July 11th, 2011
My little guys are not quite ready to swim without a watchful (10-20 rule following) adult. For many of our readers with older kids, this summer will be an important test of freedom and independence by swimming without a grown-up.
Here are a few tips to share with your old-enough child.
- Always swim where a lifeguard is present. The pool or well-attended water park = awesome. That undiscovered swimming hole = bad idea.
- Always bring a buddy. Make sure you swim with a friend or two to increase the fun AND safety.
- Listen to your body. If your stomach hurts or you’re feeling tired, take a rest not a dip.
- Reapply! Yes, I’m talking about sunscreen. As long as you’re paying attention, get that buddy to do your back and shoulders.
I hope that your child has many happy memories of splashing at the lake or pool this summer season and that you both have peace of mind.
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July 1st, 2011
I just saw a headline online that promised “Parenting tips to keep your kids safer this summer.” I clicked through and read the first tip which was a description of how many injuries are caused by trampolines, concluding with the suggestion that kids don’t use trampolines.
Humph! No trampolines? That doesn’t seem like a useful tip. Surely there are actions we can take to mitigate risks. What’s next? Swimming certainly results in the most tragic summer accidents. Should we make a rule: No swimming?
With summer upon us, I thought I’d round up a list of useful, actionable safety tips for the activities that many of us will be doing this summer. I hope you find them helpful, and not restrictive:
- Hanging out in the backyard: Staycation safety tips from UL
- Lounging at the pool: Sun protection for babies means hats and shade, not sunscreen.
- Joining the crowds at a thrilling destination: Tips for visiting a theme park
- Boarding a watercraft: Before you go boating
- Exploring by foot: Hiking safety tips
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June 30th, 2011
When I was about thirteen years old, I got my first moving violation in a car. No, I wasn’t joy-riding in the family station wagon, but I got a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt. In order to expunge my record, I went to an afternoon traffic safety course and have been a law-abiding seatbelt wearer ever since.
The “Click It or Ticket” campaign is a nationwide effort to remind all of us to wear our seatbelts. Per the National Highway Safety Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
Click It or Ticket (CIOT) is the most successful seat belt enforcement campaign ever, helping create the highest national seat belt usage rate of 85 percent. Coast to coast, day or night, the message is simple – Click It or Ticket.
While the consequences of not wearing a seatbelt (whether it be life endangerment during a car accident or learning about safety in a classroom setting) are in force year-round, the beginning of summer is a time to get out the message.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and disability for Americans between the ages of 4 and 34.
Men age 18 to 34 are the least likely to wear seatbelts. I bet you know someone in that age range. Remind them to Click It or Ticket!
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June 22nd, 2011
Every once in a while, I like to ask my kids about safety topics of interest to them. When I asked my five-year-old what was top of mind, he offered, “kids should not use knives.”
I like what he’s saying about the blanket rule for no knives, but this began a dialog about what kinds of knives and cutting devices might actually be allowed.
For example, I would love for him to learn and practice how to cut his own pancakes and French toast. We agreed that safety knives without sharp edges are fine. This includes disposable and compostable cutlery as well as butter knives.
He is also in a cooking class at school and likes to help out with some preparation tasks at home. We agreed that adults should do the cutting with sharp knives but that young children could use cooking scissors (or safety scissors relegated to food cutting) with supervision.
But other than that? Yep, keep knives out of reach of children.
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June 20th, 2011
Today at dinner, my four year-old asked me, “How does a house catch on fire?” and we spent the next 15 minutes answering his question. I find that with these little guys (my other son is nearly six) that they process more if they think through the answers themselves.
We volleyed around taking turns and speculating. Some of the answers were realistic and others were from the fantasy-loving mind of a preschooler, but all were useful discussion points in the teaching moments of dinnertime.
I wonder if you can guess which of these answers is mine:
- candles could catch fire
- a big vehicle that shoots flames could shoot a fireball at our house
- the stovetop has flames and we need to be extra careful
- if you had too many birthday candles
- a different vehicle that’s shaped like a bike could shoot fire at our house
After several minutes discussion about being careful and what to do when the fire alarm sounds, I’m sad to admit that we never covered electrical wiring and looking for the UL Mark; maybe that goes over better with seven- and nine-year olds.
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June 17th, 2011
By Heather
With only moments left until Father’s Day, I’d like to offer you a few quick and safe gift ideas!
Barbecue Set: Outfit your patio daddy-o with a new grill brush, flipping tools, a heat-resistant mitt and a gentle reminder to keep the grill a safe distance from all structures. The Barbecue Bible is a great companion book.
Dangerous projects made safer: My favorite thing about The Dangerous Book for Boys is how it helps parents and sons take intelligent risks in the name of fun. It’s a great resource for project inspiration and safety tips.
Time to himself: I heard a funny statistic last week that, right behind a new car, dads want time to themselves. I like it; I relate to it; and I can afford it.
There was a great discussion on our facebook page recently that listed a few other great ideas for safety-oriented gifts for Dad. Readers suggested golf gloves to prevent blisters or a shiny new motorcycle helmet. Excellent!
