Your children are your greatest treasure and you want to spend as much time as possible with them. In addition, you must protect them and keep them safe. Of all the places in your home, the kitchen can potentially be the the most dangerous a place for your children. There are knives and other sharp objects, cleaning chemicals, heavy objects and other things that can harm your child. That’s why you need to think about your kitchen design in advance.
If you manage to design your kitchen well, you will be able to keep your children both involved and safe. Let’s take a look at these 7 tips that will help you make a child-friendly kitchen.
1. Their space
When you’re working around the kitchen, you’re probably preparing meals.
This involves hot liquids and sharp objects which means you don’t want your kids running around you and getting in your way.
However, you can’t just ban them from the kitchen and think that will solve the problem. On the contrary, you should make the kitchen inviting.
The best way to deal with this is to create a little separate area in the kitchen where your children can:
- they sit and play
- do at home
- draw
- talk to you from a safe distance
All you need to make this area comfortable for your children are things like:
- whiteboard and some chalk
- reachable chairs, table or kitchen counter
- bright and cheerful colors
This will keep the children safe in the kitchen and you will be able to keep an eye on them.
2. Upper kitchen cabinets
Every kitchen needs upper cabinets, and especially with small children around.
Upper cabinets are a lifesaver when it comes to storing items you don’t want your kids to get their hands on.
Those include:
- medicines
- alcohol
- cleaning chemicals
- dangerous goods to handle
Store everything on the upper shelves and be sure to explain to your children why it is out of reach. If you try to close them, they may try to reach it and open it while you are not around.
3. Countertops
Countertops are one of the most important elements in any kitchen.
Since you don’t want your kids to be completely unfamiliar with the kitchen and preparing light meals, there’s no need to make them taller than the standard height.
While your children are still small, they can use their own small stool to reach it.
However, you have to choose the countertop material wisely.
You need something that is:
- easy to wash and maintain
- not easy to damage
This will ensure that your countertops will withstand your children’s school projects, art adventures, and similar occurrences.
We suggest:
- quartz
- granite
- marble
Make a choice and keep your kitchen looking like new for years to come.
4. Faucets
You need to teach your children how to go in the kitchen and familiarize them with some basic actions.
This involves being able to wash their hands, clean up after themselves, and wash the dishes they have used.
This is why a touch-free faucet can be a great solution:
- it is fun to use
- it is safe to use
- it is easy to use
Your children will not be able to accidentally turn on the hot water and burn their hands. If you set the faucet to a safe starting temperature, you don’t have to worry.
5. Refrigerator shelves
Your refrigerator is definitely a burning point in your kitchen. They love to cling to it and have something to eat or drink, without your help.
It is best to choose a refrigerator that:
- it has the freezer section at the top
- it has the cooling section at the bottom
Then, you can store the two lower cooling shelves with them kid-friendly snacks and drinkssuch as:
- fresh fruit and vegetables
- healthy juices
- Sandwiches
- school lunches
This will make your children feel included and they will not be too agitated about the parts they cannot reach.
6. Corners
When choosing the design of your countertops and cabinets, you must pay attention to the corners.
Round corners it may feel like a less classy option than the sharp ones. However, they are much safer for your children.
If you can’t imagine having rounded corners in your kitchen, you can go for sharp ones. However, you will have to install some Corner protectors to keep minimizing the risk of bumps in the head.
The good thing about this is that, once the kids are older you will be able to remove the protectors.
7. Smoke detector
Finally, there is the final touch for any kitchen full of children that will ensure maximum safety.
A smoke detector should be installed in the kitchen to ensure that you and your children are safe at all times.
You never know what can go wrong in the kitchen, especially when you’re not looking. Since it is better to be safe than sorry, we strongly recommend you:
- install a quality smoke detector
- check it regularly
This will make you feel more relaxed and you will be able to start cooking with your kids without being worried about what might happen.
Final thoughts
A kitchen can be a place where the whole family spends quality time together. Preparing meals and enjoying your time together is only possible if the kitchen is both safe and child-friendly.
Use the advice above to ensure that no one does harm in the kitchen and that your children enjoy spending their time there. If you have ideas to share, write about it. If you need help, search on this page reviews.
Author bio
Daniela McVicker is a psychologist and family counselor. She is also a freelance writer and contributor TopWritersReview. Her passion is writing about leading a healthy family life and helping people enjoy their lives to the fullest.
