December 1, 2007

Parent Info

Last Updated on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 5:01 AM

In this issue

*Shopping for your child
*Shopping with your child
*Decorating your home for the holidays
*Remember those less fortunate
*Heath High School shooting, 10 years later

Dec. 1, 2007

Shopping for your child

The Christmas season is officially upon us. While you’re out looking for all those great toys for your children this holiday season, spend some extra time to make sure you’re purchasing safe toys that don’t pose a threat to your child.

safekids.org has useful tips all parents should consider before buying something that might be potentially harmful.

Some of the Web site's suggestions are:

Before shopping for toys, consider the child’s age, interest and skill level.
When shopping, read labels. Look for well-made toys and follow age and safety information.
Carefully read and follow instructions for assembly and use of toys.
Keep toys with small parts away from children under age 3.

The Web site also features lists of toys suitable for children in various age groups, as well as ways to reduce choking risks for smaller children. To go along with this vital information, safekids.org offers recent toy recall information, as well, and frequently asked questions are answered to help you truly enjoy the season.

Shopping with your child

Finding those great bargains should be the least of your concerns as you head out to the stores this season if you’re taking your child with you. Keep in mind these useful tips from saferchild.org.

Wipe down the handle of a cart with a wet wipe each time you shop to keep little hands from picking up germs.
Don’t allow children to stand up in a shopping cart, and make sure small children are securely buckled in at all times.
If a child is riding in an infant carrier on top of the shopping cart, be extremely cautious around speed bumps, displays and other people.
Money is dirty. Wash yours hands often. If your children are handling money, have them wash their hands frequently, as well.
Don’t allow children to play on clothing racks.
Check to see if the store you are shopping in has a Code Adam policy. That’s when a store immediately closes and locks all exits until a search is conducted if a child is reported missing.
Never leave a child unattended or with another child incapable of handling an attempted abduction, a choking baby or a locked car door.

Decorating your home for the holidays

After you’ve purchased all those gifts and decorations, it’s time to start thinking about how to make your home a safe and festive place for the holidays.

According to safekids.org, fires injure 2,600 people in the U.S. and cause more than $930 million in damage each Christmas season. As you put up the tree, hang wreaths and electric lights, and light those candles, there are important steps to keep in mind.

Christmas Trees

If you are going to decorate a natural tree in your home:

When you select your tree, the needles should be fresh, green and hard to pull off a branch. If needles fall off easily, the tree is drying out and can be a fire hazard.
Carefully select an appropriate spot in your home for the tree.
Do not put the tree near any source of heat, such as a fireplace or heat vent. This can cause the tree to dry more quickly and create a fire hazard.
Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
Use a large, sturdy tree stand, so children can’t pull the tree down.
Cut the branches on the bottom of the tree, so they don’t poke children in the eye.
Check electric lights for frayed wires, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive wear before use.
Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.
Do not leave electric lights unattended.
Do not overload electrical outlets.

Gift and Home Decorations

All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant. They should not be placed near heating vents or fireplaces.
Do not put wrapping paper in the fireplace, as chemicals can build up in the home and cause an explosion.
Artificial Christmas trees should be flame-retardant.
Broken ornaments can be a hazard for children. Keep sharp or breakable glass ornaments out of their reach.
Keep ribbon away from small children. A child can be strangled by a seven-inch piece of ribbon or string.

Candles

Do not leave candles unattended.
Use stable candleholders that are out of reach of children.
Do not put lit candles on a tree.

For more holiday decorating information, go to safekids.org.

Remember those less fortunate

As you’re busy this season getting all those must-have toys and gadgets for your family and friends, take some time to help out those children who may not be so lucky.

There are children everywhere who want nothing more than a simple doll or toy truck. Imagine the smile something like that would bring to their faces.

If you’re not sure how you would like to help out, there are several online resources to guide you in the right direction.