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June 13th, 2011
By Whitney
The school year is beginning to wind down and for parents of school-aged children, that means planning for a big block of open space on the calendar. Working parents need to find care and stay-at-home parents need to find structure.
I need to work from home about 5-6 hours per day and I can’t possibly do that with my 6-year old son hanging out with me. He would be crazy bored and we don’t live in an environment where I can just send him outside to play with neighbors. The cars on our street drive 35 miles per hour past our house in three lanes of traffic.
Therefore, day camp.
I signed him up for one week of music camp and eight weeks of science camp. I did not ask for his input. I feel confident that this is my decision and that he will roll with it. I didn’t even want to introduce the idea of camp back in February when I was making my choices because he lives in the moment and I don’t believe that talking about his school year coming to an end would produce positive feelings for him.
At a luncheon with a bunch of other moms yesterday, some were asking about his opinions, about what he wants to do this summer. “I didn’t ask him,” I said, confused. Are others letting their Kindergartners make decisions about how to spend 12 weeks of their year? Do the Kindergartners understand budget constraints? Timing? The impact of driving into the depths of our rustic regional park everyday?
I feel pretty sure that what my son does this summer is still up to me. How about you?
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June 8th, 2011
I don’t think any parent would disagree that medicines need to be kept up high and out of sight from young children. I just wrote a few weeks ago that the delicious taste of Amoxicillin has made it more appealing than when we were children.
I recently chatted with an ER doctor, poison clinic veteran, and father of three, who showed me a preview of the new Tylenol bottle that will hit the markets next flu season. After you remove the childproof cap, there is a non-removable low-flow cap on the bottle, making it more like one of those tiny food coloring bottles through which it’s tough to spill a whole bunch of the liquid out at once.
The problem, the doctor told me, is that although parents are generally very good about storing medicine out of a child’s reach, when they do dispense it, they are likely to leave it out on a sink top or counter for later use. Or maybe because they were dealing with a fussy child and couldn’t take a moment to put the medicine away. It might be the sick child who finds it and attempts to self-medicate, or a sibling who decides to test the flavor of that syrupy-looking red stuff.
This made complete sense to me. I know I’m guilty of leaving the syringe out because I intend to wash it more thoroughly – and I know that when my kids see the syringe, it piques their interest in finding medicine to put in it.
Have you ever realized that your child had helped herself to medication?
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June 6th, 2011
With hurricanes and tornados ravaging much of the country, I am humbled and grateful to be safe in my home with my belongings and loved ones today.
If you live in tornado country, hopefully you know about these safety tips already. I hope that you have practiced them well at home and school. I still remember my tornado drills in school, but now I live in earthquake country so the routine is a bit different. Still, always protect your head and neck!
According to FEMA, your best bet will always be to find a pre-designated shelter area or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go as far inside away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. Do not open windows.
See other FEMA tips about what to do in a tornado (including if you’re outside or in a vehicle at the time).
During a hurricane, instructions are similar. FEMA advises listening carefully to local news for information about evacuations.
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June 1st, 2011
The month of May was Pregnancy Awareness Month, aimed at supporting women and their families as they go through the nine month journey toward parenthood. To honor this campaign, I thought I’d throw some ideas out there that may inspire or entertain pregnant moms.
Rather than a do’s and don’ts list, this is intended to be more a “take it or leave it” list.
- Some items can be borrowed from friends or family who will be between babies or “done” when your baby arrives. Ask now if you can borrow a bouncy seat , swing, or baby gym from a friend who won’t be needing it. You can give it back six months later. Borrowing is a greener, less expensive approach to readying your house for a baby and will leave you with less clutter as s/he grows up!
- Plan a babymoon. If it’s your first child, a getaway with you partner will celebrate your last hurrah as a couple. Just make sure to pick a destination that won’t make you feel like you’re missing out on the activity. Las Vegas and New Orleans for example, are not great for pregnant women. Think swimming, hiking, napping, and museums. For your second child or beyond, a babymoon might be a solo trip or day for mom doing something she enjoys doing alone – in anticipation of not being alone again for a while!
- Line up your support network. Think about the friends who you truly count on, who you might be able to share your embarrassing moments or challenges with. These are not necessarily the friends with whom you have most frequent contact. Let them know that you appreciate their lack of judgment and that you’ll be calling on them for guidance in the early days.
- Enlist your partner or parents for help with adjustments to your house. We’ve listed some helpful “to-do”s for the nursery on Rookie Moms.com. These are the answers to the question, “How can I help?”
- Think about your memory-making strategies. Are you a shutterbug or a life-long journal writer? Are you going to be a digital mom? Think about what form you want to use to record your baby’s milestones. It could be a traditional baby book, a blog that friends and family can see, a 365-photo project. Some folks take a picture in the same chair each month, while some have a special outfit for baby to wear, and others leave this tradition to the alpha moms and simply let the good times roll.
What special activities did you do while pregnant?
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