Homes, in general, can be very dangerous places! In your seemingly safe and secure home, just over 53.5% of all injury-involved accidents occur. If you’re a child, your chances of getting injured in the home increase exponentially. After all, grown-ups – for the most part – know what to look out for, even if they don’t always keep it in mind. Kids, on the other hand, not only have no idea what to expect in many cases, their curiosity gets the best of them more times than not. Every year, in fact, in homes throughout the nation, kids 15 years of age and younger are involved in roughly 2 million accidents.
Kid-friendliness, however, means more than just being safe. It involves making sure children have a place to play, study, feel safe, sleep peacefully, and more.
Keeping Your Kids Safe
Whether you plan on having children, already have children, or have relatives/friends who may visit who have children, you want a kid-friendly manufactured home. The most common accidents in the home include the following:
- Drowning
- Fire injury/burns
- Poisoning
- Cuts
- Falls (the most common)
Can some of these be prevented by modifications (kid-proofing) in your manufactured home? Absolutely.
Safety Concerns
Here are the major concerns for child safety in a manufactured home. Once you know what to look for, you can deal with them, as needed:
- Electronics and exposed power outlets
- Tall furniture
- Chemicals and medications/poison safety
- Sharp corners
- Cabinets
Creating an Environment for a Child
There are certain aspects of your home that can be more effectively geared toward children. Here are some suggestions:
- In the kitchen, devise a floor plan for entertaining and social conversation. It’s always the most popular room in the house, so give it a lot of thought as to how family-friendly you can make it. A half-wall or island is a great place for kids to sit and do their homework, or just watch mom and dad create a meal.
- A flex room is a good idea due to the different seasons a family may experience throughout the year and the different stages of development children go through, as well. This is a multipurpose room that can be used as a bedroom, workout room, office room, dining room, or something else entirely. For your kids or your guests, it’s extra space for hobbies or entertaining. The choice is yours.
- Included in your mobile home floor plan should be a mudroom that will serve numerous purposes. Here is where both kids and adults can put on slippers after taking off the shoes they were wearing all day long. Consider including seasonal objects that could be used on an as-needed basis. If needed, pantry space can also be provided by this room.
The Ever-Popular Open Floor Plan
More and more, homeowners are incorporating open floor plans. In a mobile home, this can create a family-friendly atmosphere. Open floor plans…
- Allow a wider view and more natural light
- Allow mom or dad, while taking on other tasks, to keep one eye on the kids
- Make socializing with family members or visitors in other locations (aside from the kitchen) possible
- Can make it look like a single wide is bigger than it actually is
As you can see, the possibilities for creating a kid-friendly manufactured home are many.