I've spent years developing a garden filled with flowers, herbs, shrubs and trees. I've also put a lot of effort into making my garden a place where my grandchildren could play safely and learn about growing gardens of their own. We've spent countless hours playing and learning together. I patiently follow these precious little girls around the garden teaching them the paths and being careful that they don't eat any harmful berries, flowers or leaves.

Being such an avid plant lover, my home is also filled with my favorite house plants - african violets, stefonata, aloes, hanging plants and large potted plants of various types in every room. I've made every effort to insure that any plants that may be harmful if ingested or touched by the children are placed high above their reach, even climbing distance. This is not always easy, although a very necessary precaution. In 1988 approximately 100,000 accidental plant exposures were reported to poison control centers. Nearly 80 per cent involved children under the age of six. Some serious poisonings and, occasionally, even death resulted from plant ingestions.

This is a frightening report, but don't jump up and throw out all your plants. Plants enrich our lives, especially on those cold or gloomy winter days. It doesn't mean that families with small children need to live in homes totally devoid of plants. There are many plants that are perfectly safe to have in your home.

As a precaution, move your plants to a safe out-of-reach place. Teach your children never to eat nonfood plants. Identify your plants and learn which plants are poisonous and which are relatively harmless. When buying plants or if you are given a plant as a gift, be sure to record the correct name of the plant. This is the botanical name not the common name. Although, employees of nurseries and other sources of plants try to be helpful, to be certain if a plant is safe you should check with your local poison control center and/or in the books listed at the end of this article usually found at your local library or book store. If not, ask your library or favorite book store to obtain these books. Then, just in case of an emergency, always keep emergency telephone numbers such as your local poison control center handy. Write it down and keep it in your wallet for emergencies when visiting friends or relatives. Check your first aid-kit for activated charcoal. Available at pharmacies without prescription, activated charcoal is administered to absorb a wide range of toxins. If you should need to make a trip to an emergency room for treatment, be sure to take the plant with you for identification. In doing this, you may prevent needless, uncomfortable treatment for your child.

For general information, I've listed here a few common house and garden plants that are relatively harmless (+). The second list contains names of a few common house and garden plants that are toxic or which contain harmful compounds (-). This can either be through ingestion or exposure to the plants. Also listed at the end of this article are titles of a few books that are excellent plant guides and helpful in identifying safe or harmful plants.

By all means, teach your children the rewarding joys of growing their own plants in the house or in the garden. It's a wonderful way to encourage nurturing and caring in children, especially when pets are not allowed, and a great way to spend quality time with them. For the children's' sake and for your own peace of mind, it is important to identify your plants and to move questionable plants safely out-of-reach. Some plants should be removed entirely. Remember, teach your children never to eat nonfood plants.

A Magick Garden has made all reasonable efforts to assure the accuracy of the information contained in this article. However, parents retain ultimate responsibility for insuring the health and safety of their children and A Magick Garden, therefore, assumes no such responsibility.

Don't forget about your pets! Some plants can be toxic to pets as well, especially members of the lily family. Rid your house of plants that are poisonous to pets, and consider finding a pet insurance company for dealing with any unforseen pet medical emergency. Plans for pet insurance can save you from making the agonizing decision of choosing between your pet's life and your financial needs.

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Reference:
A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants: A Handbook for Pharmacists, Physicians, Toxicologists and Biologists, Wofe House, London
A Field Guide to Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms of North America, C.K. Levy and R.B. Primack, Stephen Greene Press, Brattleboro
AMA Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants, K.F. Lamke and M.A. McCann, American Medical Association, Chicago
An Illustrated Guide to Some Poisonous Plants and Animals of Florida, G. R. Campbell, Pineapple Press, Miami
Exotica IV: A Pictorial Cyclopedia of Exotic Plants and Tropica: A Color Encyclopedia of Exotic Plants, A.B. Graf, Roehrs Company, East Rutherford
Human Poisoning from Nature and Cultivated Plants, J. Hardin and J.M. Arena, Duke University Press, Durham
Poisonous Plants: A Color Field Guide, L. Woodward, Hippocrene Books, New York