Talking to young children about the importance of electrical safety
When it comes to teaching children valuable life skills, you’re probably thinking of instilling the importance of critical thinking, empathy, hygiene, good time management, emotional regulation, perseverance, budgeting, cleaning, and learning how to look after themselves or a pet. All are naturally crucial for the development of a well-rounded individual who can handle challenges and not back down when they’re dealing with difficulties. You want your children to feel confident in their own abilities and know that they’ve got what it takes to succeed and solve any issue that arises in their lives. One of the things that may not be at the forefront of your mind is teaching your children about the importance of electrical safety.
The appliances you use every day are so ubiquitous that it’s easy to just forget about them altogether, but talking to children about electrical safety is crucial for their lives and well-being. Malfunctions in the system, outlets, or appliances can range from mild discomfort to potentially life-threatening fires that can destroy your belongings. Teaching children about proper electrical safety is something that should be done early on, as they’re more likely to take the lesson seriously at this age, but you must remember to use the correct language so that they understand you and there’s no room for confusion.
Avoid cords and sockets
When it comes to teaching electrical safety, most parents choose to focus on prevention by child-proofing their homes. This includes securing or covering any unused wall outlets so that kids don’t stick their fingers in them or try to shove objects inside them, covering cords behind furniture, under rugs, or with special devices that keep wires in place and ensure they’re not an electrocution or choking hazard, or simply placing electrical devices out of the reach of children. There’s no denying the effectiveness of these methods, but being more proactive in your approach is crucial as well because it provides children with a more realistic view of their safety and the importance of personal responsibility.
If you notice your child handling an outlet or electrical cord in a potentially dangerous way, tell them “No” and explain that those things shouldn’t be played with. Tell them that it’s important for them to be careful around these devices and that they don’t splash liquids on them or attempt to prod the sockets with metallic objects. These lessons don’t keep them safe only during their childhood but are essential to know for their entire lives.
Professional help
Objects and appliances can malfunction and become damaged in any household, no matter how well you care for things. You should teach your children to recognise the potential signs of something being wrong with your appliances, such as flickering lights, a burning smell, frequent sparking, buzzing, loose plugs, hot outlets, or electricity switching off for no reason at times so that they can let you know and you can take the necessary steps to solve the issue. Let them know that this is important for the safety of the entire family, so if they notice anything like this happening, they should let you know immediately.
Get help from professional electrical services, and don’t attempt to solve the problem on your own as it can do more harm than good and even indirectly encourage your children to try mending outlets themselves. Getting an expert to help is crucial if you don’t have the expertise for it yourself teaches your children about the importance of asking for help and trusting the input of people who are trained to do certain tasks, another vital life skill to have.
Water and electricity
Teaching children that water and electricity don’t mix and should never be put together is one of the fundamental aspects of electrical safety that they should learn about. Let them know that sinks and bathtubs should never come into contact with electrically powered devices as they can cause very serious electrical shocks. As a general rule, if something lights up, makes noise, or has the ability to move on its own, it should be kept away from water. Tell them they should never touch sockets or outlets with wet hands as it can also be dangerous.
Some of the other devices that they should know to keep away from water include toasters, blenders, phones, tablets, and hair dryers.
Visual learning
Many children have a much easier time learning new things if images or videos are attached to the information they’re receiving. There are many resources available out there for you to choose from, and they are only a few clicks away on your computer. Look for videos that explain electrical hazards in a way that the children will understand, and make sure that the content they’re about to see is age-appropriate. You don’t want them to see anything scary, or that creates anxiety and panic about something that is standard for all homes. Ideally, you should watch this material together so that you can answer their questions along the way if there’s anything they don’t understand.
Integrating videos into the learning process is also fun and interesting for children instead of simply telling them about what they should and shouldn’t do, something that can easily seem like lecturing for many of them.
Expand the knowledge
You can take the electrical safety lesson a step further by including outdoor safety so that children stay away from power lines and other electrically charged equipment outdoors. Climbing trees or flying kites close to areas such as these can be incredibly dangerous, and knowing about this will keep them safe. They could even warn their friends about it if they see them about to do something risky so that their knowledge can actually protect the safety of those around them as well.
Set a good example for them as well by not doing any activities that could be hazardous, such as overloading outlets and keeping water away from appliances. Children learn by observing the adults around them and seeing them as role models, so you must practice what you preach.
Talking to children about the importance of electrical safety is essential for their safety and well-being, so make sure you don’t skip this lesson. It can keep them safe from very serious dangers.