
With a number of potential hazards, kitchens aren’t the safest environment for children. However, in busy households with little ones, this scenario is unavoidable – with many parents juggling dinner prep, laundry and more whilst watching the kids.
However, the key to kids and kitchens is to make the area as safe and child-friendly as possible, so, in today’s blog, we’re sharing 5 simple design tips for achieving a family-friendly kitchen design that the whole family can enjoy.
1. Create a kids’ corner
Trying to cook and keep an eye on your children at the same time can be tricky, but you can make life a little easier for yourself by carving out a children’s corner where they can play safely. Whether it’s making use of unused floor space for them to sit with a colouring book or giving them their own play kitchen area to get creative, having their own space out of harm’s way will make life much easier for everyone. Even something as simple as giving them a stool next to the worktop with their favourite toys and snacks will help keep them entertained while you slave away over a hot stove.
2. Opt for easy clean worktops
Getting your kids interested in cooking is a valuable life skill and can be lots of fun, but anyone who’s embarked on a baking session with a toddler knows this can be a messy affair – which is why opting for easy-to-clean surfaces like granite worktops could be a lifesaver. Choosing hard-wearing, low-maintenance options will help make clean-up operations light work and with high-durability and scratch resistance they’re also an incredibly hygienic choice, too.
3. Add lower worktops
Children are curious creatures and learn by watching what others do, so why not feed their curiosity in the kitchen by giving them their own worktop space? While standard kitchen worktops are too high, you might want to consider incorporating lower worktops at children’s height – providing them with a comfortable place to test out their culinary skills. Adding drawers or cupboards underneath filled with their own kitchenware will also make them feel very grown up and independent.
4. Invest in unbreakable crockery
Whether you want to preserve your favourite dinner set or reduce the risk of injuries from broken crockery or glassware, investing in child-proof kitchenware is an easy preventative measure for achieving a safer family kitchen. From bamboo dinner plates and rubber bowls to plastic cups, kitting your kitchen out with robust utensils will help avoid any upsets when things inevitably get knocked onto the floor.
5. Keep dangerous items out of reach
Telling your children not to grab items off the worktop or touch hot objects is basic parenting practice, but it doesn’t guarantee that it won’t happen at some point – without eyes in the back of your head, accidents can easily occur. However, child-friendly kitchen design is all about minimising the risks as much as possible, by keeping dangerous items out of children’s reach. From child locks for cupboards and drawers to out-of-reach storage for knives and utensils, designing your family kitchen with areas that are only accessible to adults will help to keep little ones safe, even when your back is turned.
Sharing time with your kids in the kitchen can be great fun and a brilliant learning experience for children of all ages, and with these design tips, we hope you’ll find plenty of ways to create your dream family kitchen design.
If you’re feeling inspired to create a more family-focused kitchen, why not take a look at our gorgeous collection of kitchen worktops to provide your children with a safe and sturdy surface to play on?