What is one method the nurse would instruct parents to prevent burns in toddlers at home?

Using protective guards on outlets is a critical safety measure recommended for preventing burns in toddlers at home. Toddlers are naturally curious and often explore their environments through touch, which can lead them to reach for electrical outlets. By installing protective guards, parents can significantly reduce the risk of accidental electrocution or burns caused by toddlers inserting objects into outlets.

This approach emphasizes the importance of creating a safe environment for young children, as they may not have the understanding or capability to recognize hazards. While the other choices might seem relevant to safety, they either encourage riskier behavior or do not effectively address the primary concern of preventing burns. For example, teaching toddlers to cook or allowing them to explore the kitchen could expose them to various hazards, while simply keeping hot items on the counter doesn’t eliminate the possibility of a child reaching for those items. Thus, protective guards serve as a proactive preventative measure in a household with toddlers.