Cook and Count

Everyone needs to know what utensils are needed in the kitchen to make cooking easier.

There are many different kinds of utensils that do approximately the same thing- for example sieves and strainers. You probably have several different kinds and sizes for the child/ren to play with. Funnels come in many different shapes and sizes. Ask the child/ren what would you need this one for? and that one?

Knives are valuable kitchen tools but we cannot allow children to use them. Sturdy plastic knives are okay for young children but that is all. However peelers and slicers and graters can be used with supervision.  A few simple rules will help:

1. Always peel away from your body
2. Grate only half-way through the fruit or veg (we don't want your fingers grated!)
3. Use a can opener that turns over both sharp edges as it opens- not one that leaves the sharp  edges exposed. If you can't find a safe can opener, then do that job yourself.
4. An adult must always be the only person who touches hot things from the oven or microwave or rice cooker.  Children can put cold things IN but only adults should take hot things OUT.

All children enjoy mastering the apple peeling machine, the potato ricer, the can opener, etc. It gives them a sense of power and achievement. Show them how to use a utensil and then let them do it by themselves. Do not "help" unless you are asked or the child starts looking frustrated. On the other hand do not abandon the child to the utensil in case s/he needs help or starts getting into a dangerous situation. There are dangers in the kitchen but not as many as people suppose. If you supervise you can avoid accidents whilst allowing the child/ren to learn freely.