"Kid Nation": Has The Slippery Slope Just Become Slipperier?

The controversy surrounding the new CBS reality show, "Kid Nation" has caught the entire nation by surprise. At Safety4Kids, we thought it only right to weigh in on the issues surrounding this first-of-its-kind television show. We asked some of our experts to offer their thoughts on the subject. We have tried to remain objective, but when it comes to children and safety, we are passionate! Here's what Dr. Sheila Josephson, a psychotherapist with more than thirty years experience dealing with individuals and families had to say:

"What would the world be like if people were required to take a parenting test?"

Forty children ages 8-15 dropped in the New Mexico desert for 40 days without basic amenities such as electricity and indoor plumbing in order to build their "own society" by working from sun-up to sun-down. There is no adult supervision--they are alone in their quest for their "own society". Is this a prison sentence for anti-social behavior? No, it's a new CBS reality show.

Up until now, only adults have participated in reality shows seeking fame and fortune, eating live bugs or displaying their prowess building huts on isolated islands. Now children are asked to perform difficult tasks, presumably without training or supervision. They are taken out of their homes and schools for 40 days, put in a place where they know no one and asked to cooperate with others to build a social order. The goal might be admirable but is it too much to ask children who are so young? And the rewards are what? Money, fame, pleasing their parents?

I have often wondered in my 30+ years of being a therapist what the world would be like if people were required to take a "parenting test" in order to have the privilege of becoming parents. Parents need to be loving and protective and give their children the feeling that their lives will be safe and secure. Without this sense of caring and well-being, children can grow up with a myriad of insecurities which may eventuate in profound depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual addiction, eating disorders, self-mutilation. It can also lead to an inability to sustain a meaningful relationship when they are older. Some parents inflict unspeakable crimes against their children. And the price these children pay for having abusive, neglectful parents is immeasurable.

I am not suggesting that the forty parents of these children are in any way abusive, neglectful or unloving. I do wonder, however, why parents would let their children undergo this ordeal. Why let your child go off alone to the desert unsupervised for over a month working nonstop under the possible mistreatment of other children? And not all the children are equal. The older ones are presumably bigger, stronger and have more power. Why subject younger children to this? Do these children feel abandoned by their parents and by adults in general? Who is protecting them? Have they been exploited by society?

No one knows what the impact of this experience on these children will be. Some will be stronger, more self-reliant and have a sense of accomplishment. Others may become traumatized and be scarred later in life. But what parent wants to take the risk that their child will be the one to suffer?

I do not blame CBS for wanting a new reality show on their network. And with all the publicity it's generating, they might just have a new hit on their hands. It's not their responsibility if the parents of these children were willing to have their children participate. But would the CBS producers send their children off to the desert? That remains to be seen.

Safety4Kids also asked Dr. Carl Baum, a member of the SeeMore's Playhouse Safety Council, and Director of the Center for Children's Environmental Toxicology at Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital to weigh in on this controversy. He also worries about the long-term impact of what he calls "this experiment." Here is Dr. Baum's take on "Kid Nation."

"For a number of reasons, I don't think this is such a good idea."

1. CONSENT: The parents may have given consent for their minor children to participate in this experiment (what else would you call it?), but did the children? The answer is no, as minor children can at most give their assent to participate, but cannot ethically, legally, or intellectually give informed consent.
   
   Isn't this the same--in terms of consent and assent--as an investigational trial that would take place in a clinic or hospital setting? The answer again is no: while the starting conditions may be the same, the subsequent separation of the children from their parents changes the formula. Normally, clinical investigations allow parents and their children to withdraw from the study at any time, without any penalty. But in this case, the parent-child bond is temporarily broken, thwarting private discussions about whether or not to continue participation.



2. COERCION: The huge financial rewards of remaining on the show might be viewed as coercive. What if, for example, a child participant develops a sore throat, but refrains from reporting it to the medical personnel for fear of having to leave the show? Now imagine that the sore throat turns out to be strep throat, which, if untreated, could have significant long-term complications, and could spread to other children.
   
