As a stepparent, wanting the best for your child is a no-brainer. But sometimes, that can be easier said than done.
Depending on your relationship with your child, you might have trouble getting your stepchild to respect your authority. While challenging to handle, this can also be dangerous if they choose to ignore your rules.
As you work to build trust with your stepchild, you might be wondering what else you can do to make sure they stay safe this summer. Though we are all spending more time at home, that doesn’t mean they are out of harm’s way.
Unfortunately, even the nicest homes can have hazards that could jeopardize your child’s safety. Our stepparent’s guide to a safer summer is the best way to give your child a safe and fun summer they deserve.
First, it’s important to set ground rules with your child. Talk to them early on about how long they are allowed to be on their devices. Also, set neighborhood boundaries to ensure your child knows what behavior is and isn’t expected.
If you need, you can bring in their other parent for backup when having these conversations. It’ll help show a united front for these safety concerns and put their minds at ease.
Next, you’ll need to check your home for anything that could potentially harm your child. Pesky bugs tend to thrive in the summer, so spraying your backyard and home with pest control chemicals can help keep them at bay (as well as minimize the number of bug bites.)
Trim weak or overhanging tree limbs to avoid falling and injuring your family or home during a storm. Sort out other hazards, such as visible wiring, toxic plants, lawn equipment, and cleaning chemicals.
Finally, you’ll need to take precautions dependent on the type of activity you plan to do throughout the summer. Teaching your children proper fire safety rules is crucial if your family loves grilling or roasting marshmallows each weekend.
Keeping a fire extinguisher nearby and never leaving your fire pit or grill unattended can help prevent major accidents from occurring.
Kids can drown in as little as two inches of water, so teaching them how to swim early is essential. If you have a pool, ensure your child doesn’t have access to it when you aren’t around. You can accomplish this by using a pool cover or a gate. You can also use a water movement sensor that can send an alert to your phone whenever there is a movement under the water.
Use this stepparent’s guide to a safer summer to protect your stepchild and your home from any hazard that might come their way. You can also check out the full post on Hippo’s blog or the graphic below.
