Family Safety: Cooking w/Children
Submitted
on behalf of Primrose Schools: preschool
education and child care centers by Emily Patterson (@epatt1062)
Simmering stew, pancakes on a griddle,
luscious cakes and pies with tantalizing aromas transform the kitchen into a
culinary adventure of food fantasy. The kitchen environment is a great place
for parents to teach essential skills while making the most of precious family
time. Potential hazards don’t have to exclude children from this experience.
Basic safety and sanitary instructions can be incorporated as part of the
adventure and learning experience.
The kitchen is often the most popular place in the house for families and friends to gather. It’s a place for learning, sharing, and fellowship where the family can enjoy quality time. Children can also develop a sense of responsibility by sharing in daily tasks.
Parents can keep the kitchen safe and fun for children by following this simple recipe;
1. Challenge your child. Children can complete several chores with minimal instruction. Easy tasks such as mixing ingredients in a bowl, cracking an egg, or measuring with a spoon, or cup can be fun and build confidence. Spreading sliced tomatoes on a salad, sprinkling croutons, or spreading icing are other safe satisfying alternatives to start the adventure. Younger children may enjoy being helpers retrieving, spoons, pots, pans, or mixing bowls. A separate area with safe utensils used for pretend cooking is another option. Children can use just flour and water to mimic your every move.
2. Safety is an important part of working in the kitchen. Children should be coached on basic rules before each task; younger children may even have a safety partner. Always keep children in sight and away from sharp utensils, and the hot stove. The handles of pots and pans should always be turned inward on the stovetop to avoid spilling hot food, or liquids. Sharp knives should always be placed out of reach of little hands. Hygiene is also important. Teach children to wash their hands before and after handling food to avoid contamination, and wear an apron, or towel to protect clothing.
3. Use patience and develop skills step-by-step. Younger children may learn slow, but catch on fast. Focus on basic skills such as folding, mixing, and kneading dough. Older children may advance to cutting simple items like cheese, hot dogs, or lunch meat with a butter knife. As your child’s coordination develops advance to slicing or chopping vegetables and fruit with a regular knife.
4. Keep it fun for everyone. Cooking can be messy with, or without children, so don’t fuss over “spilt milk”. Sometimes accidents happened. Cakes fall, cookies get burnt, and recipes fall on the floor. Offer guidance and let your child try again. Enjoy the clean-up, because it is all part of the culinary adventure! When the meal is complete, be sure to compliment your assistant on a job well done. Let them sample the first bite of the finished product. At the end of the meal, after the dishes are done, grab a cookbook and plan the next adventure.
The kitchen is often the most popular place in the house for families and friends to gather. It’s a place for learning, sharing, and fellowship where the family can enjoy quality time. Children can also develop a sense of responsibility by sharing in daily tasks.
Parents can keep the kitchen safe and fun for children by following this simple recipe;
1. Challenge your child. Children can complete several chores with minimal instruction. Easy tasks such as mixing ingredients in a bowl, cracking an egg, or measuring with a spoon, or cup can be fun and build confidence. Spreading sliced tomatoes on a salad, sprinkling croutons, or spreading icing are other safe satisfying alternatives to start the adventure. Younger children may enjoy being helpers retrieving, spoons, pots, pans, or mixing bowls. A separate area with safe utensils used for pretend cooking is another option. Children can use just flour and water to mimic your every move.
2. Safety is an important part of working in the kitchen. Children should be coached on basic rules before each task; younger children may even have a safety partner. Always keep children in sight and away from sharp utensils, and the hot stove. The handles of pots and pans should always be turned inward on the stovetop to avoid spilling hot food, or liquids. Sharp knives should always be placed out of reach of little hands. Hygiene is also important. Teach children to wash their hands before and after handling food to avoid contamination, and wear an apron, or towel to protect clothing.
3. Use patience and develop skills step-by-step. Younger children may learn slow, but catch on fast. Focus on basic skills such as folding, mixing, and kneading dough. Older children may advance to cutting simple items like cheese, hot dogs, or lunch meat with a butter knife. As your child’s coordination develops advance to slicing or chopping vegetables and fruit with a regular knife.
4. Keep it fun for everyone. Cooking can be messy with, or without children, so don’t fuss over “spilt milk”. Sometimes accidents happened. Cakes fall, cookies get burnt, and recipes fall on the floor. Offer guidance and let your child try again. Enjoy the clean-up, because it is all part of the culinary adventure! When the meal is complete, be sure to compliment your assistant on a job well done. Let them sample the first bite of the finished product. At the end of the meal, after the dishes are done, grab a cookbook and plan the next adventure.
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