Home Safety for Kids: The Kitchen

Often, young children are cared for at home by an older sibling for at least a few hours after school. More than not, the kitchen is the first place children go for a snack when they get home. Teaching children to be responsible in the kitchen should be a priority. By following these simple guidelines, keeping your kitchen a safe place will be easier: 

• Keep pot and pan handles facing towards the counter and not hanging over the edge of the stove. Young toddlers can reach up and grab the handle, pull it towards them and possibly spill hot food or hit their heads on the pan as it comes down.
• When opening and closing the oven, make sure there are no children in the way.
• Make sure children wash their hands when they are helping prepare food.
• Do not allow children to handle sharp objects like cheese graters and knives until they are old enough to properly handle such utensils.
• If you spill something, make sure you clean it up as soon as possible.
• Put child safety locks or guards on all lower cabinets so the possibility of getting into the cleaning products is decreased.

—Frances Avery, Editor, Stance