Kitchens are the heart of the home. They are the place where we feed ourselves, socialize, and share experiences. Setting up the kitchen in a kid-friendly way will not only make your life easier, but will help the little ones stick around safely in the kitchen, get engaged in the process, learn, bond, and create beautiful memories.
As basic as it sounds, the space must be suitable for little ones, who set special requirements in terms of layout, visual and physical accessibility, safety, and maintenance.
How to design a kid-friendly kitchen layout
Parents often need to multitask: cook while keeping an eye on their kids. Kitchen layout design that allows adults to do both, or allow children to be included within the space physically or visually is considered kid-friendly.
What does it mean to be included within the space physically or visually? It means that either the kitchen is designed in a way that facilitates kids’ participation in the process, or you are able to keep an eye on them while cooking.
Open plan kitchen that is connected to the living room is a great way to keep an eye on kids while cooking. However, not all kitchen layouts are equally good for this matter: If the kitchen layout forces you to stand facing the wall, you can’t see the rest of the space.
This can be solved by adding a kitchen island that allows you to keep an eye on the whole space while prepping the food.
L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen layouts are better: you can have a quick look from time to time while cooking or prepping the meals.
If adding a kitchen island is not possible or the kitchen is separated from the living room, safely keeping your kids within the kitchen space, might be a solution.
By making the kitchen child-proof the kids will be able to hand out with you in the kitchen, observe, and even learn by helping you.
Create a dedicated area for kids in the kitchen
Engaging the kids right in your cooking process might not sound like a great idea for some of us. However, it’s still important that the little ones feel comfortable in the kitchen. Designing a dedicated area for them might be a way to go.
The area that is dedicated to kids might have different functions: a sitting area with small-sized chairs and a table, or a lower countertop where they can play around with dough. If the space allows, you can even set up a play kitchen for them.
Play kitchen for kids
Children learn by watching and imitating. Having a small-sized play kitchen right next to a real one can be a great opportunity: It will keep your little one out of your way while you’re cooking, and he or she will be able to get familiar with the kitchen world by looking at you and imitating what you are doing.
Play kitchen items are safer than real ones at the beginning. Definitely recommend.
kid-friendly furniture in the kitchen
The furniture layout has a major impact on how it will be used. That’s why we, designers carefully try to understand the needs of the clients and make design proposals based on that. A furniture layout is a great tool that can facilitate not only visual but also a physical connection between different areas. For example. Keeping this in mind lets us decide what our goal is and how we can achieve it.
Let little ones help you in the kitchen
Your little one learns by watching you and imitating what you are doing. But first, he or she needs to see things. Sometimes parents are afraid that the kid might harm himself or herself if they hang around in the kitchen where sharp knives are used and hot boiling liquids are present. However, allowing the kids to watch you while you are prepping and cooking is the first step to inviting them into the process.
You might think that it’s easier to just get everything done by yourself, but don’t forget that you are raising a person who needs to have basic skills, such as preparing a meal. Even if your little one is a boy – one day he will be somebody else’s husband who will appreciate your effort.
Furniture in the kitchen can be designed in a way to facilitate this observing experience. A good example is to use a kitchen bench that is connected to the kitchen island. This way it can have two functions: a sitting place and a real observation point for your little one. Here are diagrams to illustrate the design idea:
Once the child is used to watching you for a while, you can let him or her closer. How old should a kid be to be able to help you in the kitchen? There is plenty to do in the kitchen even for two years olds: they can definitely help you stir the meal, crack eggs, add toppings, rinse fruits (which you will probably have to wash again) or test taste the meal. You get the point.
In order to be able to properly assist you, they might need some help with furniture to reach the countertop. Adjustable kitchen helper stools are great for this mission.
You might go bolder than that and give him or her a whole kid-sized counter to play around with dough. This is going to be a real experience, and he or she won’t mess around with your business while you’re cooking.
Chairs and tables for little ones
Properly sized table and chair is essential for your baby to stick around in the kitchen. There are many different options available to purchase, however, I recommend to go for eco-friendly wood tiny furniture. All and all, your kid is going to be touching and picking food from them all day long.
kitchen babyproofing
kid-friendly countertops
Kids are running around all day long. The last thing you want is their head bumping on a countertop corner. Getting a round-corner countertop is obviously an option, however, for those who can’t make it, there are other more affordable ways to babyproof kitchen countertop corners. Silicone corner protectors are the way to go.
You can get transparent ones that will have minimal impact on your kitchen look while keeping your kids’ heads safe, or you can get a luminous edge and corner protectors that will emit light during the night.
how to childproof kitchen cabinets
The main mission here is to figure out how to stop the toddler from opening cabinets. Kitchen cabinets are often used to store sharp objects, spices, chemicals, and harmful liquids, alcohol. You don’t want any of them to get in the hands of a curious toddler.
One way to approach this is to store away all the dangerous items on shelves that can not be reached by your baby. However, the base cabinets can not be kept just empty.
A way to childproof kitchen cabinets is to use locks
