Safety 4 Kids

Parents - Fear Predators, Not Safety

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:59:00 +0000

As I mentioned in my last post, Pattie Fitzgerald, founder of Safely Ever After, Inc., was a member of the Safety Panel at Baby Celebration, L.A. Pattie was among those surprised and concerned by the lack of interest on the topic of safety among parents. Here's what she had to say.

Note to Parents: No Need to Fear "Safety"

If knowledge is power, why then are so many parents reluctant to learn how to keep their kids safe from child predators? In the last few weeks I set off to find the answer to this burning question after participating on a Q&A safety panel with other safety experts, including Nancy Davis, resident blogger for Safety4Kids, at an event in Los Angeles.

The answers I found aren't particularly earth-shattering nor surprising, but they did make me realize that most parents are still in the dark about the realities of childhood sexual abuse and subsequently, how they can protect their kids from becoming victimized by a molester's tricks.

So...why are parents reluctant to learn about predator safety? Here are a few of the most recurrent comments parents shared with me (and my responses!):

1. We've already talked to our kids about stranger-danger, so we've covered this.
The truth is 90 percent of childhood sexual abuse doesn't happen by a "stranger". More often than not, it's someone the kids know. And, equally important, most kids don't have a clear idea of who a stranger is. Anyone who smiles and introduces themselves to a child, perhaps offering an enticing treat of some kind, may no longer be viewed as a "stranger" by that child.

2. We don't want to scare our kids, so we'd rather not bring up the issue at all.
I hear ya on the first part of that, but not the second part! There are plenty of ways that parents can empower kids with safety skills and concepts using effective, kid-friendly language, AND without ever using scary stories or fear tactics. Parents teach their kids about fire safety, pool safety, even safety about crossing the street all the time. You haven't made the kids terrified of swimming pools or cars, you just gave them clear guidelines. It's the same with teaching kids about "good touch/bad touch".

3. It's going to be too depressing, we just don't want to "go there".
Denial isn't going to make the problem go away or keep our kids safe. The good news is that by focusing on positive ways to talk to children, you can protect your kids without ever hitting a doom and gloom note or wallowing in depressing statistics.

As a Child Safety Educator, it's my job to help parents and caregivers teach their kids effective "safe-smarts rules" that work. It's as easy as 1...2...3!

So if you happen to be at an event that includes a FREE presentation in safety...come and check us out. It's a whole lot easier (and definitely less scary) than you might think.

Safety First? Not So Fast.

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:12:00 +0000

Recently I spoke on a Safety Panel as part of Baby Celebration L.A. I was invited there by Jill Starishevsy, founder of HowsMyNanny.com, which is an incredible idea/product/website and I urge you all to not only take a look, but sign up! Jill's work extends now beyond this initiative and she is in the process of publishing a book for parents and children that will no doubt become an essential part of any home library. Hopefully, Jill will blog about it here in the coming weeks. Jill has blogged before and generated lots of interest.

Meanwhile, back to L.A.! The Safety Panel was featured by the people who produced the event, Penny Domschot, Patrice Meluskey, and their team from Seascape Productions. It was a wonderful, extremely well attended two days and people literally lined up for an hour before the doors opened to get the first peak at the latest products and services available for new parents. The place was teeming with adorable children in strollers and snugglies and every form of baby transport! There were fashion shows, sing-alongs, and much more. Kudos to Penny, Patrice and everyone involved in making this a smooth and successful event. And for trying so hard to promote safety as part of any baby celebration.

But it brought to light again, the issue of safety and where that issue exists on the list of priorities for young parents. Judging from the attendance at our Safety Panel, it's not very high on the list. And this is of great concern to me and my colleagues on the panel. One of my fellow panelists, Pattie Fitzgerald of SafelyEverAfter.com was similarly struck by the apparent lack of interest about safety among the parents in attendance. And we've all tried to figure it out since L.A.

--Was it just that parents wanted a wonderful outing that was more fun and fashion than serious safety information?

--Do parents feel they already know about safety and don't want to hear people recount scary statistics?

--Are parents afraid of hearing about the real dangers that lurk in their children's everyday lives?

I've tried and tried but I can't answer these questions? More people showed up for the fashion shows than the seating could contain. Of course, many of them had kids modeling the fashions, and that's reason enough to show up! But I was struck by the decided lack of interest in safety.

I'm not going to list the scary statistics here--we have them all over our blog here and on our website at Safety4Kids.com. But the real question is: what do we do now, to get parents to pay attention and understand that prevention is the ONLY way to secure any child's safety. And without the information, there is no hope of eliminating those scary statistics.

Look for more about this in the coming weeks. We are determined to keep kids safe. Won't you join us?

(c) Photo of SeeMore the Safety Seal courtesy of Safety4Kids LLC.

Vaccine Update

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:34:00 +0000

Since we posted on the subject of vaccines (see below) 9 cases of measles have been reported in Arizona. According to Dr. Karen Lewis, a medical director with the Arizona Department of Health Services, "Just one case of measles in the community is an outbreak."

