josefine bentzen + charlotte skak: kitchen kids

‘kitchen kids’ by josefine bentzen and charlotte skak all images courtesy of josefine bentzen and charlotte skak

though only 5% of danish children do so frequently, studies indicate that those who help prepare meals tend to take responsibility for personal nutrition earlier and to have a improved diets as adults. denmark-based designers josefine bentzen and charlotte skak have thus created ‘kitchen kids:’ made specifically for children, this set of cooking tools allows safe participation at young age and hopes to encourage the adoption of healthier lifestyles.

inviting kids aged 4-7 to cook, ‘kitchen kids’ consists of a knife, vegetable peeler, grating bowl, chopping board, mixing bottle for dressing, and protective pair of mittens. using color and form, the sharp tools make a clear distinction between where the tools are are ‘dangerous’ and ‘safe’ to hold. additionally, to assure a safe grip, all handles are made from rubber and have a characteristic bar code pattern that children can identify.

‘kitchen kids’ collection

knife, chopping board, and protective mitt in use

the item which distinguishes this collection as specifically for children is a set of mittens which protects the user’s fingers. made from silicone, they have the same distinctive functional pattern in the palm of the hand, allowing for a good grip on the items to be chopped, grated or peeled. for additional security, each includes a red buckle to ensure it is secure to the child’s wrist.

grater, chopping board, and protective mitt in use

a transparent bowl is connected to the grater for collecting the vegetables. it can be tilted in two directions to allow the best ergonomics possible or alternatively used as a serving dish.

mixing bottle for salad dressing in use

made from silicone, the mixing bottle for salad dressing has a transparent graphic interface that simplifies the recipes for the child. for instance, a vinaigrette dressing could be made in the following way: ‘fill up with the following to no.1 olive oil, no. 2 mustard, no. 3 honey, no. 4 vinegar, no. 5 salt & pepper. shake well, then squeeze the desired amount over the salad.’

peeler, chopping board, and protective mitt in use