Guest Blogger: Top Tips for Child-friendly Kitchens

 Guest Blogger #823, Entry #1940, December 17, 2012

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It is the one room in the house where the family can gather to have fun cooking and baking together, but it’s important to bear in mind that it can be a hazardous place too.

If you have little ones, you need to take into account their safety in the kitchen. There are various appliances which can be harmful such as the kettle, oven, and toaster. Children can be naïve to the kind of dangers that can occur within the kitchen, so it’s important to teach them about kitchen safety.

Child proof kitchen ideas

Image via: Houzz

Here are some tips to help you design a child-friendly kitchen.

Layout

Kitchens can be functional as well as aesthetically pleasing, but they should be family-friendly too. The layout is key to this, especially as many modern homes do not include doors within each room. Years ago parents could shut the door to keep the children away but in many newer homes, the kitchen forms part of a larger living space.

Plan the traffic flow in the room to minimise the chance of crossing paths. An island can reduce the risk of collisions and act as a barrier, to create a child-friendly zone. They can sit at one side whilst you cook and prepare the food at the other side. The last thing any parent wants is for their little ones to be bumping into them when they are holding a pan of boiling water!

If you do plan on installing an island, make sure it isn’t too high so the children don’t have to climb up onto high stools. And used curved corner posts or soft corner pads to minimise the angles, this will help to reduce the risk of accidents.

Material

The materials you choose for your kitchen are important. They should be hard-wearing and long-lasting because when children are around accidents can happen. Corian, Omega and Encore worktop surfaces are ideal because they are stain-resistant and provide a softer landing surface for plates and glasses.

Stone and wood can withstand dents and matte surfaces help to conceal dirt and grease. It is all about combining practicality with style; high gloss surfaces may look sleek and stylish but they won’t when sticky hands are imprinted on them. Painted surfaces are another good choice as they are easier to retouch if they become damaged.

Appliances

You should look for appliances that minimise the risk of accidents, such as induction hobs. These are a safer alternative to gas hobs because they heat the pan instead of the hob; removing the risk of little ones coming into contact with an open flame. Many induction hobs also come with child locks for added safety.

How safe is your kitchen?

Image via: Houzz

Your child will look to you and imitate your habits so be a positive role model and respectfully use the kitchen environment. Let your children learn by watching you follow safe procedures in and around the kitchen.

This article was provided by Britannia Living, the specialists in high-end, premium cooking appliances for the home.

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