All those reported having contracted the measles had never been vaccinated.

People are afraid, in some cases, to vaccinate their children. But remember, there are consequences to opting out.

To Vaccinate or Not--That is the Question!

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:28:00 +0000

My parents never thought twice about my vaccinations. It was required by the schools way back then (I'm 51) and for the most part still is. I know my folks' generation saw this scientific advancement as another way to protect their children.

But there are different schools of thought now on this subject and recent articles, as well as an Op-Ed in The New York Times brought the subject to light again.

And whenever the subject turns to prevention, we turn to our expert, Dr. Carl Baum of The Center for Children's Environmental Toxicology--Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital. He took a brief stroll down memory lane and what he remembered might startle you.

Here is what Dr. Baum had to say:

In 1990, a large measles outbreak produced over 27,000 cases and 89 deaths in the United States. In Philadelphia, where I was training in pediatrics, there were over 1400 cases, almost one-third of which occurred among members of 2 church groups in Philadelphia. By the following spring, 6 people had died.

This was a disaster that highlighted the global importance of prevention. As in many other disasters, a natural process can accelerate because effective preventive strategies fail or are circumvented. In the 1990 measles outbreak, the disease spread rapidly, predominantly among preschool-age children. It turns out that the Philadelphia church groups claimed religious exemption and refused vaccinations for their members.

Why dredge up this memory? Because it is also the future: there will be more "exemptions" (read: failures) to vaccinate children against preventable disease, and therefore more disasters. In the recent case of Hannah Poling, the 9-year-old autistic girl with mitochondrial disease, a federal vaccine claims court ruled--contrary to the medical literature--that vaccines had worsened her condition. As Dr. Paul Offit, one of the great teachers from my residency, recently wrote in an Op-Ed column in The New York Times ..."the system worked fine until a few years ago, when vaccine court judges turned their back on science...."

The irony is that many of the parents who exempt their children from vaccines believe they are doing their best to protect them. In fact, when abandoning effective preventive strategies, they are doing just the opposite.

Do you agree with Dr. Baum? Have you vaccinated your children? Or do you opt out? Let us know...this is an important issue and we want to hear what you have to say.

(c) Leah-Anne Thompson. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

Toy Safety Gets A Boost at the Ports

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 11:34:00 +0000

Finally our government is taking serious action on issues of toy safety--putting their money where their mouths are...well...OUR money where their mouths are! Nonetheless, anything that seeks to protect children gets our vote.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is going to have inspectors at the major ports of entry into the United States and hopefully they will be able to prevent, to some extent, the influx of lead-tainted and otherwise dangerous toys that all too quickly get in the hands of our kids. This is at nearly epidemic proportions. So we applaud these steps and hope that it makes a difference.

Here's an article about it from The New York Times. In this election year, it's important for those of us who care about safety, especially as it relates to children, to demand that candidates make clear their positions on these essential issues.

We all know you can't watch over your kids every second of every day; but increased port security might provide some much needed peace of mind.

Wouldn't it be nice to wrap a present for a birthday party and not worry whether or not you were giving lead poisoning with that toy truck?

(c) Scott Pehrson. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

Play It Safe--But Play!

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:45:00 +0000

I'm a grown up who is regularly accused of still acting like a child. While perhaps intended to jab, this has never really offended me. In fact, quite the opposite--I wear the moniker with pride. But that may just be me, behaving like a child. Hmmm...this does get confusing.

But now I, and all of my middle-aged-child-like friends have something to really boast about. The cover story in last Sunday's New York Times Magazine section is entitled "Taking Play Seriously". This article is filled with excellent information, both from a behavioral and academic perspective, as well as an emotional point of view. That's where I weigh in.

Play is an important part of my life, and always has been. I am lucky to have parents who encouraged it, grew up at a time in this country when it was widely accepted as the "right" thing to do, and I never lost my love of it. I admit that the 1960s might have been an easier time to make play "happen". There was no Internet--actually there were no DVDs, VCRs, or anything else to take my attention away from my three-dimensional world and replace it with a mere two dimensions. Uh-oh. I am seriously sounding like a person older than I feel. After all, I do remember dial phones fondly.

But here's the deal: I love all kinds of play--sports, parlor games, board games, card games and games and puzzles online as well. I love playing scrabble at the kitchen table but I also love playing it on Facebook, because it means I can play twenty games at once with friends all over the country.

Kids need play time. In this over-scheduled-over-indulgent-overly-scrutinized world, play- for play's sake gets the short end of the stick.

I think it's time to put play back into our lives--no matter your age or your geographic location. Play safely, of course, but play!

Bowling anyone?!

(c) Steven Brandt. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

Are All Smart Children Good Liars?

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:53:00 +0000

As a follow up to our last post, and because this seems to be a topic of great interest to people, we are taking a closer look at this subject. As I mentioned, in the New York Magazine article, "Learning To Lie", author Po Bronson explores the extraordinary phenomenon of children lying as a matter of course. And not only are they lying regularly, they are learning all about it from their parents.

