If you have a garden, there is nothing better than letting the kids out to play on a warm summers day. The first important thing is to have an area where a young child can play without wandering off unnoticed. A fenced yard is ideal, but if you dont have one, for smaller children, a play pen is a good idea. At least you know where they are.

Sandpits are a great source of fun. Try to keep them covered when not in use, as cats find them a convenient toilet.

Swings are good value, but buy one with a soft seat. Too many injuries result from being walloped on the head with a wooden seat.

Make sure your shed is locked at all times, and use a quality padlock that wont rust up and get thrown away.

It may sound silly, but when you drive off in your car, make sure you know where your children are. Too many children have been injured by their parents driving over them!

And a surprising number of children receive severe burns from open barbecues and bonfires. Again, it is vital to keep an eye on the children at all times.

Insist on the use of safety helmets when using bicycles.

And when in the sun remember that babys skin is very prone to burning and that early overexposure is linked to skin cancer later in life. Put on a hat, cover up, and use UV protection cream.

The message is to keep a good eye on your children pretty much all of the time, and to take sensible precautions so that when you do lose sight of them for those short periods, they are less likely to come to grief!

As you can see, the main thing with child safety is being aware of the potential dangers in the home, and then acting to minimise the risks.