My teen is working as a life guard this summer, and she was home with me when the accident happened, immediately going into “first-aide/life guard mode.” While I wrapped my hand around my toddler’s ankle (not yet knowing the extent of the injury), got her on her back and lifted her foot in the air, my teen grabbed the first-aid kit, tore open a large gauze bandage, handed it to me, then grabbed a long piece of cloth that is actually a cooling cloth but that we used to secure the bandage around my baby’s ankle and slow the bleeding. Then we loaded her into the car and headed to the emergency room. Here is a picture of our “battle field” dressing.

Now here’s a picture of her injury. Don’t look if you’re squeamish.

She got stitches. It was all a little “traumatic” at first, but the E.R. at Missouri Baptist Medical Center is the BEST at handling kiddos, so we’re all good. And the stitches will come out before we leave for our Florida beach vacation, so that’s a relief.

But back to the first aide kit. My teen was a little critical of the contents of our kit, so I’m re-stocking. We had what we needed, but we did use our last bandage. Here’s a high-value coupon off any Johnson & Johnson Red Cross brand product. ($2 off). That should make a package of bandages pretty cheap.

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May is National Foster Care Month and there has never been a greater need to bring attention to children waiting for forever homes.  More than 463,000 children are currently in foster care and 123,000 children are waiting to be adopted.

Children in foster care are loving children.  They are children like Shaquane and Edlina and Albert.  Every child deserves to have a home with caring and supportive parents.

Each May, National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to shine a light on the thousands of children and youth in the U.S. foster care system.  The National Adoption Campaign in partnership with the Children’s Bureau, AdoptUsKids, and the Ad Council raises awareness about the urgent needs of these young people and encourages citizens from every walk of life to get involved.

Together, We Can Make a Difference.

Through the dedication of advocates, child welfare professionals, elected officials and support groups around the country, the total number of children waiting for a safe and permanent family has decreased from more than a half million to 463,000 between 2003 and the end of 2008. These numbers tell us that, together, we can make a difference for children in foster care.

But there is still so much work to be done, as there are more than 123,000 children waiting to be adopted.

For more information about National Foster Care Month, go here. Or watch this video. “Children in Foster Care’. Find out how to get involved here. And join us May 27 at 2 p.m. EST on Twitter for an #AdoptUsKids one hour chat to get the message out about National Foster Care Month. You can also visit the Facebook page.

I’m a member of Global Influence and we’re trying to spread the word about Foster Care and Adoption. Help us spread the message this month to reach all Americans and teach them about the love and joy that foster care adoption can bring to your life. Visit www.adoptuskids.org to learn more about fostering and adopting.

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I was sent the CARES child airplane seat belt  to review and let me tell you what a life saver it is!  First of I mean that literally, your kids are much safer with this seat belt than just a lap belt alone.  But secondly carrying this belt verses a large car seat is so much more convenient.  We traveled with bug last thanksgiving and I wish I would have had this then.  But since I didn’t, I learned how hard it can be to keep a toddler in their seat using just a lap belt.  It was a struggle the whole entire flight.  And we were both exhausted by the end of it.  Well then I received the CARES seat belt and couldn’t wait to try it out on our next flight.  The second time using CARES was a completely different experience.  Once I put it on bug he knew he wasn’t going to be getting up.  Just like in the car, he was stuck.  I was so happy to have some peace on the flight, and it wasn’t just because of the quiet.  I also had peace of mind knowing bug was much safer wearing this CARES harness seat belt.  And it is really easy to use it.  It just slides down around the seat, you tighten it and then the lap belt loops through the bottom.  It is also easy to adjust to fit your child just right.  It only takes one minute!   I completely recommend this to anyone who is flying with toddlers.  It is a must have! Here is all the technical info about CARES from their website .  I decided to just let them explain it to you since they know what they are talking about

CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System)

“CARES Child Aviation Restraint System is designed specifically for aviation use for children age 1 and older who weigh between 22 and 44 pounds. These youngsters are old enough to be in their own seats, but are too small for the seat belt alone to protect them and provide the safety they require during airplane travel. Their bodies cannot withstand the jolts that are common in routine air travel, much less emergency situations, and they flail forward or slide beneath the seat belt if they are not held securely in place.

