To help you make the most out of your kids' culinary experience, here are 10 simple tips.

Keep it safe

Safety should be of the utmost importance when teaching your child to cook. Teach that only an adult is allowed to use knives, scissors or other sharp objects. Make sure they understand that some foods and objects may get very hot and can cause burns if not handled correctly. Utilize proper safety equipment like hot pads or utensils. And be careful about what chair or stepping stool you allow your child to stand on.

Keep it clean

Teaching good hygiene practices is very important when cooking as it can prevent the spread of germs. Show your child to wash their hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds (maybe teach them a hand washing song to make it more fun). Discourage "double dipping" (tasting something then putting the utensil used to taste back in the food) when cooking for others.

Keep it age appropriate

If you are teaching a toddler or a very young child to cook, select simple recipes with easy-to-use ingredients such as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. As the child gains experience and grows older, increase the difficulty level.

Keep it tasty

Look for recipes for dishes that are healthful but also something your child will like. Your child will not enjoy cooking something that they won't also enjoy eating later!

Keep it new

Never cease to experiment with new ingredients and recipes. Variety keeps cooking eternally fresh and interesting while at the same time expanding your child's palate.

Keep it educational

Teach your child tasks like how to read recipes, properly measure ingredients, and use various utensils. Teach them what foods are healthful for their bodies and why. As they get older, teach them how to double or halve recipes.

Keep it fun

Purchase cooking items that are just for your child's use such as an apron, a chef's hat, measuring spoons and utensils. This makes the experience personal and extra special.

Keep it messy

Although it is important to teach your child to clean up as they cook, your child is still a child and that equates to messes! Expect eggs bursting when they hit the floor, flour to poof into the air and little fingers to get sticky. Then embrace it as these mishaps create timeless memories.

Keep it involved

In addition to keeping your child busy with the actual prep and cook work, keep them involved in the list-making and grocery shopping. Have them help you decide what ingredients you need for a specific recipe and write out a shopping list (and enjoy the smiles of other shoppers as you try to read the wrinkled, crayon-written list at the store). And teach them things like how to select ripe produce and quality ingredients.

Keep it memorable

Keep a camera (waterproof if you can afford it!) nearby in the kitchen. Capture both posed and candid moments as you and your child make priceless family memories together.

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Safety vs. Sanity

First of all, I like to say that there are two types of baby-proofing: one is for safety and the other is for sanity. Certain items in your home will need to be concealed or put away in an effort to prevent your child from injury. Other things need baby-proofed to rescue you and any other caretakers from the endless task of telling your child "no" and pulling them away from something or repeatedly cleaning up the same messes.

Shopping List

Get a pen and paper and prepare to write down what hazards or inconveniences you can find in the next two steps so you can organize a shopping list of items to purchase.

Inspect for Hazards

Lay down on the floor and crawl around each room of your home that baby will have access to and take a good look around. From that low viewpoint, what dangers can you see that your child would be able to access? Consider sharp edges and corners, the pull string on blinds, stairs (going up or down), decorative items on display, cabinet doors, exposed outlets, and so on. If there are spaces that your child will be able to squeeze through, inspect those areas too. Write your discoveries down as you find them.

Also be sure to thoroughly inspect the equipment and furniture that your baby will be using or sleeping in (especially if they're used). Among other things, make sure there aren't large gaps in crib slats where heads or limbs can get stuck and ensure that harnesses or belts lock tightly and are attached securely.

Identify Inconveniences

During your inspection, since you're down there on the floor anyway, look for what items should also be baby-proofed so that you keep your sanity. Consider putting DVD players up on a shelf or behind locked glass doors (it's not a safety hazard for your wee one to push the buttons, but while you're watching a movie, boy does it get annoying when they keep turning it off or ejecting the disc!). Consider placing a gate between your kitchen and living room or the hallway and the living room to prevent your child from climbing on chairs or making various messes. Safety gates can also reduce the amount of baby-proofing necessary because if baby isn't allowed in certain rooms, those rooms may not need baby-proofed quite as securely.

I'd also recommend purchasing a cheap, mobile tension gate to lock yourself in a room to perform tasks such as folding laundry while still being able to peer at your wee one over the gate. Trust me, it is a vain effort to attempt to fold laundry in the same room as your grabby-hands wee one.

Research Products

Prior to making specific purchases, I suggest researching the items that pique your interest on a website such as Amazon.com so you can read the reviews. Some items that seem like great ideas are often just gimmicks and don't work very well at all or are completely unnecessary. Also, try asking other parents that you personally know about what items they recommend.

Purchase Baby-Proofing Products

Once you have made your final choices with the help of other parents' experiences, it is the time to take your shopping list and hit up the safety department of your local baby superstore.

When to Actually Baby-Proof

The best time to actually baby proof your home is either before baby is born or before they are old enough to start getting into things. This way, you have time to get used to opening locked cabinet doors or pulling plastic outlet covers off prior to plugging appliances in. This also provides ample time to hopefully catch all the little things that you happened to miss.

Keep Vigilant

Even though you may believe that you are sufficiently prepared for your wee one to raid your home, be sure you still keep a close eye on them anyway. There will most likely be some things you missed or accidentally leave out along the way and, trust me, where there is mischief, your wee one is sure to find it!

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