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Child-proofing your surroundings

By on May 27, 2010

Photo © Elena Derevtsova

 

Having a kid in the house changes the way we should arrange our surrounding to ensure the safety of our children.  Kids are by nature curious and are often in danger of injuring themselves if potential hazards at home are not appropriately addressed.  There’s nothing as irritating to a kid than to hear his/her parents say excessively, "No, don’t touch this, don’t touch that!" as this stimulates the kid’s curious streak to explore the things around him/her even more.  We all want to make a child feel at ease in his/her own home.  School’s out this month, which means the children will be spending most of the time with us at home.  If you still have not given child-proofing the house a thought, this is the best time of the year to do so. 

 

Here are some tips on how you can avoid exposing them to potential accidents:

 

1 Keep out of children’s reach all house-cleaning supplies and lock them if possible.

 

2 Always label harmful objects and products.

 

3 Organize loose, hanging electric cords away from children’s sight.

 

4 Unplug electric appliances when not in use.  It just takes one push for children to turn the electric fan on, for example, so it’s best that they remain unplugged and installed in elevated areas at all times.

 

5 Put flammable items away like matches, lighters, etc.

 

6 Put some partition between the kids’ play area and the kitchen when parents are cooking. 

 

7 Put safety devices on pointed corners of tables and chairs.

 

8 Although you would like older children to do things for themselves, do not allow them to use the microwave, oven, or stove unsupervised.  Let them know the potential danger hot plates cause and remind them always to be extra careful.

 

9 Desist from buying items and accessories for the house that offer aesthetic appeal but expose children to harm, as in the picture above. 

 

10 Store all sharp objects like scissors, kitchen knives, dangerous cosmetics like nail polish remover,  grooming products, medicines, and pet supplies out of children’s sight  and reach.

 

11 Give plastic glasses instead of breakable ones to children.

 

12 Do not let children walk around the house wearing socks because they can easily trip when the floor is slippery.  This is not the case when floors are carpeted.

 

13 Do not give plastic bags as toys to children.

 

14 Store frisbees and play balls away when not playing outdoors.

 

15 Keep the dishwasher closed at all times, as sharp corners on the doors and racks are a potential danger.

 

16 Do not leave flat irons on the ironing board laying around the house.  Fold them up and store them away when not in use.

 

17 Remove tablecloths from tables because children can easily pull on them, causing items to fall. Use mats instead.

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