Sometimes holidays make sense because of the popularity of an activity or a person. At other times, even though a holiday is celebrated, the reasons for celebrating can be quite obscure. Take “Carve a Pumpkin Day”, for example. Many people have never heard of this holiday.

Carve a Pumpkin Day is celebrated on October 31 just like Halloween. And, since this holiday is associated with Halloween, you would think it would be widely celebrated. Amazingly, finding information about the holiday isn’t that easy to do.

There may not be a specific day set aside for Carve a Pumpkin Day as people choose different days in the month of October. If you celebrate Halloween you’re more than likely carving a pumpkin. How can you make Carve a Pumpkin Day a tradition at your house no matter which day you celebrate it?


Start your own pumpkin-carving tradition by following these steps:

1. No earlier than two weeks before Halloween, start looking for a pumpkin as a family. Try not to buy it too early or it will begin to decay. Washing the pumpkin may help it remain healthy longer.

2. Plan your Carve a Pumpkin Day activity for two to three days before Halloween because they will begin to go bad very quickly after they have been carved.

3. Invite friends to bring their pumpkins over to have a carving party. You may want to have harvest-type snacks to enjoy while you’re busy creating your pumpkin masterpiece.

4. Before you actually cut into the pumpkins, let the children draw the faces they’d like on their pumpkins with washable magic markers. If they make a mistake, correcting it is as easy as washing it off and starting again. When the children are happy with the faces they’ve drawn, it’s time to let the parents start cutting.

5. To avoid injury, don’t allow the children to handle the knives or the candles unless they have a special “kiddie” carving set.


After the pumpkins are all cleaned out and carved, have a contest among the artists to decide which one is scariest, which one is funniest, and which one is the most intricate. Avoid calling one the “best” so no one feels badly that their pumpkin wasn’t chosen.

Instead of throwing the pumpkin seeds away when the pumpkins are cleaned out, roast them for an additional snack. You can fix them so they’re either salted or unsalted; whichever way you prefer them best.

Since you’re celebrating Halloween and planning on carving at least one pumpkin to decorate your house, why not celebrate Carve a Pumpkin Day, too. Make a day out of it by inviting friends to join in the fun. In fact, why not create a tradition of having a Carve a Pumpkin Day celebration every year.

Children love to dress up and eat candy during Halloween. They also like creating creepy crafts while at school or at home. You may want to try making some of these edible creepy crafts with your children to give as treats at school or for trick-or-treaters. You can also create non-edible creepy crafts.

Edible

Ghost suckers are usually a big hit with children. They’re easy to make as well as fun. All you need is some suckers, white tissues, white yarn, and a black marker. Cover the wrapped sucker with the tissue, tie it on, and then decorate the face.

Candy corn and popcorn are other common Halloween treats. Purchase some clear plastic food service gloves that you can fill. Put the candy corn in the finger tips to denote fingernails. Next fill the rest of the glove up with popcorn. Tie a ribbon at the wrist to keep the popcorn inside. If you’d like to make them spookier, place toy rings (bats, rats, skulls, or whatever you can find) on the ring finger.

You can also make popcorn balls and decorate them like large spiders. Make popcorn balls (you can also use rice crispy treats) into small balls. Attach red licorice ropes for the legs and the mouth and attach mini M&Ms for eyes. This is one spider the children won’t run away from.

Non-Edible

Craft stick mummies take a little more effort than some others, but the effect is worth it. Adults will have to help with this craft because it takes wire snips to cut craft sticks to create the arms and legs (2 ½ and 3 inches, respectively). Glue the limbs onto a wooden craft spoon and wrap the mummy with torn muslin. Attach wiggle eyes.

Spiderman has been a hit among children of all ages for years. If your little ones are enamored with the superhero, they may like to make a creepy crawly spider bracelet. All you need is black construction paper, wiggle eyes, scissors, tape, white paper, and glue. Fold the paper in half and trace the mid-palm and fingers only. Cut that out to create the legs. Make a bracelet by cutting a one-inch strip wide piece of paper and glue it to the spider; use tape to keep the bracelet closed. Glue on wiggle eyes and white fangs. Allow them to decorate as they like with glitter, stickers, or pieces of paper.

There are so many different types of crafts available for Halloween. If you’re creating creepy crafts for school, you can find directions and ideas on many websites by using a search engine. The choices are endless and limited only by the skill and ability level of your children.

By Aurelia Williams, author of Getting out of the SuperMom Trap

A few generations ago, children were commonly expected to help around the house. When society was mainly based on agricultural endeavors, children were expected to help around the farm as well. Our society has changed and so has our expectation of our children. Learning to delegate household chores to children can benefit both the children and the parents.

Let’s admit it, mom and dad work hard all day. Facing household chores in the evening can take away time that should be spent with kids, stress you out or just add another burden to your otherwise overloaded to do list - something I talk about extensively in Getting out of the SuperMom Trap. Delegating household chores between all the occupants of the house seems only fair. There are jobs around the house even the smallest child can do.

Chores are great for the kids as well. Though they may complain, forget or otherwise try to find ways out of chores they do benefit from them. They are taught responsibility, essential life skills and even some reasoning skills. Learning to do dishes or laundry is essential to any child. They need to be able to do these on their own some day so they may as well start doing these at home. It also gives them a feeling of accomplishment.

What chores kids can do, really depends on the age and the ability of that child. You may want to do the chore with them to begin with. Show them the correct way, then let them try it with your supervision. If they do ok, assign them this chore. Always follow up and make sure their chores are done and done correctly. Remember they are kids and are just learning.

Preschoolers can perform the basic chores. They can learn to pick up after themselves. Take care of their toys, make their beds and this kind of chore is ideal.

Older from 6 to 9 children can do all this plus learn to take care of the pets, fold and take care of laundry and even learn to vacuum and sweep floors.

Children for 10 to 13 can take on even more responsibility. They can do dishes, clean the bathrooms and even learn to cook simple meals with supervision.

Once they have reached the age of 14 consider more responsibility. Laundry can be done by older children as well as car care, preparing meals or any other chore that parents feel they are capable of doing.

Some children are more adapt at helping around the household than others. Children who want to learn to cook and clean should be encouraged. Supervising young children around the stove and other hot appliances is essential, but they should be allowed to try these things when they feel they are ready.

With the question of chores comes the question of allowance. This is a very popular subject in many a child’s mind. There are different theories as to who should get allowance, how much and what for.

Sit down and discuss with your child their responsibilities around the house. Talk to them about how much they think these chores are worth. Teach them that their time and effort is worth something, but they have to be realistic. Let them be part of the decision of allowances and what chores are parts of that.

