Everyone needs to be careful while preparing meals in a kitchen. Teaching your children ways to prevent injuries from sharp knives in the kitchen is important. Many children are preparing their own meals and snacks. Sometimes older kids are responsible for cooking meals for the family. Kids also need to learn about the possibility of dangerous fires in the kitchen. Children must be taught emergency phone numbers if an accident or fire occurs.
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Teaching Safety for Families
Teaching your kids about these tasks can be a great way to communicate. Get everyone involved in learning about kitchen safety. Make a written list of the kitchen rules. Place the list on a wall of the kitchen. Have rule categories for fire prevention, using knives safely and others. If your family has young children, then draw pictures of the rules. Occasionally, review the rules with everyone in the family. Parents can teach their kids by also following the rules.
Preventing Fires in the Kitchen
Many things in the kitchen can cause a fire. Young children should be taught to stay away from kitchen appliances. Gas and electric stoves are a source of fire danger. Microwave ovens can also catch fire. As children get older parents can allow the use of appliances. However, kids must be supervised until they are old enough to handle a fire emergency. Practice the stop, drop and roll technique about clothing catching on fire.
Preventing Burns in the Kitchen
Kids and parents can cook meals together. Parents can show their children ways to protect themselves from injuries while preparing meals. Teach kids how to wear oven mitts while picking up hot pots and pans. Train children to have handles of pans turned away from the edge of the stove. This will help prevent knocking hot contents over and being burned. Show kids how to put a lid on a grease fire safely.
Preventing Cuts in the Kitchen
Knives are a necessity for chopping up vegetables, fruits, meats, and other foods. Allowing kids to assist in preparing meals is a great way to learn knife safety. Parents can show their children how to use a cutting board. Kids need to learn the way to hold a knife while using it for food preparation. Using the correct size of the knife is also important. Care must be taken when washing a knife to prevent cuts. Knives must also be stored in a special place to prevent accidental injuries.
