Thinking of starting a family soon? Whether you’re looking to upsize your home or get your foot on the ladder in time for this major change, creating a child-friendly environment at home will be crucial.
Young children are surprisingly prone to trips and bumps, especially at home! Most accidents involving children happen in the living or dining room, while the most serious ones happen in the kitchen and on the stairs. No area of the home is safe without supervision, but here are a few things you can do in the meantime.
1. Assess the hazards
Firstly, you should start by identifying potential hazards. Carrying out your own mini-risk assessment will give you an understanding of the rooms and zones in the house that most need some attention.
Install safety gates at staircases with steep drops, and make sure that any heavy items of furniture are securely attached to the walls. If your electrical sockets are within reach of curious fingers, make sure they’re covered to prevent the likelihood of electrical accidents.
Keep heavy or fragile ornamental objects higher than a child can reach, especially if they’re valuable!
2. Create engaging play areas
Next, it’s worth dedicating specific zones to encourage play, creativity and learning. Many new build homes come with office space and playrooms, allowing you to organise the layout according to your priorities.
The playroom could be filled with creative elements like chalkboard walls, cosy reading nooks, and accessible storage boxes filled with toys and books. Giving your child access to a space that fosters safe independent thought can reduce their curiosity in other parts of the house.
3. Design functional spaces
If you’re lucky enough to be working with a blank canvas, try to choose furniture and materials that can easily withstand the rigours of everyday family life.
Choose washable paints on the walls, stain-resistant fabrics for your furniture, and rounded table edges to keep injuries at bay. As for storage solutions, it could be worth choosing clear and lightweight plastic boxes to keep things safe and simple.
4. Don’t forget the garden
Remember that your outdoor space needs to be secure and stimulating too. Supervision can only be effective when you’ve put the time into creating a child-friendly garden too.
Make sure to install fencing and remove any toxic plants before installing age-appropriate play equipment. Check and maintain these areas regularly to keep your children safe and clean, especially if you have dogs or cats in the household.
5. Keep things clear
Finally, you can make life so much easier for a growing toddler by creating a sense of flow from room to room. Try to remove any obstacles or awkward furniture to open the space for exploration.
Remove obvious trip hazards like discarded toys as soon as possible and try to make sure that any spillages are cleaned up straight away too. With a watchful eye and a thoughtful layout, you can make many happy memories at home with your little ones.
