It’s essential to teach your children safety rules regarding your garage door when they’re old enough to understand. Not only will it prevent home repairs that could have been avoided, but it will also keep your children safe. Below are several points to cover with your children when having this talk.

What to Teach Kids About Garage Door Safety

1. How It Works

Stand with your child and let them watch the door open and close from both the inside of the garage and the outside. Point out the different parts of the system as it moves, and let them see what it should look like if it’s functioning normally. This should ease their curiosity about the door, but also encourage them to let you know if anything looks different.

2. Parts They Shouldn’t Touch

Children should only touch the handles and the keypad or remote to open the garage, and only if they’re old enough or in case of emergency. Their fingers shouldn’t be in cracks or creases, springs, or in the tracks, as this could lead to injury if the door moves. This will also prevent grease and grime from getting on their skin or clothing. 

3. Warn About the Dangers

A garage door can weigh up to 400 pounds, but the carefully calibrated system makes it easy to move. Overuse from your children opening and closing the door in a playful way could lead to excessive wear, which could cause parts to break. Explain to your children how risky this is and why they shouldn’t play with it.

4. How to Prevent Injury

Sometimes the tracks, handles, or support system can look like a fun object to climb on for children, but this could lead to serious injury if the door is activated while they’re on or near it. Beyond that, make sure your child knows that climbing on it could break the door and a garage door contractor will need to repair or replace it.

If your garage door has been damaged and you need repairs for optimal safety, the team at Automatic Garage Door Repair Service in Monroe County, NY, will get it done. With over 35 years’ experience, their contractors offer home repairs for overhead garage doors and openers. They’re also fully licensed and insured with emergency services available. Learn more about their flexible options online, and call (585) 663-1180 to schedule a service today.