Owning a home is a huge benefit when you have children. The stability of the family home gives your cherubs a sense of security that allows them to thrive as they risk the world on their terms, a little at a time. However, there are some things you should know if you’re a homeowner with kids.
Fortunately, you can repair anything your little ones damage — but that reality doesn’t change your frustration levels. You can’t call the super, so your best bet is to prevent problems before they occur.
What should you consider? Here are five things you should know if you’re a homeowner with kids.
Home Improvements Require Accommodations
According to the National Safety Council, fully 78% of all preventable, injury-related deaths occurred at home or in the surrounding community. The danger becomes most prevalent when unusual conditions alter your routine and distract you from unseen hazards. Major home renovations provide the necessary circumstances and stress load for tragedy to strike.
When you’re a homeowner with kids, undergoing major renovations like a full roof replacement requires additional planning. Your safest bet is to temporarily relocate your loved ones.
Hotels offer convenience but can quickly get pricey, and relatives might live prohibitively far away, meaning a visit would disrupt study and sports schedules. See if you can tackle such jobs during school breaks and choose a company that provides regular progress updates to help you budget if you end up paying out of pocket for alternative accommodations.
Job sites simply aren’t the place for young children. Even if your kiddo is fascinated by Bob the Builder, it isn’t worth risking possible permanent injury or worse to let them observe.
Anything and Everything Will End Up in the Toilet
First the scary news: drowning is the second leading cause of death in children under five. It doesn’t take much water, either. Your safest bet, when you have little ones, is to install a toilet lock to prevent a possible tragedy.
You could protect more than their life — you also safeguard your plumbing. Along with wet wipes and cotton swabs, professional plumbers have found treats like the following in people’s pipes:
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Cutlery: When your 3-year-old shows you what they think of eating peas at dinner.
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Stuffed animals
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Bricks
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Mobile phones: And the rice trick didn’t work.
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Tennis shoes
And — are you ready for this — a tricycle. Yes, a full-sized one. Don’t ask us how. Kids will find a way.
Flushing the wrong things does more than clog your pipes. Certain substances, such as prescription medications and dirty diapers, can harm area waterways. Although uncommon in the United States, some jurisdictions impose fines on the culprit, so stay on the law’s good side.
Even older kids make mistakes. For example, if 13-year-old Junior has litter-box duty, please don’t assume they know that flushing the clumps down the toilet leads to clogs. Tell them — or endure the consequences of flooded floors and unexpected plumber’s bills.
If It Looks Shiny, Wee Hands Will Touch It
You probably know you must childproof each room before bringing your baby home. However, it’s natural to overlook things, especially if you buy a house and move amid the stress of raising a toddler.
Inspect your new home before moving in with your family. Here are some tips from an ER doctor on what you should childproof:
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Cover electrical outlets with plugs.
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Secure all cords.
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Anchor furniture to prevent toppling.
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Use safety gates on stairs and latches on cabinets.
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Use window guards.
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Cover or remove stove knobs.
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Lock up all hazardous materials, including cleaning supplies, firearms, medication and alcohol.
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Install pinch guards on door frames.
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Cover your fireplace to avoid burns.
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Keep tidy. Avoid games with small coins and beads, keep batteries hidden and run the vacuum to address crumbs.
You Need to Practice Staying Safe
Tragedy can strike at home, even if you take child-proofing measures and supervise your little ones. What would you do if a fire broke out? Would your kids know how to respond in an emergency?
The only way to know is to practice. You should hold routine evacuation drills where you rehearse procedures like climbing from a second-story window via a chain ladder. The time to discover your 6-year-old fears heights isn’t when flames are licking at their bedroom door.
The Backyard Is Their Domain
Okay — maybe you don’t have to surrender your entire backyard. It’s okay to section off a small area as a meditation garden, perhaps adding a gazebo as a seating area or for yoga practice. Moreover, having a dedicated entertainment unit in your backyard can also be a great addition to family bonding sessions like movie nights, playing video games, or enjoying a performance by their favorite artists. It helps create a convenient space for both relaxation and engaging in fun outdoor activities with your kids.
However, as a homeowner with kids, you should expect to reserve the majority of your backyard for fun and games. Forget about sodding over those baselines — they’ll just get torn up again as soon as school lets out for the summer. If your kid promises to be the next Randy Johnson, perhaps you can order some proper fill dirt or clay to tidy up their practice area.
Children need unstructured outdoor play to develop physically, mentally and emotionally. Your backyard can become a safe zone where they can burn off energy when you can’t take them to the park. Consider fencing it in, but hold off on expensive improvements until they begin preparing for college — unless you don’t mind the occasional basketball dotting your begonias.
Things Homeowners With Kids Should Know
Your home is your castle, but your children are your legacy. You want to fill their family home with happy memories.
Once you understand these things that homeowners with kids should know, you’re better prepared to make the most of your property. You can create a safe, nurturing environment to raise your growing family.