Parents are responsible for teaching their children important life skills. Teaching them how to keep up a house and themselves should be included. Show them it is a team effort to keep the house running smoothly. Everyone pitching in to keep a comfortable, clean house will show them it is worth the effort.

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A great children’s book featuring a small child and many of his hamster friends. It’s almost bedtime and as the father counts the minutes down the young child goes through his bedtime rituals with all his hamster tourists who have come to enjoy the fun. This book is geared toward ages 2 to 6.

Review: This book is just plain cute. How many times have our children scurried around to get ready for bed? This young child has a lot of help that only he can see. As Dad counts the minutes down, while immersed in his paper and totally unaware of the frolics of his child and friends, the bed time rituals begin.

With adorable illustrations this book will grab any child’s attention. It’s colorful and full of crazy antics. The child’s pet hamster advertises in the paper a bedtime tour. Before the night is over there are numerous hamsters running around. They help him brush his teeth, have a snack, read a book and they even fill the bathtub. They hula, water ski, boat and lie in lawn chairs.

The whole time Dad is hollering from his chair 10 minutes until bedtime, 9 minutes until bedtime and so on. When Dad shouts "Bedtime!" they all scatter away.

This book leaves a little to the imagination also. Are these hamsters real or just the wild imagination of a young child?

Kids love this book because it’s so active. There is something exciting happening on every page. It brings the hamsters to life even in their arrival by buses, taxis and even golf carts. In addition, it helps children with their counting. From the minutes until bedtime to the numbered hamsters, they will be counting on their own before you know it.

If you’re looking for a great book to read to your children at bedtime, get a copy of this one. There is so much going on that every time you read it to your child they will find something new and entertaining. I even enjoy it myself.

If you are the crafty type, you’re probably used to making crafts with your child. You may even make clothing for them. Have you tried to create your own Halloween trick-or-treat bag instead of buying a ready-made one? Depending upon how crafty you are, there’s nothing to stop you from creating a one-of-a-kind trick-or-treat bag your child will love.

The easiest way to create your own Halloween trick-or-treat bag is to find a solid colored shopping or gift bag. Choose from orange, black, brown, red, and white because they are common colors for this season. Either your or your child can decorate your paper bag in any number of ways. This type of bag is also available in a number of sizes so you can make one to fit the amount of candy you expect to get.

To decorate these bags you can find rubber stamps, stickers, or you can draw pictures on the bag. Cover the outline of your drawing with glue and then sprinkle Halloween colored glitter on the bag to make your bag stand out and sparkle. Haunted houses, skeletons, witches, or pumpkins are common items that you may choose from.

If you’d like to try something a little different, why not make a duct tape bag to hold your trick-or-treat goodies? Find a suitably sized paper bag. Use duct tape in white, yellow, and reflective orange. You can create your own reflective candy corn trick-or-treat bag.

Open up the bag and cut off the bottom of the bag. Cover the bag with the duct tape going across the whole opened bag. Seal one of the short edges of the bag by using duct tape over the edge. Roll the bag into a cone and secure the shape by putting a piece of duct tape to hold both sides closed. Create a bottom by cutting slits and overlapping them. Tape them closed to keep the bag together. Finish the bag off by putting a strap made of two pieces of duct tape, sticky sides together, and attach it to the bag on both sides.

Some moms create Halloween trick-or-treat bags out of cloth bags that can be decorated with fabric paint or embroidery. Still others put together bags out of quilt squares that have been made out of Halloween-themed fabric. They can change the look of the bag each year by having fabric cut-outs that can be tacked onto bag. These are especially great for little girls because if they are made to be reversible, they can be used at other times, depending upon the other fabric used.

Crafty moms all over have made Halloween costumes for years. Now you can create your own Halloween trick-or-treat bag to match the costume. Your child will love having something besides candy wrappers to remember the day by. And you never can tell if you might just pass along the tradition of making Halloween trick-or-treat bags onto your child.

With schools starting all across the country, you can expect to see fundraising forms and catalogs coming home before too long. If your child is very young, you will probably feel more comfortable helping them out. These ten tips for fundraising with your child can make the process more fun for both of you.

1. Make a list of people that you think might be willing to buy something, starting with people you know well - like family. You can then add people that you’re acquainted with to the list such as neighbors and the parents’ co-workers.

2. The best place for your child to start selling their products is to family. Not only will your child be more comfortable approaching someone who knows and loves them; family will also be more likely to purchase something.

3. Be cheerful and courteous when you approach people. No one is going to be interested in buying from someone who looks grouchy and unhappy.

4. Tell the potential buyer about the project you’re raising money for. Don’t be long-winded but keep your sales pitch short and to the point. For instance, tell them that your school is raising money for new playground equipment. Then politely ask if they would like to support your school’s efforts.

5. Always use the buddy system. If you’re helping your child with their fundraising, this won’t be an issue. They may decide to try to sell on their own, however. Remind them that they should always have someone with them, let an adult know where they are going, and when they should be home.

6. Most schools do not recommend door-to-door sales for safety reasons, but some children will want to attempt this, especially if they live in a large neighborhood. Under no circumstances should a child enter anyone’s house while they are fundraising. If they obey this rule even with people they know well, they will be more likely to obey the rule with strangers.

7. Be sure to thank the people you’ve asked to support you, whether they purchase anything from you or not. Being polite to them now will make them more willing to purchase from you at some point in the future.

8. After you’ve been out fundraising for a while, put the money from the collection envelope someplace it will be safe. If you have an old cash box, this would be a great place to keep it because it will help you keep better track of what you’ve received and will make counting it easier.

9. Help your child realize that no matter how tempting it may be, it is best to turn in all the money they collected. Doing any less would be stealing and that wouldn’t be right.

10. Have fun with the whole process. Not only are you able to spend quality time with your children, you will be able to help out your child’s school in the process.

Fundraising is a necessary evil for today’s school systems. With budget woes that your school may be facing, they may feel it is their only option for making improvements that their budgets won’t allow. Use these ten tips for fundraising with your child to help make the process more fun for both of you.

It’s a common complaint of children all over the country. They cry and whine when mom and dad ask them to clean up their rooms. “Why, Mom? I like it the way it is.” Why is it important for children to clean their own room? Here are some reasons why:

* Knowing how to clean their room teaches responsibility. Hopefully they will learn to care more about things they have.

* Teaching children to clean their room also helps prepare them for the future. At some point in time they will leave home and go out on their own. They need to learn how to clean a whole house before that happens.

