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Create a Kid-Friendly Kitchen
Here's how to make room in your kitchen for the kids — without having them underfoot
Kitchens are generally the busiest rooms in the house. If your family includes children, you're constantly keeping an eye on them when they're studying or snacking and you're cooking. A kid zone can be a great solution to their needs, and yours. Here are some sensible style tips for creating a kid-friendly space in your kitchen.
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Kitchen islands can make great kid-friendly zones, as they tend to have at least one end that's not in your work zone, and they can be planned with your particular family's needs in mind. I designed this kitchen for parents who home school their five children. The island is classroom central, and its stools tuck under the overhangs when they're not being used for studying or snacking.
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| The back of this island leaves plenty of space for older or taller children to pull up a counter stool and enjoy a healthy after-school snack. Counter-height seating won't work well for smaller kids who can't — or shouldn't — climb up, or for wheelchair users. I highly recommend having island seating or a kid zone where it won't interfere with someone working at the range, wall ovens or main kitchen sink. |
Shallow base cabinets make it easy for your kids to reach their cups, glasses and plates without having to climb on a countertop to get items from a wall cabinet, or interrupt your dinner prep.
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by Design Savvy
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| A microwave drawer works well for a kid zone, as it's within their reach. This means older kids can help themselves to snacks and reheat food. Of course, you should always monitor children around appliances. Putting a microwave at the end of the island keeps the child out of your workflow, creating a safer kitchen environment for your young one. |
Refrigerator drawers (or mini fridges) are also great for your kid-friendly kitchen zone. It means your youngster can help him or herself to a drink after school or play without opening the main refrigerator. You can also store healthy snacks like carrot sticks and have them on hand for your child.
by Paul Anater
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Corian is an ideal countertop surface for a kid-friendly kitchen zone. It's stain-resistant, so a grape juice spill won't destroy it. It's also a softer landing place than stone for glasses or plates. Best of all, it's repairable — just in case.
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A Silestone countertop with its nonporous surface and Microban protection is another great kid-zone countertop.
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If your kid zone is adjacent to a cooktop, I recommend an induction model as the safest, most kid-friendly cooking source. Only the surface directly above and next to the pot or pan will heat up, so burn risks drop considerably.
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If you're not comfortable with your children operating a microwave oven, you might consider a warming drawer as a kid-zone alternative. It means you can keep their food warm for when they come home from school or other activities. Warming drawers are ideal for families with conflicting schedules. Everyone gets a hot meal when they come home from work, school, soccer or drama club.
More: Sensible Style for Your Holiday Kitchen
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More: Sensible Style for Your Holiday Kitchen
Baking Stations Make Cooking More Fun
How to Set Up Your Kitchen
15 Quick Kitchen Fixes
Ideabook published on Dec. 13, 2011.
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You must be kidding. As soon as they are tall enough to reach the controls, teach them how to use it and put them to work helping you make dinner. Child labor is a good thing.
And warming drawers are more of a hazard to your children, because if you don't follow the directions they can serve as incubators for pathogenic bacteria.