Tag Archives: childcare

Back to School Safety Information from Consumer Reports

School bus safety tips for drivers and children
Aug 17, 2011 8:30 AM

Every school day 23 million children ride a big yellow bus. While school buses are one of the safest modes of transport, there are real risks in getting on and off and walking to bus stops. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has offered some tips to help students, parents, and motorists safe around buses.

Tips for drivers:
When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking or bicycling to school. Better yet, walk around your car or out to the sidewalk to check for any children walking in your path before you get in.
Drive slowly and watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks. Also be aware of children playing or waiting around bus stops.
Be alert and aware on the road. While children are typically taught about looking both ways, they could dart into the street without looking if they are late or distracted.
Learn the school bus laws in your state. Yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is preparing to stop to pickup or drop off children. Drivers need to slow down and prepare to stop. Red flashing lights and an extended stop arm signal indicate that the bus is stopped, and that children are getting on or off. Cars must stop a safe distance away and not proceed until the red lights stop flashing, the stop sign folds back, and the bus continues on its way.
Tips for children:
Get to the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
When the bus approaches, stand at least 6 feet away from the curb, and line up away from the street.
Wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver says that it’s okay before stepping onto the bus.
If you have to cross the street in front of the bus, walk on the sidewalk or along the side of the road to a point at least 10 feet ahead of the bus before you cross. Be sure that the bus driver can see you, and you can see the bus driver.
Use the handrails to avoid falls. When exiting the bus, be careful that clothing or backpacks don’t get caught in the handrails or doors.
Never walk behind the bus.
If you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver. Never try to pick it up because the driver may not be able to see you.
For more on child safety, see our kids and car safety guide.
—Liza Barth

Child Safety Tips

This is from Walgreens’ website – I think it has a lot of good information.

CHILD SAFETY

  • The space between crib bars should be no more than 2.5 inches.
  • The distance from the mattress to the top of the rail should be over 2 feet.
  • DO NOT put extra blankets and stuffed animals in a crib with a baby.
  • DO NOT place a baby on the stomach to sleep.
  • Always keep one hand on an infant who is lying on a changing table.
  • Place gates at the top and bottom of each stairway.
  • Cover unused electrical sockets.
  • Keep cleaning fluids, bug poisons, and other chemicals well out of a child’s reach. Avoid storing toxic substances in unmarked or inappropriate containers (such as food containers). If you suspect poisoning or have questions, call 1-800-222-1222.
  • Buy medicines with child-resistant caps. Place all medications out of the reach of children.
  • Put safety latches on cabinets that a child should not open.
  • Keep knives and matches out of reach.
  • Keep plastic bags away from children.
  • Keep children away from hot drinks and stove tops.
  • When cooking on the stove, make sure that pot and pan handles are turned to the middle of the stove. Handles that hang over the edge of the stove may be reached by a curious toddler.
  • Keep toys with small parts out of the reach of infants and toddlers. This includes stuffed animals with buttons.
  • Avoid putting dangerous items in a waste basket where a young child might find them.
  • Keep toilet lids down.
  • Never leave infants and children unattended in a bathtub.
  • Check water temperature in a bath before placing a child in it.
  • Set the hot water heater thermostat to no more than 125°F.
  • When heating a baby bottle, always test the milk temperature to prevent burning your baby’s mouth.
  • Inspect playground equipment for signs of deterioration, weakness, and damage.
  • Teach children what to do if strangers approach them. Teach them at an early age that no one should touch private areas of the body.
  • Make sure children know their address as early as possible. Teach them to call 911 when in trouble.
  • Teach children to watch for cars on streets. They must stop, look both ways and listen for approaching traffic. Children must also be very aware of cars on driveways and in parking lots. Cars backing up cannot see small children.
  • Supervise young children at all times.

Summer Safety Tips – Car Safety/Child Car Seat Info

More safety tips from Walgreens’ website.

CAR SAFETY

  • Always wear a seat belt.
  • Obey traffic laws and drive defensively.
  • Do not drink alcohol and drive.
  • While driving, try to avoid any distractions from others in your car.
  • Keep your vehicle properly serviced, especially before going on a long trip. Keep an emergency kit in your car.
  • Take the weather into account before venturing out on the roads.

INFANT AND CHILD CAR SEATS

  • Car seats are required by law for children under 40 pounds.
  • The safest position for an infant car seat is rear facing in the back seat.
  • In most models, the infant seat is used AT LEAST until the child reaches 20 pounds and 1 year of age. (Some experts recommend rear-facing child seats until the child is 30 pounds; check the weight restrictions on your specific seat.) At that point, a forward-facing seat can be used. This may require a new car seat — it depends on the model.
  • Booster seats should be used for children 40 to 80 pounds. Some states have passed laws requiring that children up to 8 years old or 80 pounds be put in booster seats.
  • Read the car owner’s manual to determine the safest place to fasten a car seat in YOUR car.
  • Know how your car seat is designed to be used. Read the instructions carefully.
  • Adapters may be needed for certain types of cars or certain seat belt types.
  • For more information call your car seat manufacturer, car manufacturer, or the State Highway Safety Office.