Each year more and more young children fly. But until CARES came along, what was missing was a convenient, hassle-free way to keep young flyers safe. Here’s what makes CARES such an invaluable travel solution:

• CARES is the first and only harness type Aviation Child Safety Device to be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an alternative to a car seat.
• CARES is an elegantly designed belt-and-buckle device that works in conjunction with the regular airplane seat belt and provides young travelers the same level of safety as a car seat.
• CARES weighs just one pound and fits into a 6" stuff sack! It is easily portable, simple to install, adjustable to every size airplane seat, and usable on any seat in the airplane, except in the emergency exit rows.
• Need your car seat on the other end of the trip? Just check it through as luggage – and carry CARES on board in your pocket!

CARES is manufactured exclusively by AmSafe Aviation, the foremost manufacturer of aviation seatbelts and pilot restraints in the world. (Turn over your airplane seat belt buckle. Chances are it says AmSafe.) CARES is made of the same industrial-strength webbing as your own seat belt and is engineered to the highest aviation-safety standards.”

Things that are Brag Worthy:

• A Safer way for your kids to fly. 
• Portable and lightweight.
• Easy to put onto an airplane seat, and easy to strap your child in.
• Much more convenient than caring a large car seat onto the plane.
• Made for children between 22-44 lbs. (typically 1 to 5 years).
• No more struggling with a toddler who won’t stay in the lap belt.
• Made by AmSafe Aviation (they know what they are doing since they make airplane seat belts).
• Gives you peace of mind.
• Comes with a bag to carry it in, and the bag fits easily in our diaper bag.

Check out where to buy and read more about CARES at www.kidsflysafe.com.

CARES gets Bragging Rights!

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 Are you headed out with friends after work this Wednesday to celebrate the holiday?  No?  Well when you and your family are on the road headed to choir practice, a t-ball game, or coming home from school, you may be sharing the road with those returning from a fun St. Patrick’s Day event.  It’s time to spread the word about the dangers of buzzed driving and to remind people that Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving, and the best way to stay safe is to plan ahead.

Let’s remind everyone about the importance of remembering to:

• Designate a sober driver before you leave for your event. 
• Be ready to take alternate transportation such as a bus or taxi. Have the phone number of a taxi service stored in your phone before you leave for the party.

Even if you will not be celebrating this St. Patrick’s Day, keep in mind that in 2008, 1,179 people in other vehicles were killed in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers.  And for those who don’t plan on over-indulging: a buzzed driving crash looks the same as a drunk driving crash.

Global Influence is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Ad Council as they continue their efforts with the “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving?”PSA campaign. Buzzed drivers drink and drive, but do not consider themselves a hazard on the roadway because they have had “only a few” drinks. The campaign hopes to educate people that consuming even a few drinks can impair driving and that Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.

So, help spread the word that buzzed driving IS drunk driving.

To learn more about the impact buzzed driving can have on a life, please watch this important video about the financial and personal repercussions of getting a DUI.

 Remember: Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving. Plan ahead and ask your loved ones to do the same.

For more information, visit Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving on Facebook and Twitter (@Buzzeddriving).

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But children who are hidden from the U.S. Census counts (taken only once every 10 years) are not a laughing matter.  So, ready or not, here comes 2010 Census … and you have an important role to play!

Many parents may not realize the importance of accurately reporting the number of children in their family, including newborns.  The truth is that the undercount of children means that we do not get a true picture of our nation.

Children have been undercounted in every census since the first one in 1790. Local communities rely on census information in planning for schools, child care, health and other critical services. Babies need to be counted today, so they can benefit tomorrow from community services.

Census counts are used, in whole or in part, for more than 140 programs that distribute more than $400 billion of federal funds to states and localities, including such child-focused programs as:

• Head Start ($6.9 billion)
• State Children’s Health Insurance Program ($5.9 billion)
• Foster Care Title IV-E ($4.7 billion)
• Improving Teacher Quality State Grants ($2.9 billion)

Unlike adults, who may bear some responsibility for making sure they are counted in the Census, children are dependent on others to make sure they are included.  Yet in 1980, 1990, and 2000, Census Bureau data show children, particularly young children, are one of the groups most likely to be missed in the Census.  In fact, in the 2000 Census, there was a net undercount of more than 1 million children under age 10.

