The kitchen is often considered to be the heart of any home. Family members usually spend a lot of time together, bonding over casual conversations and good food. A kitchen must be perfectly functional and cater to the varied needs of the family.
Kitchen is one of the important spots in the house. However, it can also be the most dangerous space, especially for children. That’s because it is typically equipped with objects that can be dangerous to children, such as sharp utensils, hot appliances, pots and pans.
Unfortunately, with young children at home, it can be quite difficult to try to prevent them from getting into unsafe areas.
Children are naturally curious; they always want to explore unfamiliar things with boldness without hesitation. Irrespective of how interesting their brave nature may be, they can be in danger the very moment you look elsewhere.
However, as a parent, your role is to ensure that the kitchen is less risky for your children. Also, ensure you put an eye on children or you get someone to look after them while you prepare the meal.
These ways below can help make the kitchen environment child-friendly for your little one:
1. Keep the kitchen floor clean and tidy
Children love spending time playing on the floor. Since the kitchen floor is one of the major habitats for harmful bacteria to grow on; ensure regular sweeping and mopping of the kitchen floor. It will help eradicate bacteria.
2. Keep sharp knives in your upper cabinet
When children grow, they love opening drawers to play with anything they see inside. Ensure you keep knives or any sharp objects away from their reach. Instead of keeping them in the lower part of the cupboard, relocate them to the upper part where they can’t easily get access to.
3. Keep electrical gargets out of reach
Children love playing with dangling cables and like to pull them. If a cable is connected to a kitchen appliance, keep it out of their reach because when they pull it, the appliance might fall and cause injury to them.
4. Avoid storing cleaners under the sink
When children get under the sink, it’s easy for them to play with cleaners and detergents containing a harmful chemical that can hurt them when it gets into the eyes or mouths. Nevertheless, ensure you store them in the upper cabinet or keep them out of their reach.
5. Turn pot handles backwards
When cooking in the kitchen, endeavour to turn the pot handle pointing outward over the cooker.
This will prevent your child from pulling the pot down or pouring hot contents on his or her body, which can cause injury and burns.
However, to prevent this incident from occurring, turn the handles toward the back of the cooker so your child cannot see the pot or panhandle to grab.
6. Teach them about safety
It’s never too late to start teaching your kids about safety.
Little by little you keep teaching them till they get to know things they shouldn’t play with. It is also a good practice for you to turn every moment to a learning opportunity. At first, start with easy words like; hot, burn, and no, etc.
Read also: 8 Healthy Benefits Of Eating Together As A Family
When you apply these tips, it will help reduce the danger and risk your kitchen can cause to your children. You can safeguard your children, and at the same time allow them to enjoy spending more time cooking with you. Take the necessary precautions to create a child-friendly kitchen and this will help reduce risk and danger for your children.
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