Communicating safety issues to a child is a delicate balancing act. Part of a parent's responsibility is to not be too obsessed with safety. Don't make your child feel that you don't trust his abilities. You want your child to feel safe and be safe without making him worried or scared that he will get hurt easily. Explain safety issues to your child without putting the focus on his abilities. For example, rather than saying, “I think you're going to fall,” you might say, “Do you see how these steps are uneven? They are hard to walk on.” A one-year-old has no idea that much of what fascinates him outside, from cars to animals to nature, can be dangerous. And while no one wants to discourage a child from the outdoors, this is an age when you really have to keep a close eye on your child.

One good idea for keeping your young child safe outdoors is to have an area that he can play in, but one that isn't so big that you have to continually chase him or stand nearby. If you have a very large back yard, consider fencing off an area. It will be a good way to keep all his outdoor toys together and to keep him contained so that he can't get near a pool or hot tub or other dangerous areas that might hold lawn equipment or tools.

Moving Vehicles

One-year-olds can move very quickly when they want to and are able to zip from the back yard to the driveway, for instance, or to run off in a busy parking lot. They can get into the garage before you know it, too. While many parents spend a lot of energy making sure their young children are buckled into their car seats properly, it's also important that parents and other adults be very aware of children when they are outside of the car. If you are planning to drive anywhere when you know your child is playing outside, check your mirrors carefully. If you know your child is close by but can't see her in your mirrors, get out of the car and look around to be sure she is safe before you drive off.

Steps and Balconies

Outdoor steps are often difficult for children to navigate, as they can be made from slate, brick, or other uneven materials, and they don't always have railings. Because one-year-olds don't yet have a great sense of balance and their legs are not always able to negotiate the space from one step to another easily, it is much more difficult for them to step down than it is for them to climb up. Always offer your hand to your child when he's approaching stairs. You may have to carry your child upstairs until he is two.

Balconies usually have bars and railings, but children can easily slip through these. A child should never be on a balcony alone, as he will want to climb and explore past the protected boundaries.

Pool Safety

Foam bubbles, water wings, life jackets, and other certified flotation devices are a must for a baby near water. Even if you are holding your child, she should always have something on her body that will keep her afloat if something should happen while she's in or near the water. While your child may be able to naturally paddle or seems to be able to stay afloat in the water, she should never be considered a swimmer. Pools should have fences and covers, as well as motion detectors and sensors so that small children do not get into them when no one is looking. These sensors are available at hardware stores, pool supply stores, and Web sites and stores that sell child-safety equipment, such as www.childsafetystore.com.

Many one-year-olds love playing in kiddie pools, which are those small plastic pools you can buy at most pool and toy stores and that you fill with water from a garden hose. Do not leave your child alone near a kiddie pool, and put water wings on her if she wants to try to swim or float. Always empty the pool after you're done using it. That way your child can't somehow wander to it and fall in while you are distracted, and you won't be leaving the water in the pool to get dirty. Kiddie pool water doesn't have chlorine in it to kill germs.