Kids in the kitchen – first aid preventative tips

With a number of children inspired by culinary personalities and wanting to participate more in the process of getting meals ready, First Aid For You has partnered with the Travelling Kitchen and are offering some timely tips for kitchen safety.

Firstly, adult supervision is vital; always ensure there is an adult (someone over the age of 18) around watching and helping.

It’s important to allow older children (ages 12-16) an opportunity to do some kitchen preparation with supervision at a safe distance. For younger children (ages 6-12), it’s recommended that an adult is always watching.

Explain to the kids the concept of sous chef (an assistant chef) and how vital they are in restaurants and that they can be your sous chef in the home kitchen, listening to your instructions and making sure the meal is prepared properly and safely.

Keep liquids away from electrical cords and appliances to prevent electrical accidents. It doesn’t take much to cause an electrical accident, faulty or frayed wiring, burned out sockets or old appliances can cause fires and electrocution if not checked on a regular basis.

Consider the next time the electrician is around, to have them check power points in the kitchen and ensure all kitchen wiring is safe.

The importance of a clean space and being a clean chef is vital. Encourage the kids to keep clean with a new apron (why not treat them with one embroidered with their name) and to clean as they go.

Not only does this make cleaning up at the end easier, it’s safer to work in a clean, organised space and helps prevent cross contamination.

Use separate chopping boards when preparing meats and vegetables, different knives to cut chicken to vegetables and always wash hands in between different food preparation tasks recommends the Travelling Kitchen.

Emphasising the importance of washing hands doesn’t have to take away from the enjoyment of preparing a meal, consider singing a song with little ones while washing hands together. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, is a great song as it takes as long to sing, as it does to thoroughly wash hands.

Finally, having a first aid kit in the kitchen and showing the kids what each component is for will ensure they know where to go and what to use, should an emergency arise.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

23 Comments

- - ChiWren said
  - 19 Feb 2024
    7:43 pm
All really great tips to pass on to the littles.

- - ella12 said
  - 27 Jun 2017
    4:26 pm
Thanks for the wise advice, safety in the kitchen is very important (my daughter also has a little apron with her name on it).

- - mom81879 said
  - 18 Nov 2015
    6:39 pm
We have the first aid kit and adult supervision always. We also don’t let them use a sharp knife until they’re old enough, same with potato peeler and cheese grater

- - Carolineb said
  - 26 Sep 2015
    9:41 am
Great read. Thanks for the article.

- - EllenG89 said
  - 14 Jun 2015
    7:11 am
Great read!!! So important!

- - mom70050 said
  - 13 Jun 2015
    8:12 pm
Safety is always a timely reminder, thanks for sharing these safety tips for little ones in the kitchen .

- - mom107723 said
  - 02 Jun 2015
    9:20 am
My grandsons love to help in the kitchen and i always encourage them to do so.

- - mom94125 said
  - 01 Jun 2015
    12:56 pm
good tips! thankyou. i always keep a few first aid kits around
- mom94125 replied
  
  17 Oct 2015 , 7:48 pm
  yeah definatley a good reminder to be safe around
- - mom56312 said
  - 31 May 2015
    7:04 pm
great idea with using seperte chopping boards, i never knew that fish smelt so bad when you prepare it from start yourself. We now have a dedicated chopping board for that kept well away from the others. Nothing i do seems to get rid of the smell

- - mom118423 said
  - 29 May 2015
    8:40 pm
Good tips

- - mom113055 said
  - 28 May 2015
    4:53 pm
this is so great to win

- - mom113055 said
  - 18 May 2015
    12:41 pm
so great

- - Mum of 5 darlings :) said
  - 02 May 2015
    3:53 pm
One of my grand-daughters likes to get in the kitchen with me, to help ‘Nanny cook’. I keep a very close eye on her & only allow her do certain things. Better to be safe than sorry.

- - dannsbuild said
  - 30 Apr 2015
    11:40 pm
One of my daughters likes to get in the kitchen with me. But I will only let her do certain things just to be careful.

- - mom74959 said
  - 30 Apr 2015
    4:14 pm
Fun and games with the kids in the kitchen

- - deb_gs said
  - 24 Apr 2015
    12:43 pm
At the moment, I just bake with my 4yo. She can add and stir ingredients. And lack the spoons – of course!

- - cherz said
  - 23 Apr 2015
    6:15 pm
Thank you for your wonderful and very helpful article ,great tips and points.

- - aliceou said
  - 23 Apr 2015
    4:44 pm
Thank you for the helpful tips!

- - mom94378 said
  - 23 Apr 2015
    1:38 pm
its nice when my kids want to be involved, even if at times it makes things more difficult. Thanks for the extra safety tips and ideas.

- - rovermum said
  - 23 Apr 2015
    12:41 pm
It’s been an ongoing process. My son used to help with some baking when he was younger, but now he’s a teen (and taking Food Tech classes) we’re encouraging him to practice some more skills in the kitchen. Funnily enough, he likes to judge everything plated in front of him!!