The Importance of Teaching Your Children About Electrical Safety

Everyday electricity surrounds us inside and outside, at home and at our jobs. We become so used to electricity that sometimes we forget just how dangerous it can really be. A lot of injuries and electrical fires can be avoided if proper electrical safety is learned and followed. This is especially important for children. Parents should start teaching their kids about electrical safety as soon as possible to avoid injury. Consider taking the time to talk to them about electrical safety in the home and outside. Your trusted electricians at the Lake of the Ozarks some advice for teaching your children about electrical safety.


Start Early! 

As soon as your children start to talk, and understand the world around them it's a good idea to start teaching them as soon as possible. For the really little ones, start by talking to them about electrical outlets. As soon as they begin to become mobile they can reach electrical outlets and they could stick their little fingers or other objects into the electrical outlets. It's best to have covers over your outlets. Not sure what the best way to protect your outlets? Read our blog Childproof Outlets 101. Even if you do cover your outlets, it's still best to teach them to not go near the outlet in case a cover falls off or you go somewhere that do not have safety outlets in place. 

Make it Fun and Engaging

Let's face it, learning about electrical safety is not the most fun subject to learn about. It is easy for kids to disengage and become uninterested in what you are talking about. You should try to make it fun and age appropriate. Here are a few ideas to make teaching them about electricity a little more fun. 

Keep it Simple

You should be enthusiastic when teaching them to keep them engaged. You also want to keep it as simple as possible so they understand. Teach them things like don't stick anything into outlets, what is electricity and why it's dangerous etc...


Be Relatable 

One of the easiest ways to teach a child is to relate it to something that they are interested in. For example, if they love superheroes, tell them that Storm, from the X-Men, saves the world with a powerful hammer. The reason he can do that is that he understands electricity and always wants to keep everyone safe because he is a superhero. If your children have other characters that they admire, try to relate back to them telling them that those characters care about their safety and understand the importance of electrical safety. 

Show them a Video 

Especially in today's technology-driven world, kids can learn a lot from watching a video. We found a great video from Oklahoma Gas & Electic. Have your kids watch this short video and then talk about what they learned afterward.  


Go For a Walk

Kids and adults both learn greatly from hands-on learning. Take them around your home and explain the dangers of electricity around your home. Show them electrical outlets, and talk about appliances in your home. Stress the dangers of sticking anything into an electrical outlet besides a plug. Don't forget to mention to not overcrowd the outlets either. If your kids are into games and electronics it is important that they know that a fire can start if they plug too many things into an outlet. 

Don't forget to go outside! If you live in a neighborhood, remind them to never go near the big green boxes because they are very dangerous. If you live or vacation at the Lake, don't forget to talk about dock safety! You should help your children to understand the dangers of electricity on your dock and about how dock shock can happen. Let them know if they ever feel a tinge in the water, they should ALWAYS swim away and not exit at the dock. For more dock safety tips, read our blog Tips for Dock Electricity Safety

Everyone learns differently so be sure to find the best way to teach your children about electrical safety. Our team of electricians at the Lake of the Ozarks hopes that a few of these tips help when teaching your little ones. It really is extremely important to talk about. According to ESFi, 24,000+ children under the age of 10 are treated in the emergency room yearly for an electrical outlet injury alone. So take it seriously because injuries happen every day. If you ever experience an issue with your electric at you home, be sure to give the best electricians at the Lake of the Ozarks a call! We want to keep you and your family safe!   

Quality Work With Integrity

 Catalyst Electric: Best electrician service at the Lake of the Ozarks  


1106 Runabout Drive
Osage Beach, Mo 65065
(573) 552-8488 -Phone
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