It’s the season for garden
parties and barbecues. If you’re planning on inviting your friends and their
families over for some backyard fun, you are probably busy planning the event,
creating a menu and getting your garden in order. But, one thing you shouldn’t
neglect is toddler safety.
When you invite friends
with small children and your home is toddler friendly, your friends will be
able to sit back and relax and enjoy your party. Not to mention the kids will
have fun while staying safe, so everyone will have a great day.
Making sure your garden
party is safe for toddlers is actually easier than you might think. By taking
just a few steps you can make sure your party is a success for even the littlest
guests.
Start with your Home
First, start with your
home. If your party is starting inside before you move outside, or if you and
your guests will be going inside and outside, it’s important that your home is
safe for toddlers. This doesn’t mean that you need to childproof your entire
home, but it does mean that you should take some steps to prevent accidents.
Start by using baby gates
in entryways so your guests don’t have to wonder if their child is inside or
out. These are a simple way to keep small kids inside until you are ready to go
outside with them and can supervise them.
Then, move on to other
things by making sure dangerous items like cleaning supplies and cooking
utensils are stored up high where toddlers can’t reach them. It’s also a good
idea to move valuables, fragile items and anything else you don’t want a
toddler getting into somewhere else. Your guests will supervise their kids, but
toddlers are curious in new environments and can be tempted to explore on their
own.
Provide Entertainment
Keep toddlers busy to keep
them happy and out of trouble. If you have kids yourself, this could be as
simple as bringing some toys outside and laying down a large blanket where kids
can play.
You can also get more
creative and provide more hands-on activities for kids. For example, fill a
shallow container with water and add some toy boats, cups and spoons and let
little ones splash away. Or, set up a child’s table with lots of paper and
Crayons and let the kids get creative while their parents socialise.
Some people actually set up
entertainment inside for kids to keep them busy during outside parties. You
shouldn’t leave toddlers alone, but if you are hosting older kids or can
arrange for a babysitter, this is a great option. Set up a baby gate to keep
kids contained in a playroom or safe area and provide toys, colouring books,
games or even a movie. This keeps kids safe and lets them play with and
socialise with each other, which makes the day fun for them too.
Make your Garden Child Friendly
If your friends’ kids will
be joining you outside, do what you can to make your garden child friendly. For
example, remove all garden tools and put them away where kids can’t reach them
to avoid accidents. Move potted plants to areas where kids aren’t likely to
knock them over and cover your pool if you aren’t using it. Make sure someone
is always supervising the barbecue so kids can’t hurt themselves and if you
have a fenced-in yard, shut all the gates.
Kids like to run and
explore, so it’s not very reasonable to expect them not to run around and see
what your garden has to offer. If there are some areas you would rather kids
don’t use, you can politely let your guests know that those areas probably
aren’t best for their kids. Remember, you aren’t babysitting and your guests
should be responsible for their children and keeping them safe. It’s your job
to make the environment friendly and as safe as possible.
Keep Kids’ Needs in Mind
Finally, keep kids’ needs
in mind as you plan your garden party. When kids have the things they need and
have safe options things will go smoothly. Start with the plans for the party
by making sure you have things that will keep kids interested. This could be as
simple as setting up a few outdoor games or bringing some colouring books out
to the patio.
Then, think about the menu
and make sure you have a few kid-friendly options. Add some finger foods, juice
or even sandwiches if you need to so that kids will have a choice that
interests them.
As you set up the party,
ask yourself where the kids will be able to hang out comfortably. Make sure
there is plenty of room for them to run and play, but also ask yourself if they
can participate. For example, if you are serving dinner, set up a kids’ table
so toddlers can be comfortable and have a place to eat that’s convenient for
them.
Another way to keep kids’
needs in mind is to consider the day and time of your party. Young kids usually
get tired early and are harder to entertain and keep happy at parties that go
late into the night. It’s also usually a bad idea to host a part on a weeknight
if the kids who will be coming attend school.
You can also keep parties
shorter so parents with children won’t be stuck trying to keep their kids happy
all afternoon. Another option is to have an open-house style party, where you
serve food at a specific time but make sure your guests know they are welcome
to come and go as they need to.
The best way to make sure
your garden party is safe for toddlers is to plan for kids. Know the ages of
the kids attending and prepare your home and garden so it’s ready for them.
Then, keep their needs in mind as you plan the party so the kids will have just
as much fun as the adults.
If you’d like more great
parental advice then please head over to the Lindam blog - http://www.lindam.com/child-safety-news/
