Children's Health

Keeping Kids Safe in the Kitchen

Injury Prevention Specialist Urges Caution

As the holiday season approaches, experts at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital urge children and parents to proceed with caution when preparing food for the holidays.
 
“Our kids are naturally going to be involved in getting ready for family gatherings and parties,” said Melinda Howard, manager, Safe Kids Great Grand Rapids program manager, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. “Kitchen safety is an area we can’t overlook. You can prevent injury by providing your children age appropriate tasks to help in the kitchen.”
 
Age appropriate kitchen activities to consider:

Toddlers 

  • Pour chocolate chips into a bowl
  • Sort M & M’s by color
  • Help pour measured ingredients
  • Help place cookies or treats into decorative tins

Age 5 and older

  • Stir ingredients together in a bowl
  • Rinse foods under cold water
  • Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes in dough

Age 10 and older

  • Use a butter knife or plastic knife to spread peanut butter, or slice soft cheese
  • Squeeze garlic from a garlic press
  • Use electrical kitchen appliances such as a blender, food processor, electric mixer, microwave or toaster oven

Age 12 and older

  • Chop or slice with a paring knife
  • Use the stove to turn burners on and off, and select oven temperature
  • Flip pancakes on a hot griddle
  • Place a tray of cookies in the oven
  • Peel vegetables
  • Use an electric can opener
  • Shred cheese with a hand grater

Age 14 and older

  • Operate the stove without adult supervision
  • Drain cooked spaghetti into a colander
  • Remove a tray of cookies from the oven

General kitchen tips

  • Never hold a child while cooking
  • Never leave cooking food unattended
  • Put pans on back burners with the handles toward the back
  • Hot foods or beverages on a table cloth can easily be pulled down by a young child—this is a scalding hazard
  • Always supervise children who are helping an adult cook or simply watching

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a member of Spectrum Health, is a Grand Rapids-based hospital serving children throughout Michigan. A teaching hospital, it includes more than 150 pediatric specialty physicians with specialized training in providing medical and surgical care to children in more than 40 pediatric specialties. Visit devoschildrens.org to learn more or devoschildrens.org/2011 to learn about the new hospital opening in 2011.