One of the best ways to prevent lead poisoning is to teach your children about lead safety. However, getting the conversation started isn’t easy. Here are a few tips you can take to teach your family lead safety.
1. Learn About Prevention
Before you teach your children about lead safety, you need to learn about the topic. You can’t educate them if you don’t know all of the critical precautions against lead exposure.
For example, you should learn about the most common causes of lead poisoning. Research the ways that you can prevent lead poisoning in your home. Additionally, you should learn about the signs and symptoms of lead poisoning.
You need to be ready to answer all of the questions that your children have about lead exposure. Once you know how to prevent issues with lead, you can start teaching your children and answering their questions.
2. Get Creative with Your Conversations
Kids don’t respond well to lectures. Although you might be tempted to lecture your kids about lead safety, there are better methods. You can get creative with your conversations.
If your children are particularly young, then songs can be a great way to discuss lead safety. Go online and research songs about lead exposure prevention. Although it might seem like an obscure topic, there are several resources available
Another possibility is to tell stories about lead. Children of all ages respond well to stories. They make it easier for children to relate to the issue. Additionally, stories are more memorable than discussions. Once again, you can look online if you need some inspiration.
Finally, you can role play with your kids. As your children act through dramatic situations, they learn lessons. A role-playing activity could make lead safety more memorable.
3. Make Your Child a Lead Poisoning Prevention Officer
On any designated day, appoint your child Lead Poisoning Prevention Officer. To make the activity more exciting, you can offer a reward to the child at the end of the day.
Ask your child to ensure that everyone in the household regularly washes his hands. Additionally, have your child go through your home and look for any sources of lead. Then, ask your child how you can make your home safer. If your child takes the job seriously, then he will learn a great deal about lead safety.
4. Do Your Part
There is only so much that you can do to teach your children about lead safety. However, there are steps that you can take to keep them safe. All of the following steps can keep your family safe:
- If you live in a residence built before 1978, have an expert test it for lead levels. Even if you are unsure of the age of your home, you should have an expert test your home.
- Keep your children away from peeling paint. The paint could be a source of lead exposure.
- Ensure that all lead paint repairs on your home occur in a safe manner. If a company does not follow regulations, then you and your family could be at risk.
- Keep bare dirt to a minimum. If possible, plant grass over dirt or use mulch. You should also encourage your children to take off their shoes after playing outside.
- Encourage your kids to wash their hands frequently. Wash baby toys frequently, to avoid mouth contact with lead particles.
- Watch your diet. There are certain foods for babies and toddlers that have high levels of lead. If you want to avoid lead exposure, avoid feeding your children such foods. Feeding your children a healthy diet can also limit the amount of lead that their bodies absorb.
If you’re ready to become an expert on lead paint, then contact us at ZOTA Pro. We can help you get your lead paint certification. In addition to keeping your home and your family safe, you can keep others safe as well.
