to the preparation of food from an early age and even participate in it, they will be more likely to make healthier decisions as they get older. This practice is also known to stop picky eating. Encourage them to play cooking games to boost their interest in home-cooked food. Many farm games can also help them to learn about different food ingredients and herbs.
Recent research revealed that 1 in 8 individuals living in cities don’t prepare their meals, and this number appears to be increasing as we get more dependent on convenience foods, takeaways, and dining out. Getting your kids involved in the kitchen while they are young helps them develop skills that will be useful long after their childhood is through and also leaves them with happy memories.
Before starting a campaign to get your kids in the kitchen. It’s crucial to first make sure that you are providing a friendly and, above all, safe place in which to educate your youngsters about the delights of preparing food, cooking, and, of course, relishing meal times, before starting a campaign to get your kids in the kitchen.
Don’t use sharp edges
Keep in mind that small kids’ heads are likely to be at or near the same height as your kitchen cabinet handles, and because they lack full spatial awareness, it is simple for them to survive knocks or cuts. While clean lines are often the focus of contemporary designs, if you have young children, it can be preferable to opt for a kitchen layout with curved corners.
Picking kitchen cabinets without handles can also be a fantastic method to prevent kids from banging their heads on them and remove the clear incentive to pull on the handle. Magnetic locks for base units might also be useful, but you should always keep sharp substances out of reach.
Make the kitchen a welcoming space for kids.
Consider ways to make the kitchen a welcoming, safe location that your kids are likely to spend time in if you want them to love being there. The kitchen can be made more attractive by adding color, which strangely can also influence your kids’ attitudes and behaviors. For instance, while blue connotes serenity and security, yellow is considered to promote creativity. If your kitchen is spacious enough, you might want to explore setting up distinct spaces for different tasks, such as bright areas for cooking and areas with mellower lighting or colors for family relaxation, or homework regions.
A chalkboard or, even better, a wall or area coated with blackboard paint is a terrific way to add some fun to culinary activities and involve the kids. You can use it to post food ideas, lists of errands to be completed, or even practice spelling and math problems exactly like in a classroom!
Safeguard hot areas.
There are some measures you can take to lessen the risk from hot locations like stovetops and boiling pots, but no degree of child-proofing can compensate for being watchful. If at all possible, investing in an electric stove instead of a traditional gas or electric one can be quite beneficial. This is so that when you are done cooking, once the cookware is lifted, the hot quickly drops to a safe temperature. They are made to heat the cookware rather than the hob itself.
When cooking, keep an eye out for objects that can be dragged, such as items like tea towels located beneath a hot dish and dangling over the work surface. Moreover, ensure the cord for your kettle or toaster is always kept out of your child’s range.
Think about a “kids’ cupboard.”
Why not install a single cupboard that is exclusively for children? Although you must make sure that the kitchen is a secure zone, you also wish for it to be a place where your kids can learn and enjoy, taking their first steps towards appreciating cooking and eating. Pick a good low-level base unit that is simple for your kids to access, and stock it with secure utensils, food, and tools. To help your youngster find a seat at the table, include things like their favorite plastic bowls and cups.
Never prepare food alone.
Even though it might seem apparent, your kids must understand that an adult must always be present. While children may feel competent enough to prepare simple food, they must understand that they must have an adult around to monitor them while they cook. This restriction can, of course, be relaxed once they reach a particular age and you are confident in their capacity to maintain safety on their own, but it is crucial up until that time.
Hands should be washed before, during, and after.
An additional crucial lesson to impart to the young ones is the importance of washing hands before, during, and after cooking. Similar to big hands, small hands are very contaminated. Your kids should understand that food hygiene is just as crucial as heat and object protection. Teaching proper hand washing techniques is essential, particularly when dealing with fresh foods like meat.
Carry hot objects with gloves or a towel.
It makes it reasonable that your children would forget that items that have just come out of the oven or microwave are highly hot because even adults occasionally forget this. As a result, another guideline in the kitchen should be to always transport hot objects with a potholder or towel. To add excitement, you could even get your kids each their towel.
You Can’t Lick Before You Ask
It’s normal for youngsters to want to lick their fingertips, spoons, and ladles when they’re cooking with tasty ingredients, but the golden rule ought to be to ask first. You don’t want your kids consuming raw substances that could make them very ill, therefore this is crucial for food safety. Tell them that they can lick you if they ask first.
Knife Security
How young is too young to begin using knife safety techniques? It’s never too early to learn, as long as they are old enough to handle silverware. You can begin teaching your kids how to hold, use, and cut with a knife by using plastic knives. When they are mature enough, you can move on to using metal blades, but always proceed cautiously. You can begin to introduce children to knives and describe how to securely handle and use one, but always under guidance and with you handling the knife beside them. You don’t wish them to use big, sharp chopping knives or any knife powerful enough to slice off a finger until they are considerably older.
Several parents would be wary of exposing their kids to heat and fire because, if not handled properly, these factors might result in catastrophic problems, such as severe burns or cooking fires. That does not, however, imply that you should completely forbid your children from using the cooktop if it is gas or electric. While we will not let young kids use the cooktop, older children should most definitely be taught how to use it securely. Play cooking games with your kids and introduce them to different cooking tools. Also, farm games can help them learn about the cultivation of several ingredients used in cooking.
