Building Forts

It was a rainy day and the kids were itchy for something new to do. They weren’t interested in board games, puzzles, cars or ponies. They wanted to “use their imaginations.” So, we decided to build forts in the family room. I remember doing that when I was a kid. Certainly now, I have a different perspective. I wanted the kids to have fun but I also didn’t want anyone to get hurt. As I recalled, my childhood forts were fun and safe and I don’t remember anyone getting hurt. But as we started to build, I realized that this was going to be a lot more challenging than I thought. We put blankets over chairs with books to hold the blankets. Soon, the blankets were caving in on us and the books were falling all over the place. I guess it wasn’t such a good idea after all. Maybe next time, we’ll see if we can pitch one of Dad's army tents in the family room. It may not require us to use our imaginations, but it would be a lot safer.

Too much TV

After a busy Saturday morning, my daughter asked if she could take a break and watch some TV. So, she put on Noggin… and there was a display saying “Worldwide Day of Play”- from 12-3PM Nick’s Noggin was off the air to encourage kids to play. My first reaction was “Isn’t that nice? A day free from TV to play and have fun.” Then, I thought, “How sad!” When I was a kid (now I am starting to sound like my parents) but when I was a kid, we didn’t need a “Worldwide Day of Play” as an excuse to play! We loved to play. I remember watching Sesame Street and Mister Rogers from time to time. But, when we were young, television was a treat, not an everyday occurrence.
Noggin's message helps to put things in perspective. Now, my life is full of laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, chauffeuring….how I wish I had more time to play. So, maybe the message is for us grown-ups. Grown ups need playtime just as much as the kids do! And, we grown-ups should play with our kids. So, get out there and PLAY!

DINNERTIME!

Dinner time is the most hectic time of the day. Inevitably, the baby is fussy, homework needs to be completed, someone has an accident… and everyone is hungry! Last night was that night but crazier than typical - my husband was out for the night. So, I was multi-tasking as usual. Dinner was started- table set, bread sliced, sauce made… and I had gnocchi boiling on the stove when my son called for me. I went to check on him when my daughter yelled “MOM! The pot is boiling over!” Thankfully, the water just started to spill over the edge but certainly could have been a disaster- both mess-wise and safety-wise. I am really glad that my daughter knew to call for me immediately. This was a teachable moment for both my kids and me. Never leave the stove and always tell your kids to call for help if they spot a problem, not to handle it on their own.

Home Office

Since I have been blogging from home for about 2 months now, my children have become fascinated with Mommy’s work and the “computer room.” Ideally, I try to do my work at night- uninterrupted, peaceful and serene- to me, pure heaven. But, occasionally, I do need to work on the computer during the day. This means my 3 year old ends up under the desk and my 6 year old begs to have a turn online for Playhouse Disney time. So, this got me thinking… when our newborn starts toddling around, I am going to have to really babyproof the study. I remember when my daughter was about 18 months she always wanted to push the blinking hard drive button- turning on and off the computer. But, now that is no longer a problem. There is a new product called PC Guard. It is a plastic covering that goes over your computer’s front panel protecting disk drives as well as buttons. The computer is saved!

Halloween Already?

It seems like every year on the first day of school, the stores start trading in their pencil cases and glue sticks for Halloween costumes and goblin décor. My kids have already been brainstorming about what to be for Halloween: a witch, a bat, a firefighter or a vampire. There are so many things to choose from. And, as a result, our dress ups have been getting a lot of playtime. Recently, the kids were playing with masks and trying to scare each other. It was cute- until my 3 year old decided it would be fun to dress up his newborn brother as a bicycle rider. He proceeded to put his bike helmet on my 2 month old! Thankfully, I was right there to stop him. So, as we approach Halloween, it is important to make sure our kids’ costumes are safe as well as their dress ups- watching out for trip or choke hazards on outfits. And, most importantly, don’t let the kids dress up the baby!

Back to School Germs

It happens every school year. Moms everywhere are SO excited for school to start. They start making their “to do lists” for all of the things they will accomplish when the kids are at school… and then… one of the kids gets sick… and then sickness passes through every family member in the house! Agh!!!!!!! Germs are everywhere. Suddenly Mom’s “to do list” is longer than ever- disinfect the bathroom, wipe the kitchen counters, change the sheets, buy Lysol!

The #1 thing anyone can do to stay healthy this cold season is to wash hands. We have a rule at our house. When you come in, wash your hands! Whether it is from school, playing in the yard or the grocery store, it is a good habit to get into. Taking vitamins, eating a nutritious diet, getting plenty of sleep each night and having the flu shot are also ways to stay healthy. As we near the end of the first month of school, I hope that you have a healthy fall and winter. Stay well!

Danger that lies within the napkin...

My kids know that knives are dangerous! That is why my oldest child, age 6, must ask permission to have a butter knife to help make her lunch. My 3 year old likes to help too! But, he must have a grown-up help him. Recently, we were out at a local pizza place for dinner. A fork, knife and spoon wrapped in a napkin were at every place setting. My son took the napkin and shook out its contents. He immediately removed the knife and handed it to me. It made me so happy that he remembers what the rules are. And, it makes me think he is a bit safer because of it.

