Making Your Home Safe for Tweens

Parents know childproofing is necessary when there is a baby or toddler in the home. But childproofing is also necessary when you have tweens or preteens in the home. The dangers may be different, but serious nonetheless. If you have a tween at home, or if tweens visit your home on a regular basis, you'll need to look out for potential problems before they happen.

Here's a checklist of what you'll need to do.

Lock-Up Medications

More and more tweens and teens are turning to prescription drugs to get high. They find these drugs at home - in medicine cabinets, purses, drawers, on table tops, and in bathrooms. Tweens and teens have even been known to pass out prescription drug trail mix, a mix of prescription drugs, at parties.

Be sure you throw out all prescription drugs that are no longer needed, and keep those that are in a safe place. It's also important to be aware of the amount of medicine you have, in case any goes missing.

Over-the-counter drugs also pose a potential danger to children looking for a buzz. Keep cough syrup, allergy medications and other over-the-counter drugs in a safe spot, out of your tween's reach and out of sight. Out of sight is out of mind, in many cases. Keep track of the medicines you have, and note if they have been used without your knowledge. If necessary, place a lock on your medicine cabinet or your medicine drawer.

Store Alcohol and Cigarettes in a Safe Place

Cigarettes and alcohol are a big temptation to tweens. Even if you've talked with your tween about alcohol and tobacco use, you'll need to keep track of the alcohol in your home and when and if it's used. If necessary, place it under lock and key.

As for cigarettes, your children are more likely to smoke if you smoke. Take every opportunity you have to quit, and enlist the support of your children to do so.

Childproofing and First-Aid

Every home needs a suitable first-aid kit and your tween should know exactly where the kit is kept. Tweens who are allowed to stay home alone, or supervise younger siblings, should also take a first-aid training course.

Lock-up Guns and Other Weapons

Guns and other weapons should always be kept under lock and key. Guns should be unloaded, and gun locks should be in place. In addition, speak with your child about gun safety, and that the weapons should never be used for play, or shown to your child's friends. Make it very clear to your tween that he is not allowed near the weapons unless you're there and supervising.

Program Your Cable or Satellite Dish

If you have cable television or a satellite dish you may be able to block out programming that you don't want your tween to watch. Take advantage of these options, but also talk with your tween about shows that you think are inappropriate and not allowed. Be specific about why you consider these shows inappropriate, and make it clear to your child that you expect him to obey your wishes, whether he's home alone or under the supervision of an adult.

Childproofing Your Computer

Buy internet blocking or screening software, but also make it clear that you expect your child to only visit sites that you pre-approve. In addition, be sure your child understands that she is never to give out personal information over the Internet - information such as name, address, phone number, or where she lives.

Keep the family computer in a highly visible spot, such as the kitchen or the family room. Think twice before allowing your tween to have a computer in his or her room, where you may not be able to notice what's going on online.

Keep Up With Safety Devices

Your home should have smoke detectors in every room, and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor. Make sure the batteries for these devices are changed twice a year, and that the detectors are in good working order. In addition, keep a fire extinguisher on each floor, and show your tween how to use it properly.

Keep an Eye on Solvents and Other Potential Inhalants

Inhalants abuse is not unknown to the tween age group. Tweens and teens may use common household cleaners or solvents in order to get high by breathing in the vapors. Substances such as cleaners, nail polish remover, markers, and other household products are potential hazards. Keep track of these items, and be aware of the warning signs of inhalant abuse.

Talk to Your Tween About Safety and Personal Responsibility

The best way to keep your tween safe is to initiate several discussions about personal responsibility, safety concerns, and how you expect your child to behave. These discussions should begin before your child is a tween, and should continue throughout the teen years. Be sure your tween knows where you stand on the issues of smoking, underage drinking, drug abuse, and other issues of concern to you. Of course, modeling good behavior is the most effective way to convince your tween to reject dangerous behavior, and embrace healthy habits.