Having a balcony in your condo living is nice—high, beautiful view of the outside, and it could also be a space for you to take a fresh breath of air after taking a break from a long day of work. However, that may not be the case for people who live with kids. Did you even know that balconies and terraces are one of the riskiest areas in any home for curious toddlers and active children? Children are naturally inquisitive. Curious children can be quite quick, and it only takes a second for a child to flee. Are you concerned that your child will be harmed while playing on the balcony? Kids are living in their own fantasy land and are unconcerned about what is going on around them. They are so caught up in their busy routine that they are oblivious to their own safety and security. Parents must keep an eye on them to ensure that their children are not in danger.
Unsafe balcony designs can result in bruises or worse for your children. One of the most prevalent causes of children slipping down and having terrible accidents is an unprotected balcony. As a parent or guardian of an eccentric toddler or child, the primary responsibility for keeping a youngster safe eventually falls on your shoulders, especially if they live in your condo. Let us protect our children from a usually dangerous circumstance that could occur on a balcony. Fortunately, you should be able to avoid these incidents with supervision and a few simple actions.
As the number of accidents involving children falling over balconies rises, we should be concerned about making our balcony designs childproof. Now, how do we make the balcony in our condo design kid-friendly?
Safety Over Fancy
Sleek and stylish railings used in balconies may give the place a beautiful and fresh look, but they do very little for the safety of the people who live in it. People who live in a condo unit with a high balcony should be more concerned with their personal safety and the safety of their children than with the aesthetic design. Small children are at risk of falling through these elegant steel railings. The distance between the rails on many balconies is large enough for children to slide under. What’s the use of those unique, aesthetically pleasing condo designs if their only purpose is to look good and not to be safe?
Here are a few things that you could put up in your balcony railings to increase the level of protection for your toddlers and kids:
- Plexiglass
- Plastic Shield
- Wire or Plastic Mesh
- Grills
- Additional Slats and Spindles
- Old Cardboards (for a temporary solution)
Let’s not feel bad for investing in these. Fancy is nice, but safety is better.
Keep the Furniture Away
Is there any furniture put on your balcony? If your child is old enough to push furniture against the balcony railings but is too young to grasp the dangers of doing so, you must be particularly cautious at all times. Children who wish to climb over the railing or just sit on the furniture to have a better view of the outdoors risk falling.
One of the simplest methods to make your balcony child-safe is to remove any outdoor furniture you may have placed in the open area. Maintain a safe distance between seats, tables, chairs, and the balcony railings. If you have a small balcony, keep it clear of furnishings. Even if you prefer having your evening coffee on the balcony during your 10-minute break from heavy workloads, remember to bring all furniture pieces inside once you've finished using them. If you wish to entertain visitors there, simply pull out some seats.
It is also recommended for weighty pieces of furniture to be purchased in order to ensure the safety of children on balconies. The heavier the furniture, the harder it would be for kids to bring it all the way to the balcony and climb it to gaze out the window. Another thing is to avoid putting boxes or items that your children can stack up and climb to.
Add Security Locks
Regardless of how many measures you take, there is still a potential that your child will find his or her way to the balcony while you are at work. Even if you already put away the furniture, or made sure that the balcony railings are well-shielded by good material, it’s never too much to try and maximize your child’s safety—another proven and tested balcony safety strategy for keeping unaccompanied children away from the area is to add locks.
Remember that children can be quite observant and may learn to open the door after seeing you do it a few times. Locks can be figured out by even young children, thus it's preferable to install two types of locks, just to ensure and double up the security. As a childproofing measure, it is recommended that you put two different locks (or more if necessary) on your balcony door. If the door already has a built-in lock, you may simply purchase a latch from any hardware store and install it out of your child's reach. If your home has a sliding door, you can keep it from moving open by placing a narrow board on the door's track.
Conduct Regular Safety Checks
More than starting to make your condo balcony kid-friendly, it is also important to be consistent with it. Check railings and locks on a regular basis to ensure they are still in good working order. Because balconies are technically outside, they are prone to weather wear and tear. We never know—what if one part of the railings come undone and your child, unfortunately, slips through it, because you haven’t checked the safety and security of your condo design frequently?
It's never wrong to double-check when it regards to your safety and security. If you discover cracks or corrosion that may endanger you as the time comes, repair or replace it as quickly as possible.
Make Balconies Safe and Sound
Unfortunately, many toddlers injure themselves or worse after tumbling over the balcony by accident. Not to mention, it is equally necessary for parents to supervise and teach their children about the dangers of climbing the balcony railing or attempting to slip through the gaps in its design.
When it concerns childproofing your home, you simply cannot disregard balcony safety for kids, whether you live in a two-story house or a condo unit. It is now more vital than ever to discuss ideas to make your balcony design child-friendly, in addition to the condo design or the aesthetic impression it displays.
If you are living in a condo unit with a balcony and have children or toddlers who wander around there, making the balcony kid-friendly should be a top priority! Have a safe and sound condo living for you and your children!
If you are thinking of moving into a new condominium, check out Vista Residences!
Vista Residences is the condominium arm of the country’s largest homebuilder, Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. that offers ready for occupancy and pre-selling condominium projects in Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Ortigas, Baguio, Cebu, and CDO that are strategically located within major cities, in close proximity to premium universities, transit-oriented locations, and developed business districts.
For more information on Vista Residences, email [email protected], follow @VistaResidencesOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, or call the Marketing Office at 0999 886 4262 / 0917 582 5167.
