Safety, entertainment, and room to grow both physically and mentally are all part of creating a child-friendly home. Follow these tips to get you started.
Whether you’re expecting or raising a teen, it is sometimes necessary to step back and assess your home. Is it safe and full of things for your child to enjoy according to their age? As you explore tips for creating a child-friendly home, remember to keep your lifestyle and the age of your child in mind. Every family is different, and you need to do what works for you.
Keeping Little Ones Safe
A young child’s home should have plenty of entertaining toys and books to provide stimulation and growth. However, before focusing on entertainment, be sure the home is safe for crawling babies and toddler spills.
Many parents choose to tear out the carpet and install hardwood flooring so they don’t have to deal with stained carpet, which is inevitable with toddlers and sippy cups. Wood floors are beautiful, functional, and stylish, but not all are created equal. Be sure to do your research and choose the best wood for the job.
Add some rugs here and there on wood floors to give your little one a soft place to sit and be sure to have a non-slip pad underneath. You may also want to consider keeping those chubby little baby feet uncovered while they learn to walk to avoid slipping.
Other things, such as electrical outlet covers and cabinet locks, are important for safety. Don’t let all the precautions deter you, though; babies and toddlers are a lot of fun! At this age, a couple of small baskets with age-appropriate toys and board books should be enough to make your little one feel at home.
Making Changes as Your Child Grows
From the preschool years through high school, there will be constant changes in your child. When following tips for creating a child-friendly home, keep these changes in mind. A child’s interests and style will keep you guessing. It’s a good plan to implement ideas into your home that will grow with your child.
Shelves…can you ever have too many? In a living area or the bedroom, shelves can go from holding childhood toys to later being filled with chapter books. You’ll never have to change the shelves—just the items on them.
Additionally, a desk in a child’s room can be used for arts and crafts when they are younger and homework when they are older. A coat of paint can change it up for them as their style progresses over the years.
A finished basement can serve as a family room when you all watch movies together, but at some point, it may be better served as a teenager’s recreation room for hanging with friends. When your child reaches that age, a big part of a child-friendly home is making sure your child’s friends want to be there.
Keeping your home a place your child loves to be will create beautiful memories for you both. It doesn’t take a lot to create a comforting environment at any age.
