Making any type of craft can be fun and enjoyable. You’re able to make something with your hands and you end up with something that’s beautiful and unique just to you. Your craft could even be included somewhere in your home decor. Crafts are a great way to spend time with your children and help them improve their creativity. Children love to be able to create things, especially when they get to do it with someone they love. There are, however, some safety concerns associated with making crafts. In order to avoid injury, you should be aware of those hazards and know how to avoid them. Here are some safety tips for making fall crafts.
First, what kinds of craft hazards are we talking about? Well, let’s start with the basics. In almost any kind of craft, heated objects are used (whether it be a hot glue gun or boiling wax on the stove). You or your child could severely burn yourself on a hot glue gun or other heated object. You could accidentally spill hot glue or wax on your unprotected skin. You could cause serious burns to your body if you are not aware and prepared.
Most crafts also employ the use of scissors, paper cutters, or knives. These items all pose a potential threat to you or your child. It’s very easy to slip with the scissors and knick your skin or worse. Your child is at an even greater risk when using sharp objects. S/he does not have the learned control with such sharp instruments and therefore is much more likely to cut him/herself.
Other craft accidents may include (but are not limited to) stapling your finger (other body parts or even clothing); paper cuts; gluing your fingers together; dropping sharp objects on the floor; jabbing yourself with pins; spilling toxic paint (or paint cleaners) on your skin; catching raffia, yarn, ribbon or other flammable substance on fire; creating a chemical reaction with cleaners and paints, and finally, glass slivers or wounds caused by broken glass.
Now, you may be thinking to yourself that some of these hazards are a bit “out there.”? But remember that anything can happen. Just be sure to use caution as you’re trying to create a crafting masterpiece. So let’s talk about some safety tips.
First, whenever you’re making a craft, you should determine whether it’s appropriate for your children to participate. If it’s something that your child already knows how to handle or has shown an aptitude for, you’re probably safe in letting him/her participate. But if your child is still very young or is not responsible enough to handle such things on his/her own, you might want to reconsider. If you do allow your child to help, be sure that you are in control of the hot glue gun, sharp objects, and anything else that could pose a threat to you or your child.
If your child is not old enough or responsible enough to participate, be sure that the glue gun is out of his/her reach. Remove all cords that may be dangling where your child could trip. Secure all sharp objects. Put them up high and out of their reach. If you’re working with something on the stove, be sure that your child is far away from the kitchen so s/he will not be able to pull it down.
Most safety tips are just common sense. As long as you are watching out for your child and being smart, none of the accidents mentioned above should come to pass.