January ... National Mentoring Month

Think of the people in your life who helped you when you were growing up. Most of us had mentors who made a difference to us, whose care and concern set our feet on a productive path. January is National Mentoring Month. Maybe it’s time to pay it forward! Consider becoming a mentor. Someone is waiting for you.

There is an excellent website for National Mentoring Month, and they have three videos that are located at http://www.nationalmentoringmonth.org/video/

Holiday Toy Safety

As the holidays approach, parents and caregivers should be mindful of the gifts they provide for their children. With hundreds of thousands of toys on the market, it’s not easy to ensure that you’re always buying a safe product. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website should be checked often to make sure toys have not been recalled for any reason, and reading the packaging on the toy before purchase to check for any potential hazards is also important for a child’s safety.


Some concerns that parents should be cautious of this holiday season are choking, strangulation, noise, and lead content. A number of toys include small pieces that children can choke on or cords that can be deadly if wrapped around the neck. Parents should remove any loose or dangling parts from a toy before presenting it to a child, and put those parts out of the child’s reach. Parents should ensure that toys are not too loud for small children, as their ears are very sensitive and loud noises could potentially cause long tern hearing damage. The threat of lead exposure has always been a factor when purchasing toys for children. If buying art supplies, such as crayons and paint, the product labels should be read to guarantee they have been approved by the American Society for Testing and Materials.

Toys are supposed to be fun and are an important part of every child’s development. They should reflect the child’s skill level as well as be age appropriate. Most toys have an age level printed on the box that can help parents or caregivers determine if it would be suitable for their particular child. A child’s habits, such as putting things in their mouths, should also be considered.

Think age-appropriately in terms of electronic games as well. There are some games on the market that are not only graphically violent, but also include very graphic scenes of a sexual nature. Be sure to read warning labels and game ratings, but also remember to ask questions about the game’s content so that your child can be protected. We want everyone to have a safe and happy holiday season!


U.S. Product Safety Commission
NAEYC
Kids Health.org

November is National Diabetes Month

Parents whose children have diabetes face special challenges. Here are some tips from the American Diabetes Association to help you handle some of the communication challenges:


There is a fine line between caring and nagging – between showing concern and hovering. How do you achieve the balance? The following are some ways for talking with your child about diabetes.

• Use words and tones that aren't angry or judgmental. Certain words or ways of asking questions can send scary vibes or hurtful vibes to your children. Think about the words you use. For example, use "high" instead of "bad" BG. Take care not to blame or nag your child as you help him manage his diabetes.

• Listen. It's sometimes hard to do, but it's important to ask probing questions and listen closely to your child's responses.

• React calmly. Kids remember your responses and often try to avoid a negative reaction in the future. When your child has a high BG or forgets to bolus, stay calm. Focus on the solution and move on.

• Beware of negative facial expressions. Try not to look disappointed or frightened when you see a BG reading outside of the target range. Your child can read your facial expressions, and he may feel that you are disappointed in him or fearful when it is too low or high.

• Share your feelings. If your child understands how worried you get, then he might better understand why you ask so many questions.

• Set realistic expectations. Mistakes will happen and perfection is impossible in managing diabetes. If you believe this, your child will too, and you won't be so hard on each other. When you set unrealistic goals, your child may hide things from you. For example, expecting perfect blood glucose levels is not realistic. BG levels aren't always controllable but the goal is to keep them as close to the target range while adjusting for life as it happens.

• Ask for honesty – no matter what. Let your child know that you want to hear the truth. If he feels he did something he shouldn't have, telling you right away is the best option. Be curious about what happened. Work together to solve the problem.

• Empathize. Put yourself in your child's shoes. Try to imagine how your child is feeling. These feelings may range from fear, sadness, and anger to denial, burnout and even guilt for causing you so much worry.

• Keep an open-door policy. Tell your child that you're open to hearing ideas and complaints – any time, any place. Reassure him that if he has anything on his mind, he should come and talk with you. You want to listen and help when you can.

Happy "Safe" Halloween

The excitement of Halloween night can make it more challenging to keep children safe. Little ones may have a harder time listening to parents and caregivers directions and remembering basic safety rules. That is why is it so important to keep a close watch over your children when they are out trick-or-treating.

 

Talk with your kids a few times before the big night to go over rules and safety precautions that need to be followed while you are out trick-or-treating. Be sure to remind them again before you head out the door with them.

 

Trick-or-Treating Safety  

1. Always go with your kids when they are out trick-or-treating
2. Parents and children should use flashlights.
3. Stick to neighborhoods that are well-lit and familiar to you.
4. Stay on the sidewalks or walk single file where there is no sidewalk.
5. Walk against not the traffic in the same direction as it.
6. Take your kids out early before it gets too dark.
7. Remind your kids not to go into any houses.

  

Candy and Costumes 

1. Be sure your kids can see clearly while wearing their masks.
2. Be sure your kids can move easily in their costumes.
3. Avoid dark colors. Apply reflective tape to costumes.
4. Check candy carefully before allowing your kids to eat it.
5. Throw away any candy with open/torn wrappers or looks suspicious.
6. Do not give out or let your kids eat candy that is not in a sealed wrapper.

