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Remember licking the bowl when you were a kid? Or making
your own peanut butter sandwiches with grape, or better
yet strawberry, jelly? Mmmmm…the smell of homemade
oatmeal cookies! And they were even better because you
knew you helped make them! Kitchens can be a place of
special memories for kids of any generation. Are you
building those memories with your children or do you
view the kitchen as a dangerous place for kids? You
can make your kitchen a kid friendly, memory-intensive
space by:
Having a small table where kids can work on projects
when you are working in the kitchen.
Having a selection of unbreakable bowls, measuring cups
and mixing spoons which fit in small hands stored in
on a low shelf or in a low cabinet within reach of your
child. Let your child know that these are his or her
special cooking tools. Personalize them with colored
markers.
Paint a small stool in bright colors to keep where your
child can reach it.
Designate a place where you will keep snacks that
your children can eat anytime. Use a special drawer,
shelf, basket or box. Keep it stocked with raisins,
juice packs, granola bars, trail mix or fruit.
Buy a set of alphabet or number magnets or sets of easy
work magnets for the refrigerator. Kids can learn to
spell, create sentences or do math while helping in
the kitchen.
Paint a section of the kitchen wall with chalkboard
paint or hang a large chalkboard within your child's
reach. Supply colored chalk and let your child draw
to his/her heart's content!
Use your computer, scanner and printer to put together
a kid's cookbook. Explore easy recipes with your kids
and feature their art and comments on each page. Not
only will it help your child learn to cook, but it will
be a treasured keepsake for you!
Let your child help in small ways at first, then add
more complicated tasks when he or she grows older and
more adept. Some tasks you can begin to teach your youngest
children:
—Stirring (cookie or cake dough is the most
fun for kids! Ahh…the anticipation!)
—Washing fruit or veggies
—Measuring ingredients (have them measure over
a paper towel. There will be less mess!
—Decorating cookies with sprinkles, raisins,
small tubes of icing, chocolate chips (I bet some disappear
before they make it to the cookie!)
Make certain you eliminate cluttered or overloaded electrical
outlets in your kitchen. They are dangers to both kids
and adults.
Don't let your kids wear clothing with loose fitting
sleeves. They could catch fire if they get too close
to a burner or they could catch on items on countertops.
When you take something hot out of the oven, or if you
have a hot pot on the stove, make sure you turn the
handle away from the edge of the stove or set the pan
away from the edge of counter where your child can't
reach up to grab the hot surface and pull it down.
Keep a kitchen fire extinguisher nearby along with emergency
numbers for fire departments, poison centers, physicians,
hospitals and police.
With a little thought, your kitchen can become the room
that deepens the bond of caring between you and your
child. Caring and chocolate chips! What more could a
kid want?
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