Uh...that's us. You know you do it. We all do. Not big, bad lies that involve felonies! The little kind that we tell to spare someone's feelings. (See, I'm already qualifying the difference.) "No, I love your hair color," when really I mean, "Do you own a mirror, because if you did, you would not have left the house." Or, "This is delicious, may I have the recipe," when really I mean, "My dog wouldn't eat this." So as we navigate life, hoping to spare people from hearing the "real truth" we may be injuring our children, who hear us do this, make the connection, accept it as correct behavior, and then adapt it as part of their daily routine. After all, if Mom and Dad do it, it must be OK.

So where's the balance? How do we spare people unnecessary hurt over something minor--hair color--and not teach our children simultaneously that it's just fine to lie when you need to?

Unfortunately, it's not so easy. Especially if your child is smart, and who's child isn't? Mine is. Honestly.

Some experts believe that children, once they get a little older, will grow out this--they'll learn to make choices and be cognizant of right and wrong. Here's a little pin to burst that bubble, courtesy of Dr. Victoria Talwar, an assistant professor at Montreal's McGill University and a leading expert on children's lying behavior:

By their 4th birthday, almost all kids will start experimenting with lying in order to avoid punishment. Because of that, they lie indiscriminately--whenever punishment seems to be a possibility. A 3-year-old will say, "I didn't hit my sister," even if a parent witnessed the child's hitting her sibling.

Most parents hear their child lie and assume he's too young to understand what lies are or that lying's wrong. They presume their child will stop when he gets older and learns those distinctions. Talwar has found the opposite to be true--kids who grasp early the nuances between lies and truth use this knowledge to their advantage, making them more prone to lie when given the chance.

Great. Another thing to blame on parents! So what is the answer? Well, there's no magic bullet for this one. But as with most important parenting issues, TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN! A strong bond, an open relationship, and the feeling that the truth, no matter how unpleasant, might mitigate punishment rather than bring it on, may be the way to navigate this particular land mine.

Anyway, your kids don't lie, right?

Is Your Child a Good Liar?

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:36:00 +0000

If so, and statistically the chances are good, then congratulations! It means your child is smart. I'm not kidding.

I read with interest and horror the latest cover story in New York Magazine. It's about lying and just how adept our children are at it. Very disturbing, but the research is fascinating.

It raises issues about what we, as parents, unwittingly teach our children about "little white lies" and what message this sends. Seems the smarter the child, the more adept they are at lying at an early age.

Great. Now when we're bragging about how well our kids are doing at school, socializing and mingling, making lots of friends, it may just mean that they're consummate liars!

Honestly now, is there any good news out there?!

(c) Judy McPhail. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

Would You Leave Your Child Home Alone with the Front Door Open?

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:44:00 +0000

Of course not. So why would you leave them alone on the Internet? After all, it's the virtual front door. And who knows anymore where it leads.

The latest study shows that social networking sites are not the culprit as much as chat rooms and instant messaging. Well that's just one study, and for every study that claims to have the answers, there's another one to dispute those answers.

Isn't this really about PARENTING? I know parents who won't let their kids watch television, but but have no idea what they are doing online for hours. The truth is there is great television for children (OK, I'm biased because I work in children's television!) and there are great web worlds, too. Moderation is the key, of course. Now I sound like my mother!

TALK TO YOUR KIDS. Find out what they like to do online, and while you're at it, why don't you find out WHY they like socializing online. I'm not suggesting that we parents become the police, but young children need supervision and they need to know we care about what they are doing.

Next time you hesitate asking your child what they're doing online, ask yourself this: would you hesitate asking them where they were going if they walked out the front door?

(c) Tom Schmucker. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

Close That Medicine Cabinet...

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:11:00 +0000

...And let your child's cold run its course.

Seems those over-the-counter medications don't do a whole lot of good.

Here's the gist:

"The FDA strongly recommends to parents and caregivers that OTC cough and cold medicines not be used for children younger than 2," said Charles Ganley, M.D., director of the FDA's Office of Nonprescription Products. "These medicines, which treat symptoms and not the underlying condition, have not been shown to be safe or effective in children under 2."

The FDA also recommends that anyone with questions contact a physician, pharmacist or other health care professional to discuss how to treat a child with a cough or cold.

As parents, we always want to find a way to make our kids feel better. But in this case, we'll just stick to TLC instead of OTC!

Be Safe!

(c) Suzanne Tucker. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

MySpace and Internet Safety

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:16:00 +0000

In all of the hoopla surrounding the latest internet safety measures undertaken by MySpace and Facebook, and spearheaded by our legislators, has anyone stopped to ask why so many children seek community online instead of...oh I don't know...in their REAL community? What happened to getting together with friends in person, rather than texting them, emailing them, chatting online in groups or other forms of electronic communication?

