How To Make Your Kitchen Kid-Friendly
Ensuring the safety of their child is any parents’ foremost concern. They always take steps to make the house kids friendly but somehow fail to do the same for the kitchen. A kitchen is the most important space of any house. It’s the place where the whole family bonds and gets together to enjoy a meal or get around for some drinks and chat on weekends.
You may have to customize your kitchen after the birth of your children or spend some extra money on remodeling but that’s a small price to pay for the safety and betterment of your kids. You won’t want them running around and hurting themselves with any heavy pots or sharp knives.
So here are 5 ways you can make your kitchen safe for the kids:
1. All Sharp Objects Must Be Out Of Reach
Make sure that all your knives and sharp objects are above and beyond the reach of your kids. Put them in cabinets which are higher and if you have placed them on the countertop keep them in covers and far away from the edges.
Door knobs are another thing to take care of. We get it, everyone wants trendy and popular kitchen cabinet handles, but sometimes these ‘trendy’ options like nickel pulls, pulls with exposed screws, or glass handles can be really sharp and dangerous for kids! Make sure you use circular knobs or other kid friendly options, and cover them at all costs.
You’d also want to opt for round edges for your tables and countertops. They are different types of countertop edges which can ensure your child’s safety and also, add a class to your kitchen.
2. Kid-friendly Surfaces
By this we mean any surface that is durable and easily wipeable. When it comes to durability Quartz countertops are the perfect substitute for granite it may be pricier, but it is on less porous. Alternatively, if you don’t have a big budget then using laminate is the best option! It is cheap, comes in a variety of designs, durable, easily wipeable and most importantly you can install it yourself! But using a good quality material for your countertops and floors will help prevent fire hazards in the kitchen and make it a safe place for your kids.
3. Add A Blackboard
You and the kids can both use the black board! You can make your grocery lists and a to-do list on the board while the kids can just do anything they want. This will also give you an opportunity to teach your child while you are busy in the kitchen. They can be honing their drawing skills or writing skills whatever they enjoy on this board. Additionally, you’ll save the walls and cupboards from the brunt of pens and markers!
4. Have A Bigger Island
Islands usually serve as the one place in the kitchen where everyone can sit, eat and socialize. Now that kids are going to be sitting here you have to have stools that are taller to accommodate their eating and their study time too. Train them to do their homework on the island so they remain under your supervision. Have plenty of storage on your island so that the kids can also keep some of their things here for convenience. Tell the kids to immediately wipe off any pen/pencil/marker stains from the island immediately.
5. Kid-sized Furniture
The first step towards developing a children-friendly kitchen is incorporating furniture for the little humans. One of the top must-have additions for your kitchen should be a leaning tower. This allows your child to safely help with the washing and sometimes meal prep or just watch their mom do wonders in the kitchen.
You can also try kid friendly easy recipes with your kids! A two-tiered island is also a great option to provide them with an additional space to their homework, eat, play and whatnot. You can also give them a small working station using a table. This will keep the kids happy and engaged in the kitchen and you wouldn’t even have to worry about them!
All these factors should be considered in the planning phase of your kitchen. And these small steps will help you make your kitchen a safe space for the little humans in your house! This little effort will go a long long way in teaching them a lot about life, time management and work don’t underestimate the power of a disciplined kitchen!