* Children need to realize that, as a part of the family, everyone has to pitch in and help. They will also have to help out in the rest of the house, but they are ultimately responsible for keeping their own room clean and organized.

* Having a clean room with everything in a home of its own will help keep your children from stepping on toys and breaking them. This helps them keep their toys in good condition so they can be passed along in the future.

* Maintaining a clean room also makes it easier for your children to find things that they either want or need. If your child’s room is messy, they won’t be able to find the toys they want to play with or the school permission slip on the day it’s due.

No one is born knowing how to clean; someone has to teach them. That’s one of the responsibilities of being a parent. We are the ones that will teach them well or not so well. What we teach them will carry through their entire lives.

Teach them how to clean by having them help you while you clean. Start early to train your children to help with cleaning and you’ll be less likely to have a problem when they get older. Of course, some children are messier than others, but that’s no excuse for your children living in a pigsty.

Make sure your children understand your definition of "clean". For some, “clean” is a perfect room with nothing out of place. Some people see clean as not having to walk all over things on the floor. You decide how clean you want their room to be and ensure they understand what that is.

If it would be helpful, create a list of what you would like your child to do while they clean their room. Put the clothes in the clothes hamper, hang them up, or put them in the dresser. Pick up the toys. Place books on the bookshelves. Help your children decide which of their items they can get rid of.

Ultimately, this is why it’s so important for children to clean their own rooms. They are learning how to prepare for the future, taking care of the things they have, and they are helping to maintain the home.

As people grow up and their interests expand, quite often they’ll settle on one or two hobbies that provide them with hours of enjoyment. Try finding hobbies for your children to enjoy and you may be in for an interesting lesson.

Children can make a hobby out of nearly everything. Many of them have so many interests that helping them reduce that number to something reasonable may seem impossible. Here are some ideas to help find a children’s hobby that’s perfect for your child.

* Start with the basics. Make a list of all of their interests. See if there is a common denominator in all of the things they like.

* Do they prefer to be active rather than sedentary? If your child is very active, their hobby may very well be a sport. If they prefer not to be so active, collecting something may be more their style.

* Are they artistic or artistically challenged? Some children seem to have been born with a paintbrush and paints in their hands. They would be very happy spending hours painting. However, if they can’t even draw a stick figure, artistic endeavors may not be best for them.

* Do they have rhythm and love music? Their hobby could include taking music lessons. If they can’t play a note, encouraging them to learn an instrument wouldn’t be in their best interest, however. Keep looking.

Think back to when you were a child. What were some of the hobbies that you enjoyed and that consumed a lot of your time? Perhaps your child would enjoy your old hobbies and you could either enjoy the hobby together or pass your supplies down to them.

Some hobbies incorporate a number of skills. Scrapbooking, for instance, uses photographs so your child could become interested in photography. It also uses paper and scissors to create pages. They could also use calligraphy for writing journal boxes. Organizational skills are also important for this hobby.

Some children like to collect stamps, postcards from places they visit, different rocks and minerals, or any number of things. Girls begin collecting dolls just because they receive so many of them. Remember, if they collect things and want to retain their value in the future, it is best not to play with those items.

Encourage your child to try a number of different activities. When they find one that they thoroughly enjoy, look into how they can make that their hobby. You never can tell; a hobby that consumes your child may turn into what they'll pursue as a career in the future.

Finding children’s hobbies is about exploration. Present different hobbies, activities, and methods of doing things to them. Then step back and let them choose the hobby that’s perfect for them.

With the start of school getting closer, parents will be taking their children to purchase school clothes and supplies. Many parents want shopping with kids to be made easier and less stressful. The following tips may help accomplish this yearly task. They can also be helpful when going shopping with your children at other times.

Start out by knowing which items need to be purchased. Go through your children’s clothing and see if there are some items that can be used again this year. Decide how many items you need and make a list of all items needed for each child in your family. Determine to stick to your list while you’re in the store.

After you’ve made your list, check out sales papers for several stores. If you can’t find a sales paper for a particular store you’d like to visit, check online to see if they have a website. Decide which items you’d like to get from each store so you won’t be running all over and wasting fuel.

Feed the kids first. Misbehavior, especially in younger children, could be due to being hungry. Either wait until after you’ve eaten to leave for shopping, or take some snacks the children can eat during the time you’re out.

Set forth rules. Before you go to the stores, tell the children the rules they should obey while you’re there. Children need to stay with you, there should be no horseplay or running, and let them know what their consequences will be if they disobey. Have a plan in place in case you’re separated during the trip (to meet at the service desk, for example). If they’re especially good in the store, you may want to reward that good behavior.

Let them help. Give them a particular task while you’re shopping. If you’re looking at blue jeans, have them search for their size or find a shirt in their favorite color. By giving them something to do, they’ll be less likely to misbehave.

Allow them to decide. Instead of making all of the decisions about their school clothes, let them choose some of the items. Give them a choice as to styles, colors, or brands as long as their choices are within your budget. By allowing them to choose their own clothing, they’ll be able to wear things their friends have and will feel less out of place.

Buy online. If you can, purchase as many items online as possible. You can have it delivered to your front door, you don’t have to fight to keep your children in line, and you may actually save money. Look online to see if there are coupons or sales at your favorite stores. Some stores offer free shipping, so look for that benefit.

Can shopping with kids be made easier? Of course it can. Go when the children are fed and rested, follow the suggestions above, and this may be the easiest year of shopping yet. Maybe you won’t have to dread shopping with kids ever again.

Do you remember when you were in school? You could hardly wait for the school year to end and summer vacation to begin. The closer a new school year came, the more you had back to school anxiety. Your children probably feel the same way as the new school year is drawing near.

What can parents do to help with their children’s back to school blues? Here are some ideas of how to help your child prepare for the new school year that’s just around the corner.

1. A couple of weeks before school starts, begin to get them back on a “school night” schedule. Whatever schedule works for your family (in bed by 8 p.m. and up by 7 a.m., in bed by 9 p.m. and up by 7 a.m., etc.), begin to implement it in increments to get them used to going to bed earlier and getting up earlier for the school day.

2. Listen to your child’s concerns. Think about how you felt when you had to return to school. Acknowledge their fears when they first happen; don’t push them aside. Then talk things over with your child; tell them a story about when you were a child in the same situation.

3. If you’re allowed, go to the school a couple of days or weeks before school starts. Take your child on a tour of the different classrooms or areas in the school that they’ll spend time in. Meet the teacher if they’re available. Be sure to take them by the lunchroom, library, office, school nurse’s office (if there is one), and most importantly, the restrooms.

