Cooking Safety Basics for Pre-Teens

It's never too early to teach your responsible pre-teen about basic cooking safety in the kitchen.

Pre-teens are at the age where they can start learning how to do some things for themselves, including making their own snacks and meals. They also get hungry after school, and will be in the kitchen more often than younger kids.

Parents can encourage pre-teens to be interested in cooking safety basics.

The best way to start teaching pre-teens some basic cooking safety tips is to have them in the kitchen with you while you cook. It is important to explain each step you take, especially the things you do in the kitchen that you don't even think about anymore.

Here are some kitchen safety items and basics that should be covered in your ongoing conversations with pre-teens about cooking in the kitchen.

1. The Fire Extinguisher

Show you pre-teen where the fire extinguisher is located, and explain how to use it.

Also let your pre-teen know where the baking soda is located. Explain that baking soda can be used to smother a small grease or electrical fire. Also explain that they should not pour water on a grease fire.

2. Follow Directions

Explain to pre-teens the importance of following instructions in the kitchen. They should follow any and all directions on how to cook foods. Talk to pre-teens about cooking time. Cooking certain foods like eggs or meat for not enough time can cause serious illness.

Also explain that cooking foods too long can lead to burnt food, or even kitchen fires.

Food cooked at too high of a temperature in the oven can also cause the smoke alarm to go off.

3. "House Rules"

Set up your own kitchen safety guidelines, like which tools or appliances can be used when your not home, which ones can be used without supervision while you are home, and/or which kitchen appliances and tools can only be used when an adult is present.

4. Use of knives and sharp objects

When your pre-teen is ready to use knives and other sharp objects in the kitchen, be sure to show your pre-teen the proper methods of cutting different items, hard and soft.

5. First Aid Kit

Keep a first aid kit in the kitchen, for the accidental cut. Also keep some aloe in the fridge or an aloe plant for burns. Show your pre-teen where these things are, and how to use them. Just in case.

By teaching pre-teens basic kitchen safety, they can start to feel comfortable in the kitchen.