You probably turned your nose up at broccoli when you were ten too. The trouble is that fruit and vegetables are essential for our health and when it comes to kids, we ignore this at our peril. Reluctant adults may be able to force a few salads down, but kids can be vegetable-resistant to an astonishing degree. Nor does ‘You won’t leave the table till you’ve eaten your greens’ wash with most kids. So how do we get our kids to eat the five portions of fruit and veggies a day that health authorities worldwide recommend?
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Most kids today don’t have the freedom to explore – and grow – that they used to. Wrapping kids in cotton wool isn’t the answer to outdoor safety and you won’t be there all the time, especially as they get older. Preventive measures go a long way; education is the other half of the equation.
- Road safety needs to be actively taught and repeatedly instilled from a very young age. Protective clothing, including bright and highly visible colors help a lot – not only to alert motorists but also to remind children themselves to be vigilant. Realistically, traffic is not much of a danger to a child walking on the pavement, but kids on bikes and skateboards may benefit from being taken to parks and other safe places.
- The internet is a real danger – for the unwary and unprotected. Parents should use those parental controls whenever available. Computer illiteracy is not an excuse. Putting the computer in a ‘public’ place rather than in the child’s bedroom goes a long way towards keeping kids web-safe.
- Predatory adults target the vulnerable. We rightly teach our kids to respect their elders. We must also teach them that there are exceptions. A child who yells his or her head off when approached by a strange adult is not going to be desirable prey. Self-preservation skills are both taught and acquired by experience. A child who never goes out without mom or dad is not learning self-reliance and is therefore at potentially greater risk than a kid who has some acquaintance with the meaning of ‘street smart’.
- ‘Frenemies’ are a hidden danger. Teaching kids to resist peer pressure that may lead them into risky situations can be a lifesaver.
- Kids understand cause and effect from a young age. Those who can learn to count to ten before embarking on a course of action can think things through, figure out the consequences of different choices and make better decisions.
A judicious combination of preventative measures (the parents’ responsibility) and education for the world (helping children to take responsibility for themselves) is the best way to keep children safe outdoors without smothering their curiosity and sense of adventure.
The home is full of accident potential, but there are many measures and gadgets to help minimize the risks. Below is a short list of some home safety tips that you should consider :
- Eliminate access to toxic substances. Prime causes of toxic accidents are household cleaning and DIY products, medicines and poisonous garden plants.
- Childproof locks or fasteners for cupboards and drawers serve a dual purpose. Kids sometimes manage to get to high cupboards containing medicines or other potentially dangerous items, including sharp objects. Injuries can also be caused when kids pull out heavy items that fall onto them. Childproof door and drawer fasteners cover most bases. Note: kids can get past childproof caps on bottles, so don’t count on them. Lock them away as well.
- Childproof Gates. It’s very important that all stairwells in your home have a child proof gate blocking both the top and the bottom of the stairs. We sometimes forget how dangerous it can be to not block the bottom of the stairs.
- Small slips and trips can lead to nasty injuries. Rugs and runners can be given a slip-proof backing. Corner guards for sharp edges, furniture and units are a useful protective measure for smaller children. Use cable organizers to get wires and leads out of the way.
- Kitchens are danger zones. Devices are available to stop kids being able to open fridge, dishwasher and oven doors. Childproof oven knob covers prevent fiddling. Oven doors can be covered with a transparent material that reduces heat by half.
- Electricity is a major home hazard. Socket covers stop kids from self-electrocution. Unplug electrical items after use and store out of reach. Heaters are a well-known danger. Get rid of bar heaters in favour of safer types and if you have open fires consider a childproof fireguard.
- Kids can drown in just a few inches of water. Make sure small kids don’t have unsupervised access to ponds, water features, water butts and the like (also secure manhole covers). Limit unsupervised bathroom access. Childproof hot tap covers and even toilet lid locks can be useful for smaller children.
Hopefully this list of home safety tips is helpful.
Greetings. My name is Kevin Andersen and I’m the owner of PersonalizedStorytimeBook.com. I’m establishing this blog in an attempt to build a family community where there can be an exchange of ideas by many authors and topic specialists. If you are interested in becoming a guest author then please contact us.
I envision this blog covering not only children’s books but also topics such as parenting tips, family friendly movie reviews, and many other topics.
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