It’s common knowledge that kids are enthusiastic about almost everything around them. With their love for exploring new things, how’d you expected them not to get curious about electricity, our daily, critical need? 

Don’t your children yearn for handling all the electrical appliances in your house independently, as they wonder at your washing machine’s humming motor and radiant pictures on your television?

While it feels nice to watch kids’ enthusiasm about electricity, you must ensure their protection against its likely hazards. Kids must know perfectly well how to use electric devices and gadgets safely. 

Here are 7 tips to teach your children about electrical safety:

1. Familiarize them with the basics of electricity

One of the best ways to teach your kids about electrical safety, getting down to teaching them the basics will truly reward your efforts. Simply point out to your kids a power cable and its metallic plugs and explain to them why a wire needs rubber insulation. 

Since hands-on learning is most engaging, how about purchasing an inexpensive cable and cutting into it for showing kids its inner parts? Your children will love to touch and feel the inside of the cord, absorbing the new information easily. 

Having said that, warn them immediately that since power cords carry electricity from electrical outlets, their inner parts ought to remain inside. Make them well aware that touching electricity can be outright risky.

A basic introduction to electricity is incomplete without teaching your children how to deal with emergencies. For instance, make sure to teach them how to contact 9-1-1 in the event of an electrical fire. 

2. Caution them about outdoor power lines

It is but natural that kids will not watch out for outdoor power lines, thus accidentally running into them while clambering up a tree or flying kites. It’s also very likely that kids will innocently touch the power lines out of curiosity.

Take your children out for a stroll around your house and point the electrical wires to them. Show them the electrical meter and the power lines supported by poles as well as those buried underground. Explain to them how the electrical wires carry electricity to various outlets in your home and how it only makes sense to never ever touch them. 

So, the next time kids go out to fly kites or simply play in the open, you can expect them to pay close attention to the power lines and to keep a safe distance from them. Additionally, you must also alert children that a powerful storm can uproot electricity poles, causing live electric cables to either remain on the earth or hang sufficiently low, thus easily coming within anybody’s reach.

3. Make it clear that tap water conducts electricity

Another vital teaching indeed! Don’t only assume that everyone is aware of the deadly combination of tap water and electricity. Younger children don’t have the knowledge that tap water is a good conductor of electricity. They hence will not realize the significance of keeping electrical stuff at a safe distance from it.

Explain to kids how an electrical hazard can occur if they get any water to come in close contact with electrical wires and appliances. For instance, tell them never to stand inside a tub containing water and use a hairdryer. Also, warn them not to reach out for a plugged-in hair dryer if it drops into the water. Children must know that such ignorance on their parts could cause instant electrocution.

4. Warn them against using damaged cords

Kids must be able to identify a damaged electric cord. Get hold of one and show it to them so that they can note its tears or cracks or worn areas, first-hand. 

Make your children understand that a broken cord leaves the live wires exposed, and if plugged to an electrical outlet, risks contact with them. Emphasize to kids that such an incorrect practice can injure them due to electric shock or fire and that therefore it’s essential to always replace damaged cords. Also, teach them preventive measures such as not running cords beneath rugs and not hanging them onto nails.

5. Expose them to Interactive Media

A fun and engaging means of learning for kids, interactive media can help you a great deal!  Does your local service firm have a web-based platform dedicated to teaching kids about electrical safety? Otherwise, while surfing the net, you can find websites specially designed for educating kids about this subject, which feature plenty of exercises and puzzles regarding electricity to challenge your children’s curiosity. 

You can also show kids fun and interesting educational videos on electrical safety. Such programs demonstrate other children learning or make use of animated or fictional characters for emphasizing critical points. 

6. Do a Joint Craft Project with Kids

Get creative! On a lazy Sunday afternoon at home, gather your children together for creating a colorful poster on electrical safety. This way, kids will get the opportunity to make a creative as well as a useful craft project, thus learning artistically how to use electricity safely.

While making the poster, consider several important rules advising against sticking objects into electrical outlets, mixing water and electricity, and using frayed wires and jot down a list of emergency procedures.

Post this joint craft activity on your fridge so that it serves as a constant, daily reminder about electrical safety. 

7. Assess Kids’ Knowledge and Reward Them

After teaching your children all critical aspects of electrical safety, try to gauge their understanding. For instance, you could walk outside with them, asking questions about power lines, your electrical meter, and about how homes receive electricity. 

Also, point out power outlets and cords inside your home and ask kids about using them safely. 

Once you’re satisfied with their performance, it’s a good idea to motivate them further with rewards. So, treat your children at their favorite restaurant, take them to a movie, or go picnicking together.

Conclusion

So, using a few smart methods to connect with kids on their level will ensure that kids will use electric appliances cautiously. Your children will know now that electricity is not scary if handled properly