Kids of all ages love to craft and cook along side of Mom when preparing for any holiday season. Easter holds a special place in many a child’s heart as they color eggs, create their favorite crafts, and prepare for the arrival of the Easter bunny. What loving moms and grandmas most want during this time is to keep kids from harms way. Here are a few tips to keep kids safe during the Easter crafting and cooking season.

Hand Washing

Keeping kid’s hands clean with a thorough washing and drying proves quite the challenge in most households – I know it does mine. Hands of all sizes should thoroughly undergo a soapy warm water washing and thorough drying before and after cooking and making crafts. Singing the Alphabet song while washing their hands, ensures they have washed for the proper length of time. Besides, the time goes quickly as kids also reinforce their knowledge of their ABCs.

Cooking Tips

Prior to hand washing, place long hair in a ponytail or tie back away from the face to keep hair from falling into food during preparation. Make sure an adult is present at all times. Review your personal safety tips, reinforcing age-appropriate rules regarding stovetop cooking, and using an oven. Have plenty of hot-pads handy. Always keep pot handles away from the front of the stove to prevent young children from grabbing the handle or someone bumping the pan.

Using Cooking and Crafting Utensils

Age-appropriate crafting tools are necessary. Young children should not use sharp instruments. Plastic knives and wooden spatulas, blunt-edge scissors, and non-toxic craft items help keep little ones safe. Keep young hands away from electric mixers and other equipment. Young children can use thick crayons, small spreaders, child-size scissors, and easy-to-hold glue sticks as they join in the fun.

Keep an Eye on Young Children

If an adult or mature teen is not watchful, young children may quickly lose interest in what they are working on and begin fooling around. Due to short attention spans, young children should start with quick, super-easy projects that will keep them busy.

Providing young children with craft tools, they can hold and activities that will keep their interest will help them stay focused on the project at hand. Having someone stay with them and help them through the appropriate steps to finish the craft or project, will give them a sense of satisfaction and a desire to try another project later.

Keep their work time short, and the project age-appropriate, and you will have a fun-filled time with your kids as they work on their favorite Easter craft.

Be Sociable, Share!

•