RSSSafe Kids-- Kitchen safety tips can prevent holiday havoc
For the Yakima Herald-Republic
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That chill in the air and those colorful leaves falling to the ground are a definite reminder the holidays are fast approaching. For many, that means it's time to stack the firewood, clean out fireplaces and chimneys, and make sure windows and doors aren't letting in drafts. For others, the holidays are a time to pull out favorite recipes and spend some quality time with the kids in the kitchen.
Whether it's stirring ingredients for a pie or decorating festive holiday cookies, having kids help out in the kitchen can create memories that will last a lifetime. To help make sure those memories are pleasant ones, Safe Kids Yakima County offers some special kitchen safety guidelines.
Basic kitchen safety
It's important to remember that a kitchen really is full of potential dangers. Sharp knives and can openers, hot stoves and toaster ovens are just a few standard kitchen items that can be dangerous. It's imperative that close supervision is used at all times when kids are in the kitchen. Other safety tips to remember include:
* Never hold a child while cooking.
* Unplug appliance cords when not in use and keep them tied up, out of children's reach.
* Put pans on back burners and turn handles toward the back of the stove.
* Make sure you and your children wear close-fitting clothing when cooking.
* Place hot foods and liquids away from the edges of counters and tables.
* Pay particular attention to items sitting on tablecloths or placemats, so that young children cannot pull hot food or liquid down and scald themselves
Microwaves
As convenient as microwaves are, keep in mind that they are not much safer than standard stoves. Children under the age of 10 should not remove food from a microwave without help, and everyone needs to be extremely careful when removing hot liquids from the microwave. And just as with cooking on a regular stove, you should never leave an operating microwave unattended.
Age-appropriate tasks for children
Since each child is different, it is important for parents and caregivers to consider the developmental levels and abilities of their children when it comes to assigning kitchen duties.
Generally, children under age 10 don't fully understand what danger means and therefore should not handle the stove, electrical appliances, sharp utensils or hot dishes. Younger children can begin helping in the kitchen with basics, like washing vegetables and fruits or other tasks that don't require sharp knives, appliances or heat.
Following are a few suggested activities and age guidelines the Safe Kids Yakima County coalition recommends to parents to help keep the kitchen a fun, safe place for the family. Remember that children should always have close adult supervision.
Children over age 5 can:
* Stir ingredients together in a bowl.
* Rinse foods under cold water.
* Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes in dough.
Children over age 9 can:
Use a butter knife or plastic knife to spread peanut butter or slice soft cheese.
Children over age 10 can:
* Squeeze garlic from a garlic press.
* Use electrical kitchen appliances, such as a blender, food processor, electric mixer, microwave or toaster oven (remember to supervise).
Children ages 12 and up can:
* Use a paring knife.
* Turn stove burners on and off and select oven temperature.
* Flip pancakes.
* Place a tray of cookies in the oven.
* Peel vegetables.
* Use an electric can opener.
* Shred cheese with a hand grater.
By the time kids are teens, they can begin taking more responsibility in the kitchen. Once taught, older kids can use the oven and stove independently, drain spaghetti and make cookies. Hey, if you're lucky, one night you may come home from work with dinner already prepared.
As the holiday approach, even those kids who aren't really into cooking will begin to make their way into the kitchen. Keeping these safety tips in mind can help make sure that the family memories you create will be happy (and yummy) ones. Now if I only find some tips on how to keep those kids around to help clean up, my time in the kitchen would be perfect.
* Kurt Tyrrell is the Passport to Health program coordinator for Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital and a member of Safe Kids Yakima County. He is a certified health education specialist and a certified child passenger safety technician. His column is produced in cooperation with Safe Kids Yakima County, a local consortium of organizations, agencies and individuals actively promoting child safety.
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