   The promise of significant financial rewards could easily cloud the judgment of a child. But parents can have their judgment clouded, too. In the pediatric emergency department where I work, I have lost count of the number of times I am taking care of a child who has suffered a significant sports injury, and the first thing the parents want to know is, when can s(he) return to play? Maybe they're too busy thinking about that next game, or the championship, or the college scholarship...



3. SUPERVISION: Children are not capable, in most cases, of caring entirely for themselves. That is why we call on our social work colleagues in the hospital and at state agencies to help us rectify the problem when we suspect abuse or neglect--or even lack of supervision--of our young patients.

Dr. Richard Lerner, Director of the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University has very strong feelings about "Kid Nation". Dr. Lerner's extensive research and experience, lead him to some pretty interesting conclusions.

"'Kid Nation' will be an instance of a cruel and exploitative assault on the lives of young people..."

Parents hope that their children will grow up healthy, happy, and productive. They aspire to have children who have the skills to contribute to their own well-being and, as well, to the well-being of their families, communities, and nation. Indeed, enlightened parenting involves the recognition that there is a necessary and intimate relationship between making contributions to one's self and one's family and, as well, making contributions to community and society. Behaviors that help only oneself but diminish the social and physical world in which we live are ultimately self-defeating and destructive of both self and society. As such, a key task of effective parenting is to help children become both good people and good citizens.

There is no magic bullet for developing these capacities in children. Some programs to enhance positive development and civic engagement succeed better than others. The most effective efforts involve long-term and positive relations between adult mentors and youth, the nurturing of life skills among youth, and the provision of opportunities for young people to participate in, and take leadership of, valued community activities.

Everything that is apparently going to be part of the CBS "Kid Nation" program seems antithetical to what is known from years and years of careful research and program evaluation about what is needed to develop young people who are intrinsically motivated to make meaningful and sustained contributions to themselves and their communities. Young people--and their families--are being promised the extrinsic rewards of thousands of dollars and, at least, their "15 minutes of fame." There is no adult mentoring, no curriculum for skill building, and no evaluation of whether young people are being damaged in the immediate context of their experience or, later on, as the effects of their participation in "Kid Nation" may become manifest in the future.

Putting people in an arena filled with hungry lions to appease the appetites for entertainment of the citizens of Rome was a "reality show" that even contemporary television executives would (perhaps) consider inhumane and immoral. Placing young people in the arena of public viewing to gain ratings among a television audience hungry for mindless amusement may not be as bloody as its Roman antecedent. But, because it is and plans to remain uninformed by science and practice, "Kid Nation" will be an instance of a cruel and exploitative assault on the lives of young people and a step towards signifying that children exist for the mere amusement of America's television audience. The concept of the "evil of banality" is not inappropriate here.

Are These Really The Tools of Childhood?

In addition to our clinical experts, some of whom happen to be parents, we also asked two of our regular contributors who write from the point of view of parents to tell us how they feel about this hot topic. Both of them described writing their blog entries in the "heat of emotion" having seen the CBS trailer and having read much of the press. And while their children are currently too young to be considered for a spot on the "Kid Nation" sequel, they had plenty to say on the subject. First up, Vivian.

"What would a Hollywood stage mother do?"

When I find that I am at a parenting crossroads, I like to ask myself: "What would a Hollywood stage mother do?" I think long and hard, come up with an answer and then SPRINT in the other direction. It's worked so far.

So when I first read about "Kid Nation", CBS' new reality show about kids ages 8-15 who spend 40 nights a la "Lord Of the Flies" (no parents, no teachers) I paused and asked myself, would I let my son go on a show like this? I think we know what most stage moms would say, so my answer is ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Let's just start off by saying that reality TV is about as real as my size 2 pants ever fitting again. Ever notice there are no uni-brows on "Survivor"? That said, sending your 8 year old kid away for 40 days LET ALONE 40 unsupervised days is bad parenting. The only reality is that this is an acting opportunity and a great place to be discovered if what your kid wants (or what you want FOR your kid) is fame.