4. Have a “dry run” for getting ready each day for a few days before the first day of school. Plan to set everything out the night before just as they will be during the school year, and then have your child get dressed and ready to leave to see how things will work. This will also allow you to see if there are some areas of the morning routine that need to be tweaked to work better.

5. Create a special place for your child to do homework and leave their backpack so needed items are less likely to be lost. You may want to create a routine where you go through your child’s backpack with them each night, gathering any papers that need to be signed, assignments they need to do, and jot down any important dates on the family calendar.

6. Have a back to school blues-buster party. The night before school starts, plan a special meal, watch a favorite movie on DVD, and plan a back to school blues-buster dessert. Choose whatever will cheer up your child and give them a good feeling about the first day of school.

Your child is not the only one in the world to deal with back to school anxiety. It helps to talk things over, be prepared, and then celebrate the new beginning. You might find that you’re able to handle your own back to school anxiety better, too.

Wait To School Shop

The new school year will be here before you know it. You’re probably already thinking about the money you’ll have to spend on new clothes, school supplies, and miscellaneous fees. Some people start shopping as soon as the last day of the previous year. Others choose to wait to school shop. Which is the better choice?

There’s something to be said for buying things along the way rather than waiting until the last moment. If you pay attention to the stores, you can find items your child likes on sale throughout the year. Another benefit of buying along the way is that your budget doesn’t suffer from spending so much in a short period of time. If you can spread the cost out over a longer period, it doesn’t seem to hurt so much.

If you choose to purchase items as you find them, you can find some pretty good sales when the seasons change. Buy for next spring when the summer clothes are put on the racks. Buy next summer’s clothes at the end of July when they start putting school clothes out. Buy fall and winter clothes after the school year has started. You can save a good deal of money by buying off season.

A lot of parents wait to school shop until closer to the new school year, however. Here are some reasons for doing so:

1. Schools release their supply lists toward the end of July. This is a major reason why parents wait to shop for school. Of course, the longer you wait, the more picked over the supplies will be. If you want your child to get the “cool” folders, and not some plain, lame ones, you may want to start shopping when the lists first come out.

2. When the schools release their supply lists, is when most stores that handle school supplies have their best prices. Check discount stores as well as office supply stores for sales. Consider buying extra paper, notebooks, folders, and other supplies that you know your child will use now instead of having to pay full-price for them in the future.

3. School clothes are put out in July in anticipation of the new school year. This is a great time to take advantage of great clearance sales. The weather will still be warm for some time, so stock up on warm-weather clothing when it goes on sale. The amount you save may amaze you. If you have the money in your budget and storage space, consider buying some items in the next size for your child to use next summer.

4. Many states have a tax-free week or weekend. Waiting until this time frame to make all of your school-need purchases can keep money in your pocket. It may not seem like you’re saving a lot of money, but every little bit helps when you’re buying school supplies and clothing.

Back to school sales are sure to be popping up in stores all over the country as that time of year draws near. Choosing to buy items along the way or choosing to wait to school shop is a personal decision. One isn’t right and the other wrong, it’s just a matter of doing what you can to save money when you can - especially when it comes to dressing your children for school and buying school supplies.

Children are excited when the school year draws to a close. However, as parents, we want our children to continue learning. You may be looking for great places to pick up some summer learning. The following list will help you incorporate learning into summer fun.

Most children fall behind in reading and math during the summer break. That’s why when the new school year begins, teachers have to spend the first two months bringing the children "back up to speed" with reviews.

To help your child keep up with mathematics, try bringing them into the kitchen for the summer. Invite friends over in varying numbers so your children will have to determine how to extend recipes. If your recipe feeds four, how much meat would you need to double the recipe, triple it, or quadruple it? Your children probably won’t complain about having to do math if they have something to look forward to.

Even with gas prices the way they are these days, some families are still planning to drive for vacation. Ask the children to help determine how far you’ll be able to travel when you fill the gas tank and how much it’ll cost. You might find that your child can help you find a shorter route that will save you money.

You’re never too young to learn how to handle money. If you have a yard sale this summer, ask them to make change, as well as allowing them to place some of their own items to sell. This will help them learn the value of money, and how to keep track of it by helping divvy it up at the end of the sale.

Play games with them. Scrabble and Boggle are great games to help your child’s spelling while they’re out of school, and they’ll have fun in the process. Yahtzee and Monopoly are good games for math. Of course, if you’re children are younger, you may have to play games like Chutes and Ladders or a simpler game.

Go to the library as a family and pick out some books that everyone will enjoy. Then each night, instead of turning on the TV, have family reading hour. You may find that your children enjoy having to use their imaginations to see the story that they don’t complain so much when they’re told to turn the TV off.

Get them involved in geocaching. Geocaching is an activity that the entire family can enjoy together. You get directions to a secret cache of items that you must find. Most of the time, these items are hidden in forests or someplace not easily accessible. Not only will you have to learn about reading maps and a compass, it’ll be a great opportunity for your family to enjoy the outdoors together.

If you look around, there are plenty of great places to pick up some summer learning. Think outside of the schoolroom and you may find that the best places are right in your own home or very nearby.

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It used to be that a child felt safe and secure in their own yard. They could go outside to play without having to worry that they would be bullied by other children, kidnapped, or injured in drive-by shootings. Unfortunately, that time of innocence and security is gone. It’s important for your child to know about safety in your neighborhood because it’s not always safe any longer.

Here are some things that every parent would be wise to teach their children:

1. Teach them their full name, parents’ full names, address, and telephone numbers. A parent’s cell phone number would also be good to memorize. Tell children that knowing this information will make it easier for them to get home if they become lost at a store. For very young children, you may want to make an identification card that children can carry when you leave the house.

2. Impress upon them the importance of letting you know when they’re leaving the house and then to stay nearby. If they choose to leave your yard, ask them to tell you where they are going, if anyone is going with them, and when they plan to return.

3. Explain to them that as long as they are with a trusted adult, they may talk to others, but that it’s important for them not to talk to strangers if they’re alone in the yard, walking in a store, or at a park. They need to know that you can’t tell a “bad” person just by looking at them.

4. Teach your children that if they do get lost, if someone is following them, or they are being bullied, to head to a store or library because they are safe places to go. Then they should tell an adult who can call you or the police.

5. Decide together where the children should go if there’s a bully, a stranger that’s making them uneasy, an emergency, or if you can’t be at home with the children. A trusted neighbor that lives close by would be a good choice. Of course, you’ll want to check with that neighbor to be sure it’s alright to use them as a safe house.

