Tracey DishmanPatterson () -

Childproofing Your Office

If you are working from home while the kids are there, your kids will be in your office with you, at least some of the time. This way you can keep an eye on them, besides, they want to be where Mom or Dad is anyway. Childproofing your office makes it a safe place for your child and a safe place for your business.

If you have very young ones, literally crawl around your office to get a perspective of the enticements and dangers to your child. Older children are able to follow any office rules you lay down, but even they can be tempted by some new item. Evaluate your office from their view and make changes before your child or your work is jeopardized.

- Move or cushion furniture with sharp corners and secure

heavy furniture that can be toppled

- Lock drawers

- Put outlet covers on any open outlets

- Hide cords that beg to be pulled or tripped over. Use cord

organizers or run them under special cord mats or behind

furniture

- Cover disk drives and other enticing openings with tape or

cardboard attached with VelcroŽ

- Put away the small stuff like paper clips, rubber bands,

and staples.

- Put away the sharp objects as well, scissors, push pins,

pencils, etc.

- Set up a screensaver with password on your computer

- Keep objects you don't want touched in less accessible

areas: on shelves, on filing cabinets, in closets

- Pack books tightly in the bookshelf if you don't want little

ones pulling them out.

- Install shelves on the walls to place items above reach

- Purchase plastic bins with lids for storing supplies.

Colored bins obscure the contents inside and provide less

temptation.

- Create a filing system that keeps papers filed away.

Desktop trays or vertical wall hanging folders work well

for in and out boxes.

Tracey Dishman Patterson

tranndee@parentshomeoffice.com

The Parent's Home Office

http://www.parentshomeoffice.com

• http://www.parentshomeoffice.com

Comment #1 Kim (207.179.175.29) -

This is an awesome article concerning childproofing your home office. There are a lot of tips here, that I'm sure most people wouldn't think of. When working from home, especially around small children, there are a lot of things that you have to take into consideration, whereas you wouldn't have to worry a lot about these things in a regular office.

Comment #2 itsmrsjonesy from * -

I think this is a great post. many people child proof their house but sometimes don't stop to think about the hazards in a home office once they set one up, especially things like desk drawers etc.

Comment #3 Jenn from California -

This is a great idea. My sister works from home and has two little ones. I'm sure she already has it child proofed but I'm going to forward this to her just to give her some tips.

Comment #4 simba from under a rock -

Agreed, great tips right there! I would tghink though i'd prefer to keep the child out of the room... but once they're tall enough to turn the doorknob, what can you do? I guess you could buy a key so you can keep it locked whenever you are not in there?

Comment #5 rowena105 from Anywhere You Want -

For sure they are great tips. Not only are they great tips for childproofing your office but also for childproofing your home.

This should be forwarded on to anyone you know with new babies or young children.

The one thing you need to do anyplace you have children is to get down to their level, i.e. on your hands and knees and see what they see and look at it from a child's point of view. Is it shiny, does it sparkle, is it colourful and if it is any of these things the next question is "could it be harmful". If you answer yes to these questions then it has to be removed.

Comment #6 Allison from California -

Good tips!! My neighbor works from home as a Transcriptionist and she just had a baby. I need to send her this link because I'm sure that she can use them.

Comment #7 jadarose from down south -

Thanks for these tips I love it. I am passing this own to a friend of mine. She needs all the extra help she can get. She has a set of 2 year old twins who get into everything. LOL

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