When playing hide and seek your children have the opportunity to be found after ten seconds.  So when you receive your Census form in mid-March, make sure your child (no matter how old) is counted! It only take 10 minutes for 10 questions for a better community!

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I’m hanging the label superfan on these parents not just because they are fans of a given sport (in this case, swimming), but because they cheer on and genuinely, GENUINELY, wish for, hope for and applaud the success of young athletes who belong to OTHER parents. And they truly feel bad for and try to encourage those athletes who miss the mark for which they were reaching.

My 14-year-old daughter is a competitive swimmer, and she’s been in a bit of a slump for about 12 months. There are some real signs that her “slump” or “funk” may be over, and she’s had three weekends of meets recently in which she’s had some success. Not quite the success she wanted to be having after 12 months of hard work and what she calls “failed swims,” but certainly enough success that she’s feeling hopeful and encouraged and her Dad and I are overjoyed. Throughout her struggles, other swimmers and parents of other swimmers have cheered her on, pumped her up, and all-around encouraged her. It’s been wonderful and it’s meant a lot to us and to her.

The last two weekends, I enjoyed witnessing many of these same parents (plus a few others) do the same for numerous other swimmers within our own club and outside of our club. It was heartwarming. I saw these Moms and Dads hold their breath and then cheer victoriously when swimmer after swimmer achieved their goals. Some of these people were parents of swimmers who’ve already achieved said goal, but some are parents of teens who desperately, DESPERATELY want the same thing for themselves and haven’t gotten there yet. Two Moms in particular were checking times before each race and saying things like, “Okay, cheer for Jane Doe, because she’s only two seconds off. Now, everybody think good thoughts for John Doe, because he’s been trying to get this cut for a year.” Etc. They rallied the fans into the court of whatever kid was in the water. Very cool.

Anyway, I wanted to give a shout-out to all those parents who are doing it right — cheering on their own kids, but also cheering on the kids who are competing right alongside their own kids. And come to think of it: it just so happens that the children of these indivdiuals are doing the same thing down on the deck. Hmmm . . . . . now that’s proof that you’re doing something right, too. Hats off!

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She separates just fine when she goes to the YMCA nursery, but she’s been going there several times a week since she was six weeks old, and she’s never left in there much more than an hour. She also separates okay when I leave her with her Dad and/or her 14-year-old big sister (she is a BIG fan of both), or with my neighbor (who she completely adores). But she DOES NOT separate well when she has to go to the wonderful people who watch her for me when my freelance work demands that I meet face-to-face with clients, or when the workload requires more than just the time I can carve out during her nap, early in the morning and late a night. She’s even started looking for clues in the morning about her fate:

• If I’m in my pajamas, no makeup, she is relaxed, no questions.
• If I’m in my workout clothes, she is relaxed, no questions except maybe, “We going to the gym today Mommy? I see Sadie and Heed.” (Sedhi and Naheed — her favorite nursery caregivers.)
• If I’m dressed casually, she starts asking questions.
• If I’m dressed in business attire, she starts to cry and say, “I not go to Ms. Dana’s house.”

Yesterday, I learned that even if I’m in my pajamas, if I have on my makeup and have done my hair, she gets suspicious. While eating breakfast, she noticed these nuances and asked if she was going to to Ms. Dana’s house. When I said, yes, here was her reaction:

Then she made up this song:

Translation: “Hush little baby don’t say a word. Mommy will be back soon little bird.” That is adorable. And it IS good to be so loved. I know it won’t be long before she’s pushing away my kisses and wanting to spend most/all her time with her friends. For now, as much as it breaks my heart when she cries as I leave her, I will take it and embrace the love.

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Playskool “More Than Play” campaign answers these questions, and more, via these fun videos.

