Children have an amazing ability to ferret out anything that's potentially harmful. In your garden, if there's glass to be stepped on by a bare foot, a beehive to unsettle, or a hole to fall into, kids are apt to oblige. One of a parent's jobs is to eliminate such potential accidents as much as possible.

Start by combing the ground, little by little, for anything that might cause trouble: bottle caps, sharp sticks and rocks, protruding pipes or wires, old containers of fertilizer.

Your yard may not conceal any of these troublemakers, but then again, you just might find a few hidden under bushes or in an overgrown corner.

Cover any ponds or abandoned wells. Also fill in any holes, including areas that become puddles after rainfall (small children can drown in just a few inches of water).

Stack firewood and lumber away from play areas. Such piles are tempting to climb but can topple easily; they can also attract rodents, spiders, and snakes.

Securely fence off any dangerous areas of the yard, such as a steep drop-off or thorny growth. It's especially important to fence off pools, hot tubs, and spas (see Child Safety Around Swimming Pools & Spas).

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