I would be willing to bet (although I don't know for sure) that CBS is keeping the kids' physical safety somewhat intact. Parents aside, the cameraman is a grown-up, and so is the sound guy, prop person etc.... I'm guessing fights get broken up, hungry kids get food. But how do you account for the kids' emotional safety? An 8 year old needs help making decisions especially when her only options are choices being presented by a 15 year old. The incredible stress of being away from home, with no adult to turn to, must be overwhelming for most of these kids.

The kids are allowed to go home if they choose to, but I'm sure at every turn they are dangled a carrot to make them stay. I've watched the promo a few times now, and nearly spit my son's leftover chicken fingers all over the keyboard when the host of the show (a grown-up, by the way) held up a solid gold star worth...GASP...$20,000 which the kids were told would help pay for their college tuition. (Maybe he was talking about when he went to college?)

To all the people who say "What if the kids really wanted to be on the show?" I say... my son really wants chocolate chip cookies for dinner every night but (thanks to those stage mothers in Hollywood) I just say NO!

Jen is our blogging mom who has three kids, including an adorable set of twins. She had a very interesting childhood; you might say she lived her own "Kid Nation" but without the world watching. We think this gives her a fairly unique perspective on the whole matter, more of a world view, perhaps. Here are her thoughts on the subject:

"Kids in other countries might wish they were on 'Kid Nation'."

When I heard Matt Lauer talking about the controversy brewing around "Kid Nation" I figured they were just trying to plug the show. (That's before I learned it was on CBS!) When he said he would never send one of his kids, I thought that was pretty obvious, neither would I. In considering the whole thing further I realized that this is just another step in the full cleansing of anything real from the experience of our kids.

If I think back on my own childhood summers (as I cart my eldest from tennis to play dates, from camp to swimming) I remember that when I was four I spent the summer in Hawaii with my Dad while my 7 year old sister cared for me. Not ideal, to be sure, but clearly those were different times; in some ways less dangerous and in most ways, less jaded. I had a number of unique summers, spent in the "care" of siblings and learning at a very young age how to fend for myself.

My summers made me who I am in some way so fundamental to how I live my life that I can't imagine what type of person I'd be without them. I don't know if I could change the type of summer I'm giving to my child even if I wanted to. That's what kids around here do, but I wonder what kind of lessons she's learning...I also can't help but think that kids around the world are doing vastly different things: they are fighting wars, working in factories and caring for their families.

I can't imagine they wouldn't trade places with the kids from "Kid Nation" in a heartbeat.

Clearly, this is a controversial topic, and no doubt, the powers that be at CBS knew it would be. At Safety4Kids, we care first and foremost about the safety and wellness of children everywhere. Even in a ghost town, somewhere in the desert of New Mexico.

Please post a comment and let us know how you feel about this important controversy.

(c) Jim Parkin. Image from BigStockPhoto.com.
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Back to School...Safely!

You wouldn't know it from the temperatures, but it's almost time for school again! Back to school for your kids means new books, new challenges, and maybe some new friends. But for you, their parents, it's renewed concerns about many things--like safety. At Safety4Kids, every season brings new opportunities to remind parents of the precautions they should take and the time they should spend teaching their kids certain fundamental safety lessons. I'm not being melodramatic when I say that knowing these things is often the difference between life and death. We have only the news every day to remind us what happens when simple precautions are not followed.

Take school bus safety, for instance. More and more, people are becoming concerned about seat belts in school buses. This is a hot topic, and we'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject. The National Coalition for School Bus Safety has taken a strong stand, advocating for seat belts to be installed in school buses. While the statistics concerning school bus related fatalities are not numerically overwhelming, any measure that prevents accidents, particularly related to children, is certainly worth examining. The theory is that because most school buses do not have seat belts, it's negative reinforcement. "If my school bus doesn't have them, why should I have to buckle up in the car?" This is not the message we want our children to get, and it's certainly not the message we are working to convey at Safety4Kids.

