Kids Can Have Fun and Be Safe Around the BBQ

Grilling is the quintessential summertime family activity. Just mentioning a BBQ conjures up visions of grassy parks, coolers with sodas, and a fiery range covered with delicious grilled meats and veggies. It's important to be aware of the inherent risks that come with barbequing, especially when children are involved. Children are inherently interested in cooking and food. The process is mysterious to them, so take the opportunity to educate them about barbequing. Energetic and growing youngsters are inclined to be eager to eat aromatic delicacies grilling on the BBQ. Kids are the most vulnerable to being injured by a barbeque. Not all accidents can be avoided, but this guide will provide suggestions to keep your little ones safe so accidents are at least less likely. Read our guide on general BBQ safety also, since children and adults should both practice caution when grilling.

Grill Tutorial

Embrace children's natural curiosity about grilling! While your barbeque is still turned off, show them the barbeque and explain how it works. A short BBQ tutorial will go a long way in curbing curiosity once the actual cooking has begun. Show them:

• Stop Drop and Roll: Show kids the standard procedure if their clothing was to catch on fire. Stopping, dropping to the ground, and rolling is the tried and true technique, and could save their life one day should fire get out of control.
• Heating: Demonstrate how to turn on a gas barbeque and how to adjust the flame. Let kids help arrange charcoal briquettes in a charcoal barbeque, like building with blocks.
• Food Prep: Food must undergo a fair amount of prep before it can be grilled away on the barbeque. Show your children the steps, marinating meat, skewering kabobs, wrapping potatoes or corn in aluminum foil. Showing children these steps involves them in barbequing and enhances their knowledge about cooking.

Sharp Edges

Safety Zone with Chalk To be completely safe, kids shouldn't be anywhere near the barbeque once it's turned on. Beforehand, why not have your kids draw a border on the pavement with chalk around the barbecue area? They can draw in a safety zone, which no one should enter while the adults are grilling. Making it into a creative game willmake the experience fun!

Kid Friendly Foods

• Stoplight Shish-kabobs: After soaking wooden skewers in water, layer green, red, and yellow colored veggie pieces. Suggested vegetables: Tomatoes, bell peppers for red; Squash, pineapple, or bell peppers for yellow; Zucchini, broccoli, asparagus, or bell peppers for green.
• Pineapple Rings: Grilling fruit enhances the flavor and caramelizes its natural sugars. Have your kids use a small round cookie cutter to make rings in the center of sliced pineapple. Brush with a little sugar water and they're good to go on the grill.
• Sliders: Smaller versions of classic hamburgers areperfect for pint-sized appetites. Small slider patties are easy for little hands to form and they cook through quickly.