Holiday Safety Tips for Kids

5 safety tips to keep kids safe over the holidays.

• 2 min read
• health & wellness

The holidays are full of fun and excitement for parents and kids, but there can also be hidden dangers. You and your co-parent can help keep your children out of harm’s way this holiday season with our 5 safety tips:

1. Be mindful when decorating

If your children are helping you or your co-parent decorate over the holidays, it’s important to keep watch at all times. You also need to make sure the kids don’t handle any potentially dangerous items. Breakable decorations like ornaments and light bulbs, and choking hazards like tinsel, should always be kept out of reach of children.

2. Practice cooking safety

A lot of cooking goes on throughout the holiday season, so you and your co-parent should be extra cautious in the kitchen. Try to cook on the back burners and turn pot handles away from the front of the stove when possible. Additionally, you should not let children around the oven when it’s in use, and don’t let kids cook with potentially dangerous appliances or utensils.

3. Prevent fire hazards

Between decorations and cooking, an increased fire hazard could be present in your home during the holidays. There are a number of ways you and your co-parent can avoid fire mishaps this holiday season:

• If you have a live tree, water it often.
• Secure your tree in a sturdy stand, especially with kids or pets around.
• Stay in the room when candles are lit and supervise children around them.
• Don’t overload electrical outlets, keep cords out of reach of children, and use protective covers.
• Place a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and don’t let kids cook alone.

4. Supervise children outdoors

With kids out of school for winter break, your children may be spending more time outside. It’s crucial for you or your co-parent to be present and aware when your kids are outdoors. Never let your children play in the street, make sure they are wearing proper safety gear and clothing when riding bikes, skateboards, etc., and don’t let kids play in the dark anywhere that isn’t well-lit.

5. Only allow safe toys

Children tend to get a lot of gifts around Christmas, and sometimes this can pose a safety hazard. You and your co-parent should make it a priority to vet any toys that could be dangerous to your kids, and make sure they are age appropriate, before gift-giving. Toys with small parts should be kept away from young children and electronic toys with button batteries are harmful if swallowed.

TalkingParents wishes your family a safe and happy holiday season

Hopefully these tips are helpful as you celebrate this special time of year with your kids. If your children are spending some or all holidays with your co-parent this year, be sure to share this list of safety tips with them. Looking for other holiday related parenting resources? Check out our related articles section below.