Uh-oh, I sound like my parents. The truth is, I have a Facebook page. There, I've admitted it. And it's true that as a result, I now communicate with certain family members I otherwise speak with only on Thanksgiving. And a very dear friend and I now engage in voracious Scrabulous. So I get it. And I like it. But as a parent I worry.

So clearly the only way to ensure our kids' safety is to be vigilant as parents and to be sure there are safe options out there. At Safety4Kids we applaud the attorneys general and their actions. With our partners at The Creative Coalition, we inaugurated The National Task Force on Children's Safety on Capitol Hill with the goal of ultimately impacting legislation as it regards children's safety. And not just online. But that was an important part of our summit and continues to be a priority for us.

And while we're on the subject of Internet Safety, I'm going to post "SeeMore's Safety Browser" again. We designed this (using the characters from our public television show, SeeMore's Playhouse), to protect your young children when they want to play online like their older siblings. It puts the controls in your hands, allows you to add sites you like and gives you peace of mind when your kids are playing--they can't break away from these parent-approved sites and wind up in unsafe territory. Peace of mind. Now that's a rare commodity these days.

Click on the image below to download our free "SeeMore's Safety Browser".

Be Safe!

(c) Safety4Kids, LLC

Where There's Smoke...

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:17:00 +0000

...Unfortunately there's often fire. Statistics are not good. Even with all the fire alarms, smoke detectors, and other products on the market, we're still reading horror stories in the news. And many of these stories involve kids. Kids who didn't know how to handle an emergency situation, kids who made bad choices about how to put out a fire, kids who simply didn't have the information.

So here's a little something that might help. It's for you, as parents, to use with your kids. The idea, of course, is to make these concepts accessible to kids early, so good habits are just part of their lives. If you've got preschoolers, this is for you. Here are some other helpful links:

BeFireSmart for Parents
National Fire Protection Association
American Red Cross

Be Safe!

(c) Safety4Kids and SeeMore's Playhouse

A Greeting for You!

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 18:00:00 +0000

5 Unsafe Things Kids Should Do? Hmmmm...

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 13:31:00 +0000

OK, so we as parents like to think we can protect our children from most major hazards. But some people believe we have become overly protective and risk preventing our kids from...well...being kids.

Here's what Gever Tulley had to say recently on TED.com. I should say that by showing you this video in no way do I mean to imply that I agree with Gever; though in theory I like some of what he's saying. But at Safety4Kids, our concern is a much younger audience--so I really don't want you to put a pocketknife under the tree for your preschooler. But it's an interesting and valid argument for older kids. After all, if you're anyting like me, you find yourself sometimes saying, "When I was a kid, we did _______ and no one got hurt." I grant you it's a different world now than when I was growing up, but still, the instinct to protect your kids is not something that changes with the latest fads (remember fads?!).

Fun Family Adventure or Nightmare? A Fine Line

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:58:00 +0000

A family missing anytime of the year is a horrible notion; during the holiday season, when emotions are heightened, it has an additional layer of drama. I'd rather imagine kids singing carols by a warm fire, than huddled in a culvert trying to survive hypothermia.

So when I read the story about the father leading his three kids on a tree-cutting mission deep into the snowy woods, I had several reactions:

1. Why would any adult lead their kids on such a mission? Can't they just go buy a tree like everyone else?
2. If they're going to go foraging on their own for this tree, shouldn't they let someone know, just in case?
3. If they are used to this kind of adventure, then surely they packed an appropriate survival kit.

I live in New York City, so the most trying adventure concerning a Christmas tree in my life is braving the traffic at Rockefeller Center. And I wouldn't be making light of any of this, if the end of this story had been different. Thankfully, dad and kids are home and fine. But do yourself a favor--if you're going to go into the woods, whether in the snow or not, BE PREPARED for any emergency.

Any time you go into the woods, snow or not, bring these essential items. And make sure each person has their own--everything fits in a small backpack or fanny pack:
--something with which to make a fire
--a compass, or these days, a GPS
--a large garbage bag or some other fold-able, light material that can act as a temporary shelter
--a cell phone with a fully charged battery or a two-way radio; if you opt for the two-way, tell a friend or family member which channel you'll be using
--a bullion cube, or the season packet form Ramen noodles--salty is the key
--a First Aid kit--you can find these online at the Red Cross

And please, make sure someone knows EXACTLY where you're going.

Stay safe and warm, and have a happy holiday!

(c) Howard Sandler. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

Free Holiday Gift! (Now That We Have Your Attention...)

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:26:00 +0000

When we talk about safety during the holidays, we're usually talking about lights on your tree, candles in your window, your mother-in-law's pills on the night table, and other important issues that get a lot of necessary attention this time of year. But there is another kind of safety concern we have at the holidays--Internet safety. That's right. Your kids will spend more time online now that school is in recess. They'll play online with their friends, they'll play by themselves, and hopefully they'll play with you, too. Internet safety, media literacy, whatever you want to call it, it's a huge concern. After all, being online can be...well...addicting! Guilty as charged.

So what's a concerned parent to do?

