At some point or another, most of us will require our homes to be kid-friendly. Whether it’s our own children, or children of visiting friends and family, kid-friendly environments are rather different from strictly adult zones. If you have young children in the house all of the time, this will need to apply constantly, but if the little ones will only be visiting, you’ll have to put these things in place before they arrive- for your own piece of mind!
First thing’s first then, you should put value at the forefront of your thinking. What’s valuable or breakable in your home? Are there any delicate items on display, such as glassware, vases, trinkets or any other special ornaments? If so, move them high and out of reach of curious little hands. Children’s eyes and inquisitive fingers are typically drawn to anything sparkly or magical-looking, but, natural of children, they’ll get bored of it quick and disregard it tactlessly when they realise things like ornaments provide little entertainment.
Next you should think about safety. Is your home a safe environment for small children? We know they have a strong tendency to wander off exploring while adults are conversing etc. So things you should be looking out for, are cleaning products or other chemical produce (these could be in the kitchen, bathroom or garden), medicines (these could be in cabinets or pantries), knives or sharp cutlery (kitchen drawers or worktops), scissors (kitchen drawers, other household drawers/areas) and wires and plug sockets, which could be pretty much anywhere around the house. And it’s not only those hazards either, it’s also things like sharp corners or edges that they could bang their heads on; on tables, chairs, radiators, doors, fireplaces etc. There really are so many potential hazards to think about; but when it comes to being vigilant on safety, you need to store all dangerous but easily-accessible items far out of reach, or lock them away in a cupboard somewhere. Even blocking off an area or room of your home would be the answer to keeping the unsafe things out of their reach. This could be as easy as closing a door, such as your bedroom door; a place that they wouldn’t need to go into at any point.
But it’s not only the considerations of value and safety that you need to think about when it comes to making your home a child-friendly one.You must also consider practicality and durability, especially if young children will be either living or spending a lot of time in your home. A huge consideration in this matter is choosing the right child-friendly sofa. Kids (when you can get them to!) spend a lot of time on the sofa. But this makes them more prone to spillages, stains and marks. Whether it’s from their muddy shoes, sticky lollipops, melted chocolate, spilled blackcurrant juice, or even a little ‘accident’ a sofa will be subject to a wide variety of children’s mishaps. So how do you attempt to avoid this? Well, it’s really about choosing the right material that will enable easy removal of stains and is durable enough to withstand children’s rough and tumble. This really has to be leather and preferably in a dark colour! Leather is a wipe-clean fabric and tough enough to avoid rips and tears. It won’t stain and will remain in excellent condition for a lot longer than sofas in softer materials.
Lastly then, in order to make your home a child-friendly one, you need to think about them and their entertainment. Young children crave fun and enjoyment. It also helps occupy them so they’re less likely to cause havoc somewhere. So meet their needs by providing them with toys, books, children’s dvds and even their very own ‘space’ or play area if your home is able to provide that. Don’t forget to invest in plastic cups, plates and cutlery too, to be extra careful!
Setting up a child friendly home, may seem like there’s a lot to think about, but most of it is luckily, logical. Once you’re aware of the impulsive behaviour of young children, you’ll understand the need for such vigilance!
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| Credits - Pinterest |
Next you should think about safety. Is your home a safe environment for small children? We know they have a strong tendency to wander off exploring while adults are conversing etc. So things you should be looking out for, are cleaning products or other chemical produce (these could be in the kitchen, bathroom or garden), medicines (these could be in cabinets or pantries), knives or sharp cutlery (kitchen drawers or worktops), scissors (kitchen drawers, other household drawers/areas) and wires and plug sockets, which could be pretty much anywhere around the house. And it’s not only those hazards either, it’s also things like sharp corners or edges that they could bang their heads on; on tables, chairs, radiators, doors, fireplaces etc. There really are so many potential hazards to think about; but when it comes to being vigilant on safety, you need to store all dangerous but easily-accessible items far out of reach, or lock them away in a cupboard somewhere. Even blocking off an area or room of your home would be the answer to keeping the unsafe things out of their reach. This could be as easy as closing a door, such as your bedroom door; a place that they wouldn’t need to go into at any point.
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| Creadits - Pinterest |
Lastly then, in order to make your home a child-friendly one, you need to think about them and their entertainment. Young children crave fun and enjoyment. It also helps occupy them so they’re less likely to cause havoc somewhere. So meet their needs by providing them with toys, books, children’s dvds and even their very own ‘space’ or play area if your home is able to provide that. Don’t forget to invest in plastic cups, plates and cutlery too, to be extra careful!
Setting up a child friendly home, may seem like there’s a lot to think about, but most of it is luckily, logical. Once you’re aware of the impulsive behaviour of young children, you’ll understand the need for such vigilance!
