Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen
Helping Your Older Children Get Started In The
Kitchen
by the Paranoid Sisters
It's hard to let our kids grow up and become independent. It seems we shelter
them so much more these days and don't put responsibilities on them like our
parents used to. We joke around with our eight year-old daughters, "When we
were your age, we had to clean the dishes and vacuum the house." They roll
their eyes and respond, "Yeah, right." As they skip off to play with
their friends. We look at each other and shake our heads, who's joking. We're
actually speaking the truth. By the time we were twelve, we were making
spaghetti and cleaning toilets. Hey, our single-mom worked full-time and it
wasn't going to get done if we didn't help.
As paranoid parents, we tend to hold back our kids from doing chores or other
activities because we think they are too young to handle it. So when my eight
year-old daughter (Lori speaking here) and her girlfriend told me they wanted to
make me breakfast and that I wasn't allowed to come into the kitchen I had to
really resist my paranoid tendencies to protect them and let them have at it
(with a few concessions of course!).
This was not easy. I really waffled between their safety and their need for
independence. So I established the first ground rule, I vetoed the "No
kitchen access" request they had made. I explained that they were not old
enough to have full access to the kitchen without my supervision. I needed to
keep an eye on them so if they needed help or ran into problems I would be
available. Inside I vowed to hold back as much as I safely could. I stayed in
the family room that joins the kitchen and folded laundry (Now there's something
she could help with - no safety risks involved). I stayed just close enough that
I felt good and didn't impede their need for independence. Thirty minutes later,
with only a couple of interferences by me, I had a lovely breakfast waiting
(slightly cooled, however) of scrambled eggs, toast, juice, sliced bananas and
strawberries along with a flower from our garden placed on the table by my four
year-old son who was helping.
If your older kids are looking to start helping in the kitchen, here are some
safety rules to cover with them before they begin slicing and dicing:
Adult supervision is a must. According to the National Fire Protection
Association, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire
injuries in the US, so it is especially important to pay close attention
when you are in the kitchen. Children need to be supervised in the kitchen,
and taught how to handle appliances properly. You also have to know your own
child's abilities. Some twelve year-olds may not be as well-equipped to cook
as a mature, responsible eight-year old.
Be sure kids are dressed appropriately. They should be wearing short or
tight-fitting sleeves. Tie back long hair.
Teach them the basic safety rules: Turn cookware handles inward so they
won't be pulled off. Never throw water or flour on a burning pan or fire.
Don't try to do too many tasks at once. Focus on one portion of the meal
preparation at a time. Never leave cooking food unattended
Have a fire extinguisher nearby.
Be sure they are not lifting items that are too heavy, especially hot ones
that may cause burns.
Be clear on which kitchen items they are allowed to use and which ones are
off limits.
In addition to our list we recommend you review the following
recommendations from the The National SAFE KIDS Campaign:
1. Before entering the kitchen, ask your child to identify all the
dangers in a kitchen. What is sharp? What is hot? Does your child know
that getting an electrical appliance wet can be extremely dangerous?
2. Having a child in the kitchen means constant supervision at any age.
Do not attempt to do something else while your child is experimenting in
the kitchen. Even older children need "off-hands" supervision. A
parent should remain close by to answer any questions or to watch for
dangerous mistakes. The kitchen is not the place to "learn by
your mistakes".
4. When it comes time for cutting consider an enclosed manual chopper
rather than a knife. The chopper makes the job safer, cleaner, and in most
cases faster and easier. An adult should do any cutting with sharp
knives.
5. For younger children use all plastic or stainless steel utensils.
Mixing Bowl included.
6. There is no set age that a child is ready to do anything. Children
progress at different rates for different things. The best bet in the
kitchen is to start off with projects that are easy to make and do not
require the oven, stove, knives or electrical appliances. For
example, before a child graduates to an electric mixer, start off with an
egg beater. Introduce bigger jobs one at a time. After your child is
comfortable in the kitchen you could include the electric mixer. When this
is mastered add something else.
7. Never use dangerous equipment like a deep fryer.
Children should never be present in the kitchen when one is plugged in. If
you do have a deep fryer or are going to purchase one, consider the new
models with safety locking lids.
For the complete article from the National Safety Kids Campaign,
including Age-Appropriate Tasks for Children visit http://www.safekids.org
Following these tips will certainly keep things from
"heating" up too much as we help our children learn and grow.