Well, for one thing, establish some limits. Here's some good advice from Parenting magazine.

And if you've got little ones at home who want to be on the computer playing games, here's a web browser we developed at Safety4Kids, and it's yours for free--because we care! Click on SeeMore the Safety Seal's adorable face and follow a few simples steps. Consider it an early holiday present!

Let me know if you and your kids like the browser. Empowering parents (and who couldn't use some empowering?!) is key, and this is one way I think we can help.

Of course, you can always turn off the computer and go sledding! Just be careful when you do.

Be Well and Be Safe!

Get The Lead Out: Keeping Toys Safe

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 19:47:00 +0000

At last, some good news in the toy industry! Hasbro, the second largest toy maker, has hired a firm to lobby the government on product safety issues. Now maybe when we buy toys for our kids, we won't find out months later that they contain lead, turn into date-rape drugs, or perforate internal organs. Doesn't really seem like too much to ask!

Check out the article.

And if you notice a new "look" to our blog, we've decided to pull back the curtain and show our face--or rather, my face! I've been writing most of the posts for Safety4Kids, and along with Sheila Josephson, writing the Kid Nation posts on WebMD's TV Checkup blog. Now don't get mad - we wanted to like the show - we just didn't!

I'll be writing more often, offering information, comments on relevant safety issues, and asking some of my colleagues to share their thoughts, too. And I'm going to give you some fun media to share with your kids. And I promise...no lead in any of it!

Be Safe!

Related Links:

'Tis The Season...To Be Safe!

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:28:00 +0000

OK, so we're obsessed with safety. There are worse things to be. Especially when you devote your days and nights to creating entertaining and educational programming for preschoolers. So when everyone else's thoughts turn to "sugar plum fairies", our thoughts, at Safety4Kids, turn to those same fairies falling on their heads! It's not always easy being us!

But as the temperatures drop and the forecast is for snow in many parts of the country, we turn our focus to the particular safety hazards of the season. And how best to prevent them.

Dr. Carl Baum, our favorite expert wearing both his toxicology and pediatric emergency hats, offered his thoughts on the "top" safety hazards to be aware of.

Automobiles (approximately 43,000 deaths per year)
Make sure your children are restrained in age-appropriate car or booster seats. And if you're in the market for a new car, consider one with good crash resistance, paying close attention to side-impact resistance. These sites can help:
http://www.iihs.org
http://www.safercar.gov/

And remember that SUVs are not the "super-fortresses" that the public perceives them to be; in one large study, any benefit from increased mass in terms of child-occupant protection was lost because of the tendency to roll over. (Not to mention that SUVs are obscene gasoline hogs and increase your carbon footprint.) We care about wellness AND safety! And the environment is part of it all.

Carbon Monoxide (approximately 500 unintentional deaths per year)
Make sure your furnace is inspected and cleaned annually. Be extremely careful venting exhaust from portable propane or gasoline-powered generators and heaters. And have at least one carbon monoxide detector in your home. Remember that during a power failure--when people often turn to alternate sources of power and heat--only battery-powered detectors will continue to work.

Other Poisoning
Grandparents visiting for the holidays? Make sure their medications and your toddler stay separated! One-and 2-year-olds account for approximately 1/3 of the 2.4 million calls to US poison centers annually.
Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.

Recalls
2007 seems to be the year of the recall! Confused? You're not alone. Here's a website that summarizes recalls, not just of toys but of many consumer products, including cars. You can search the database and sign up for email notification:
http://recalls.gov/

Check back often for updates and more helpful information from our safety team at Safety4Kids. Happy, healthy, and safe holidays from our family to yours!

(c) Judi Brenstein. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

"The Best of Friends Party" A Family's Farewell to Their...Nanny!

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:12:00 +0000

One of the most important relationships your child may have is with his/her nanny. At Safety4Kids we are always on the lookout for positive stories that reinforce our messages of safety and wellness for young children, and of course, their parents. One of our blogging contributors, Jill Starishevsky, founder of HowsMyNanny.com, offers a heartwarming story about her friend's experience with her daughter's nanny. It reminds us all that in this often unsafe world, there are still wonderful people making a positive difference in a child's life.

And it's nice to offer some good news!

First Jill, then her friend Ellen's story.

Friday was a glorious day in the city. I found myself in Central Park at an event that was a first for me. It was a nanny going away party. My girlfriend's daughter has matriculated into the daycare/pre-K set and will be starting school on Monday. Thrilled with the incredible care her child received thus far from her wonderful nanny, she threw a little party for her nanny and dubbed it "The best of friends party". The chocolate cake bore that inscription and several of the nannies attended the get together with their charges. Each child seemed so comfortable with one another's caretaker. The children, who happened to be all girls, were all almost two years old and ran around the park giggling as the nannies chased after them. The party was similar to a bridal shower as the mom, flanked by her own parents, took Polaroid pictures of each set of nanny and child then pasted them into a little book and had each nanny write a message to their friend who was going away. There were small gifts and some tears, but overall the moment was quite charming.

