5 Steps to Keeping Kids and Pets Safe in Your Yard

Guest Contribution by Jenny of Special Home Educator

Keep Kids and Pets Safe in Your Yard with these 5 Tips

As a parent, you are the main protector for your family. You would do anything to keep your kids and pets safe, and that includes making sure they are safe outside. Taking steps to secure your yard is a good way to ensure your family stays healthy and happy. Here are a few ways you can make that happen:

Practice Pool Safety

If your yard has a pool, you need to take some extra precautions to keep your entire family safe. Make sure all members of your family are able to swim. If you are a new parent who is wondering when to start swim lessons for your children, most experts recommend beginning when your child is at least 4 years old. But even lessons will not prevent all pool accidents. Keep pool safety equipment installed, and always designate an adult to watch over any kids in the pool. If you have pets, pick up a life vest to help them stay safe in the water too. A pool alarm can also be a great safety addition, as it will let you know if someone enters the pool when you are not looking.

Install Good Lighting

If your yard is a bit dark, you could be putting pets and children at risk for injury. To make sure everyone can see where they’re going, invest in some quality outdoor lighting. Lighting around pools, deck edges and other hazards can help prevent accidents from happening when your family is outdoors late at night. Waterproof landscape lights are perfect to place around the perimeter of your pool, as well as in any areas that may be dark during evening hours. To save energy while increasing safety, think about using solar lights wherever you can.

Keep Pests Out

Bugs can be a big problem for both people and animals. Avoid using toxic chemical pesticides and opt for natural options instead. You can mix up your own pest repellents using products you use every day in your kitchen. If you have a dog (or a cat that is allowed outside), fleas can be a major concern too. Aside from painful bites and itching, fleas can carry parasites that can make your pets sick. You can use natural methods to get rid of fleas in your yard and keep them from irritating your pets and family. Keeping your yard tidy and clean can also keep local wildlife from getting into your yard, and protect your small pets and children from critters such as coyotes and raccoons.

Grow People- and Pet-Friendly Plants

One thing that puppies and kids have in common is that they love to put things in their mouths. If you have little ones crawling around outside, you should make sure your yard doesn’t pose any poisoning risks. Many flowers are beautiful to look at but some flowers can be poisonous to people and pets. Daffodils, lilies and even irises can cause stomach upset and seizures in children and pets when ingested. To be safe, keep toxic plants out of reach of your children and animals. If an accident does occur, be sure to call the poison control line for pets or for people.

Secure Your Outdoor Spaces

One of the most effective ways to ensure safety for your family outdoors is to install a fence. If your home does not already have one, look into having a fence installed that will keep your children and pets securely inside, and keep intruders out. You should make sure your fence is tall enough that pets cannot jump over it, and anchored so that they cannot dig under it. Put a lock on your gate that your children cannot operate to keep them from wandering away from home. Having a fence is also a good measure to keep other children from trespassing into your pool, and it may even be required by local ordinances.

Protecting your family from harm in the outdoor spaces around your home is the first step in keeping them safe and healthy. Use these simple steps to secure your yard, keep it free of hazards, and keep your kids and pets safe, happy and healthy while enjoying their time outside.