6. Convince your children that it’s not safe to play in alleys, empty buildings, or construction sites. They should also play with friends because there truly is safety in numbers.

7. Let your children know that drugs and alcohol are dangerous. If anyone, including a friend, offers either of these to them, they should say “no thanks” and then tell a parent or another adult that someone offered these things to them.

8. Help them learn to be aware of what is going on while they’re outside; for example, paying attention if they see the same car circle the block more than twice. Telling a parent or adult about something like that could protect them, other children, or help keep the neighborhood safe.

When you talk to children about the dangers that could be around in your neighborhood, don’t make everything sound sinister. You want them to be aware of the dangers, but you don’t want to scare them to the point they’re afraid to go outside. Be honest with them and make sure they understand they can always come to you if they do become afraid, if something doesn’t seem right to them, or if someone or something bothers them. They need to understand safety in your neighborhood, who they can trust, and what they can do to help the neighborhood stay safe.

Within the last few years it has become more common to see large vinyl swimming pools in yards around the neighborhood. They’re popular because it gives a family the chance to enjoy the water without having to pack up, travel to a city pool or a beach, and then come back to do it again the next day. It’s important to be aware of safety at the family swimming pool as much, if not more, than it is at a public pool or body of water.

Water safety is extremely important, especially when you have children. Sometimes, no matter how careful you are in keeping a pool off limits, accidents can still happen. In fact, children die each year because of water accidents. It is for this reason that safety at the family swimming pool need to be at the forefront of your thoughts all summer.

There are courses that anyone can take to learn about water safety, including swimming pool safety. Along with water safety, it is also important for everyone to learn how to swim. While learning to swim won’t completely stop water accidents from happening, it will lessen the possibility. It would also be a good idea for each family member over the age of fourteen to learn CPR and first aid so you’re prepared in case there is an accident.

Here are some basic water safety rules that everyone should follow, whether at a family swimming pool, public pool, lake, or even in the bathroom.

* Children can drown in small amounts of water (even two inches), so be sure to never leave a child near water of any kind all by themselves. This is especially true with toddlers. If you are bathing your child, for no reason should you leave them in the tub alone. Toilets, water buckets, wading pools, and bird baths can all be hazardous if no one is watching a child.

* Take a cordless phone with you into the bathroom or poolside while children are near water. This will alleviate the possibility of having to run and answer a telephone at an inopportune time.

* Designate someone to watch the water each time anyone, especially younger children, are in the pool.

* Use a fence and gate with vertical bars around in-ground pools. For the larger vinyl swimming pools, do not leave the ladder for getting into the pool near it when it is not in use.

* Don’t leave furniture around the pool that a child can climb on to access a pool.

* Keep life-saving equipment (poles, ropes, life preservers) at the pool at all times.

* Post CPR instructions and the 9-1-1 number at the pool. Posting these may help a person keep their head in the midst of an emergency.

* Use the buddy system. Never allow one person to go swimming by themselves. There should always be a minimum of two people at the pool if anyone is using it, even if one person isn’t actually swimming.

Everyone in your family can be aware of safety at the family swimming pool. These safety tips, if followed, will make your time at the family pool much more enjoyable this summer.

Technorati Tags: swimming pool safety

Children are not the most tactful people in the world, especially when they’re very young. They don’t understand that staring is rude, so it’s up to us to teach them. Here are some ideas you can use instead of simply saying, “Honey, don’t stare” when someone is different.

It’s not that children intend to be rude or to stare at people that are different than them. In many cases they are merely curious and don’t know how to handle themselves. No matter what their reason, staring is not acceptable behavior and they need to be taught how to act appropriately.

Teach your children that people come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and with all types of limitations. Some have physical limitations which cause them to need help to walk, or they may not be able to walk on their own at all. Regardless of the differences, each one deserves to be treated like a person, with the same care as you would treat someone without limitations.

When your child sees a person in a wheelchair, they may be frightened or confused. They may have many questions, which is understandable. Don’t allow the child to stop. Draw their attention and keep them moving. When you’ve gone a safe distance with your child, sit down and talk with them.

Answer any questions they might have regarding the person, the wheelchair, and the need for a wheelchair. You may tell your child how people are sometimes injured and lose the use of their legs, or that some people are born without use of their legs. The benefit is that the technology exists that so these people are able to get around on their own.

Perhaps the person your child is staring at isn’t in a wheelchair or has a physical problem. Maybe they are a different color or they are overweight. The fact remains that staring is rude and your child wouldn’t like it if someone stared at them.

That may be one way to break them from the habit of staring at others. One day when they’ve stared at someone, make a pointed effort to stare at them. Just look at them until they make a comment about it. Ask them how they felt when you stared at them. When they say it made them feel bad, tell them that’s how others feel when they do it. Those with differences want to be treated as “normal”, and not staring is one way to help them.

Using empathy is often the best way to change a child from one who stares to one that cares. They will learn that everyone has feelings of inadequacy and staring makes people more self-conscious. The next time your little one begins to stare, you can tell them “honey, don’t stare” but you can also help them understand that doing so makes others feel bad.

Children love to spend time with their friends, and as summer approaches, they may ask if they can go to the same camp their friends will attend. You may ask yourself, “How old should my child be before they go to summer camp?” The answers will vary, depending upon the parents and the child, but here are some guidelines.

Day camps are a chance for your child to enjoy time away from Mom and Dad and spend time with their friends. These are generally no more than three to four hours long each day, but it’s a great opportunity for them to begin spreading their wings and gaining some independence.

Most people agree that day camps are good for children under the age of ten. A day camp would be an arts camp, sports camp, Vacation Bible School, or something along those lines. The parent would drop the children off, they would stay for a few hours, and then be picked up each day.

Some church camps have several options for campers. They may offer day camp classes for the very young, “under night” camps for those children not quite ready to spend the night, and overnight camp for those children who are ready for the challenge of time away from home. For the uninformed, “under night” camp would enable your child to go for day camp, stay until after dinner, and then go home to sleep in their own beds.

As children get older than ten, they are usually ready to be away from home for more than one night. However, you may want to allow them to spend the weekend away from home prior to allowing them to spend an entire week at summer camp, just to see how it goes. If they have difficulties being away for more than one or two nights, it would be best to wait until they are more mature before sending them off for a week or more.

By age twelve, most children are ready to leave home for a week or more. Don’t assume, however, that your child wants to go to summer camp. Or, if they do, that they want to go to the camp you have chosen.

Are they involved in Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts? Perhaps they’d enjoy a week at one of those camps. They may enjoy a church summer camp even more, but you won’t know unless you ask them. Be sure to include them in the decision; you may be surprised at what they have to say.

