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A home for children to play in

Play is a vital part of children’s happiness and all-round development, so you certainly want to encourage it. You simply need to safeguard the areas in your home where innocent play might lead to more than just a minor bump.

A child and an adult talk on a string telephone in a tent made of a beige PÄRUP sofa and a red-brown/white ULLTISTEL throw.
A child and an adult talk on a string telephone in a tent made of a beige PÄRUP sofa and a red-brown/white ULLTISTEL throw.

We should be mindful that anything can become a plaything

For young children, anywhere and everywhere can be a playground. You can’t always predict when, and with what­­­, they will want to play. That's why the most useful thing to do is to look at your house through their eyes. This will help you to identify potential danger areas, so that you can take the necessary steps to reduce risks.

Fortunately, your home can be a place where children playing is a joy, rather than a worry. But it is necessary to keep an eye on certain aspects such as fixing furniture to the wall, keeping all small items that could be choking hazards tidied away and making sure there is no access to windows and stairs.

A child in dark green trousers and a light green top does a somersault on a blue PLUFSIG folding gym mat.

Because they have a higher centre of gravity compared with an adult, it's more difficult for them to keep their balance.

What to look out for so that playtime is a safer time

Imagine that you’re a child again, full of curiosity and adventure. Now, with that perspective, take a walk around your home to see where mishaps could happen.

Fixing furniture to the wall is essential

  • Due to their size, storage cabinets and televisions are very heavy, that's why we highly recommend fixing them to the wall to prevent them tipping over.
  • Store the heaviest items lower down for better stability of storage units.
  • If your children like to climb, keep their toys lower down, so they're less tempted to climb.
  • If there is relatively easy access to the windows, your little ones can find their way to them by accident. Since it's impossible to watch them 24/7, fit UNDVIKA multi latches for peace of mind.
  • Children just love to run around, even inside the house. We recommend using UNDVIKA or PATRULL corner bumpers on low tables just in case there are any trips.
  • You could also place a STOPP FILT anti-slip underlay so that rugs stay in place when you walk on them and keep doubly safe with DRÖMVÄRLD anti-slip socks.

It's best not to leave things lying around

  • Babies and children explore with their mouths, so keep small items out of reach to avoid the risk of choking.
  • Toddlers love to play with their older siblings' toys, so make a habit of checking that these toys don't have small parts.
  • Batteries are necessary for toys to work, but once they're spent, it's best to dispose of them at a designated recycling point to stop your little ones coming into contact with them.
  • Some houseplants are toxic, and plant pots may contain small stones or other choking hazards, so it's best to keep them out of reach.
  • Blind cords pose a certain amount of risk when they hang down the wall. You could fix them to the wall or choose cordless blinds.
  • Power cords are not only unsightly, but they bring an obvious risk if our children are playing close to them. Keep them out of reach with KALKSTUFF cable holders, a SÄTTING cable management box with lid or a RABALDER cable tidy.
At a window, an adult watches a child in a pink t-shirt reach for the handle of a beige SANDVEDEL roller blind.

IKEA blinds have the cords hidden inside, which means there’s less risk of getting tangled up.

Tell us about your experience!