Whether you learned early how to cook, or later in life, as parents, we want our kids to learn how to feed themselves. Whether it’s so they can make their own lunches, so they can learn essential skills or build memories with us. All of these things come from learning how to cook. All things need a framework though. For learning to cook in the kitchen, that means learning kitchen safety.
“But how do you teach them that!?” you might be grumbling at your computer screen. It’s ok, we get it.
When it comes to teaching kids safety in the kitchen, you need to set clear rules so the process is enjoyable for both of you. You will have to remind them of them from time to time, that’s normal. What’s more, fun is when they get to turn the tables and remind you!
Here’s a quick, bulleted list, before we dig into each one.
Listen. Listen. Listen.
Roll-up sleeves and tie back hair.
Always wash your hands.
Always ask an adult before cooking.
Clean as you go.
Practice good knife safety.
Ask Before You Lick.
Separate Raw and Cooked foods
Cook foods to the proper temperature.
If you get hurt, tell an adult right away.
When you’re done, turn off the oven and all other appliances before you leave the kitchen.
Listen. Listen. Listen.
Cooking with kids is a great way to build active listening skills and practice following directions. “My kids get so excited to get started that we often talk about ‘Listening Before You act’ says Natalie of SuperHealthy Kids. They get so excited, and it’s hard, we get it! It’s important to stress to kids that taking the time to listen and follow directions can change if the recipes turns out well or not.
Roll Up Sleeves and Tie Back Hair
This one feels like a ‘well duh’ to us, but to your little one, not so much. Teaching them to do this every time before they start to cook will build a life long habit. Just as important, it means you’re less likely to have hair in your food, or stains on their clothes!
Always Wash Your Hands
We should all be washing their hands front and back, between the fingers and under our nails. If we don’t teach our kids, who will? You can also remind them to think about all the things they’ve touched and ask if it’s something they want in their food.
Always Ask An Adult Before You Cook
Again, this seems like an obvious rule, but as our kids become more confident and independent, they’ll want to ask less. It’s important to ask though so that even if they’re the one doing all the work, there is someone there in case they get hurt.
Clean As You Go
This one is a somewhat divisive point. Some people clean as they go, and others will put everything in the sink until the cooking is done. The biggest reason you shouldn’t leave everything till the end is to prevent slips and falls. The second reason is that if you’re us, you don’t have a lot of sink or counter space. Washing as you go means that you don’t have to fight to get counter space, worry about things falling out of the sink, or have little elbows knocking things off.
Practice good knife safety.
Technically speaking, we could do an entire post about proper knife safety. (And maybe we will!) the most important things to keep in mind are these though.
- When teaching your kids to use knives, work with them, stay patient, and expect that it’s going to take many repetitions before they get the hang of it.
- You can start by letting them use plastic to-go knives, move them up to kid-friendly plastic knives, and then eventually (preferably not before they 8 or so) you can upgrade them to kitchen and chef knives.
-Always carry knives point down.
-When you set down a knife, it should be flat and away from the edge of the cutting board or the surface it’s on.
-Your hand should be on top and the knife on bottom when you’re gripping the handle.
- If your knife is moving, your eyes should be down. If the food moves, your knife should be down.
This one is phrased so that it’s easy to remember, but it might take a bit more explaining for your kids. The idea is that if you’re using a knife, your eyes should be focused on what you’re doing. If you take your eyes off what you’re doing, the knife should stop moving. If the food is moving (i.e., if you’re taking it somewhere else in the kitchen), the knife should be laid down.
Ask Before You Lick
We know the dangers of the kitchen. Raw meats, cleaners, raw eggs, etc. Kids don’t though, and cake batter, sauces, and the like are tempting for little chefs. So make sure that they always ask before they lick something.
Separate Raw and Cooked Foods
Just like the above, this is one kids aren’t going to think about. It’s our job to teach them that you cannot put cooked food back on the same plate that raw foods were on.
- If you get hurt, tell an adult right away.
-When you’re done, turn off the oven and all other appliances before you leave the kitchen.
Thanks for joining us this week, we hope to see you back next week where we’ll be discussing smart gadgets. How smart are they?
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Remember, one of the most essential steps for working in your kitchen is knowing that all of your appliances are working correctly. If yours are having issues, or even if you’re not sure, schedule an appointment today. We want to help you keep you and your family safe.