As your children become older, teaching home safety becomes as important as creating a safe home environment for your infant. Although most injuries that occur at home are not fatal, the Home Safety Council reports that more than three million children under the age of 15 suffer home injuries each year, mainly due to falling. Once you establish nonnegotiable safety rules and procedures, lead by example to ensure your children understand the "how" as well as the "why" of home safety rules.
Step 1
Walk through each room in your home with your child and talk about home safety hazards, such as fire, falling, electrical or poisoning dangers specific to the room. As you talk about potential dangers, also talk about ways to prevent these from occurring.
Step 2
Use what you talk about to create a list of family safety guidelines. Make and place a copy of the guidelines in each room.
Step 3
Place a list of emergency telephone numbers for 9-1-1, police, fire and family members, close to each phone in your home and make sure your child knows how to dial the telephone.
Step 4
Help your child memorize your home address and telephone number.
Step 5
Create a fire evacuation plan that identifies as many escape routes as possible within each room. Make a map of your home and then post it where family members can easily see and review the plan. In addition, the U.S. Fire Administration recommends conducting home fire drills to give your family a chance to put the plan into action.
Step 6
Play games, sing songs and watch movies with your children to enforce the guidelines you set and make home safety a fun, family activity. If you need ideas, the Home Safety Council, I'm Safe and Rad Kids provide numerous ideas and free worksheet, puzzle and game downloads you can incorporate into home safety education.
Step 7
Add field trip activities to your safety education program that stress home safety. Contact your local police and fire station to set up a tour and see if they offer demonstrations or small group programs relating to home safety.
Things You'll Need
- Emergency phone list
- Fire evacuation map
- Safety activities materials
