After a trip out of town to visit some relatives, i was pondering why we "childproof" our houses. I came to the decision that i prefer to think of my house as child friendly, not child proof. Sure there are a couple of things that my girls aren't allowed to touch, and they know it, but in general, i want my girls to feel that this is as much there home as it is ours, and i want them to be free to explore there environment. Therefore, i keep it safe.
I also don't want to be having to tell them not to touch everything in sight, and i don't want to be cleaning up broken vases or messes of threads.
In my opinion, children are entitled to feel at home in their house, and if that means i put child locks on my kitchen cupboards, plastic under my dining table, and a gate to the bathroom, then so be it. I'm happy to have toys in my lounge room, and hand prints on my television, and i really dont mind having breakables up high, or my craft supplies in another room.
I know that my girls, and the other children that visit feel like they are welcome at my house, and that they are free to explore, and play without the worry from either themselves, me or their parents that they might be touching something that they're not supposed to!
I totally agree with you - I think it's so important for children to feel 'at home' in their own home, rather than worrying about what they can & can't touch.
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