Shocking statistics recently published by Australia Wide First Aid reveal that over 150,000 children are hospitalised every year as a result of injuries they have sustained at home.
In fact, more than 50% of all injuries to children occur in the place where they live, which is why it is important to create an environment that is both safe and functional for them.
This begs the question of how do you build a kid-friendly home that will better protect them from the potential for harm.
Thankfully, with advancements in smart home technology, sustainable materials, and modern design trends leading the way, it is easier than ever to create spaces that do this.
If you are renovating your home or having one built from scratch, here are seven areas to focus on.
1. Flooring
The floor is one of the main culprits when it comes to injuries at home. Slips, trips, and falls are common, especially among children who spend a lot of time running around on them.
Surfaces that don’t cope well with spillages or are uneven or hard, can also be a source of danger to your little ones, which is why it is a good idea to lay down something non-slip in nature and easy to clean.
You’ll find lots of great options for family-friendly materials at outlets like Choices Flooring. They include hybrid, vinyl, and soft carpets, which come in a range of styles to suit the aesthetic of your home.
2. Design an Open-Plan Living Space
Open-plan living areas are a fantastic way to keep an eye on your children as you go about your daily tasks, so it is worth incorporating them into your floor plan if possible.
A well-designed open-plan space not only allows you to better interact and supervise your kids but also reduces the likelihood of accidents happening.
When designing an open-plan living space, try to not to have too much clutter lying around. At the same time, incorporate child-friendly furniture with rounded edges into it, as this will reduce the potential for injury on pronounced corners.
Soft-close cupboards and drawers are also great at preventing little fingers (and big fingers!) from getting hurt.
3. Smart Home Safety Features
Installing smart home technology into your home can be a great way to make it more kid-friendly. Their features can help make where you live much safer by monitoring your child’s activities and preventing accidents.
For instance, motion-activated nightlights in hallways and bathrooms can prevent trips and falls, while voice-activated locks can control access to certain rooms (such as those with dangerous equipment or toxic materials in them) via voice commands or fingerprint locks.
Additionally, smart cameras and baby monitors allow you to keep an eye on your child from your phone, and smart plugs can prevent children from touching electrical sockets.
4. Create a Play Area
If you currently live in a home where children leave their toys and play equipment lying around, it is a good idea to create a dedicated play area for them.
The great thing about doing this is that it will give them a place to have fun, be entertained, and be creative. It also makes the rest of the house less cluttered and, therefore, safer.
When creating a playroom, use cubbies, baskets, bookshelves, and wall-mounted shelves to keep the kid’s toys in when they are not being used.
5. Kid-Friendly Kitchen and Dining Area
The kitchen is considered the heart of the home, and it is where families spend a lot of time together, eating and generally hanging out.
Unfortunately, it is also one of the most dangerous rooms in your home, considering it has sharp knives and appliances or equipment that can cause burns and scalding.
It is within your interests to make your kitchen as child-friendly as possible by using appliances like induction ovens whose hobs are not hot to the touch and keeping sharp knives in a locked drawer.
6. Bedroom
Every child needs a space they can retreat to for some quiet, and for many, it is their bedroom. So, it is important to design it in a way that encourages them to stay there.
Decorating it in calming colours, age-appropriate decor, and furnishings with soft textures is a good start. But you will also need to ensure their bedroom is a safe space by securing dressers or cabinets to the wall, ensuring the electrical points are up to code, and not have furniture with sharp corners.
To help them sleep well, you should also give them a comfortable and supportive mattress, soft lighting, and blackout curtains (if they are woken up early by the morning light).
7. Outdoor Spaces
A kid-friendly home extends beyond the indoors, so if you have a garden, it is important to make at least a portion of it suitable for children.
Most importantly, make sure it is fenced to prevent intruders and animals such as poisonous snakes from coming onto the property.
However, you should also ensure there is plenty of soft grass or rubberised flooring which will cushion their landing if they were to fall whilst playing, and some shaded areas to protect them from the sun in the hottest part of the day.
