Creating A Kid Friendly Kitchen

If you have small children you are very likely to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.  You also know that they shadow you wherever you go and mimic whatever you do.  It's inevitable.  A kitchen isn't exactly the safest place for a small child to be.  There's a lot of movement, sharp corners, cabinets full of "cool toys" they can't play with, and it can be germy (if that's a word).

But the kitchen shouldn't be off limits to them.  It's a great opportunity for them to explore and learn to do what Mommy is doing (okay, in some cases Dad too).  It also serves as an opportunity for them to get familiar with daily routines, chores, and become independent and assist with preparing family meals and serving.

Having two kids of my own I found myself having to do this when my kids were smaller.  Especially since my daughter was, as mentioned above, my shadow.

I've compiled a few ideas of how you can make your own kitchen kid friendly.  I would show you some accommodations I've made in my own home, but I'm in the middle of packing up my house so not everything is as it should be, and many things are chaotic.

Here's a list of some things you can do:

1. Make room for crawlers:  keep unnecessary items of the floor and remove things they can pull on.
2. Consider having a step stool that they can use to reach things above them and avoid climbing.
3. Install child safety hardware wherever necessary.
4. Add a dry-erase or chalkboard where they can entertain themselves, and put it low enough that they can reach.
5. Have a kids-only drawer or cabinet.  Keep dishes they use everyday or items they can entertain themselves with while you're busy cooking.
6. Keep everyday allowed snacks, cereals and non-refrigerated drinks in a cabinet low enough for them to reach.
7. For older kids you can set some safety rules in place that must be followed in order to be allowed in the kitchen.
8. Have kid-friendly products they are allowed to use.  

I hope that you can use of them in your own home, and if you have any ideas of your own, or images you'd like to share, please chime in.  I'd love to hear/see them.