How old should children be before we have a garden pond?

Rachie_B

Peakma wrote: »

Personally I would be inclined to keep it.We had a stream with a pond like part dug out in the middle running through our garden when we were kids,there were five of us.That part of the garden was fenced off and we were only aloud near when an adult was around.My parents still live there and my kids poke around in it.Maybe you could fence yours off,or like others have said have a strong cover made.Ponds attract so much wildlife which is beneficial for your children to observe.If you do decide to get rid,maybe it would be possible to wait till the taddies are little frogs,or maybe you could freecycle them!
As a mother of three I under stand kids must be kept safe, obviously ponds are a hazard,but so are so many other things,from eating grapes to falling down the stairs.Personally I do think health and safety regarding children has gone a bit too far.,I personally think it is important to let kids experience danger to a small degree(I don't mean stand back and let things like this happen,and I don't mean don't watch them at all,what I mean is in the long run little accidents like this can actually teach them to avoid bigger accidents,does that make sense at all?)
I realise a pond is different,but the kids of op are quite old 4 and 6 it's not like they are toddlers.
Children are precious and irreplaceable,they need protection and guidance,but the way some kids are completely wrapped in cotton wool,I don't think is good for their overall well being and confidence.
Op,do what ever makes you most comfortable,if you cant relax and are in fear of your kids safety,maybe you should try to re-home creatures and drain,but if the thought of doing this seems like a bit of a shame,and you think you and the kids will miss it,maybe you could make it as safe as possible,and explain the dangers to your kids.

I agree with this post

pingua

I lived beside the sea when I was a child....

I agree with above post (- have to admitt I have only read the first and last post.)

Swimming/paddling pools in summer???? Teaspoon of water...

Do what you feel is right.

ailuro2

dawnybabes wrote: »

Whats a heatguard ?

It is a little valve that is connected to both the hot and cold supplies and you can set the temperature of your water to sotp kids burning themselves.
Cost aorund $30 GBP but we felt it was worth the added expense when we got our bathroom done, as our 8yo is more independent in the bathroom these days.


http://www.rwc.co.uk/Product.aspx?page=CAT1#-1_g-CAT1_idProductDetail

is just one example, should be available from most plumber's merchants. I got the idea after I saw one installed at work where the water is very hot.hth:D

quietheart

I'm grateful for everyone's opinions, I didn't expect quite so many of them but am grateful nonetheless!
For the moment we are keeping the pond......... We are going to get an iron grid cover made so wildlife can get in and out but it will withstand the weight of my boys (combined weight just in case!) They both have cautious/anxious temperaments and have never gone near the pond without asking a grown-up to go with them, they certainly seem to understand the dangers but I'm aware they are little boys and I can't put the responsibility of their safety on their shoulders.
I am cautious myself but balk at over-cautious parenting. I want to keep them safe but want them to have broad-ranging life experiences and being realistic that has to include experience of dangerous situations as well.
We saw a couple of fish in the murky waters today, god knows how they've survived. Looking forward to making it safe now. :j

ailuro2

Aww, I'm glad you have decided to keep it.:T
The fish will appreciate a little food now it's spring....fwiw there are lots of fishy forums online too- look at my avatar- who can give you good advice on how best to look after them- they do need a bit of help to stay healthy-some pellets will only cost a couple of pounds,and the boys can feed them for you.

quietheart

ailuro2 wrote: »

Aww, I'm glad you have decided to keep it.:T
The fish will appreciate a little food now it's spring....fwiw there are lots of fishy forums online too- look at my avatar- who can give you good advice on how best to look after them- they do need a bit of help to stay healthy-some pellets will only cost a couple of pounds,and the boys can feed them for you.

being new to this can you please excuse my ignorance:o , are the pellets food or vitamins? is goldfish food acceptable?

Claudie

ailuro2 wrote: »

There are risks everywhere, and the home is the most dangerous place to be statisitically as far as accidents rather than actual deaths go,iirc.


