5 ways to help keep children safe while doing DIY projects

DIY projects help develop children's creativity and resourcefulness, but as is the case with any project, safety must be taught to ensure kids are protected from injuries while enjoying their craft.

• Major projects like construction and engineering require a safety first policy, a set of rules to be observed in the work site to ensure workers' safety are prioritized.
• This safety first policy must be applied to all projects as well, including DIY.
• For children, the basics include wearing protective work clothes, using only age-appropriate tools and having adult supervision and assistance at all times.

• Select a well-lit, well-ventilated area for the children's DIY workshop.
• Have a separate shelf for materials, gadgets and other supplies.
• Install a first aid cabinet within reach of children.
• An organized place dedicated to their DIY projects with a proper first aid kit make children feel more responsible, and thus, more careful in ensuring that their DIY work is as pleasant as possible.

• Keep small children and pets out of the workshop area.
• Small materials such as buttons, sequins, nails and washers may be accidentally swallowed by unattended children.
• Also, toddlers and pets may accidentally knock over materials and tools that can ruin the project or worse, lead to injury.

• Most DIY projects require the use of tools, from simple ones like scissors to power gears like drills.
• Make sure that kids only use age-appropriate tools that are appropriate for the project.
• This means providing blunt-edged cutters or giving them simple power tools like a glue gun instead of a heat gun.
• Never, under any circumstance, allow children to experiment with electric-powered tools on their own.

• While DIY projects help develop skills and dexterity at an early age, the kid's safety should never be compromised.
• When safety precautions are observed, adults should know when to give (and insist on giving) assistance and when to let the young ones rise above a difficult step on their own.
• Tell children that it's not only okay to ask for help, it's the smart thing to do if they want to become the best DIY workers in the world.