Accidents happen, and when over excited kids are involved, they happen all the time. The party season is upon us, and if you are planning a kids’ party, then good luck! There is an increased awareness and focus these days on safety, and while that can never be a bad thing, it does sometimes lead us to wonder if we are a little bit over-protective.
With some preparation and a good sized dollop of good sense, there is no reason you can’t give them the party to remember, and “let kids be kids,” as people like to say – although quite what else they are likely to be beside miniature monsters is always a mystery. And all without broken bones, hospital visits or angry parents. Here’s how.
Make it clear
Whether the kids are partying at the pool (an indoor one at this time of year, I hope!), a bouncy castle or just around your house, there are some basic safety rules that everyone needs to know, not least the parents who are otherwise so quick to start apportioning blame. From “no diving” to “don’t touch the dog,” it is worth putting up some proper signs. You can get them from mysafetysign who sell a huge range of safety signs for every eventuality. They are not expensive, and at least nobody can say they weren’t warned.
Allergies
Have you noticed that more people seem to have allergies these days? Maybe it’s just that we are better informed about things in the 21st century, but either way, if a visiting child has an allergic reaction to, for example, nuts, the symptoms can be serious. It doesn’t take a moment to ask parents to indicate any food allergies when they RSVP the invitation and forewarned is forearmed.
Other food safety
Obviously, you will need to make sure the food you prepare is cooked through – nothing puts a downer on a children’s party like poisoning the guests. But here’s another tip – what do you suppose is the food that children are most likely to choke on? The answer? Hot dogs! It must be something to do with the shape being conducive to sticking in throats. There’s no reason to outlaw hotdogs, but just make sure everyone is seated to eat, and everything is cleared away before they start rushing around again.
Piñata Safety
A large suspended object, and kids beat the daylights out of it with a stick, what could possibly go wrong? If ever there was a party game that looked like an accident waiting to happen, it has to be the piñata. This is another one where clearly posted rules can help prevent disaster. Make sure the piñata is in a large space, and that everyone follows the rules, and all will go smoothly.
Bouncy castles
Finally, a word about bouncy castles. Kids love them, and so do adults. They are also a common cause of injury, but only when people fail to follow one of these fundamental rules:
- Set it up properly according to the instructions
- No belts, shoes or jewellery
- Limit the number of kids according to the instructions
Disclosure: collaborative post
