1. Kitchen planner - keep a beady eye on the little ones
Plan the space to help you watch small children while you’re cooking. The ideal is to have kitchen doors leading to outdoor space so children can run in and out while under the watchful eye of a parent.
2. Kitchen recipes - encourage cooking from an early age
If possible, design a kitchen worktop for your child – be it a children’s table or a lowered counter top at child’s height for creative activities including painting, gluing and cooking. Be imaginative in your recipes – how about making an edible log house with an apple corer?
3. Kitchen cabinet - Designate children’s kitchen storage
Toddlers love to help with kitchen recipes. Dedicate a kitchen drawer or kitchen cabinet to the children and fill it with plastic spatulas, measuring cups, napkins, snacks, wooden spoons and unbreakable bowls. Expect flour on the kitchen floor but happy faces.
4. Kitchen gifts - Assign a gift drawer for children’s kitchen projects
With your child in tow, cook kitchen recipes that can be frozen or stored and given as gifts. Peanut brittle, chocolate sauce, snack mixes, flavored vinegar and chocolate fudge could fuel a gift stash – children will love being able to choose a gift they’ve made when a moment arises.
5. Kitchen precautions - Safety first, gourmet second
Children in a kitchen are an invitation for trouble. Ensure kitchen equipment, sharp knives, glassware and poisonous products are out of reach from little paws. Install a fire extinguisher and childproof locks on kitchen cupboards and major kitchen appliances to prevent accidents happening.
6. Kitchen creativity - Rediscover your inner Blue Peter
It’s never too early to introduce the next generation to recycling. Install different coloured recycling compartments and create one bin of ‘clean’ rubbish with which the children can play. Envisage plastic bottle space ships and cereal box dolls houses.
7. Kitchen fitter - Install a spacious freezer
The dream kitchen for families has a big freezer full of nutritious meals to save time and energy. Make casseroles and pies in bulk for the freezer and defrost when time is short.
8. Kitchen remodel - Plan heavy-duty cabinets for kitchen
As much as brightly painted kitchen cabinets look fabulous and appeal to children, they’re not that practical. When paint gets chipped, an entire kitchen panel will need re-painting. Instead, choose oak kitchen cabinets.
9. Kitchen decorating - Encourage drawing on the walls!
Create a kid-friendly kitchen décor. Paint a wall or kitchen cupboard with blackboard paint and invite your children to scrawl in different coloured chalks. Paint the surrounding wall in bold colours like blues, reds or purples to create a border.
10. Kitchen décor - Show off the darlings’ artwork
Every parent is inundated with children’s artwork and photos – hang a corkboard or notice board to kitchen doors and kitchen units dedicated to your offspring. Think of it as cheap kitchen pictures!
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