One of those resources, charityguide.org offers these suggestions:

Drop off a toy donation at a social service agency or homeless shelter near your home.
Check your phone book under "social (or human) service organizations." Or use this link to find a social service agency.
Donate toys during the holiday season to the Salvation Army or Toys for Tots.
Donate toys online. My Two Front Teeth is a nonprofit organization that provides donated toys to underprivileged children in daycare, preschools and community agencies. Sign up to receive an e-mail notification prior to the next holiday season. Once you browse profiles of the eligible children, choose a child to sponsor, then purchase and donate toys online via My Two Front Teeth.
For more ideas about how to volunteer and make a difference in a child’s life, click here.

Heath High School shooting, 10 years later

It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since a teenage boy walked into Heath High School (McCracken County) and began shooting his guns into a crowd of students participating in an informal prayer service.

Saturday, Dec. 1, marks the 10th anniversary of that fateful day, which saw three students killed and five more injured.

After the shooting at Heath, Kentucky took steps to prevent similar occurrences in our schools. One of those steps was the creation of the Kentucky Center for School Safety (KCSS). The mission of KCSS is to support schools in their endeavor to maintain a school-wide prevention plan consistently addressing the needs of all students. KCSS also encourages a safe and healthy learning environment.

Top 10 Kentucky Center for School Safety Recommendations for Parents:

1. Give your children consistent love and attention. Be consistent about rules and discipline, and involve them in setting rules/consequences whenever possible. Explain to children what you expect and what the consequences will be for not following rules BEFORE they are enforced.

2. Make sure your children do NOT have access to guns. Teach them about the dangers of firearms or other weapons if you own and use them. Unload and lock up separately guns from bullets.

3. Know the TV shows, movies and video games your children watch, and talk to your children about them. Help them understand how painful violence really is and the serious consequences for violent behavior.

4. Use a positive approach to changing behavior by emphasizing good behavior rather than punishing bad behavior. Praise and affection can be the best rewards for children. Too many rewards, however, discourage development of internal values systems.

5. Make sure your children are always supervised. Know where your children are at all times and get to know their friends well. Encourage your children to participate in well-supervised volunteer service activities and organized programs. Enroll them in programs run by adults whose values you respect.

6. Accompany your children to supervised activities and watch how they get along with others.Teach them how to respond appropriately when others use insults or threats to deal with anger. Explain these are not appropriate behaviors, and teach them how to deal nonviolently with children who do behave that way.

7. Teach your children nonaggressive ways to solve problems by discussing problems with them, asking them to consider what might happen if they use violence to solve problems and talking about what might happen if they do not use violence.

8. Demonstrate values of respect, honesty and pride in your family and heritage with your actions. These are important sources of strength for children, especially when they are confronted with negative peer pressure.

9. Model involvement and service to your community to your children by volunteering in a variety of activities as an individual and as a family.

10. Join the KCSS and take the on-line Pledge Against School Violence at www.kysafeschool.org/pledge which brings awareness to the entire community that safe schools exist in safe communities.

For more about KCSS, click here.

The boy later said in interviews he was often the target of bullying and he wanted to feel important, and that’s what he was thinking when he entered the school and began shooting at his classmates.

So it’s only fitting the week of Dec. 1-7 is National Tolerance Week in the United States. Parents, this is the perfect time to talk to your child about tolerance and the acceptance of others. For help doing this, click here.

You are currently subscribed to %%list.name%% as: %%emailaddr%%.

To unsubscribe send a blank e-mail to %%email.unsub%%
Click to subscribe to ParentInfo with a new e-mail address.

Please forward this message to other parents who share your interest in education and encourage them to subscribe to ParentInfo. Thanks!

Do you have an idea for ParentInfo? Contact the editor.

Click here to view ParentInfo archives.

Click here to subscribe to ParentInfo.

Web links in this issue:

Toy safety
http://sk.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/Campaigns/ToySafety/
campaignToySafety

Shopping safety
http:www.saferchild.org

Decorating a home safety
http://www.usa.safekids.org/holidaytips/index.html

Remember those less fortunate
http://charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteen/donate-toys.htm

Find a social service agency
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.start

Salvation Army
http://www2.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-local/united-states?opendocument