You may wonder how old your child should be before they go to summer camp. You can’t deny the many benefits of summer camp, but you know your child best. Their maturity level, experience, and desire will affect how successfully they handle the time away from parents, siblings, and their own bed.

It is quite easy to say that no one likes a liar; however, teaching your child the importance of honesty isn’t always a simple thing to do. We want our children to be straightforward and honest in everything, but how do we instill in them just how important honesty is? Teaching them to be honest, yet tactful, is something else entirely.

In Hebrew, the word for parent is “horah” which translates “instructor” or “guide”. Parents are to be their child’s first teacher. We are given the job of instilling values and character in our children; this includes honesty, morality, love, and many other character traits.

Express to your child how important it is to always be honest. Verbally praise them when you find that they are honest. Tell them that you appreciate their honesty and thank them for respecting your instructions. If they are dishonest, don’t demean them, but do express your dissatisfaction in their choice not to be honest.

More than anything else let them see how important honesty is to you by modeling honesty before them. If someone calls and you don’t want to talk with them, don’t ask your child to tell them you’re not there. Take the call, explaining that you can’t speak long, and then end the call as quickly as you can. Try to be aware of your actions; many may be an indirect way of teaching your child about honesty.

Children need to know that being dishonest is not only hurtful to themselves and others, it can also erode trust between the two of you. This mistrust may curtail their ability to participate in some activities because you don’t know if you can trust them to do as they’ve agreed. If you can’t trust that they’ll return at a particular time, you’re not as likely to allow them to go.

Teach your children about the boy who "cried wolf”. After crying “wolf” so many times and there wasn’t really a wolf, the people no longer trusted his word. When a wolf finally did arrive, the people didn’t come to help the boy. Dishonesty breeds distrust.

Ask your child how they felt when someone else lied to them. Did they feel good about it? Were their feelings hurt? Did they feel betrayed? All the feelings they felt are how others feel when they are being lied to. Help them understand that they have the power to be honest and keep others from feeling betrayed.

Most importantly, never give your child a reason to mistrust you. If you make a promise to them, follow through on the promise, even if doing so might cost you something. The only time breaking a promise is acceptable is when an emergency arises, and then you need to follow through as soon as possible.

It takes consistency and dedication when teaching your child the importance of honesty. Model honesty for them, and they’ll quickly learn of it’s importance and how much it is expected of them. Then step back and watch your child’s character continue to grow.

Today’s teenagers are often thought to be selfish, uncaring, and disrespectful people who don’t have any redeeming qualities. That image of teenagers is wrong in most cases. Talk with your teen about sensitive issues and you’ll see how they really do depend upon you, as parents, for guidance. It’s never too early to begin opening the doors of communication about sensitive topics, but unfortunately it can be too late.

You may be surprised to find that your teen actually wants you to establish boundaries. They may rebel against them a little bit, but they’re really just testing you to see how serious you are about the boundaries you’ve set.

They need to know where you stand on issues such as sex, drugs, alcohol, dating, and others. However, they also need to know that you care about their feelings and opinions; you need to discuss issues, not just give them a list of rules they must obey. They need some freedom to explore and grow. You want to make sure they know that they can come to you to discuss anything and everything and that won’t happen if you’re just a dictator.

* Let them know what you expect from them at home and in public.
* Respect them as individuals and they will be more respectful of you.
* Be supportive when they do come to you with problems or concerns.

Expect that your teen will have questions about drugs, alcohol, sex, and violence. Don’t make your teen feel like their concerns are trivial or don’t avoid these topics. You need to be open and honest with them, sharing your concerns and your experience with the topics at hand. Do some role playing with your spouse asking questions your teen might. Then come up with answers that will address their fears or concerns.

Quite often teens will ask questions at the most inopportune time, much like a toddler will. Try not to be caught off guard too much. Be straightforward with them rather than pushing the question to the side. Address it when it comes up rather than having to contradict the information they get from their friends who are willing to talk with them about it.

Let your child know that you may not be entirely comfortable discussing a topic, but that your relationship is more important than a little bit of discomfort. They may be uncomfortable bringing the subject up as well. You don’t have to spell out to your teen every detail of your own teenage years, but using examples and lessons you learned may help them see that you’re not totally out of step with them.

Teenagers don’t know everything they need to know as they grow into adulthood. Your responsibility as a parent doesn’t stop when your child becomes a teen, in fact you’ve just graduated to a new level of relationship. Take every opportunity to talk with your teen about sensitive issues now while they’re still at home, and before it’s too late to have an influence on them.

“That’s mine!” you hear your toddler say as they snatch a toy away from a sibling. So, the sibling begins to play with another toy. Before long, you hear the dreaded “That’s mine!” for the fifteenth time today. It’s so hard teaching your child to share, but it is one habit that will serve them well in the future.

When children are very young they don’t understand that they don’t own everything around them. It is our responsibility as parents to teach our child this unfortunate truth, but it is for everyone’s benefit. Here are some ways to help your child learn to share:

* Explain to them that if they want to play with another’s toys they need to ask for permission first. They need to learn that they can’t just take what they want, but they need to ask first. This rule applies when you’re visiting others as well as in your own home.

* Help your child learn that they should offer an explanation why someone can’t play with a toy if they say “no”. In other words, if a visiting child wants to play with your child’s favorite doll, help them tell the other child, “No, I’m playing with it,” “It’s my favorite,” or whatever the case might be.

* If the child isn’t actively playing with a toy and still says no, teach them that they need to let the other child play with the toy. This concept of taking turns isn’t always an easy task for a toddler to learn.

* Ask your toddler how they would feel if someone else told them “no” every time they wanted to play with a toy. Bring it down to their level, but help them understand that they should treat others the way they’d like to be treated.

* If your child takes a toy from someone, don’t snatch it right back and hand it to the other child. This reinforces the idea that taking things is alright. Instead, get down on your child’s level, tell them taking toys away isn’t nice, and ask them to give the toy back. Praise them when they do return the item.

* When you’re having a play date at your home, ask your child if there are particular things they don’t want to be played with that day. If the child gives you some things that he or she is particularly fond of, put them up in a room that the other children won’t have access to. Make sure your child knows that they must then allow the other children to play with anything that is left out.

* Teach your child to respect others’ things by being respectful of their belongings. Ask for permission before you use their things, giving them the opportunity to tell you “no”, as long as they give you a reason why. Ask others in the house, or people that may visit, to also be respectful of the toddler’s belongings.

* Finally, let your child see you sharing things that are important to you. Share your clothes for your child to dress up in, share your ice cream, making sure that you use the word “share” when you tell them what you’re doing. Let them see that you share with others, too.

