Since your home office is filled with stuff that could be dangerous to kids, it might be helpful to be able to lock the door to it when you are not there. If you need to have the kids with you while you are working there, be sure to childproof the room with anti-tip devices, outlet covers, and other means. (See Childproofing your home office, part I.)

You might also keep a stash of items in your office that will occupy your child so you can work. This can be as simple as a box of crayons and a coloring book, some stickers and a sticker book, or a special toy. This entertainment box will keep him busy and away from sharp items on or in your desk. Here are other tips for a safe home office:

• Your desk should be off limits. Teach your child to stay away from your desk, and keep staplers and other sharp objects such as pushpins, pencils, paperclips, scissors, and letter openers well out of his reach. Lock up such dangerous items when you are not using them.

• Teach your child never to touch equipment. Keep his hands away from printers, DVD players, shredders, and anything else he could get his hand caught in. He may not know how to work this equipment, but he will copy the way you use it and could get hurt.

• Unplug your shredder after each use. Don’t use it if your child is in the room. He should also never be left unsupervised around a paper shredder.