The North Carolina School Bus Safety website has some valuable tips for you and your kids. We've reprinted them here, to make it easy for you, but I urge you to visit their website and others for more information; there is a great article on WebMD about this very topic. Please take a moment to review these simple rules with your kids. It could make back-to-school less of a worry for you!

Walking to the Bus Stop
Always walk on the sidewalk to the bus stop, never run. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left facing traffic.

Go to the bus stop about five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. While at the bus stop, wait quietly in a safe place well away from the road. Do not run and play while waiting.

Getting On and Off the Bus
Enter the bus in line with younger students in front. Hold the handrail while going up and down the stairs

When entering the bus, go directly to a seat. Remain seated and face forward during the entire ride.

Riding the Bus
Always speak quietly on the bus so the driver will not be distracted. Always be silent when a bus comes to a railroad crossing so the driver can hear if a train is coming.

Never throw things on the bus or out the windows. Keep the aisles clear at all times. Feet should be directly in front of you on the floor and book bags should be kept on your lap. Large instruments or sports equipment should not block the aisle or emergency exits.

Never play with the emergency exits. If there is an emergency, listen to the driver and follow instructions.

Hands should be kept to yourself at all times while riding on the bus. Fighting and picking on others creates a dangerous bus ride.

Exiting the Bus
If you leave something on the bus, never return to the bus to get it. The driver may not see you come back and she may begin moving the bus. Make sure that drawstrings and other loose objects are secure before getting off the bus so that the do not get caught on the handrail or the door.

Respect the "Danger Zone" which surrounds all sides of the bus. The "Danger Zone" is ten feet wide on all sides of the bus. Always remain 10 steps away from the bus to be out of the "Danger Zone" and where the driver can see you.

Always cross the street in front of the bus. Never go behind the bus. If you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver before you attempt to pick it up, so they will know where you are.

Never speak to strangers at the bus stop and never get into the car with a stranger. Always go straight home and tell your parents if a stranger tries to talk to you or pick you up.

Please post a comment and let us know how you feel about seat belts in school buses. It's an important issue and we look forward to your thoughts!

If you're interested in more information about back to school topics, by age, please visit our partners at Parenting magazine. They have some comprehensive information that I'm sure you'll find useful. And we've got a helpful, downloadable document, prepared by one of our regular contributors, Dr. Bruce Bonanno of the American College of Emergency Physicians, that covers some very important topics like medical forms and "safe" backpacks. You'll find it HERE. And USA Weekend is running a special article this weekend featuring some of SeeMore's Playhouse advisors, offering important tips about the safety, health and well being of your kids. Check it out!

We hope you and your kids have a smooth and safe transition back to school!

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(c) Willaume Gautier. Image from BigStockPhoto.com.

Making Toys Overseas: At What Cost?

With Mattel's ongoing and expanded toy recall hitting the front pages today, and the heightened awareness about lead paint finding its way from China to our homes, how can we possibly be sure that the toys we're giving to our children are safe?

Safety4Kids expert, and a member of the SeeMore's Playhouse Safety Council, Carl Baum, MD, is director of the Center for Children's Environmental Toxicology at Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital (YNHCH). He has this to say on the subject:

"First of all, I'm relieved that Mattel and other toy companies have recalled the toys, and I applaud them for taking that important, essential step; but I am also, of course, disappointed that this happened at all. We all know doing business overseas a matter of economics, but the question we must ask now, is 'what is really the cost?'

In this country we have worked hard to eliminate lead from our children's environments. No one disputes the dangers, but these recent recalls send a message of renewed concern to parents everywhere.

What can you do, as a parent, to be vigilant about this? If you feel that your child might have come into contact with a lead-based paint or a questionable substance, call your pediatrician immediately. If your need is more urgent, for instance if you believe your child swallowed pieces of one of his toys, call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222".

