The kitchen can become a creative, welcoming and nurturing environment for children and one they love spending time in so it is important to make it a safe place to be. A child-friendly kitchen is not just about safety features, but how it can be safe to form part of an interactive experience to learn about food, cooking and developing healthy lifestyle choices. 

We have compiled a list of encouraging ideas to ensure that your space will be a child friendly kitchen. 

Child-friendly kitchen ideas

1. Child-friendly pantry

Start your children on the journey of healthy eating by developing positive habits from a young age. Consider creating a space in the pantry that’s especially for the kids, make sure it’s easily accessible and fill it with healthy snacks: fruits, whole wheat baked goods, granola, fruit chips.

2. Child-sized furniture

A place that the children can access easily like our bespoke children’s kitchen or other mini furnishings. 2-tiered island – great idea to allow the children to eat, do homework and play without needing assistance to get seated. Step stools are also a great way to allow access to sinks and worktops so they can be involved in meal prep and washing up.

3. Child-friendly storage

Dedicate a drawer and or lower cabinets organised with their own plates, bowels, cups, utensils. By doing so it encourages them to fend for themselves, they won’t need to ask where things belong and it will encourage them to take initiative.

4. Make a kids cereal station 

Put a variety of their favourite cereals in single serve Tupperware boxes, plus make sure the milk is within easy reach in the fridge. Then they can help themselves on an early weekend rise.

5. Introducing colour for creativity

Colourful spaces can be a wonderful way to make a space more inviting and boost mood and behaviour. Different zones can also help, with bright areas for food preparation and calmer lighting/colours in areas for relaxing or homework.

6. Fun creative wall

Either with a chalkboard or even a wall painted with blackboard paint – a fun and creative way to engage the kids. It can be used for recipe ideas, drawings, chores or a mini classroom with spellings and sums

Safety tips to consider in a child-friendly kitchen

1. Rounded edges

Not only aesthetically pleasing but much more forgiving when young ones bump or run into them.

2. Handleless kitchen units

Can be a great way to prevent children from bumping head on handles and can take away the temptation for them to pull on all the handles.

4. Magnetic locks

On base units are a great way to lock dangerous items away. There are also a variety of child safety locks out there that can keep children out of any cupboards/cabinets with dangerous items.

5. Hide the bin

Integrated bins are a great solution to this. It will prevent small hands reaching into the bin and knocking it over. 

6. Surfaces

Kitchen surfaces are a huge consideration when planning a family-friendly space, especially ones that are durable and easy to clean! Quartz is a great substitute for granite because it is less porous. Quartz and Corian are also childproof and practically indestructible.

7. Switch out toxic cleaners

Use non-toxic cleaners made from natural ingredients which are better for the environment and children.

8. Kettles

These can be easy to grab or knock over if left near an edge or if the handle is within reach. Make sure to keep them far away from reaching distance or a better alternative would be a boiling water tap like the Quooker. The Quooker tap is childproof and will prevent any accidents with boiling water.

9. Hobs

Even after a hob is turned off it can carry a lot of residual heat and can be dangerous. Induction hobs can be much safer as they can come with a residual heat sensor and they can also have child lock safety features to prevent children from accidentally turning them on. When using the hob, always try to use the back burners and point handles away from the edge, this will prevent children trying to reach up and grab the handles.

10. Knives

Lastly and probably most importantly, make sure all sharp knives are kept far away from reaching distance, keep knife blocks in the middle of the counter or island, somewhere where small hands can’t reach!

We do hope all of these ideas help guide you in how to create a friendly and safe space for your children to live, learn and cook. 

As always, our kitchen designers are on hand to guide you through creating your unique and safe kitchen – Get in touch to book a consultation with one of our expert kitchen designers.