I love spending quality time with my daughter. Like most busy Moms, I can struggle to find enough time in the day to be fully engaged with her. But one activity that we just love to do together as a team is baking. It doesn’t matter what we’re making. We could even be cooking the dinner! So long as we’re together and having fun then we’re both happy. Of course, kids are small. As she’s getting older, I’m noticing just how difficult it is for kids to get really involved in the kitchen. It’s only now that she can fully see over the countertop. The hob is just too high for her to see what’s in the pot. Stools and steps are great, but you need to be so careful to pick one with a proper rubber grip on the bottom. The last thing you need is for the step to slide out from under her.
Flickr is the source of the imageI think if I had to do it all again, my dream kitchen would include a low-level counter area. And soft close drawers are a must when you have an excitable child around! As my daughter gets heavier, lifting her up to see how things are cooking in the pot or the oven is getting a bit much for my back! I think I would choose to have my main oven situated a bit lower in future. Then she can see her favorite cookies rising.Of course, when she was really tiny I had to be so careful if she came into the kitchen. The space between one area and the next is just too wide for a safety gate. In hindsight, I really wish I could have had some added protection for her there. That moment when your heart leaps into your mouth because your toddler has suddenly appeared next to the hot oven is awful.Cooking with a child is lots of fun, mostly because it’s so messy. But then I’m left to clean up all the splashes and splatter. My dream kitchen will definitely have more easy to wipe tiling. I sometimes feel like heading down to the best tile store I can find and covering the entire kitchen! Wipe clean paint can only take so much wiping.
Flickr is the source of the image
Originally I figured a vinyl flooring with a bit of bounce would be ideal for a family kitchen. But it’s not always as hard wearing as it needs to be, especially if you move the fridge out! Tiling gives you the chance to use underfloor heating so you can claw back that valuable wall space where the radiator hangs. That would be an ideal spot for a low counter for kids to work at too.
Kitchens will always be dangerous places for kids without adult supervision. But things could be a lot easier for them to get involved in cooking and baking. And this kind of activity is so good for kids to help them learn essential skills and healthy eating. Would you change your kitchen for the kids?
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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