How to Keep Breakables Safe around Young Kids
We all have that one vase we love oh so dearly, a prized antique find, or a favorite mug that have fallen victims to the hands of a curious child. But as we watch the destruction unfold, we can’t help but feeling a little guilty, maybe even a little shame ridden at the thought that we could have done something to prevent the accident from happening. Maybe it was a bad idea to put that vase on the floor, or an even worse idea to put those vintage snow globes in the coffee table where they could easily be “confused” as toys.
The placement and organization of these breakables play a vital role in keeping them intact. So although there are variables to the equation, there is one thing we cannot change, and that is the curious nature of children. Childhood is all about exploring, learning new things about the world, and finding the right outlets to channel all of the energy stored inside their little bodies. That doesn’t mean however, that destruction cannot be prevented. By getting a little creative and a little more practical, there are a few ways we can proactively keep breakables and children safe.
Simple Things to Help Organize Can make A Big Difference
Sometimes, it seems like no matter how many H&G shows we watch, our decorative skills never seem to be up to par with the latest ingenuitive trends. But you don’t have to be an interior designer to think of ways to keep breakables safe from kids while maintaining your personal style. Simple things like installing shelving on your walls, investing in higher tables/shelves, see through cabinets, and some rearranging can do the job for you. Even though it may take a little bit of a trial and error, you are sure to find better spots for your breakables that fit your lifestyle.
Shelving Isn’t Hard to Come by Because it Is Available on The Web
Shelving is fairly easy to find. Amazon for example has several styles available; from short, simple and wooden, to more elaborate ones. If you’re on a budget and into the more rustic look, most thrift stores never seem to be out of the smaller single unit shelves. Once installed, you can display one or more fragile items so that they are higher up and away from reach.
Not only do these keep your breakables safe, but they add a unique accent to any wall that is in need of inspiration. The same thing can be done with the taller tables. You can move glass items from the coffee table or lower vicinities to corner tables and shelves that are higher off the ground. Many of them also have levels where you can display a multitude of items in order from least fragile at the bottom, to most fragile at the top.
A Glass Armoire may be a Good Idea
If you are into collectibles such as antiques, crystals, glass or porcelain figurines, a see through glass cabinet may work best for you. Most cabinets raise off the ground with the glass doors high enough to be out of contact with most childhood stature. However, it is glass nonetheless, so this would not work for a child who is an avid ball player inside the house.
Although those are all things that require a trip to the bank, there are things you can still do without having to spend a single dime. Finding simple ways to rearrange fragile items in preexisting areas around the house can make a world of a difference.Making the conscious effort to move items from the edge of the table to the center can prevent children from brushing up against them and accidentally pushing them to the ground.
Keep Breakables out Of The High Traffic Areas
You can also remove fragile items from high traffic or congested areas around the house like hallways and bathrooms to areas that are not frequented as much. It is also helpful to remove and store any fragile non essentials to prevent unnecessary accidents. Remembering to immediately put away dishware or any other fragile items after use can be tedious, but it can prevent a headache in the future.
Other ways of proactively protecting your delicate belongings all involve beginning at the source; the children themselves. One of the main reasons children habitually break things, is because they are always looking for new things to play with and do not know what to do with all of their extra energy.
Playrooms Are The Perfect Way to Keep Playtime Glass Free
Play rooms are an awesome way to redirect children into glass-free, shatter-free areas of the house. It does not have to be decorated to resemble a classroom or daycare room if that is not an option for you. It just needs to be a child-proof, safe place where children are free to run around and play with their toys without that impending fear of possibly breaking something within their reach.
If you do not have an extra room or the space available in your home, a small corner or designated area in the kitchen, living room, or dining room would work too. Other ways you can redirect their energy is by getting them involved in sports or other engaging activities such as crafts, puzzles, or non intrusive indoor games.
If children have a designated time for play and physical activity, they are less likely to want to play around the delicate areas of the house. Either because they are tired or because the routine will train them and help them understand that there is a designated time and place for play time.
Accidents Happen No Matter what Precautions you Take
Realistically speaking, accidents are going to happen no matter the amount of meticulous preventative care you put into your everyday decor and home needs. Children break things, it’s what they do. So even though there will be a lengthy list of casualties throughout their childhood, it does not mean your favorite items have to make the fall. It is unreasonable to use the methods above for every single breakable item in your home when a high percentage of them are made out of glass, porcelain, or fine wood. However, you can limit the usage of these ideas to your most prized, and beloved possessions and allow all the others ones to take the risk.
Keeping your home aesthetically pleasing and in accordance to your personal style can be quite the challenge when you live with running toddlers and adventurous children. A basic rule of thumb is to teach them the difference between what can and cannot be played with and what items need to be handled with care more than others. You can even make a game out of it, because as we all know, the best way to educate children is to engage them in ways they find interesting.
Perhaps you can give them a list of breakable items and materials and have them look for them around the house in a “treasure hunt” manner. In addition, educate them in the dangers of breaking these things in an effort to prevent not only the destruction of said item, but to prevent an injury as well.
So there you have it, the impossible made just a little more possible. Children keep you on your toes, and sometimes we have a hard time keeping track of them. With these creative and practical tools, it becomes a little bit easier to be one step ahead. Keeping your breakables intact is an important part of keeping your home a safe place for you and your children. It may even add several more years of shelf life to your favorite vase!
