This may seem like an obvious rule for families with young children, but many of us have heard a story on the news where a parent looked away for just a second, or turned the opposite direction to quickly do something; and this doesn’t just apply to ponds. Kids are drawn to water, so just make sure someone is always with a baby, or keeping an eye on the toddler when around a pond.
While this may detract from the natural beauty of a backyard pond, there is always the option to put a fence (temporary or permanent) around your pond. There are different types of fencing options that could accommodate your needs.
This may be counter intuitive if you want a pond, but a pondless waterfall is a great option for those with younger children. The kids can play in the pondless area, which is a gravel area that collects the water from the waterfall and recirculates it back to the top. Later on, when the kids get older, you can always expand and add a pond to the existing pondless waterfall. Kids, and adults of all ages, love the option of pondless waterfalls.