How can I involve my children in cooking, in a safe way?

Learning to cook is a crucial skill and one that will stay with your children for their whole life. It can be a daunting prospect to start to involve them in cooking at home, especially with so many potential risks in a kitchen. We wanted to share a few tips that will help you to involve your children in cooking at home.

1. Before starting cooking or inviting your child into the kitchen to help you cook, make sure that they’re aware that the kitchen can be a dangerous place and that they must listen and follow your instructions whilst cooking.
2. Once you’ve decided what to cook with your child and you’re nearly ready to go, make sure to get them to wash their hands before touching any food, surfaces, or equipment. It’s also a good idea to give them an apron to wear.
3. Make sure that your children are supervised whilst cooking in the kitchen. Children are naturally inquisitive and will want to investigate different utensils, appliances, and ingredients. It is important therefore that they’re always supervised to ensure that their curiosity doesn’t lead to injury.
4. Kitchens often contain a lot of sharp equipment such as knifes, blenders, scissors, forks and more. Make sure that your children are aware of the equipment in your kitchen that could cause injuries. If you decide to let your children use sharp equipment, make sure that they’re aware how to use it safely.