As soon as babies learn how to crawl, they’re tempted to stick their fingers into electrical receptacles and chew on extension cords. So the earlier they know how dangerous that is, the safer they’ll be growing up in a house full of electrical safety hazards.
Teaching your children about electricity will help them stay safe around it, appreciate it and use it wisely as they grow. Here are five themes to convey—repeatedly—as your kids mature:
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Electricity is a wonderful tool that makes it possible for your home to have heat and air conditioning, for your refrigerator to keep your food cold and for their computers, TV and video games to work.
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As much as electricity is a benefit, it can be harmful, too. Exploring the electrical components of a toy or appliance that’s plugged in can result in a shock, and sometimes those shocks are severe enough to burn or injure you. Playing with anything that plugs in can be dangerous if you’re rough or careless.
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Water and electricity don’t mix. Dunking a plugged-in toy or other electrical device into water can shock or even kill a child.
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Wasting electricity doesn’t make sense. Turning off lights when you leave a room and unplugging computers, video games and electrical toys when nobody’s using them is good for the planet and can save Mom and Dad some money on energy bills.
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Your family is a member of a unique kind of electric utility—called an electric cooperative. That means your family owns the utility that it buys its electricity from. Adults can vote in its leadership elections and can participate in the utility’s business by attending annual meetings. They can even run for a seat on the board.