Dr. Baum also recommends a couple of websites to visit for specific information on this very topic:

The CDC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission not only has information but also photographs of the recalled items, which is essential in helping parents identify the toys in question.


For more information on poison prevention in general, visit Safety4Kids and get important tips for your family.

Helicopter Moms...Very Special Hover Crafts!

When my friend Vivian first mentioned "Helicopter Moms" I thought she was referring to women pilots. Seems it has more to do with hovering, than hover crafts. When it comes to your child's safety, it's sometimes hard to know when enough is enough.

Is That A Chopper I Hear?

If you've ever checked out the message boards at urbanbaby, you've heard the term "helicopter mom" or "helicopter dad" which refers to those moms and dads who hover constantly over their kids. The term creates a fantastic visual if you let your mind wander.

I'm pretty sure no one thinks of themselves as a helicopter mom, sort of like no one thinks of themselves as mean.

I am proud to say I am a recovering helicopter mom. When I take Benjamin to the playground, my instincts tell me to follow him, catch him, prevent him from getting even the tiniest boo-boo (or boof as we like to call it in our house. FYI a bad boof is called a boof-tastrophy.) But I fight the urge to the best of my ability because I know that, if I'm not careful, my anxieties (of which there are many) will become his anxieties and I don't want him to feel too scared to explore. So while my mind is hovering like crazy, I try to take control of my inner helicopter and leave it parked safely on the ground.

Don't get me wrong. Ben will wear a helmet when he's ready to ride a bike, and I don't imagine I'll let him drive until he's 33 or 34, but while he's just 2 1/2, I'm going to let him go down the slide head first, get gross NYC sand-park sand in his hair, and run through the sprinkler with his shoes off.

(c) Image courtesy of Vivian Connolly.

Books on Your Child's Development...Do They Help or Hurt?

The shelves at our local stores and libraries are bursting with books to help parents monitor, encourage and measure the development of their children. But how helpful are they really? Do parents need that yardstick? Or can it be detrimental to a parent's self-confidence? Sheila Josephson, a regular contributor to our Safety4Kids blog, a therapist who deals with families and their issues, and a mother herself, has some thoughts on the subject. We hope you'll share your thoughts and experiences by posting a comment yourself. This is a topic on which people tend to have strong opinions!

Here are Sheila's thoughts on the subject:

I've had a pet peeve for many years about some parenting "self-help" books--the ones that give you milestones regarding children's development. For example, at 9 months your child should be doing this or at two years your child should be doing that. I have often told my clients not to read those books, which sounds pretty ridiculous at face value. However, it can help parents maintain their emotional well-being by not feeling that their child is slow to develop. So often I have heard parents despair about their child's "delayed development" after reading one of these books. Their child is "slow" to speak or behind in learning the alphabet. They are not walking during the prescribed "time frame" when most other children their age have accomplished this task. Inevitably parents feel this is a poor reflection of their parenting skills and wonder what they are doing wrong or at least what they are not doing right. This can cause dismay and despair, especially to first-time parents. They question their competence and wonder if they are failures, which can lead to anxiety and depression.

Of course, the truth is that all children develop at their own pace. One child can be speaking when another child is walking but not speaking. Is one more advanced than the other? I have had a mother crying in my office because her daughter had not started walking "when she was supposed to" but she was speaking in sentences, very early for her age. If she had not read the "supposed to be doing at this age" book she would have been very happy with her beautiful little girl and confident of her parenting skills. But she was disheartened by her child's disinterest in crawling and constantly questioning what she was doing wrong. Being a parent is hard enough without having these developmental parameters constantly in mind.

I've had personal experience with these feelings. My son was slow to speak, far behind the "norm". He was a delightful, smiling, healthy little boy who didn't talk. Teachers at his nursery school made me feel inadequate as a parent--what was I doing wrong to hinder his development? I was told to have him tested since they couldn't do their job without knowing what was wrong with him. What was so upsetting was that they were sure there was something seriously wrong with him. No amount of self-assurance I had that he had to progress at his own speed alleviated my profound fear that they were right. The fact that I had studied child development in graduate school made no difference--they were the professionals; they must know.

