Hour of Science

Safety

Safety rules for science at home

Home science is safe when the rules are clear before anything starts. Children do the watching, guessing and most of the doing. Adults handle heat, sharp tools and anything a child might swallow.

Family lab rules

  1. An adult is in the room for every experiment.
  2. Read all the steps together before you begin.
  3. Nothing goes in your mouth unless an adult says it is a food activity.
  4. Tie back long hair, roll up sleeves and wear old clothes.
  5. Wear safety glasses for anything that could splash or fly.
  6. Work on a tray and wipe spills right away.
  7. Wash hands before you start and when you finish.

What adults always handle

Some steps are adult-only on every activity, whatever the child's age. On the table of experiments, these show up as more filled dots.

  • Heat: kettles, stoves, ovens, microwaves and hot water.
  • Sharp tools: knives, craft blades and cutting plastic bottles.
  • Balloons: blowing up, tying and disposing of them. Uninflated and broken balloons are a choking hazard for children under 8.
  • Glass: anything glass that could break, especially with hot liquid.

What stays off the table

Our activities never use these, and we suggest you skip any experiment online that does:

  • Cleaning products, bleach, drain cleaner or anything with a hazard warning on the label. Some cleaners give off harmful gases when mixed.
  • Medicines, vitamins or anything from a medicine cabinet.
  • Flames, matches, lighters and fireworks.
  • Button batteries and small, strong magnets, which are very dangerous if swallowed.
  • Dry ice, and strong versions of household chemicals made for professional use.

Small parts and young children

Children under 3 put things in their mouths, so keep small objects like beans, raisins, washers, beads and pasta well out of reach when little ones are around, even if an older sibling is doing the experiment. Plastic wrap and plastic bags are a suffocation risk for babies and toddlers.

If something goes wrong

If something gets in an eye, rinse it gently with clean running water for several minutes and get medical advice. If a child swallows something they shouldn't or feels unwell, contact your local poison center or emergency number straight away. In the United States, Poison Help is 1-800-222-1222, and 911 is for emergencies. Outside the US, check your national health service for the right number, and keep it on the fridge.

This page is general safety information for families. For a specific health worry, speak to a doctor or your local poison center.