Make Your Kitchen Safe For Your Child

 

Children spent a surprising amount of their time in the kitchen where they are most likely to find their mothers. Also the various sounds and smells of the kitchen as well as the wondrous activities that go on there greatly fascinate them. Children are also attracted by the gleaming utensils and other equipment to be found in the kitchen. Imitating elders, particularly role-model figures like mothers, is an innate quality in children. When small children try to copy what their mothers are doing with dangerous kitchen implements, they can get into serious trouble.

Here are some useful tips to make kitchens a safe place for children to be in.

• Never leave a child alone in the kitchen when anything is cooking on the stove.
• Ensure that vessels with hot food, especially liquids, are kept away from the edge of the cooking platform. An inquisitive child can reach up and tip the hot contents on to himself.
• Keep hot food covered. Small children often try to dip their hands into vessels to find out what is in them if the vessel is above their eye level and they cannot see into the vessel. If the vessel contains hot food, it could burn their hands badly.
• Children are greatly fascinated by fire and, given a chance, like nothing better than to mess around with matchboxes. Therefore keep matchboxes strictly out of reach and preferably out of sight of young children.
• Cover low-level electrical sockets with tamper proof plastic covers to prevent children from inserting fingers or metal objects into these sockets.
• Floor-level electric wet grinder switches are within easy reach of any child. To prevent children from injuring themselves by accidentally switching on the grinder, either have the main switch at a higher level or disconnect the appliance from the socket when not in use.
• Avoid serving food and drinks to children in breakable material like glassware.
• Keep all cleaning solvents, powders and insect repellants out of the reach of children.
• Keep all floor-level cabinets and fridges closed at all times. Children enjoy crawling into such spaces and may accidentally lock themselves in leading to their possible suffocation.
• Keep sharp kitchen implements like knives, choppers, peelers, graters, etc. out of the reach of children.
• Keep the containers of harmful condiments and flavouring agents like chilly powder, pepper, vinegar and baking soda away from the reach of children.