While obsessing about what to do next, I decided to call my pediatrician who had many years of experience treating children. He told me in no uncertain terms to stop worrying, that my son would develop at his own speed. Of course he was right. I needed someone I respected to tell me to stop thinking there were proscribed time limits to child development. Each child develops differently. And the books I read just reinforced the fear that my son was retarded in his growth and somehow damaged.

I'm certainly not suggesting that children should not be tested, since early detection of a problem leads to early intervention. However, children do develop at their own rate and it's our job to encourage and support their accomplishments. The children in the play group do not look the same; we shouldn't expect their individual development to be the same either.

One exception to my admonition about not reading: a wonderful book about child development called "The Magic Years" by Selma H. Fraiberg, published by Simon & Schuster, 1959. It's a delight in its discussion of the magic and wonder of how children think and develop.

At Safety4Kids we're always interested in what you as parents feel about the topics we present. I'm especially interested in books you might have read that made you feel good about your parenting, or books you read that had the opposite effect. If we share this information, we may all be able to feel better about ourselves!

(c) Rafat Fabrykiewicz. Image from BigStockPhoto.com
(c) Simone van der Berg. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

Dealing with the Unthinkable...in the Blink of an Unwatchful Eye

The unthinkable: a child dies because the parent isn't paying attention; they look away for a moment. It can happen at a shopping mall. It can happen at a playground. It can happen in a bathtub. It only takes a minute. But it changes everything forever.

And lately, it seems to be happening in cars. The summer seems to bring out the worst in some people. The headlines never cease to amaze me. A parent "forgets" their child is strapped in a car seat, and goes to work for the day, leaving the child in the car. The notion that it would ever be okay to leave your child in a car while you run an errand, no matter how long the errand. And yet, that's what we read in the newspapers every day.

A parent turns around and their child is gone. A parent leaves a car running for a moment, with their child in the backseat, only to return and find their car, and their child, gone. How is it that a country as developed as the United States can still account for this kind of ignorance about a child's safety? How can safety education NOT be the number one priority?

The 2007 UNICEF report, "Child Poverty in Perspective: An Overview of Child Well-Being in Rich Countries", finds the United States ranks lowest of 21 developed nations surveyed in five out of six categories, followed by the United Kingdom. The United States has the lowest rate in child health and safety, and American children are also more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as drug and alcohol use and sexual activity.

Here in the United States, we already know that accidents are the number one cause of death among children ages 2 and above, and those under the age of 8 are more likely to sustain accidental injuries that result in death or disability. The National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control tell us that motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children, and drowning is the second leading cause among children 14 and younger.

According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, 30 million children pay visits to emergency facilities and emergency rooms in the United States every year. At last count, each year more than 200,000 American children are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries occurring on playgrounds (NIH), more than 260,000 kids are injured in motor vehicle accidents (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), approximately 2 million preschoolers are exposed to poisons (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control) and approximately 3 million children who fall require emergency room treatment (American Academy of Pediatrics).

Information and education are the keys to prevention, and at Safety4Kids we work hard to provide that information through a variety of media, trying to reach as many parents and young children as possible. It is a challenging process.

Back to the issue at hand: children left in automobiles.

In a study published in the journal of Pediatrics, a Stanford University professor found that the temperature inside a parked car increases 19 degrees within 10 minutes and 40 degrees within a daytime hour, regardless of outside temperature. The sharp increase is due to the greenhouse effect--the sun's rays pass through the windows, but the interior heat cannot escape.

"The take-home message is that you should never leave kids alone in a car," said Dr. James Quinn, an associate professor of emergency medicine at Stanford.

Cracking the windows or running the air conditioning before turning off the engine does not keep the car any cooler.

Children are particularly vulnerable because they have a higher ratio of body surface area to weight, the study found.

