If you are like me you spend plenty of time in the kitchen. This includes making meals, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacks. Then there is the clean up time, washing down the cupboards and stove, and putting the dishes in the dishwasher. (I love my dishwasher! My parents didn’t get a dishwasher until my sister and I were both out of the house in fact it was just a week after my sister got married. My dad’s reasoning: “Why buy a dishwasher when you already have two?” So I grew up doing my fair share of dishes by hand.) There are also the times when you put away the groceries or if you’re like me sit down at the kitchen table to pay the bills.
The problem with spending so much time in the kitchen is that inevitably your children will follow you. The kitchen isn’t always the safest place to be. So why not make your kitchen a place where your young child can freely play without you worrying.
Begin by making sure that any dangerous objects are out of reach or locked using a childproof cupboard lock. Although cupboard locks don’t always work. My youngest was only eighteen months old when she figured out how to open them. You should make sure that any cleaning supplies; dish detergent and soap, cleaning rags (these contain lots of germs that you don’t want in your child’s mouth) are locked away. Then so through your kitchen and make sure any knives, sharp objects, or breakable dishes are out of reach. Also always turn the handles of your pans inward. Never leave them hanging over the edge of the stove. This is a good practice even with older children who might be curious and end up burning themselves.
After you’ve removed the dangerous objects you’ll find that there are plenty of things for your child to play with.
- I always kept my plastic lids and containers in my bottom drawers. My babies knew that the drawer was free game. They spent hours stacking and unstacking the plastic containers.
- Try giving your child empty paper towel rolls. They are fun to look through.
- An empty can with a lid makes an excellent drum when banged by a wooden spoon. Or turn over a pot and let them drum away.
- Give your child plastic spoons or cups to practice stacking.
- When my children were younger I had a plastic tub of rice that I used to set out on a tablecloth I bought at the dollar store and let them play in. I would add small cups and spoons that they would use to pour and dig in the rice. Then I would just pick up the tablecloth with the spilled rice and add it back in.
- When your child is a little older give them a shelf of their own. Add some cans and empty boxes and they can make their own little grocery store.
- Of course you can always let your little one help you cook as long as the stove is not involved. At an early age my kids loved helping me make bread and cookies.
Making your kitchen a place where your child can be entertained ensures that you know where your child is, what they are doing, and that they are happy.
See these related blogs:
Spending One on One Time With Your Kids
Boys Playing with Dolls and Girls Playing with Cars