A previous post centered on children and making the home a safe place to raise them.  Since this topic is so very important, it deserves more attention.  We all live in various types of dwellings, each with their own hazards.  From the city to rural areas, and the small towns in-between, kids will be challenged by their surroundings like a real-life obstacle course.  Just hoping for the best is not enough when it comes to being  a protective parent, keeping yourself  informed, and passing on the knowledge to them will improve their chances.  We’ll be narrowing the scope of the discussion on several key issues to provide specific examples of ways we can guard our children from harm.

City life provides convenience and simplicity when it comes to transit, shopping, and entertainment.  A short (or painfully long) bus ride will take us to anything we need; work, school, grocery, clothing, shows, sports, events, and many more exciting destinations.  Realize the potential for acquiring a debilitating lung disorder is much greater for children amidst all this traffic.  Even in the country, kids who take a bus to school suffer much greater exposure to diesel fumes than a kid riding in a car ahead of the bus.  The Centre for Sustainable Transportation commissioned a report that every concerned parent should be aware of.  It cites scientific data that states our children are at risk.  The leading cause of death injuries to children over one year old is traffic accidents.  So how can we balance our need for transport and the real danger that it presents?  Demand greener mass transit from our government.  Vehicle use should be a last resort, and carpooling made common practice to reduce exposure to harmful fumes.  Leave the car in park until all seat belts are buckled.  Don’t allow distractions and horseplay while driving, things happen far too fast.  Remember that we set the standard for how our kids will behave.  Cycle with a helmet, even if it doesn’t look cool.  Study alternate routes to get to where your kids want to be.  Though these ways may take longer, the journey will be a more pleasant, less stressful part of the overall trip.  Bike paths, nature trails, parks and less travelled roads with sidewalks for pedestrians are safer for many reasons. 

It has to be said, there are predators out there.  This should not be a surprise to our children.  For various reasons certain people have developed a need to take advantage of the innocence of childhood. Naivety is dangerous, and when a kid choses to walk alone they become susceptible to those who watch for such an opportunity. My opinion is at the age of ten, girls and boys can understand what sex is, that men and women are different. They may not understand why pervasive behavior exists, and to be honest, neither do I.  Youth struggles for independence so they often push safe boundaries without the proper amount of caution. Facts are abductions happen.  Have a talk with other parents before you approach your young ones, work out what you need to say. It is a difficult subject to tackle, but when these things are left unsaid kids are left open to attack. Living in areas of high population density increases the likelihood a kidnapper is present. At the same time, country life leads to more frequent occurrences when children are left alone. In any place, they need to know who to call, what to look for, where to avoid, and most importantly that you care about them and don’t want anything bad to happen. Please add your thoughts to the comments.

Children grow up so fast. One day they are playing with their toys, and the next day with yours! Tools left out will be seen as fair game. Power tools can be as dangerous as a loaded weapon when an unattended child gets a hold of them. Chemicals and combustibles (IE paints, fuels) should be in a vented metal cabinet, only accessible with a key or combination. At minimum, put things away if there will be a kid in the area because they may attempt a project of their own. The home workshop is a great place to have some stress relief, get some work done, and just get out of the house for a while. Be sure to keep a lock on the door. When kids are in the shop, school them on personal protective equipment and safe work practices.  At a certain age teachers will have classes dealing with technologies and manufacturing.  This can be a great opportunity to work on hobbies together.

Whether they are at home in the back yard, or down the road at the neighbourhood park, kids are going to be curious about other living creatures.  Unfortunately the animal life that shares our living spaces are not as warm and fuzzy as they sometimes appear.  Diseases that can kill humans can be present in rodents their whole lives and they never manifest any symptoms.  Natural defence instincts will result in vicious attacks if a child approaches the nest of newborns and the mother is nearby.  Allergic reactions are common and occur due to a sensitivity to the fur on most animals.  In addition, there are many insects and plants that can cause rashes and irritation when they are handled, even inadvertently. It’s a good idea to be aware of any pets or pests that may live in your neck of the woods and defend your kids against them.  Have them come to you before they try to make contact with a strange or wounded creature.  Go for nature walks with them and use reference materials to identify the plants and animals that they should avoid.  Young people are like sponges for information so they will love to learn about the things their eyes see.

As parents and caregivers it’s our duty to protect children against things that may bring them harm.  The healthy brat is a happy brat.  For accurate, concise information on how to keep our kids healthy click this -> Canadian Institute of Child Health