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Archive for July, 2006
Car Seat Safety
Who knew there was a whole week dedicated to kids and car safety? Not me, that’s for sure. Of course, it was back in February, but that doesn’t mean the message isn’t still important for all parents. Especially one’s like me, I didn’t even know what a booster seat was!
Car Safety for Kids
Keeping children in booster seats reduces crash injuries.
By Karin Bilich
Feb. 15, 2006 — It’s Child Passenger Safety Week, and Safe Kids Worldwide wants all parents to know that booster seats save lives. They’re essential for positioning seatbelts correctly on a child’s body. Children should sit in a booster seat until they’re about 4 feet, 9 inches tall and 80 to 100 pounds — usually between ages 8 and 12. However, only 73 percent of 4- to 7-year-olds ride in boosters, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Step Away From the Computer (at least for a couple of hours)
It really is no surprise. Between the time kids spend on line these days, and the ads they are looking at for all those hours, it’s only natural that childhood obesity would be on the rise.
Although there are many benefits to kids spending time on line (they sure can learn a lot), I think parents need to make sure there is some balance here. Especially with the influential ads they are contsantly viewing. It’s time for us to get the kids off the computer and moving!
With childhood obesity on the rise and policymakers raising questions about the impact of food marketing and advertising to children.
A new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation, suggests that online marketing is contributing to the high rates of childhood obesity.
Separation Anxiety
Whenever I think about separation anxiety, I start to get anxious! Although I haven’t really experienced any of this yet with my soon to be 1 year old, I keep thinking it’s going to happen at any minute.
Below is a very helpful article describing what separation anxiety is and why a lot of children go through this phase. And luckily, it is just a phase, as the experts discuss in the article, it’s temporary and we shouldn’t try to get too stressed out by the whole situation!
Good luck!
Unfortunately, teary and tantrum-filled goodbyes are a very common part of a child’s earliest years. Around the first birthday, it is common for kids to develop separation anxiety, getting upset when a parent tries to leave them with someone else. Though separation anxiety is a perfectly normal part of childhood development, it can be unsettling. Understanding what your child is going through and having a few coping strategies in mind can go a long way toward helping both of you get through it.
Sun Smarts
Since we are actually getting some sun this summer, I thought this article might be helpful. Probably as good for the parents as it is for the kids. We should all practice “safe sunning”.
We all need some sun exposure; it’s our primary source of vitamin D, which helps us absorb calcium for stronger, healthier bones. But it doesn’t take much time in the sun for most people to get the vitamin D they need, and unprotected exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause skin damage, eye damage, immune system suppression, and even cancer. Even people in their 20s can develop skin cancer.
Most children rack up between 50% and 80% of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18, so it’s important that parents teach their children how to enjoy fun in the sun safely. With the right precautions, you can greatly reduce your child’s chance of developing skin cancer.