As the founder of HowsMyNanny.com, I am often asked how to cultivate such loving relationships between parent and nanny and nanny and child. I often refrain from giving specific advice as I believe each case is different. But I thought everyone could learn something from this family. So I asked my girlfriend, Ellen, to tell me some of the things she did to cultivate the relationship and make it such a successful one.

Here's what Ellen had to say:

When I set out to interview nannies, I had an elaborate plan in mind. I prepared a detailed list of questions and knew to be aware of instinct. These are some of the questions I asked:

1. Tell me about your experience working with children.
2. What age groups have you worked with before? How do you feel about working with a newborn? A toddler?
3. Do you have any education or training in childcare? (also just regarding their education level)
4. Do you have children of your own?
5. Tell me about your previous jobs as a nanny? How long did you work with families? What were your responsibilities?
6. What kind of activities did you do with the children? What did you enjoy most or least about your positions?
7. If i spoke to your references, what would they say about you?
8. What are you looking for from a family? Employer?
9. Describe how you see spending a typical day with infant? A toddler?
10. How would you set limits?
11. How would you handle discipline? How would you reward positive behavior?
12. How would you handle a crying baby?
13. What do you see as your primary responsibility with my child?
14. What are you expectations?
15. Discuss flexibility of schedule, overtime, vacation, sick time, etc.
16. What other responsibilities do you have outside of your job? (i.e. family, church, etc.)
17. Discuss getting CPR/first-aid training.
18. Discuss criminal history.

I also had nannies actually hold Mollie, play with her and READ a story; this told me a lot about language, communication and warmth. (if a nanny arrived wearing perfume or excessive make-up, they never got to this stage of the interview)

The biggest thing that made my relationship with Harriette work was COMMUNICATION. We were very open with each other. Expectations were clear, and there were no secrets. To that end, I gave her a detailed care sheet that listed her duties and responsibilities.

We respected each other a great deal. She had a way of guiding me and offering suggestions without forgetting that I was the mother.

When I decided it was time to place Mollie in school, it was very important to me that Harriette find another family. I sent an email all my friends letting them know that a great nanny was about to become available. I wrote her a letter of recommendation and Harriette found another family within the week. We will miss her, we're so grateful for the care she gave our daughter each day.

We say, great job all around Ellen, Harriette, Mollie and of course our friend Jill. We would love to hear more stories like theirs. Please post a comment and let us know if you've had an experience with your child's nanny that's worthy of "The Best of Friends Party".

Safety Recall: Connecting the "Aqua Dots"

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:15:00 +0000

When did keeping our children safe become the most difficult task on earth? It used to be that we were concerned about them crossing the street, playing with matches, and fastening their seatbelts. At Safety4Kids, we're still obsessed with these safety concerns, and many others, and now we add to the list the growing number of downright dangerous toys, most of which are manufactured overseas. It's hard to know exactly what to do.

The latest recall is for "Aqua Dots", known in Australia as "Bindeez," also known as "Toy of the Year." Ever feel like you're living a Twilight Zone episode? The circumstances are extraordinary.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, reeling from its own problems, has a long list of recalled toys to deal with as the holiday season approaches. We asked Dr. Carl Baum, to weigh in on this latest epidemic affecting children: Unsafe Toys! Here's what he has to say about "Aqua Dots".

"It seems to have become a weekly routine: another recall of lead-contaminated toys. But the recent announcement that a chemical in the Aqua Dots toy, when ingested, is metabolized to the date-rape drug GHB, was a real surprise. Who could have imagined that Australia's 2007 Toy of the Year could pose such a hazard? The good news is that affected children who are brought to medical attention in short order, and receive appropriate supportive care, seem to do well as the chemical is rapidly metabolized, consistent with our experience with GHB.

This latest twist on the old Mickey Finn knock-out concept, however unintentional in this case, reminds us that innovation may have associated--and sometimes hidden--risks. And parents should be mindful of the fact that the small beads in the Aqua Dots toy could represent a serious choking hazard to younger children in the household."

Buyer beware. And be safe!

(c) Safety4Kids

Technorati Tags: Aqua Dots, toy recall, safety, health, children

Naughty or Nice: Holiday Toy Safety

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 22:34:00 +0000

You don't have to look too far to find ads for the holiday season--it seems to begin earlier each year. And so does the pressure to find just the right toys for your kids. The latest, greatest trends, the impossible-to-find item, the sleep-on-line-all-night must have and everything in between. But the headlines these days are all about lead paint, recalls, and the dangers lurking around every corner. So what to do?

At Safety4Kids we've decided to try and help. We are not a toy safety lab and we do not conduct independent research about toys. We, in fact, are beginning to produce our own line of safe media products. But how, then, do you as a concerned parent, still make the holidays fun and fabulous for your kids?

