Watch Young Children around These Houseplants
2023-02-07
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1Indoor plants are a beautiful way to brighten up your home, especially in the gray months of winter.
2But there can be a dark side to houseplants if you have children or if children visit your home.
3It is important that you know which plants are toxic to young, curious humans.
4Gardening expert Jessica Damiano recently wrote about the issue for The Associated Press.
5She said she often points out houseplants in friends' homes that should be kept out of children's mouths.
6"I don't mind dashing friends' hopes of an Instagram-worthy indoor jungle if it means...preventing harm," Damiano wrote.
7Kaitlyn Brown works at America's Poison Centers in Arlington, Virginia.
8She told the AP, "We get an average of 33,000 calls a year from people whose kids put different plants in their mouths."
9She added that the cases usually involve children under 3, "because they explore their environment," she said, "and they put everything in their mouths."
10Most accidental exposures are not serious, Brown said.
11But in some cases a child's breathing, skin and eyes can be badly harmed.
12Damiano wrote that she recently visited her cousin's home and saw a Dieffenbachia plant in the kitchen.
13Her cousin told her that her young son, who had just begun crawling, had shown interest in the leaves.
14Damiano had to explain to her cousin that eating a small amount of the plant's stem can cause temporary but severe pain.
15The plant parts can cause throat and mouth swelling.
16The plant's sap can cause nose, skin and eye pain.
17Other plants that can cause similar reactions include: Caladium, flamingo flower, Swiss cheese plant, peace lily, ZZ plant, philodendron and pothos.
18Amaryllis and its relatives including clivia and daffodil, contain lycorine, a toxic substance that can cause a range of stomach issues.
19Damiano wrote that parents should teach their young children not to put non-food plant parts into their mouths.
20Parents should also educate themselves, she said.
21She urges parents to research whether the plants in their homes are safe to grow around children.
22She also suggests learning the official botanical names of any houseplants so that they are able to provide that information quickly to a poison control expert, if needed.
23Not all houseplants are problematic, of course.
24Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are nontoxic and are also among the easiest indoor plants to grow.
25African violets, Boston ferns, Christmas cactus, waxplants, parlor palms, radiator plants, prayer plants and baby's tears are other safe choices.
26I'm Ashley Thompson.
1Indoor plants are a beautiful way to brighten up your home, especially in the gray months of winter. 2But there can be a dark side to houseplants if you have children or if children visit your home. It is important that you know which plants are toxic to young, curious humans. 3Gardening expert Jessica Damiano recently wrote about the issue for The Associated Press. She said she often points out houseplants in friends' homes that should be kept out of children's mouths. "I don't mind dashing friends' hopes of an Instagram-worthy indoor jungle if it means...preventing harm," Damiano wrote. 4Kaitlyn Brown works at America's Poison Centers in Arlington, Virginia. She told the AP, "We get an average of 33,000 calls a year from people whose kids put different plants in their mouths." 5She added that the cases usually involve children under 3, "because they explore their environment," she said, "and they put everything in their mouths." 6Most accidental exposures are not serious, Brown said. But in some cases a child's breathing, skin and eyes can be badly harmed. 7Damiano wrote that she recently visited her cousin's home and saw a Dieffenbachia plant in the kitchen. Her cousin told her that her young son, who had just begun crawling, had shown interest in the leaves. 8Damiano had to explain to her cousin that eating a small amount of the plant's stem can cause temporary but severe pain. The plant parts can cause throat and mouth swelling. The plant's sap can cause nose, skin and eye pain. 9Other plants that can cause similar reactions include: Caladium, flamingo flower, Swiss cheese plant, peace lily, ZZ plant, philodendron and pothos. 10Amaryllis and its relatives including clivia and daffodil, contain lycorine, a toxic substance that can cause a range of stomach issues. 11Damiano wrote that parents should teach their young children not to put non-food plant parts into their mouths. Parents should also educate themselves, she said. She urges parents to research whether the plants in their homes are safe to grow around children. She also suggests learning the official botanical names of any houseplants so that they are able to provide that information quickly to a poison control expert, if needed. 12Not all houseplants are problematic, of course. Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are nontoxic and are also among the easiest indoor plants to grow. 13African violets, Boston ferns, Christmas cactus, waxplants, parlor palms, radiator plants, prayer plants and baby's tears are other safe choices. 14I'm Ashley Thompson. 15Jessica Damiano reported this story for The Associated Press. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. 16_______________________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18dash - v. to destroy or ruin (something, such as a hope or an expectation) 19exposure - n. the fact or condition of being affected by something or experiencing something : the condition of being exposed to something 20swelling - n. the condition of being larger than normal