Nine states, including California, have laws designed to prevent children from dying in overheated cars. In California, "Kaitlyn's Law" makes it illegal for any parent or guardian to leave any child 6 years or younger in a car without supervision.

Another medical study found that most deaths occur when an adult simply forgets a child is in the car. Others occur when children accidentally lock themselves inside a car or when a parent intentionally leaves a child in a car to run an errand.

"Think of your parked car as an oven," says Jennifer Tolle, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina and co-chair of the NC Child Fatality Task Force. "Your car becomes like an oven in a matter of minutes on a hot summer day. You should no more leave your child in the car, even with the windows rolled down, than you should allow your child to sit in the oven in your home."

Several North Carolina parents currently face child abuse charges for leaving children in hot cars. It is not a good idea to leave a child under the age of 10 in a car alone, regardless of the temperature outside. Hazards include a stranger abducting the child and the child releasing the break or wandering away from the vehicle. Every year serious injuries or death result when children are left along in the car.

To keep your kids safe, follow these tips:

1. Always keep your car doors locked even when the car is in the garage. Children may play in the car and can become trapped when they're not strong enough to open the doors.

2. Check the temperature of child safety seats and seat belts before buckling kids up. The metal can become hot enough to cause burns.

3. Call 911 immediately if you find a child left alone in a parked car or your child becomes locked in your car. The child's life may depend upon it.

4. Ensure that children drink plenty of fluids.

5. Avoid being in the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Have children wear sunscreen on all exposed areas of the body every day. Have children wear a hat and sunglasses.

The real take-home message is that things happen in the blink of an eye. If you are not diligent and watchful, you may end up being the very headline you dread. When it comes to children and safety, there are no shortcuts, and there are no excuses.

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It's a Great Weekend for a Barbecue...And Some Cookout Safety Tips!

Who doesn't love a barbecue? One of summer's most unique delights is a big outdoor barbecue, where family and friends can gather around, chatting with icy cold drinks in hand and awaiting the mouthwatering treats that emerge from the grill's smoky goodness. With summer in full swing, the smell of burgers on a grill is in the air everywhere. And often where there's a barbecue, there are kids running around, very near the grill. At Safety4Kids we love outdoor fun as much as anyone--we just want to be sure that everyone stays safe!

One of my fondest memories from summer camp involves a big fire around which we gathered as a celebration at the end of the summer, singing corny camp songs and chomping into ooey gooey chocolate-slathered marshmallows matched beautifully by the crunch of graham crackers. Ah, the joy of s'mores!

If your child will be at a cookout or campfire this summer, either at home or at a friend's house or away at camp, there are a few important tips for you as a parent to keep in mind and to share with them. The goal is to make sure that food is the only thing that's cooked!

First, neither adults nor children should stand too close to a grill or a campfire except for the person(s) doing the actual grilling. Someone could get burned, inhale too much smoke, or have their clothes catch on fire. It is essential that you tell your children to keep a healthy distance from the fire, and that you keep an eye on them at all times.

If anyone's clothes do catch on fire, remember to STOP, DROP, and ROLL. Our friends at the American Academy of Pediatrics define this maneuver as:

STOP! in your tracks--DO NOT RUN.
DROP! to the ground right where you are.
ROLL over to put out the flames. Cover your face with your hands.

Then cool the burned area with water and call for help. This is an easy thing to teach your children and it could save their lives.

There should also be plenty of water around the grill or the campfire, to keep everyone properly hydrated, and also in case clothes (or people) need to be doused.

The adults building the campfire should keep it small and build it where it will not spread, away from dry grass and leaves.

Remind your children to never touch or play with lighters or matches. If they see matches or lighters, they should tell an adult right away.

Finally, children should be told never to play with or light fireworks (which of course should not be sitting around where they can be accessed by a child in the first place).

Now, having said all that, go out and enjoy your family barbecue! Or your campfire. We all know that enjoying life and staying safe go hand in hand.

For more tips and for fun interactive games that you can play with your child to teach them about fire safety, go to the website of the U.S. Fire Administration for Kids.

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