How To Safely Barbecue With Kids This Labor Day Weekend
Labor Day was initially created to honor the achievements of American workers. We’ll drink to that! Here at the Companion Group, our favorite way to celebrate hard work is by relaxing with our friends and family around a delicious grilled meal. And we don’t want the kids to miss out!
Grilling is a mysterious process for most kids. They’re likely to ask questions and want to get involved. There’s no reason kids can’t be barbecue assistants, as long as you lay a few ground rules. Check out our tips and share yours!
- Encourage kids to help with food prep. We always have a lot of food to prep for our barbecues, from shucking corn to brushing marinade onto a steak to making burger patties (sliders are perfect for kids). This is a great chance for them to help out. They can get their hands dirty, but not burnt!
- Draw a safety zone around the grill. Once the grill is hot, kids should not be near it. Remind kids that the grill is just like the stove in the kitchen. And before you get grilling, have kids draw a rectangle (or circle, or squiggly oval, whatever their hearts desire) around the grill with some colorful chalk. It’s a playful way to set a boundary around the grill.
- Discuss fire safety. Explain that any sparks or coals that happen to end up on the ground are not for exploration. Show kids the “stop, drop and roll” technique in case their clothing accidentally catches flame. There’s a tiny chance of this happening, but a little preparation can’t hurt!
- For older kids, share grilling basics. Share how to turn on the grill (if it’s a gas grill) or light the charcoal (if it’s a charcoal grill) as long as they’re standing at a safe distance away.
- Buy them a toy grill. OK, we’re kind of kidding, but how cute is this? If you’ve got an extra $40, you can grab a toy grill for your kids complete with side burners, starter buttons, toy grilling accessories, and a small “hot dog” and “hamburger.” Let them get some practice while you cook a meal with the real deal!
Whatever your plans for Labor Day are, we hope you’ll make sure to include the kids in your life!
