Teaching children about electrical safety is the responsibility of the adults in the home. Children are naturally curious, and one way they can grasp concepts is by touching — not a very reassuring thought when it comes to electricity.
Without taking an active role in teaching electrical safety, kids can run into potentially dangerous situations. By educating them, you can help keep them in harm’s way.
Here Are 4 Ways of Teaching Children About Electrical Safety
Learn Together
Power up your children’s minds by reading books, going on websites to read blogs and articles and watching educational videos online about electricity 101. Make sure you do the activity together so you can answer questions they may have.
Books about Electricity:
You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without Electricity
The Magic School Bus and the Electric Field Trip
YouTube Videos about Electricity
Electrical Safety Tips for Kids by StraightTalkAlert
Kids Block Electricity Episode
If you have a friend who is an electrician or in the electrical business, arrange a meet up so your children can have a conversation with an expert.
To make it more fun, prepare materials for game nights at home that tests how much they’ve learned about electrical safety. Of course, you should include prizes!
Demonstrate
Often, kids don’t remember everything you “tell” them. Doing demonstrations gives them something visual, allowing them to remember better.
An excellent way to educate children about electrical safety is to perform science experiments at home. Make them wear lab coats to complete the experience.
Check these Science Experiments:
Roll a Can with Static Electricity
Separate Salt and Pepper with Static Electricity
For older kids, encourage them to join you when you do work around the house to show them the proper way of using home appliances that they are allowed to handle.
Create Safety Rules
Whether it’s brushing their teeth every night, not having snacks before dinner or not using gadgets past a certain time, every home should have a set of rules, and electrical safety practices are no exception. In fact, it should be a priority.
Here are some basic electrical rules kids should follow:
- Water and electricity DO NOT go together.
- DO NOT touch electrical appliances with wet or damp hands.
- DO NOT touch electrical appliances without adult supervision.
- DO NOT poke sharp objects into electrical sockets.
- DO NOT insert your fingers into the electrical sockets.
- DO NOT yank the cords out when unplugging.
- DO NOT touch transformer boxes.
Take Precautions
No matter how much you teach or show children how electricity works, there is still a chance that they will forget it or won’t listen. As they say “kids will be kids”. Even if you’re actively reminding them of the rules, their innate curiosity makes them want to push boundaries.
To address this issue head-on, make your home less risky to having any electrical mishaps. Here are some ways to do it:
- Put on outlet covers or caps, especially if you have toddlers.
- Keep electrical appliances out of reach.
- Tie up loose cords with a plastic cord shortener to avoid kids playing with them.
- Hide power strips behind desks or furniture, if possible.
- Make wires entirely inaccessible for kids.
Start Teaching Children Electrical Safety When They’re Young
About a quarter of the electrical injuries to children happen at home. On average, five children under the age of 14 years die as a result of electrocution each year. So although electricity makes our lives easier, it can be dangerous when not used properly.
Begin educating children in the home about electricity at a young age. At every opportunity, teach them where it comes from, how they should use it. Be proactive in reminding them of hazards that electricity misuse can potentially pose to themselves, their families and community.
If you have questions on how to keep your home safe against electrical accidents for children, please get in touch.
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