Kitchen Science Safety: 12 Rules for Experiments with Kids at Home
By Ahmed, founder
Most home experiments use harmless ingredients, but “harmless” doesn’t mean “no rules.” A short, consistent safety routine keeps experiments fun and calm.
The 12 rules
1. Read it through first. Know every step before you begin, and gather everything you need.
2. A grown-up handles hot things. Kettles, hot taps and stoves are adult jobs. Many experiments only need warm tap water. Check temperature before children touch.
3. Goggles for fizzing, splashing and crashing. Cheap safety glasses protect eyes in experiments with vinegar, baking soda, eggs or anything flying.
4. Don’t taste experiments. Even food ingredients become experiment materials once they’ve been handled or mixed. Only taste when the activity says so and the food has been prepared for eating.
5. Check for allergies. Flour, eggs, milk, nuts and food colouring can cause reactions. Check before you start, including for visiting children.
6. Never mix household chemicals. Don’t mix cleaning products, especially bleach and anything else. Stick to the ingredients in the instructions: vinegar, baking soda, salt, sugar, cornstarch.
7. Handle raw eggs carefully. Wash hands and surfaces after, and keep eggs away from faces and food.
8. Keep small parts and magnets away from little ones. Small magnets, button batteries and tiny pieces are swallowing hazards.
9. Use plastic when you can. Clear plastic cups beat glass for most experiments. If you use glass, check for chips.
10. Ventilate. Open a window if you’re working with strong smells such as vinegar in large amounts, or alcohol (adult only).
11. Label and store. Label any containers, and never reuse food containers for experiment liquids that might be mistaken for drinks.
12. Clean up together. Wipe spills (oil is slippery), wash hands with soap, and dispose of materials properly. Don’t pour oobleck or large quantities of cornstarch mixtures down the sink, and put used oil in the bin.
Teach, don’t just tell
Ask children to spot hazards before each experiment: “What could go wrong here?” Children who help make the rules tend to follow them.
When something goes wrong
Stay calm. Remove the child from the hazard, rinse eyes or skin with water if needed and call for help or poison control if something has been swallowed. Keep emergency numbers visible.
Safe by design
Our family lessons list safety notes and materials in each experiment, so you don’t have to work it out alone. Start with Kitchen Chemistry for Families, and read more about the egg drop challenge. Sign up for three lessons free.