For the posters who would fill in all the ponds-I do see your points, but I have to ask- do you have shut off valves on all your bath and sink taps that are inaccessible to your kids? Do all the hotwater taps in your home have heatguards on them to prevent scalding while handwashing? ACTUALLY WE HAVE TURNED DOWN THE MAIN BOILER THERMOSTAT TO PREVENT SCALDS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Is there a padlock on your toilet seat to prevent little heads tipping down into the toilet water? YES THERE WAS WHEN DS WAS SMALL -YOU CAN BUY THEM FROM ANY DIY SHOP

Are all alcohol, vitamins, cleaning fluids,knives,glasses and other breakables in childproof cabinets? AGAIN YES - A LOCKED CUPBOARD

No carrier bags from the supermarket in a handy drawer for re-use? NOPE NONE - A BAG FULL ON THE BACK OF THE DOOR IN A BAG CARRIER THING FROM DUNELM

Electrical sockets suitably guarded to prevent inquisitive fingers pulling out the plug? YUP - ALL SOCKETS COVERED

No cups of tea on a low table? NOPE - NEVER DID, NEVER WILL. ACTUALLY OUR DS HIT OR FELL OVER THE COFFEE TABLE SO OFTEN WE ENDED UP TAKING IT OUT TO THE GARAGE AND IT NEVER RETURNED )


While we all want to do everything humanly possible to safeguard our kids they do need to be taught to always think safety, no matter how old they are.Yes, we have drawer locks and heatguards, but not on every drawer and tap as life would be impractical. Better they know the dangers, especially when we know that not every home they visit will be as safe as our own.

We also installed limiters on all upstairs windows and high locks on the doors to prevent them being opened wothout us there. We had soft foam cushions on the doortops to prevent them from being slammed on little fingers and we have a fire extinguisher, a carbon monoxide detector and a smoke alarm.

I also cut grapes in half until DS was about 4 (and I still cut large ones now out of habit) and he didn't eat nuts. And he also wasn't allowed balloons until he was school age (one of the main causes of suffocation in children).

While we took safety precautions, we weren't obsessive about it but we were realistic as to what causes the most accidents in the home. Prevention to me is far better than any cure.

About 5 years ago a colleague of my husband had his 3 year old son drown in their own covered pond. The Mum went to the toilet and the little boy took himself out the unlocked back door and somehow tragically died. About a month later a boy on our estate died when he stuck a knife in an electrical socket - his Mum was upstairs "for a minute"

Accidents happen absolutely but I make no apologies for trying not to have them happen to us. A preventable accident is something I know I would never forgive myself for.

And I feel almost obliged to add my DS is an outgoing, rough and tumble little boy who plays out regularly, is involved in sport and does loads of regular park visits to appreciate wildlife. He isn't wrapped in cotton wool by any means but I run a "Monica" household as my DH says....

Claudie

rovers wrote: »

I'm grateful for everyone's opinions, I didn't expect quite so many of them but am grateful nonetheless!
For the moment we are keeping the pond......... We are going to get an iron grid cover made so wildlife can get in and out but it will withstand the weight of my boys (combined weight just in case!) They both have cautious/anxious temperaments and have never gone near the pond without asking a grown-up to go with them, they certainly seem to understand the dangers but I'm aware they are little boys and I can't put the responsibility of their safety on their shoulders.
I am cautious myself but balk at over-cautious parenting. I want to keep them safe but want them to have broad-ranging life experiences and being realistic that has to include experience of dangerous situations as well.
We saw a couple of fish in the murky waters today, god knows how they've survived. Looking forward to making it safe now. :j

I have never seen the iron grid covers but it sounds like a good compromise. If this weather holds you will have plenty of opportunity to enjoy it!

vygec

We moved in to our new house around a year ago, and inherited a pond. we have 2 toddlers, and have managed to cover the pond through this route:

http://www.pondsafety.com/

really happy with the results, and the frame is VERY rigid.

sticher

Claudie wrote: »

Prevention to me is far better than any cure./QUOTE]

I agree totally, but with all these so called 'safety' devices, are the children being lulled in to a false sense of security? For example for those with the heatguards on taps (never heard of them before), will their children realise that some taps do have extremely hot water?

My children know ponds can be dangerous - they were taught from very tiny. As they have one in their own garden, not only are they aware of the dangers, but they are not as curious about other ponds/lakes, etc.

To me I think it is far better a child is taught about danger - even maybe experience a minor danger (eg scald on the hand from a tap) than be oblivious of danger.

Not aimed at anyone here I have to say, but aren't some of these precautions also likely to mean that some parents 'think' they don't need to supervise their children properly?

As for it not being practical to take two children with you when you need the toilet - my two youngest are only 18 months apart and if the phone rang, etc or I needed the toilet then all three came indoors and the back door was locked. No hardship to me.