Teaching your child to share may not be an easy task. Begin early and be consistent with them as you guide them in learning this trait. It will make their life, and yours, much easier.

Children all over the United States look forward getting out of school and spending the summer having fun. One activity many children look forward to is the Fourth of July and the fireworks that light up the sky. However, younger children may not be able to stay awake until the fireworks begin. These Fourth of July party ideas for kids may help them enjoy the day even if they do fall asleep prior to the evening’s light show.

A Fourth of July party can be so much fun, especially for little ones. But how do you prepare a party that children, as well as adults, will enjoy? Start early making plans and ask for your child’s input. You may be surprised to find that they have some great ideas for decorations, games, and food.

Let your child help make decorations for the party. Table toppers with a red, white, and blue glittered chenille stems, foil streamers, and balloons will be festive. Paint a small coffee can and fill it with sand to help the decorations stand. You may even want to place some sparklers in the can for later in the evening.

Plan a parade around your neighborhood or wherever you’re hosting your party. Let the children bring their bikes, wagons, tricycles, or scooters and decorate them with patriotic themes. Not only will the children have fun showing off their rides, they’ll also be showing off their artistic ability. Consider having a prize for each age group.

Don’t forget the food! Barbecue is the normal fare for the Fourth of July. Hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, potato salad, and homemade ice cream are always a hit. Have a watermelon, pie, or hot dog eating contest that everyone can join in.

What activities can children enjoy that only require adult supervision? Perhaps you can allow the children to make decorated t-shirts with fabric paint. See who can blow the biggest bubbles, have a water balloon war, and play patriotic music.

If the children in your life are water babies, consider having a pool party. Be sure to have a small wading pool so even the youngest children can have fun in the water. To keep children safe while in the pools, assign or hire someone to watch the children. Use sunscreen to keep them from becoming sunburned.

Finish off your party by allowing the children to stay up late so they can enjoy the fireworks show. Pack a light jacket just in case the night is cool, and arrive early to find the best seats. Don’t forget to bring your own chairs, a blanket to sit on, and maybe even a snack. Be prepared, however, for the children to nod off very quickly after the show is over.

Fourth of July party ideas for children don’t really need to be elaborate for them to be fun. Decorations, party games, and food are always a safe bet to get children into the party mood. Top the evening off with a night of fireworks, and the children will say your party was the best ever.

Today’s children have some things so much easier than we did when we were children. However, they may be at a distinct disadvantage because they don’t have the benefit of having to use their imagination, due to the technology and variety of toys available to them. Psychologists and child development experts, however, know the importance of imaginative play in how a child grows and matures.

Imaginative play is the foundation of learning. When a child plays, they begin to establish patterns of communication with others; they learn to cooperate, they develop creativity, and they begin to learn how to solve problems. There is so much that imaginative play can do for a child.

Unfortunately, many toy manufacturers are making toys that take little imagination to play with. Or the children spend their time in front of computer or television screens, rather than being creative and using that all-important imagination.

When a child uses their imagination in play, they are being creative - not just in play, but this creativity will help them throughout their lives. They may see a new solution to a problem in the future that may escape others. They may invent a piece of equipment or process for manufacturing that will revolutionize society. Creative minds - those that are given the opportunity to thrive in free, imaginative play - are those that will find the cures for diseases, new ways to help combat global warming, or develop new modes of transportation.

How can we, as parents, encourage this important task of imaginative play? Here are a few things we can do:

* Buy toys that can be played with in more than one way – building blocks, food items, and dolls often fit this description.

* Create a specific place in your home where children can be safe.

* Limit the amount of time your children have with technology – televisions, computers, video games – especially while they are young and just developing their imaginative “muscles”.

* If at all possible, allow your child plenty of time to play in their imaginary world. Don’t interrupt them unless you have to.

* Let your child play outside as much as possible. If they are outside, they aren’t bombarded with commercials or technology telling them how to play with certain items.

Imaginative play does so much for a child as they grow. It helps them learn social skills such as taking turns, sharing, cooperation, and playing by the rules. It also gives your child a chance to express emotions, as well as how to empathize with others. Imaginative play helps your child adapt to changes that happen in their lives.

The importance of imaginative play can’t be taken lightly. Take the opportunity to play with your child. You may be surprised to find that not only do you help your child, but you may just re-establish your own sense of creativity in the process.

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Grooming is not on the top of most kid’s "to do" list. Getting them to brush their hair or brush their teeth can be like herding cats. Not only is it an impossible task, but sometimes you get scratched in the process.

Instead of spending the hours before bedtime or first thing in the morning struggling over the toothbrush, try to ease the battle by making the experience a fun and inviting one for kid and parent alike. Here are some good tips to help make things easier:

1. Brush your teeth at the same time as the child brushes his. Let him stand on a stool next to you and mimic what you do. Sometimes being grown up like mom and dad is all it takes to get the child to brush his teeth without a battle.

2. Invest in a toothbrush that lights up or plays music. These are designed to go for one to two minutes so it encourages the brushing for the length of time necessary for real cleaning.

3. Start brushing teeth when the child is very young. As soon as the children begin getting teeth then they are old enough to get their teeth brushed, even if you do it with just a soft brush with no toothpaste in the beginning. It gets the children used to having the toothbrush in their mouth.

4. If you don’t have one of the self-timing toothbrushes, then use a kitchen timer. Set it for two minutes and see who can brush their teeth for the full two minutes.

5. Make it a game. Let them get a certain bedtime story or song (or maybe get TWO stories) if they can brush all their teeth. Get them to count each tooth as they brush it.

6. Get them involved in the brushing process. You can ease the tooth brushing battle by letting your children pick their own toothbrushes and even their own toothpaste. The more control they feel they have then the easier it will be to get them to cooperate.

7. Be consistent in getting the children to brush their teeth. Make it something that happens at the same time every single night. Experts say that if you can repeat an action for 21 days in a row then you will have set a habit.

8. Be watchful of the children when they first begin brushing their teeth on their own. Stay in the room during the process, and make suggestions if they are needed. As they get more consistent with their brushing then start leaving them alone for the whole process.

Instead of fighting your kids to get their teeth brushed you can find creative ways to change their grooming habits. As their habits change and they begin to adjust, you will see the tooth brushing battle ease up or just end altogether.

