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Do You Know What Dangers Lurk At Your Neighbor's House?

By
Real Estate Agent with Your Home Free

For the past five years, I have endured breaking finger nails because of those darn socket covers and cabinet door hinges.

Socket Covers

I have demonstrated to my kids how to properly go up and down stairs on rear ends and backwards.

Stairs

Now that my kindergartener is old enough to have fun at a friend's house, it really didn't occur to me to find out if there are any dangers that I should be aware of.  

I can't remember where I heard it or what the reason was, but it has got me thinking again.  

Some of those things the story or report encouraged parents to do was to:

1.  Ask if the house has guns in it.  We do not so there is no knowledge of how dangerous guns are and what kind of healthy respect we should have for them.  If there are guns, are they locked up and is the key hidden?

2.  What about dangerous pets?  We have a dog who is wonderful and tolerant of children.  She has never tried to hurt a child even after endless tail pulling and ear tugging.  Not all dogs are this way.  Is there a history of dog aggression at the friend's house or maybe a tarantula or snake?  

3.  I don't allow my oldest to eat or chew gum while running, jumping or practicing her gymnastics.  There have been numerous times that she has come home with gum in her mouth when she knew she wasn't allowed.  If your child has an allergy, I am sure that you alert the other parent of that allergy.  I just don't condone having a jawbreaker while jumping on the trampoline, but other parents may!

We can't all assume that parents have the same rules.  You can never be too careful...or paranoid!

Holly Weatherwax
Associate Broker, Momentum Realty - Reston, VA
A Great Real Estate Experience

Ask about those trampoline rules, too! I can't tell you how many times I would go to pick my kids up at someone's house only to find multiple kids on the trampoline with no supervision--something my kids would NEVER do if I was around.

Sep 14, 2010 11:37 AM
John Thomas
E3 Green HOMES - Boulder, CO
EcoBroker, MSEE, MBA

It seems like there are more and more things to look out for with kids, but the basics are always there. One more I would add is being sure there is a responsible adult in the house and that the child has permission to be there.

Sep 14, 2010 11:50 AM
Robert L. Brown
www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic

Mine are all grown and gone. But having grandchildren makes me very wary. You can never be too safe.

Sep 14, 2010 12:31 PM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Tricia...

All we can do is our best to keep them safe. But sometime a little prevention really is worth a lot of cure.

Sep 14, 2010 01:28 PM
Mark Hitz
Keller Williams - The Colony, TX

Tricia ~ We're in Texas where it is assumed everyone owns a gun!  I can't police my friends homes "as much as I would like to".

Now that my 5 and 7 yr olds are venturing out more all I can hope is that I taught them enough to be safe.  We cannot protect them from all the stuff out there. What is really important is that you have taught them right from wrong / danger versus safe and will continue doing it until they are 30. 

At some point we loose total control. Just keep teaching them the fundamentals.

Sep 14, 2010 03:02 PM
Tricia Hoffmann
Your Home Free - Highland Village, TX

Ha Ha Mark!  Ain't that the truth!!  I am not one of those crazy moms but if my kid runs across the street without looking both ways, you bet she gets a spanking!  

I have been teaching Trinity manners since she was 18 months old and for the most part, she remembers to use them.  I do have to remind her every so often, but yes, teaching them from the beginning what's safe and what's not is most important

Sep 14, 2010 03:38 PM
Carra Riley & Declan Kenyon
Brokers Guild Cherry Creek Ltd - Westminster, CO
Helping people Transition at all ages!

Tricia......I'm like Robert - All the kids are grown and gone, but still have the concern with grandkids.  Teaching children right and wrong and types of behavior with them is the best thing we can do - besides being careful at all time!

Sep 15, 2010 04:34 AM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Very good post Tricia.  I was the same way.  And that trampoline one is a definite now a days!

Sep 16, 2010 04:39 AM