Billy Goat

When my daughter was about 2 years old, I found myself with a dilemma. She would climb onto the kitchen chairs and then make her way onto the kitchen table! But, what was worse was that she would stand on the table and bat at the kitchen chandelier like it was a cat toy! What was I to do with my little billy goat? Truly, there was nothing I could do except pull all of the chairs away from the table until mealtime. Annoying- yes- but at least it kept her safe. You think you have child-proofed it all… but you can never be prepared for what your little one might do!

Torn Shorts

Trouble always seems to find my preschooler! Recently, my son was on the swing set. He was standing on the swing and going back and forth. When he tried to get down, his shorts got stuck in the metal hook that attaches the swing to the chain. After a minute to figure out how to unhook him, I got him loose. It was a freaky sort of thing but this just goes to show you how quickly things happen... and how you need to be there in case something does.

Bike Safety

This past weekend, my 3 ½ year old son fell off a bike and scratched his belly. He was trying to ride a neighborhood kid’s bike that was too big and didn’t have training wheels. Obviously, he shouldn’t have been playing on a bike that wasn’t his but this seemed like a good opportunity for me to address bike safety.
Here are some tips on having a safe bike ride:
1. Make sure bike seats, handlebars and wheels fit properly.
2. Oil chain regularly
3. Check brakes and tires regularly
4. Do not wear anything that could get caught in wheels, i.e. loose pant legs, backpack straps, shoelaces
5. Wear sneakers- not flip flops, sandals or cleats
6. Don’t wear headphones
7. Ride in safe places like sidewalks or bike paths. Avoid wet leaves, grave and storm grates
8. Review road rules
9. Learn and use hand signals

For more information, check out www.kidshealth.org.

Escape Artist

Today, I was reminded of the time my daughter “ran away” from home. She was about 2 years old. My husband and I were having a conversation and she wanted to go out to play. We said no…. but she snuck out the back sliding glass door anyway and made her way across the street to play on the neighbor’s swing set. We didn’t even know that she was gone until my neighbor discovered her and brought her home immediately. I never knew how to prevent my kids from opening the sliding glass door- it is so easy to do. But, there is a sliding glass door lock and adheres to the glass and prevents the door from being opened more than a few inches. I’ll definitely be getting those for both of our sliders. No doubt!

Childproof Medicine Bottles

Recently, my neighbor told me that her husband had to have surgery on his shoulder. After the operation, the doctor prescribed pain medication which he left on his bedside table in a “child-proof” bottle. Well, her 2 year old discovered the bottle and ended up opening it! Thankfully, her mom was right there to fish the pills out of her daughter’s mouth. That could have been devastating! So, this is a reminder....It is always a good idea is to lock medicines away to keep them out of children’s reach. And, make sure that all caps are properly closed. I guess some “child-proof” bottles really aren’t that “child-proof!”

Bus Safety

Buses, buses everywhere! Now that school is back in session… the buses are all over the place. This is a good time to remind our children about bus safety. Here are a few tips to refresh your kids’ brains as we begin the school year.

Always walk; never run to the bus stop.
Walk on sidewalks or on left facing traffic
Allow 5 minutes before bus arrives
Wait in a safe place away from the road
Never talk to strangers
Watch for traffic when boarding and exiting bus
Stand 3 steps away before the bus leaves
Go straight home so a grown up will know where you are
Get off at the proper bus stop
While on the bus, stay seated, be quiet, keep aisle clear and never throw anything that could distract the driver.

For more information on bus safety, visit www.aboutschool.com/busstop.htm. With these things in mind, have a great school year!

Cooking with Kids

One of my favorite pastimes is cooking with my kids. Both my daughter and son love to cook and I find that they are more likely to eat if they are involved in the preparation. But, remember safety first! The Learning Tower, an enclosed stepstool, provides a safe way for your kids to observe, participate and help in the kitchen. Kids stand in the Learning Tower and can help without the potential of getting hurt. This reminds me of something that happened recently. The other day, we made zucchini bread- a family favorite- for a playdate we were having. I had washed all of the dishes and put them on a towel to dry including the sharp knife I used to cut the zucchini with. My friend came over and we (as typical) were chatting in the kitchen when she looked over and realized that I had not dried and put the sharp knife away. Usually I wash and dry anything dangerous and put it away immediately to avoid little hands reaching over the counter and hurting themselves. The moral to the story is to make sure your kids are safe in the kitchen and always remember to store dangerous kitchen utensils immediately after use.

Had a Great Fall!

My son is always getting bumps and bruises. Some of them are because he doesn’t know better and others are because he doesn’t listen. Recently, it was the latter that resulted in a big cut on his head. He was playing in our family room- standing on my daughter’s doll high chair. And, after repeated warnings, he fell into our windowsill cutting his forehead. Thankfully, it wasn’t a bad cut, but it makes me think- what would happen if I weren’t there?