Additionally, the Playskool Play Panel answered a series of questions from Audrey McClelland of Mom Generations, several of which I thought some of you might find interesting, such as:

Q. If the brain can have only one thought at a time then how does a child do more than one thing at a time?

Whether adult or child, no one can do more than one thinking task at once. When we first learn to do something new, we concentrate on that task and shut out everything else that is going on around us. We have to focus. Then, as we do the task over and over, refining the skill, we can eventually do it without thinking about it. We call this automaticity. That’s one reason why kids say “again” and “more”. They love the experience, but they are also practicing the skill to the point where it becomes automatic and they no longer have to think about it! So…when something becomes automatic, your child can do more than one thing at a time!

Q. How do I encourage my child to problem solve through repetition rather than getting frustrated and giving up?

Everybody needs to feel the joy of success. Sometimes, the tasks we set for our children are too difficult, and involve doing more than one thinking task at once and can make children feel like the challenge is too frustrating. So, doing it over and over, when there is no “payback” doesn’t seem like a great outcome. Breaking each part of the problem down into achievable parts and doing each part over and over can encourage your child to feel a sense of accomplishment. Often this feeling leads to naturally wanting to try challenging herself to do more once she has mastered part of the problem.

Q. What is my baby learning when playing the baby drops it and mommy picks it up game?

Baby is learning so many different things. She is learning her hands can be used as a manipulative tool helping her get what she wants. She is developing strength in her finger muscles that will help her push, pull, grasp and hold, release and eventually control a writing tool. She is developing important foundational movements that help with all the movements our fingers do for us! She is also developing a tripod (three finger grip) and pincer grip (thumb and first finger). Both important grips that later allow us to hold and use writing and other creative tools as well as manipulate fasteners and tie shoes. She is learning how to pick up, hold and let go at the appropriate time and if mommy is happy to pick it up each time, well she is learning a new game too!!!  As well, she is learning about cause and effect, experiencing and observing gravity and how it works! While interacting and playing with her parent, she is bonding and learning her mommy and daddy are there to help her as she plays. It’s all part of how families cement and work together!

Q. Are the left and right sides of the brain different?

Yes. The left hemisphere is responsible for organization. It is the details side of your brain and talks to you on a constant basis…”remember to pick up the cleaning on the way home”; “if I do the ironing before the meeting I may be late”. It categorizes detail and associates information with prior knowledge. It’s also the side of your brain that helps you understand what symbolic representation is (i.e., that the symbol “5” represents five fingers, etc). The right side is more concerned with creativity, emotion, and learning through doing (play and experience) rather than symbols. It thinks in the present moment and helps us feel the environment we are in through processing sensory information. Information travels between the two hemispheres via the corpus callosum and when this happens and we are using both sides (as we need to) we call this whole brain thinking.

Q. Does messy play develop fine motor skills?

It is one of the developmental foundational activities that help prepare the fingers for manipulative skill development. When kids engage in messy play it helps develop touch discrimination and an awareness of the joints and muscles in our hands and fingers, which assists with fine motor manipulation. Sensory experiences are necessary for the brain to learn and can help grow strong muscles in the fingers. It is also a trigger that can ignite creativity, is foundational for sophisticated problem solving later on, and helps develop skills that later will be used in the beginnings of learning how to write, and above all is lots of fun. Kids need messy play every day.  

Q. Are there certain textures I should be exposing my child to at an early age?

As many different sensory experiences your child can have in the preschool years will help the development of fine motor skills. Some children prefer some textures and not others, however, different consistencies provide different learning experiences, so vary it all if you can. Feeling the fall leaves crumble in your hands, baking at home (with hands and fingers immersed), drawing with fingers and not the paint brush, playing in water, rubbing ice blocks on feet and hands, pulling wool or string between your little ones toes, making  mud pies…anything you can think of that is gentle and enjoyable is great. And…its best to do it every day!!! As well as feeling all these wonderful sensory happenings remember to talk about them as well.(e.g., ” Wow those cookies smell great”; “How do they taste to you?”; “What sound do they make when you crumble them?” New language can be discovered at the same time!

Playskool’s More than Play campaign site offers information on what skills different Playskool toys can help your child learn. And if you want to learn more about how to facilitate your child’s learning, and how to be your child’s “First, best teacher,” then check out Parents as Teachers.

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