Keeping Children Safe at Home

By Karen Sibal

The little girl, holding the boy’s hand, made it across the busy road and sat down by the curb. She had tears in her eyes. The boy looked back across the road, unsure if he should venture back. As we cautiously approached the children, they started to cry. I asked them their names and where their mommy or daddy could be found. All they could do is point to the row of homes across the street, unable to identify theirs. Just then, a woman darted out from one of the homes, hysterical but relieved and thankful to see her children sitting safely across the street.  

Apparently, the kids opened the front door that was unlocked, and slipped out while the woman was upstairs on the phone. When she came down, she noticed the house was quiet. She assumed the kids were playing in the basement or in the backyard. It was only after a few minutes when she didn’t hear anything from them that the panic buttons went off. 

We would all like to think our kids are safe at home. I learned a lot from this harrowing incident and started to reflect on my own shortcomings as a parent. Could I have been this mother, frantically looking for my daughter? It takes only a moment of neglect or inattention for something tragic to happen. As adults, we have a tremendous responsibility to ensure children are always supervised – and that all playing takes place within a safe and secure environment. 

Recent statistics indicate that about 90% of household injuries to children are predictable and preventable. Here’s a checklist that parents and caregivers can keep handy to ensure your child’s environment is safe.  

Infants

o        Put young babies to sleep on their backs.

o        Do not put babies to sleep on adult beds or on very soft bedding.

o        Always raise crib side to the “up” position when your baby (even a tiny infant) is in it.

o        Never tie toys to a crib or playpen – your baby could strangle on the string.

o        Never put a pacifier on a string around your baby’s neck.

o        Consider the use of monitors so you can hear your baby’s cry.

Young Children 

Explore your home through your child’s eyes. Crawl through it on your hands and knees to find the potential hazards. 

o        Install childproof latches on all cabinets and drawers that contain dangerous items.

o        Fill empty electrical outlets with plastic plugs designed to keep curious fingers and other objects out.

o        Remove unused extension cords.

o        Put a large sofa or chair in front of electrical outlets.

o        Store small tables or furnishings that have sharp edges or are unstable until your child is older.

o        Tuck the cords to blinds and shades up high, out of children’s reach.

o        Install a proper screen on the fireplace.

o        Put a gate on the stairway to avoid falls.

o        Put small, fragile tabletop items out of your child’s reach.

o        Check toys for sharp edges and small, loose or broken pieces.

o        Check the labels on toys to make sure they are non-toxic and age appropriate.

o        Put dangerous household substances such as alcohol, detergent, cleaning fluid, razor blades, matches and medicine out of reach or in locked cabinets or drawers.

o        Keep plastic bags, purses, and small objects such as buttons, nuts, hard candy or money out of reach.

o        Call a medical professional if you suspect your child has swallowed something poisonous or harmful.

o        Sleep with bedroom doors closed to keep smoke out of the rooms in case of fire.

o        Stay with your young child when he/she uses the bathroom.

o        Make sure toys, furniture and walls are finished with lead-free paint.

o        Teach the word “hot” as early as possible. Keep your child away from the hot oven, iron, vent, fireplace, wood stove, barbecue, cigarettes, cigarette lighter and hot drinks.

o        Turn pot handles inward when cooking.

o        Do not let appliance cords hang down over the counter or stove.

o        Do not drape a tablecloth off the sides of the table  -- it makes it an easy target for a small child to grab hold and pull it, potentially causing things to fall of the table and hurt the child.

In the Car

o        Never leave a child alone in the car under any circumstances.

o        Many jurisdictions have updated their seat belt laws for children. Make sure you know the new child restraint regulations.

o        Always use an infant or child car seat that is correct for your child’s weight. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for installing them and if you’re still unsure, contact your local police department for help.

o        Use a booster seat that is recommended for your older child’s weight.

o        Children under 12 should ride in the back seat. Air bags can harm or kill children when they inflate.

o        Do not let your child sit on someone’s lap or share a seatbelt while travelling in the car.  

Some General Considerations for Parents and Caregivers
 

Supervision is Key

Even after considering all the safety measures possible, adult supervision is still first and foremost to ensuring child safety. It’s important to always try and have your children play within your sight – it only takes a split second for something serious to happen. 

Set Limits and Rules

It’s all about self-discipline: children need to learn about limits, rules and boundaries. What’s appropriate for your home? What guidelines will ensure your child is both safe and secure in their surroundings? Try setting well-defined limits and explain them to your children so they understand what’s expected of them. Rules should also be age-appropriate, short and simple to understand. They should be about the action you want the child to do – for example, “please don’t talk with your mouth full of food – you could choke.” Also, try not to have too many rules. A few simple rules that are firm and fairly applied will help children learn what behaviour is expected of them.  

Be Consistent

Once you’ve established a rule, it’s important to follow through. Be consistent in enforcing the rule each day. If the rules are constantly changing, it’s hard for children to know what behaviour is expected of them. They may be confused and act out, resulting in behaviour that tests your limits. Occasionally, when rules have to change because of circumstances (for example, you have to put the kids to bed earlier than usual), try to give your children advanced notice so they have time to think about the change, what is means to them and how they can adjust their behaviour. 

Offer Positive Reinforcement

When your child follows one of your rules, it’s important for parents to acknowledge it. While we’re often quick to point out when our kids don’t follow the rules, we tend to overlook giving praise for a job well done. Focus on the behaviour rather than on the child. For example, avoid saying “good girl or good boy.” Try saying “good listening” or “thank you for not jumping on the bed”. You can also acknowledge good behaviour through hugs, kisses, high-fives, and lots of smiles! 

Offer Practical Choices and Redirect Behaviour

So your child is trying to do something totally unsafe, like performing an Olympic dive off the kitchen table aiming to land right on the family cat. Instead of scolding the child, try offering a practical alternative and gently try to redirect the activity. For example, if your child really wants to jump, you could offer cushions as an alternative, or maybe line up some toys on the floor and have him jump over them. Children are naturally curious. Redirecting behaviour in a positive way will ensure your child explores in a safe setting. 

Be a Model for Safe Behaviour

As parents and caregivers, we’re the biggest role models for our kids. Children watch everything we do and say. If you model safe behaviour and follow the rules that you ask your children to follow, you’re more likely to see your kids follow in your footsteps. When your four-year old child asks about something they’re not allowed to touch, for example, he sees you stirring a pot of soup on the stove, take the time to explain that the pot is hot and it could hurt him if he gets too close – that this is best done by a grown up. Avoid attracting attention to hazards. Try using electrical appliances when children are not watching you.  

Involve the Family – Make Safety Fun!

Children need to be free to play, learn and explore their world – and to have fun while doing it! This freedom is vital to the growth and development of healthy, secure and happy children. Safety around the home, while important, does not mean that children have to live in a bubble. Parents and caregivers must find the fine balance in rules and fun, alternative activities that work best for their home.

  References: 

1.      Keeping Children Safe at Home, (2004) Halton Region Health Department, Ontario Canada. 

2.      Checklist for Child Safety, (2004) Peel Children’s Aid Society, Ontario Canada, www.peelcas.org. 

Safe Kids Canada, the national injury prevention program affiliated with the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario Canada, www.safekidscanada.ca.