Each holiday season seems busier than the last. Before Santa Claus can visit, there are parties to plan, feasts to prepare, shopping to do, gifts to wrap, and a neverending list of activites that challenge everyone's stamina.

As busy as it always is, this is also the time of the year that's most fun for many families, particularly if they have small children. The promise of Santa Claus's visit is always waiting, just ahead, on Christmas Eve. But as wonderful as the holidays can be, parents need to remember that they also harbor a few hazards.

Fortunately, the dangers of fire, associated with Christmas trees, have been well- publicized, and modern holiday consumers can now purchase lights and trees which are safer than ever before.

But, when young children are present, fire isn't the only possible danger around the Christmas tree. Shiny, colorful ornaments, hanging off a tree's branches, can be kid magnets. And it doesn't take a lot of effort for a tiny tot, yanking an ornament, to pull a Christmas tree over. Parents should make sure that ornaments are high enough to be out of reach of their little ones' fingers.

Those cool strands of mini-lights which have made trees so much safer are often used throughout many homes as extra decoration, during the holidays. They still need electricity, and that often means cords running every which way, from outlet to light strand. Cords that carry electricity should always be secured in such a way that little children can't play with them. Parents should monitor childrens' presence in areas where decorative lighting is used.

Besides the Christmas tree, there are many other live plants that people often use to decorate with, during the holidays, If plants such as mistletoe or holly are used in the home, they should be hung, like ornaments, high beyond the reach of children. Many of the most popular live plant decorations contain toxins which can harm children, if ingested.

With all of the parties during the holidays, it's hard for parents to police every location where their children are likely to find themselves. Before attending a party or family gathering away from home, parents might want to ask the hosts if their home is kid-proof. If it's not, then parents should keep a close eye on their young children, or consider leaving them with a babysitter. It only takes an instant to receive an electical shock, or to pull down a priceless antique.

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year. But for parents of small children, getting through it can seem like running a marathon. Observing a few safety measures can make the race a little less stressful.

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