Spring break vacation is a great opportunity to spend quality time with kids and grandkids, but it also means that a whirlwind of high-energy children may soon hit your home.
Here are several tips to keep your family and home safe during spring break vacation.
Keep Medicine and Harmful Substances Out of Reach
According to Safe Kids Worldwide, parents and grandparents rush a child under the age of 6 to the emergency room every ten minutes for medicine poisoning. Children tend to mistake colorful pills for candy and quickly swallow them before a caregiver can take the pills away.
Prevent the risk of children accidentally consuming medications and other toxic substances, like laundry detergent pods and cleaning products, by storing them out of sight and out of reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet.
Install Temporary Safety Gates
Whether you want to keep children out of certain rooms that house fragile valuables or prevent falls down stairs, child safety gates are an easy, temporary solution to keep them and your home safe.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends using a safety gate that meets current safety standards and replacing older-model safety gates that have “V” shapes large enough for a child to fit their head through.
Cover Outlets and Power Strips
Children are naturally curious. Prevent the risk of little fingers accidentally getting shocked or electrocuted by covering outlets and power strips with protective plates. Make sure outlet covers are not easily removable, and that they are large enough to not become choking hazards.
Secure Furniture
“Five little monkeys jumping on the bed… One fell off and bumped his head.”
Keep your “little monkeys” safe during spring break vacation by making sure that furniture is sturdy and properly secured to the floor and/or walls. You don’t want chairs or dressers to tip over during your child’s game of hide and seek.
If anything seems wobbly, remove it from the room, or have it repaired. Always supervise young children.
Install a Pool Fence
Nothing says spring break vacation like diving into the swimming pool. But this refreshing activity can quickly turn into a spring break disaster if you’re not careful. Prevent the risk of accidental slip-and-falls and drowning by having a professional contractor install a childproof fence around your swimming pool.
Cover Sharp Edges with Bumpers
Young kids are bound to run around the house, increasing the likelihood that they will eventually run into something. Prevent head injuries by placing bumpers on sharp furniture corners, countertops edges and door handles.
Protect Against Arts & Crafts Catastrophes
Arts and crafts can keep children occupied and entertained for several hours. However, this creative activity can wreak havoc on your home if not properly coordinated, from crayon-graffiti walls to paint-splattered floors.
Before taking out art supplies, lay down an old sheet or blanket to protect the surrounding area. Always supervise young children.