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With less than two weeks till Christmas, you are most probably running around getting your Christmas shopping and preparation done before the holiday period kicks in. Some people are lucky and have enough time off from work beforehand to do their shopping, however, most of us will be working up till the day before Christmas and just don’t have time to do get everything done. And it is almost always the case that most people will end up doing more in the week leading up to Christmas then on the actual holiday period itself (speaking from experience!).

In the midst of all these activity, it is very important to keep the safety of your family, especially your little ones, on the top of your priority list. You can keep your family safe this Christmas holidays by incorporating simple safety measures at home and also buying gifts which are safe and useful as well.

Simple Safety at Home this Christmas

According to Safe Kids NZ, an average of 22 children are admitted into hospital everyday because of unintentional injuries and most of these injuries happen at home for children from 0 – 4 years old.  Keeping your kids safe at home this Christmas can be easy. Here are three tips to help you:

1. Prevent falls - by using door gates on stairs and putting latches on windows which they can potentially reach and climb on to. Don’t let children less than four years old sleep on bunk beds because they are meant for older kids.
2. Prevent burns – by always keeping children at least one metre away from hot water sources and hot liquids out of reach. Set your hot water to 50 – 55 degrees Celsius at the tap. Use smoke alarms at home and always make sure that they are working properly
3. Prevent cuts – by storing all sharp and pointed objects away and out of children’s sight (something to remember when wrapping presents)

Buy Safe and Useful Gifts for Children

When buying gifts for your kids this Christmas, it is better to buy something they can use and enjoy at the same time. Here are three gift ideas:

1. A booster seat – According to the NZTA, children under the age of five must be restrained on a booster seat when travelling in the car. You can throw some creativity into it and tell them it’s a 'rocket ship' or an aeroplane and let their imaginations run wild! And children love to know that something belongs to them so tell them that it’s their very own seat
2. A cycle helmet – the perfect practical gift if your child is learning how to ride a bicycle. Involve them in the buying process by asking them to choose their favourite colour. And it is best to lead by example, so you should wear a helmet too when teaching them how to ride
3. A portable pool - summer is the perfect time to take the kids to the water. Having your very own portable pool at home can help you better keep an eye on your child when in the water - remember that kids must always be supervised when playing in water. Depending on the size and preferred location of your portable pool, you may be subject to Manawatu Council regulations when installing the pool. Visit the Manawatu District Council website for guidelines.  

I hope you found this helpful in preparation for your Christmas holiday with the family!

Have a safe and Merry Christmas!

Christine