For many American families, the kitchen acts as the epicenter of the home. It’s where we gather with loved ones to cook and enjoy delicious meals and make fond memories. But, of course, the kitchen isn’t inherently a safe haven. And despite the fact that kitchen cabinets can easily last for up to 50 years, that doesn’t mean that your kitchenette couldn’t cut someone’s life short. After all, there’s no shortage of hazards that can be found here, from sharp knives to electrical appliances.
That’s why it’s so important for parents to take an active role in the kitchen — in both its design and its ongoing use. Although 48% of home buyers say energy efficiency is their most desired feature, safety is at the top of the list for many others. Here are some tips to keep in mind to ensure your kitchen is safe for every member of the family (but especially your kids!).
Create a Kid Zone
Since you probably spend a fair amount of time in this space, it’s no surprise that your kids will likely stay close by. But instead of allowing your kiddos to have free reign, you might want to establish areas that are okay for play (and ones that are off-limits). If you’re redesigning your kitchen from scratch, you can create a place especially for your child to be when you’re cooking and can keep an eye on them. It’s generally recommended to replace any carpeting every 10 to 15 years, anyway. But you can also partition off certain areas with baby gates or playpens if your children are young. In general, the cooking area should be a play-free zone, as there are too many hazards to contend with. It would be all too easy for your kiddo to be underfoot or to knock over a hot pan if you allow them to include the kitchen in their playtime activities.
Establish Some Ground Rules
You’ll need to establish some rules for everyone’s safety, as well. In other rooms, you may need to discuss the fact that your child should never play in or around windows (as since 15% of your home’s wall space is taken up by windows, this is a valid concern). While your kitchen may not have a lot of window space, it will have a seemingly endless supply of safety concerns. Drive home the point that it’s always necessary to ask an adult about using items and to announce when you’re walking behind someone else in the kitchen. Make it a habit to prioritize hand-washing and cleaning throughout the cooking process, as well as instituting a no-running policy. In addition, both kids and parents should know that adult supervision is an absolute must when in the kitchen. Parents must make sure that knives, spices, heavy or hot pots and pans, and appliances should be kept out of their child’s reach.
Invest in Some Gadgets
When cooking, we rely on all kinds of gadgets (including those made from plastic creation processes like reaction injection molding). But you may need to add to your collection if you’re trying to kid-proof your kitchen. You can purchase stove guards and corner guards to keep kids from getting hurt or employ locks, gates, and socket plugs to increase everyone’s safety. While there are still some items you should remove or keep out of reach (like tablecloths, curtains, or collapsable furniture), you can add temporary safety features to keep your kids from getting into trouble — even when they’re past the babyproofing years.
It’s not always possible to keep your child from getting hurt. But many parents are inclined to take kitchen hazards for granted. Just because you know to avoid these dangers doesn’t mean your child will. If you take the extra step to protect your children in the kitchen and open up a dialogue for safe cooking practices, you’ll be a lot less stressed when dinnertime rolls around.
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