This is the first in a series of posts about holiday toy safety. We're going to use our connections to get you some important information, and we're going to be your one-stop-shopping for that information. We'll put our links and materials in an easily down-loadable format and we'll update the information as we get it.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is always a good place to start. And while it's always a little scary to read these documents, it's probably a good idea to at least glance at this site and find the information about the products that interest your kids. If electric toys are what the little ones are clamoring for, read the specific information related to that topic. It can really prove helpful in the long run.

Mattel has been in the news a lot lately, and you'd be wise to view the information they've voluntarily posted regarding their recalls. It can help you make informed decisions and also might help you do a little "cleaning out" of the toys already in your home.

Our partners at Parenting magazine offer a positive approach, recommending the "Toys of the Year" which are "mom-tested". This is always a great list, and we encourage you to take a look.

Which leads us to our own mom testing! And dad testing. And care-giver testing. In order to provide you with not only the official information, which is more statistical in nature, we'd also like to find out what you think! After all, parents are the best judges of what works and doesn't work for their kids. And oftentimes parents have an inside track on safety information, having experienced what works firsthand through trial and error.

So please post a comment and let us know about your own experience with toy safety. Maybe it's a toy your kids love that you feel is safe. Maybe it's a concern you have about a toy and we can help find out more about it for you. We'll be asking our clinicians to weigh-in as well.

So an early happy holidays from all of us at Safety4Kids and "SeeMore's Playhouse". Let's make this holiday season joyous and SAFE!

(c) Daniel Gale. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

Time To Get Shot...A Flu Shot!

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 18:31:00 +0000

At Safety4Kids we're always trying to give parents the information they need to empower them to keep their kids safe and healthy. And at this time of year our attention turns to the flu. We don't have to tell you that flu season is here! Your kids are probably already coming home and telling you which of their friends didn't come to school because they weren't feeling well. We asked our own Dr. Bruce Bonanno, an ER doc with lots of experience and chair of the Public Relations committee of the American College of Emergency Physcians, to give us some basic information that could just help prevent the spread of this nasty bug!

Here's what Dr. Bonanno had to say:

The flu season is now approaching and it is time to receive your yearly vaccination. You and your children should get the flu shot because it will usually protect you from getting the flu this year. Even children as young as six months should get the shot. Without the shot, there's a greater chance of getting a serious case of the flue, which means more days of school missed and more days of work missed. If any of your family falls into the high-risk group, it will help protect them from getting the complications of the flu, which is mainly pneumonia, or worsening the medical problems they normally have.

There is also a nasal spray Flu vaccine now available and approved for use in healthy people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.

Why should healthy people get the flu vaccination?
Healthy people should get the vaccination because it will help prevent the large outbreaks in the community that always seem to occur. You know the ones where the kids in school get affected first, then the parents catch it next, and they spread it to their office co-workers, who spread it to their kids, who then take it to school and give it to their friends who then give it to their parents. It's a vicious and somewhat preventable cycle.

Some people are afraid of getting a flu shot because they think they will get the flu from the shot. Is this true?
You do not get the flu from getting the flu shot. The vaccine is created from dead, or inactivated virus. Unless you are sick at the time of vaccination or you are allergic to eggs, you should not experience symptoms.

Can you still get the flu if you get the vaccination?
The bad news about getting vaccinated is that ten to twenty percent of those given the shot may still get the flu, although it will be a milder case. In addition, the vaccine is made up of three different strains of flu. These strains are picked out of the large number that are possible by research that shows these three strains are the most likely to occur this year. The strains chosen may be different every year.

How long does it take before vaccination works?
Average is 2-3 weeks.

When we talk about the getting the "flu", what exactly are we talking about?
When we talk about getting the "flu", short for "influenza", what we are talking about is an infection of the air passages that is caused by a virus, much like the common cold.

How is the flu different than the common cold?
Getting a cold is like getting hit with a scooter, getting the flu is like getting hit by a train! In addition to the usual dry cough, sneezing, watery nasal discharge, and stuffy nose, it also has an effect on the whole body. This may include fever, headache, runny eyes, muscle or joint aches, and generalized weakness.

When does the influenza virus occur?
The influenza virus is present all year but we hear about it mostly in the late fall and winter months because that is when people are starting to stay indoors more and this causes the outbreaks which occur. People are usually affected between late October to April. Peak flu season is January and February.

(c) Robert Byron. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

Pediatric Cold and Cough Medicines: First Do No Harm

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 06:43:00 +0000

Update 10/19/2007: With today's news about the recommendation to expand the withdrawal of pediatric cold and cough medicines, we asked Dr. Baum to update his comments below. Here's what he said:

"To date, the problem has been that pediatric dosing for these drugs was extrapolated, sometimes erroneously, from adult data. Finally, everyone is starting to understand the expression, "children are not little adults" (although I prefer "adults are not big children").
The overarching question remains the same, however: are these drugs safe AND effective in children of any age? For the most part, we don't have the data. Are these drugs safer in a 6-year-old than in a 2-year-old? Maybe. Are the drugs more effective in a 6-year-old than in a 2-year-old? Maybe. Maybe not."

