Fire Safety Tips

Chocolate chip cookies are especially more delicious when they are made by you and your children. Although children can be messy in the kitchen (and in any room for that matter), there are a lot of good things that happen when you and your children create concoctions together. Cooking provides an opportunity to teach your children lessons on senses, math, literacy, science, geography and safety.
Senses
Your children are almost guaranteed to enjoy the cooking process as much as you do if it involves stirring and mixing (especially if they can do this with their hands instead of using kitchen utensils). Cooking is a great activity for kids because it offers a hands-on experiment involving different textures and smells. It also provides a nice opportunity to munch and nibble. And, there is no gender discrimination when it comes to cooking – boys love to get their hands covered in dough just as much as girls do.
Lessons
Cooking can provide an important math lesson when it comes to calculating cupfuls and tablespoons. It’s a great way to teach about weights, measurements and fractions. And, the ability to follow steps in a recipe is a basic literacy skill called sequencing. It’s like following the order of events in a story. Consider adding a scientific element into your cooking equation by posing questions such as “what dissolves faster, a whole sugar cube or a crushed one – in warm water or cold water?” Challenge your child to guess then find out. Even geography can sneak into your cooking lesson when preparing cultural dishes. It provides an opportunity to teach your children about dishes and foods from different countries.
Safety
Prior to your cooking experiment, it’s a good idea to re-educate yourself on kitchen safety and pass the information on to your kids. Following are 5 safety tips that parents and children should follow:
1. Make sure there is an adult present when cooking.
2. Review the recipe before you begin to ensure you have all the necessary ingredients.
3. Wash hands before cooking, especially before and after handling raw meat.
4. Exercise precaution with fire (an adult should always be present when a stove or oven is on).
5. Hold and use kitchen utensils properly, such as knives.
Turn your kitchen into a learning opportunity for your children and have fun cooking!
Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com at http://www.myguidesusa.com, you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life’s major events. Whether you’re planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you’ll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com
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Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Your stove is possibly one of the most useful appliances in your home, but it can also be the most dangerous if you aren’t careful. It´s something that most people don´t think about much, but your stove can be the scene of many accidents. It pays to be cautious whenever you use your stove to avoid injuries and possible problems.
General Safety Precautions
Whether you have a gas, wood or electric stove, there are certain safety tips that should always be followed to keep your family safe.
• When cooking, turn the pots so the handles don´t stick out over the edge of the stove where small children can grab them and pull boiling hot food on top of themselves.
• Always keep a fire extinguisher handy near the stove, even if there is a sink nearby, grease fires will just spread if you throw water on them, so it´s better to use an extinguisher.
• Only let children cook under adult supervision.
• Use oven mitts and potholders to handle hot pans and pots to prevent burns from the high temperature metals.
• Don´t use metal spoons to stir food on the stove and then leave them in the pot. They heat up quickly and can burn your hand the next time you touch them.
• Avoid using loose, flowing clothing or leaving dish towels near hot burners, since these can catch fire.
Gas Stoves
For obvious reasons, gas stoves need extra safety precautions. You want to make sure that there are no gas leaks, so anytime you hear a hissing or smell gas and can´t tell where it is coming from, turn off your gas at the source, open all windows and exit the house. Call the fire department to check it out. Here are some other things to keep in mind with gas stoves.
• If your stove doesn’t have a pilot light, be sure to light it immediately after turning the gas on. You can cause an explosion by waiting more than a second or two. Even minor gas explosions can seriously injure someone who is close to the stove at the time.
• Check regularly for gas leaks and if you notice any stove parts getting rusty or old, be sure to replace them.
• Gas tends to heat very quickly, so watch your pots carefully to make sure you don´t end up with soups boiling over or starting a fire in a pan. If you do end up with a fire, use your fire extinguisher, don´t throw water on the flames.
Electric Stoves
Electric stoves are the staple of most kitchens. They heat evenly with coils and electricity tends to be more stable than gas as far as safety goes. However, there are still some precautions specific to electrical stoves.
• Clean under the burners regularly to prevent fires. Extra bits of food that fall under the burner into the tray can catch fire if the burner is hot enough.
• Since pots are placed directly onto the burner, it´s pretty easy to accidentally touch the hot element. Be careful when reaching across the stove, even if it´s turned off, since the element can store heat for a while afterwards.
• Take care and use protective equipment to put things in the oven. Electric stoves usually have elements at the top of the oven and this can really be a danger when you reach far into the preheated oven.
Stoves are very useful and can be a great appliance to have, but they do need to be treated with care in order to avoid injury. Cook carefully and follow the safety precautions listed above to get the best, safest use out of your stove.
When cooking with a stove, be sure to exercise safety precautions to prevent against a possible accident. Extra care and awareness will help guard against any potential mishaps.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/