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Raising healthy kids in today’s environment can be tough. Many factors have changed over the years that have pushed some kids to be lethargic, overweight and just plain lazy. There are ways to combat the different elements that are attacking kids’ health today. Here are some common problems and suggestions for how to deal with them:


The Problem: Electronics are overwhelming children. They can watch anything at anytime and for most of the day. Twenty or thirty years ago, you could watch cartoons on Saturday, the television stations went off around midnight and the afternoons were filled with soap operas that no self-respecting kid would ever admit to watching.

The Solution: Limit electronic activities to only one or two hours each day. This would include computer, television and video games. Taking away their electronic toys could force them out of doors. At the very least it will encourage them to pick up a book and read.


The Problem: Food portions continue to get bigger (and so do the children). There was a time when you would go out to eat and get a meal that was just enough. When you go to a restaurant today you will get a meal that is enough for two or three people. That doesn’t even get into the “all you can eat buffet” idea. Kids are being taught to eat and eat and eat and it is beginning to show around their waistlines.

The Solution: Eat at home or, if you must eat out, share portions. Teach the kids that it is okay to leave food on their plates and that stopping when satisfied is perfectly okay. Remind them that it is natural (and desirable) that they get hungry every few hours (to the point that their stomach growls).


The Problem: There are so many activities swarming around the lives of our kids that they don’t have time to rest. School starts early, after school activities run late and then there is homework to be done when they kids finally get home. Kids are getting less and less sleep because of more and more going on.

The Solution: Slow things down. Make sure the kids have a chance to sleep completely (usually between 10 and 12 hours for younger kids up to 10 years old). Either cut out their after school activities or talk to the teachers and school board about the amount of homework they are bringing home every night.


The Problem: Everything comes at a touch of a button for kids today. They don’t even have to get up off the couch to change the channels on the television or answer the telephone. Even the “physical activities” are getting easier for them with inventions like “heelys” making walking a thing of the past for some kids.

The Solution: Get up and get moving as a family. Go out for a real walk together (through the woods where gadgets can’t help) or play a family game of badminton or volleyball. If you can get active as a family then the whole family will be healthier for the effort.


It can be tough keeping yourself healthy in this high-tech, fast-paced, fast-food society. Helping kids choose healthy lifestyles requires some creative thinking and often the consistent use of the word no.

Techorati Tags: healthy-kids

There are always bullies in social situations – people who have to build themselves up by tearing down or beating down the people around them. Unfortunately, that will be true at any age. Whenever there is a group of kids, there is likely to be a bully amongst them. It is important that you give you child the right tools to know how to deal with bullies, today and in the future. Here is some advice to help you and your child:

1. There is no way to avoid the bullies of the world. They can be found in Sunday school classes, homeschool support groups and school classrooms. Instead of avoiding them you will have to develop ways to live or deal with them.

2. Walk away. Almost every confrontation offers the chance to just get away from the situation. It is not running – it is looking for a more appropriate time and place to deal with it. Most bullies want to be seen by many people; if you can take that away from them then you might be able to deal with the situation with fewer problems.

3. Retaliation leads to escalation. Although the television shows and the movies show that confronting a bully is the only way to win, in truth it could be the one sure way to lose. Especially in today’s society – where escalating violence is the norm – pushing someone who wants to be the “top dog” might cause an escalation in violence towards your child and towards others as well.

4. Talk to the people that are in charge when your child is being bullied. If the teachers won’t listen, then talk to the administration. If the administration won’t listen, then talk to the authorities. Bullies can be an extremely dangerous element for any environment. The people that are in charge need to be aware of the dangers involved.

5. Talk with your children. Open lines of communication make it easier for your children to come to you if there is a problem. Taking time every day to talk about their day, their thoughts and their ideas is likely to make you aware of any problems or potential problems before they can get out of hand.

6. Stay involved. By being around your children at play and at school you can recognize bully situations before they become problems. Make a point to attend birthday parties, ballgames, practices or other group events and activities.

The natural instinct for many parents is to shield their children from bullies or situations where the children might be bullied. The truth is that it is impossible to completely avoid all bullies. It is better to learn how to deal with the situations at the earliest possible age, rather than being shocked by bullies that are more aggressive and more dangerous in the future.

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You know what? Being a parent isn’t an easy task. Oh, it starts out easy enough because the newborn is helpless and can’t get into much trouble. As they grow older, however, your job gets more difficult. You have to work at keeping one step ahead of your child by childproofing the home to keep them safe.

Of course you want to keep your child safe, so when do you begin the process? What can you do to childproof your home?

Basically, you want to begin childproofing your home prior to bringing the baby home from the hospital. That may seem unnecessary since the baby can’t do anything at this point but sleep and eat, but you’ll be glad you did once your bundle of joy becomes mobile. These early changes may make a big difference in the not too distant future.

Purchase outlet covers for every room in the house, being sure to cover any unused outlet. This one action could save your child from being electrocuted because they have such small fingers and will use them to explore any hole their fingers will fit in.

Install doorknob covers on any door that leads to the outside or any area that is not childproofed. If you prefer to leave doors open in your home, purchase the door guards that will not allow tiny fingers to be caught in a door that accidentally closes.

Keep the bassinette, crib, or changing table away from windows. Make sure you install the hardware to keep the blind cords out of the baby’s reach if you do place these items near windows. While you’re there, install window guards that will keep a child from falling out an open window.

Install safety catches on cabinet doors and drawers to keep little ones from getting to things they shouldn’t. Store medicines and hazardous cleaning materials in areas that are high up out of reach, if possible, to ensure your child’s safety.

Purchase a cordless phone. This will enable you to keep an eye on your child wherever they are because you can take the phone with you.

Smoke alarms should be installed on each floor, the kitchen, the utility area, and outside all bedrooms. Be sure to change the batteries every six months, or when daylight savings time changes.

Use safety gates at all staircases and in doorways to keep your child in or out of a particular room. If possible, use the one that screws to the wall rather than using tension to keep it in place.

Put covers, or anti-scald devices, on any faucet or shower head that the child may have access to. Also, reduce the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees. The anti-scald device may have to be installed by a professional plumber, but the cost will give you peace of mind that is priceless.

Put corner and edge guards around furniture or hearth edges with sharp or rough edges. These will help prevent serious injury when your child begins the toddler stage.

While having and installing these safety items won’t guarantee there will be no injuries in your home, they will go a long way in helping to keep the injuries to a minimum. Childproofing the home will help keep your precious one safer and give you peace of mind that you’re doing all you can.

Amazon Find: This magnetic locking system is guaranteed to keep small fingers from being open doors. It fits doors from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inch in thickness. It comes with four in the pack along with mounting instructions. The key, which is sold separately, will unlock the magnet for easy access. There is also a lever that will disengage the lock.