Craft Room Safety for Kids

Don'T Ban The Kids From The Craft Room; Get Them (Safely) Involved

Kids in the craft room may not sound like a very good idea.

Children are renowned for their curiosity and their tendency to poke fingers at dangerous items like electrical sockets, as well as for putting strange and foreign objects directly into their mouths.

They also love pushing buttons. Some little darlings are strangely drawn to anything that is perilous to their well-being.

However, teaching children about crafting is beneficial to their development, as is teaching them about safety and the many precautions that we must take when working in potentially hazardous situations.

We can't, nor do we want to, stifle or switch off their curiosity and creativity!

Neither is it a good idea to leave younger children to look after themselves elsewhere while we're in our craft rooms creating masterpieces, or experimenting with tools, chemicals, and other materials that could harm youngsters.

It's a gift from you to your children in many ways to pass on your craft knowledge and safety habits in a meaningful and educational way.

Here are a few tips to help you do so.

You know the saying, "Out of Sight, out of Mind." In this case, it means that kids won't be tempted to fiddle with things that are not in view or are out of reach.

If you know that your son loves jamming items into his mouth, then you'll do well to store hazardous items out of reach, at least until he's old enough to recognize edibles from things that could cause harm.

Similarly, if you have a daughter who is fascinated with buttons begging to be pressed, or loves to stick her fingers in places where they might get an electrical charge or worse, then keep your workshop sockets covered, and power tools unplugged or stored safely out of reach.

Creating a safe space where your child can accompany you while you're crafting may cause a few inconveniences, but they will be well worth your time and effort.

The joy of sharing your craft with your child will far outweigh the hassle of having to retrieve the drill from a cupboard every time you need to bore a hole.

There are plenty of great storage options available at your local craft or hardware store. You can also haunt junk stores, garage sales, and flea markets to find useful storage solutions.

Many storage systems suitable for the craft rooms come with locks or could easily be padlocked or clamped securely. Think about:

• Cupboards and cabinets;
• Dressers and other pieces of furniture with drawers;
• Plastic bins;
• Footlockers;
• Free-standing toolboxes.

When your children are ready to learn the difference between what belongs in their mouths and what belongs on the workbench, start teaching them how to use tools and supplies responsibly and safely.

In the meantime, spend time carefully supervising as you show your children the basics of your craft.

Keep in mind that the earlier a lesson is taught, the better ingrained it will become. By practicing safety yourself, you lead by example.

Remember that children, especially younger ones, love to mimic. So set a good example and keep safety constantly in mind while sharing your craft with your kids!