Children's bedrooms have become a hub  for AV, IT and gaming gadgetry - with potentially dagerous consequences.

When I was 12 years old, the only electrical gadget in my bedroom was a silver, shoe-box-sized radio and tape recorder, on which I would tape songs from "American Top 40" every Sunday afternoon.

My son, who turns 12 this week, has gadgetry galore. On his bedside table, there's a pair of iPod speakers, a clock radio and a high-tech night light. His desk is home to a computer, printer, and chargers for his Game Boy, mobile phone and digital camera. Tucked in a corner of the room is a TV, PlayStation 2 console and video player.

It sounds like a lot, but my son's ownership of AV, IT and gaming equipment is fairly typical of kids today. And according to new research in Britain - where the situation would be similar to Australia - this is turning children's bedrooms into danger zones due to overloaded power sockets.

The study was conducted by the Electrical Safety Council (ECS).  It found that roughly two in three 4 -11 year olds (63%) now have their own TV in their bedroom. And nearly half of young children (48%) have games consoles or other electrical toys in their room.

Children as young as four have phones charging in their bedrooms.

Almost one in four (38%) were revealed to have a mobile phone charging in their room, and around a third of children (34%) had their own computer set up in their bedroom, many of which are accompanied by printers, scanners and other electrical peripherals.

The problem is that bedrooms rarely have sufficient power points for the number of appliances, and overloading plug sockets presents a very real fire hazard.

“With computers, games consoles, mobile phones and a variety of multi-media equipment commonplace even for primary school-age children, the average child's bedroom could potentially contain more electrical appliances than almost any other room in the house, making it a high risk area - yet it’s the room in which children probably spend the most time unsupervised,” Phil Buckle, director of charitable affairs at the Electrical Safety Council, said.

Lamps, music systems, hair-styling appliances and clock radios were amongst other electrical items commonly left plugged into the mains supply in children’s bedrooms.

Overloaded electrical sockets and power boards in kids' rooms pose as fire risk.

“Parents need to be aware that with so many electrical appliances surrounding their children, the risks today are much greater than when they themselves were children,” Buckle noted. “We’re urging parents to be alert to the dangers to minimise the risks.”

To help prevent electrical accidents in the home and keep children safe, consider the following advice:

• Never overload electric plug sockets.
• Avoid trailing electrical wires - not only are these a trip hazard, but they are more likely to become damaged potentially exposing live wires.
• Check plugs, sockets and cables regularly for signs of damage or scorching.
• Get into the habit of switching off games consoles, computers, TVs and other electric appliances before children go to bed.
• Never put drinks or other liquids on or near electric appliances; water and electricity are a lethal combination.
• Don't let children touch electric equipment while they are wet – for example before drying-off after a bath or shower.
• Make sure children understand how to use electricity and electric appliances responsibly and safely.

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