Keeping Your Children Safe And Happy This Festive Season

As the saying and song goes, ‘it’s the most wonderful time of the year’ – and in many ways, it truly is! But, there are also certain dangers that can present itself to our families around this time of year. This is especially relevant to those of us with young children. The last thing any of us want around Christmas is our children getting hurt or something bad happening. That’s why it’s important to be aware that there are some extra precautions that you might need to take in winter, to make sure everyone has a very merry Christmas.

Dinner parties

We all know that the festive month is a time to eat, drink and be merry. If you’re a natural hostess, you might love having friends and family round for cozy evenings featuring good food and wine. But have you ever considered that some aspects of the traditional diner party could present significant danger to your child? Firstly, if you are hosting, you have a million things to think about at once. It can often be hard to keep a trained eye on your child at all times. This is when accidents can happen, such as your child bumping into things in the kitchen or touching something hot. Always make sure you turn any pan handles on your stove away from the centre of the room. This way, your child will be less tempted to pull on them out of curiosity. It may also be worth investing in some plastic glasses so as to avoid any dangerous shattered glass.

Dark nights in the northern hemisphere

Children love to play in the snow – after all, we all did it when we were young too! It’s a great pastime and a good way to get them out of the house and away from the Xbox or iPad. But, at the same time, you need to be safety aware. Night can fall exceptionally early during winter, around 4pm in many cities. This means that your children are more at risk to a number of things, including potentially dangerous people who operate under the cover of darkness. Teach your children ‘stranger danger’ from an early age so that they know how to protect themselves. Plus, you may find it useful to equip your children with some reflective clothing if they are playing out in the dark, just so cars can still see them.

Slippery floors

The cold brings with it three things: ice, snow and then slush. All of these things can mean huge differences in terrain. A simple everyday task such as walking to and from school can become a lot more difficult, and slips and falls are very common amongst small children. Have a chat with your kids and tell them that although they may think the ground is okay, it’s better to walk slowly over it rather than run; especially if they are near a main road. Get them a pair of suitable boots, such as snow boots or even Dr Martens – anything with good grip. This way, you’ll know that they will still be able to be independent, but they are at a lesser risk of slipping when out and about.