 

 

National School Bus Safety Week is Oct. 22–26, 2012

Schools around the country will recognize 2012 School Bus Safety Week, celebrating the theme: "I see the driver - the driver sees me."

Studies have proven that the most dangerous part of the school bus ride for children is when they get on and off the bus. Remember to pay close attention to school buses when you see them driving on the street and teach children how to be safe when boarding and exiting the bus.

From winding country roads to busy city streets, school bus drivers carry the most precious cargo: our children. School bus drivers, mechanics and other school transportation personnel are the safest and most qualified in the state. They also care about the kids and the community. Bus drivers know that parents want the peace of mind that comes from trusting the person behind the wheel of the big yellow bus. School bus drivers volunteer for more training than any other drivers in the state, and they are all required to pass an extensive background check before they receive a license to drive a school bus.

Here are a few tips for School Bus Safety:

• Some older youth or adult needs to be watching out for little ones waiting for the bus or coming home from the school. Staying in groups make everyone be seen and safer around strangers or other folks trying to give them rides. Remind them to never get in a vehicle, unless it's their caregiver.

• Kids need to be reminded about the dangerous blind spots surrounding a bus (by the bus driver).

• They need to be reminded about how important it is to stay on the sidewalk or 10 feet (5 Giant Steps) away from the road.

• To never pick something up that may have fallen, until the bus driver says it's safe to. (Balls that roll into the street, or papers falling out of the backpack.)

• Kids need to be shown turning your head LEFT AND RIGHT at driveways, alleys and other streets, for cars.

• HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOTS are very dangerous. Talk to your older teens about walking and driving safely where there are so many inexperienced drivers.


ADULTS

• Never pass a bus on the right side. (that is where kids get out of the bus.)

• Never pass when the STOP arm is down.

• ALWAYS STOP when the arm is down, even in 4 lanes with no embankment in the median.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

By Ruth Matsey

As we attempt to provide awareness about domestic violence and abuse, we are acutely conscious of the fact that children frequently live in these homes where abuse occurs. 15.5 million children in the United States live in families in which partner violence occurred at least once in the past year, and seven million children live in families in which severe partner violence occurred. (Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 18(2): 166-185.)

Children who witness family violence are affected in ways similar to children who are physically abused. These children are affected by the abuse in a myriad of ways. The child’s reactions can vary depending on the child's gender, age, and the duration of the violence. Some children are remarkably resilient.

Children exposed to family violence are more likely to develop social, emotional, psychological and/or behavioral problems than those who are not. Recent research indicates that children who witness domestic violence show more anxiety, low self esteem, depression, anger and temperament problems than children who do not witness violence in the home. The trauma they experience can show up in emotional, behavioral, social and physical disturbances that effect their development and can continue into adulthood. (http://www.acadv.org/children.html)

No member of the family escapes the violence of abusive relationships. When families are under stress they create children who are also under stress. We cannot continue to separate child abuse and intimate partner abuse. They so frequently go hand in hand. Some children, especially infants and toddlers in their mother’s arms, are attacked when the abuser attempts to hurt the mother. Other times the abuser abuses the child as well as the mother.

At Phoenix House, our transitional home for women and their children who are fleeing domestic abuse, we have noticed a lot of behavior difficulties with the children of the victims. The children act out their frustrations and anger. They are finally in a safe place where advocates are able to help them deal with their problems.

A wealth of excellent information can be found by Googling Jeffrey Edleson and children and domestic violence. Dr. Edleson has conducted research for many years at the University of Minnesota. He is presently Dean and Professor at the School of Social Welfare at UC Berkeley.



Ruth Matsey is the President of the Starke County Coalition Against Domestic Abuse and Starke County Prevent Child Abuse.

No One Has To Abandon An Infant

The Indiana Safe Haven Law enables a person to give up an unwanted infant anonymously without fear of arrest or prosecution.

A parent, family member, friend, minister or priest, social worker or any responsible person may give up custody of a baby less than 30 days old to an Indiana …

                                     ...Firefighter

                                     ...Law Enforcement Officer

                                     ...Paramedic

                                      ...Physician

                                      ...Nurse

                                     …Emergency Medical Technician

                                     ...or Other Person who provides Emergency Medical Services


As long as there are no signs of intentional abuse on the baby, no information is required of the person leaving the baby. Any knowledge of the date of birth, race, parent medical history, child's health or anything that would be useful to the child's caregiver would be greatly appreciated.

Once the baby is examined and given medical treatment (if needed), the Indiana Department of Child Services will take the baby into custody through Child Protective Services where it will be placed with a caregiver.

Distressed parents can receive counseling and get addresses and directions for any hospital, fire station or police station in Indiana by calling the Safe Haven Hotline, 1-877-796-HOPE (4673), or 2-1-1.

Parents can learn more by visiting the National Safe Haven Alliance in Indiana website www.safehaven.tv to get more information.

If you need more information about this or other parenting topics call 1-800-CHILDREN or visit our website at www.pcain.org

Information from the Indiana Department of Child Services.