How to Protect Your House from Hyper Kids

You want your kids to be able to have fun and be kids; you also want to have an adult atmosphere without having to worry about the kids breaking your crystal vase given to you by your late grandmother’s at your wedding. There is a balance that doesn’t involve yelling, it does however involve planning ahead of time.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. STAY AWAY FROM FLOOR LAMPS
   
   It’s scary to hear glass break and to see your child's bare foot next to a broken lamp, or worse to have them try to help pick up the pieces of glass when they are far too young to help. Don’t make this scenario an option when your kids are young and full of energy. If the room doesn’t have a built in light consider buying one that you hang from the ceiling. This way they can’t trip over it, bump it or examine it to see how it works.

2. KEEP THE AREA CLEAR
   
   The best way to keep kids from picking and losing important papers, money or bills is to keep it out of sight. This also works well at keeping nosy neighbors and family members out of these things as well.

3. PROTECT WOOD FURNITURE
   
   Always have a plastic covering or table cloth over your wood table. When your kids decide to stab the table, color, cut or whatnot, there will be some level of protection. As for other wood furniture in the house, consider waiting until the kids are older to buy nicer pieces if you want to save your sanity.

4. SHIELD BREAKABLES
   
   Even if you don’t allow baseball practice or lightsaber fights in your home, they still will happen at some point. Keep glass, ceramic, figurines and breakables on high shelves or behind glass. Great-grandma’s china would be better kept in the cupboard or safely in the china cabinet.

5. KEEP TOYS IN THE PLAYROOM
   
   To the best of your ability keep toys where they belong to eliminate messes but to also stop people from stepping on them and potentially breaking the toy and their foot. Nothing’s worse than the pain of stepping on a sharp lego or a metal plane. Not to mention whatever you or your child is going to fall upon on your way down.

6. MOUNT WHAT YOU CAN
   
   Mount things like coat racks, mirrors, picture frames and flat screen televisions. Not only do you stop potential falls and breaks but you also save fabulous space. Make sure you’re mounting it high enough to make a difference. You don’t want The Grim Reaper accidentally chopping your mounted candle sticks while he poses for a Halloween picture. Things in the house are no doubt going to get broken, accidents happen, but following these steps can certainly help.