The health and safety of children is our primary focus at Safety4Kids. So when medicine for children is withdrawn from the shelves, we share the concern of parents everywhere. We turn to our own Dr. Carl Baum for his thoughts.

Here's what he has to say:

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) announced on October 11th a voluntary withdrawal of over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines for children under two "out of an abundance of caution." (http://otcsafety.org/)

The industry has acknowledged that infants under the age of two are most vulnerable to misuse of these medicines. While I applaud the industry's voluntary action in the absence of a mandatory recall, I would question the general claim on the website, above, that "kids' OTC cough and cold medicines are both safe and effective when used correctly..." Apparently the industry would have us continue to dispense these drugs to older kids.

Even if you gloss over the safety issues--and I see children over the age of two in our Pediatric Emergency Department who overdose on these drugs and occasionally have significant side effects--how effective are cough and cold medicines?

As the Latin saying goes, primum non nocere, or "first do no harm." We are often willing to accept some risk in medicine, but the hope is that the intervention will also bring some benefit. If you look at studies of OTC drugs and upper respiratory tract infections in children, however, there is little convincing evidence for the effectiveness of most OTC components: antitussives (allegedly for cough), expectorants and mucolytics (to thin mucous), as well as antihistamines and decongestants (to dry secretions and open up passageways).

But we can't place all the blame on the multi-billion dollar OTC industry. We pediatricians are often responsible for recommending these drugs as we cave to parental pressure to "do something" for symptoms of upper respiratory infections. And remember, these infections are invariably viral processes that run their course no matter what we do. What's the alternative? Salt-water drops in the nose can help to loosen mucous. And a little education goes a long way.

(c) Nolte Lourens. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

Technorati Tags: pediatrics, cold, cough, medicine, FDA, recall

Election 2008: Let's Start a Revolution!

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:22:00 +0000

If you read our blog, and we hope you do, then you know at Safety4Kids we worry about everything! We worry about the safety and well-being of children of all ages. We devote much of our time to creating tools that help parents keep their kids safe; we think of it as empowering parents. So here's a question:

How do we empower the teachers as well?

How can we convince our lawmakers that safety and wellness need to be part of the curriculum, alongside reading, writing and math?

Change is not easy. But it is election season--in case you couldn't tell! This is the time to exert pressure on all of the candidates, across party lines, to put the welfare of children at the top of their agenda.

These are extraordinary times and they demand extraordinary measures. We have talked about Internet Safety in this blog, and the scary place the online world can be for some children. Internet Safety is a hot topic and one that gets the attention of the media and therefore the public. It's not as "exciting" to talk about school bus safety and playground safety, but it's all part of the bigger picture.

And then there is the startling and disturbing issue of childhood obesity and the dangerous effects on the health of the child and the impact on the health care system. Diabetes and other diseases, once the purview of older adults, is now very much a concern for overweight children. There is so much in the news about this, and there is some very good work being done to raise awareness and begin to create change. But this is a cultural issue in our country and the problem runs deep. We're gong to have to get organized to get anything done.

At Safety4Kids we are preparing to move forward on the work we began at our National Task Force on Children's Safety in Washington. We want all the candidates to work hard on this, and to be accountable to the children in this country. You'll be hearing from many of our contributors about these important initiatives. We have the support of the PTA, the American Red Cross, and many of our partners and collaborators.

So let's start a revolution! One that's good for children. Let's get them eating healthy foods in school and learning safe habits before it's too late. If you want to join us and raise your voices, then leave a comment, share a story, and tell us what you'd like to see happen in your schools and in your community.

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before beginning to improve the world. --Anne Frank

(c) Image from Joanne and Daniel. BigStockPhoto.com

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Technorati Tags: election 2008, safety, chldren's health, wellness, safety4kids

Crib Recall: Should Parents Be Product Testers?

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Davis, Safety4Kids) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:13:00 +0000

At Safety4Kids we strive to produce "safety tools" to empower parents and "safety entertainment" to communicate safe and healthy habits to young children. But there are hazards around every corner. And many of those hazards result in tragedy. Like the most recent Simplicity crib recall.

We asked our own Dr. Carl Baum for his response to this recent tragedy, and the resulting crib recall. Here are his thoughts.

As for the crib recall, the question always arises, how did this happen? The analysis of any tragic death (or deaths) often reveals a number of missed preventive opportunities. In this case:

Poor crib design allows rail to be installed upside down

Parents install rail upside down, allowing hazardous gap to appear

Baby suffocates in gap

Delays in product recall allow more deaths/injuries to occur

Parents who are not aware of recall continue to use crib

I am not sure it is practical to expect parents to test products. Most would not have the engineering background to recognize or correct potential hazards. Even the CPSC does not have the authority to perform pre-market testing of products, and I've read recently read that they have severe staffing shortages.

Of course, as the manufacturer points out, you would not want the recall to encourage parents to institute unsafe practices, such as co-sleeping arrangements which present their own hazard to younger children.

What do you think?

(c) Brian McEntire. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

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