As parents, we like to think that when our kids are at home, they are automatically safe. However, this may not be true because dangers can creep into the home without parents realizing it. When this happens, children are exposed to threats that we could never have predicted. Here are some of the most common home dangers and how to handle them as a parent.
Living Online
As your kids get older, they will start to use the internet. This is completely unavoidable. Even if you stop them from interacting online, they’ll still need to use it to complete homework. Trying to prevent kids past 12 going online is a fool’s errand. But you must be aware that the internet can be quite a dangerous place for children. In the past, there were problems with online games and chat rooms. These days, these chat sites still exist, and they are even more frightening because everyone on them is often anonymous. However, this doesn’t stop personal information being shared and meets being arranged. Do you know what your kids get up to online? The answer is probably no.
The solution is to make sure you have your internet setup to provide you with reports of internet usage. You can get this sent straight to your phone, and while this might feel like an invasion of privacy, it is arguably necessary.
In The Garden
You might not think twice about letting your children play outside in the garden without your supervision. After all, as long as they are buying the house, they are safe…right? Surely no one would kidnap a child by walking onto private property? You’d be surprised because this has happened in the past and you can’t rely on next door neighbors to alert you. If they see a car pull up and the child gets in willingly, they might assume it’s a family friend. Particularly, if there’s another child in the car already.
The best way to prevent this type of situation is to make sure your garden is secure. You need a chain link fence: durable, resistant and perhaps most importantly secure. It also alerts young children that they should not leave the area of the garden that this fence protects.
Environmental Danger
You need to think about environmental problems in the home too. It is possible that your child could be exposed to dangerous chemicals and materials even when they are inside your home. This might be the case if you have lead paint on your walls. Lead paint can be found on older homes and is terribly toxic to young children.
Alternatively, you could have an issue with asbestos. You might have asbestos lurking inside your home walls. This can be removed with an expert service. While that can be expensive, it will be worth it because this material is actually linked with several severe forms of cancer. So, if removing it protects your child, it might be worth paying the extra cash.
Using this advice, you can keep your kids protected in a place where they should always be safe.