Summer Safety Tips – Household Safety

Another set of safety tips from Walgreens’ website.

HOUSEHOLD SAFETY

  • Wear protective footwear and eye wear when mowing the lawn, operating power tools, working with a chisel, or hammering metal on metal.
  • Keep tools away from children until they are old enough to use them properly.
  • All stairways should have a sturdy hand rail.
  • All entryways should have bright lighting.
  • Don’t leave objects on stairways. Make sure that carpet on stairways is securely fastened.
  • Unplug appliances (such as heating pads and electric blankets) when they are not in use.
  • In the bathroom, use non-slip floor mats. Put non-slip appliques on the bathtub.
  • Don’t use any electrical appliances when you are wet or in the bathtub, shower, or pool.
  • Make sure that each fireplace has a fire screen.
  • Keep guns locked up and unloaded. Firearms and ammunition should be stored separately.
  • Make sure your house number is easily visible from the street.

Summer Safety Tips – Sun and Bicycle Safety

This is from Walgreens’ site, and contains a lot of excellent information. I’ll probably post a few of these.

SUN PROTECTION

  • When outside on a warm, sunny day, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat, a water-proof sunscreen, and loose-fitting, light-colored clothing.
  • Sun protection is especially important between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
  • Drink plenty of water, but avoid drinking alcohol on hot, humid days when you are outside. Alcohol can cause dehydration.
  • If you become overheated, sit in the shade, drink plenty of water, and try to keep your skin cool and moist.
  • Keep very young children’s skin from being exposed to the sun.
  • Never leave children or pets unattended in a car in the sun — even for a few minutes.
  • Wear appropriate sunscreens — a sunscreen rating of 15 should give adequate protection for most people.
  • Remember, there is no such thing as a healthy suntan.

BICYCLE SAFETY

  • Wear a bike helmet.
  • Make sure bikes are the right size. A child should be able to straddle a bike with both feet on the ground.
  • Young children should use bikes with coaster brakes — the kind that brake when you pedal backwards. With hand brakes, a child’s hands should be large enough and strong enough to use the levers.
  • Avoid riding at night if at all possible. Make sure your bike has reflectors.
  • Stop at stop signs, check for traffic before turning, and never ride out into a street without stopping first.
  • Ride on the same side of the road as the cars.
  • Be predictable and ride defensively. Ride where drivers of cars can see you. Bicycles are frequently hit by cars because the driver did not even know the bike was there. Many accidents have been avoided because the biker was watching out for cars.
  • Wear brightly colored clothing so that motorists can easily see you.

Summertime!

Summer is finally here! And this is a good time to go over safety rules for kids. Every kid, no matter what his or her skin tone, should be wearing sunscreen when playing outside. Hats and/or sunglasses can protect kids’ eyes and skin – don’t forget to protect little ears!

It’s really important to go over swimming safety now. If the child is a swimmer in the parents’ eyes, then the au pair must be watching him or her all the time – no texting or chatting with friends. If the child isn’t a swimmer, the au pair needs to be within ARM’S REACH at all times when they are in the water. Oh, and don’t forget to reapply sunscreen after swimming!

Bike helmets are another huge safety requirement. They dramatically reduce the possibility of serious injury or death. Adults need to model this behavior by always wearing a helmet when biking – our brains are important too! Kids shouldn’t get the idea that helmets are ‘only for babies.’

Summer schedule changes need to be discussed now too. Kids are out of school and need supervision – but the rules for au pair working hours remain the same.

Summer in the Twin Cities is amazing – one of the reasons people live here. Get out there (safely!) and enjoy it before the snow flies again!Jumping Spoonbridge

Fun springtime project!

Make a Bird Feeder with your Host Kids

Recycle a soda bottle into a bird feeder. Some inexpensive wood spoons, bird seed, a cord to hang it with and a tree to hang it in is all you need.

Then you and the host kids can watch the birds flock to the feeder! Have the kids color pictures of the birds that visit. Take photos, too. Identify the birds and keep a little photo album of the birds that visit your feeder 🙂

(Originally posted by Cindy birdfeeder

Originally posted by Cindy Garruba, Long Island Counselor

Beat the winter blues!

This was originally posted by Cindy Garruba, the Long Island CC

After the decorations are put away, the celebrations are over, the New Year has begun: and the post holiday winter blues are starting to hit you and your host family. What can you do to get through the long cold winter months happily?

1. Get outside every day with the kids, bundle up and play outside. Go to the park, take a walk, ride bikes; we have been having an unusually warm winter, so enjoy it! If it snows, build a snowman, go sledding, have fun outside!
2. Stay on routine with the kids; get up on time, have breakfast, get to the bus stop on time. Make sure homework is done and everyone gets to their activities on time. Bedtime routines are important, make sure everyone gets enough sleep and that includes YOU!
3. Register for your classes, and get ready to start learning something new.
4. Call a friend and meet for coffee and conversation if you feel housebound.
5. Set up a play date with another au pair and her host children (similar ages) and enjoy a day together.
6. Join a gym with another au pair.
7. Use the library in your town. Sign the kids up for free programs (talk to host parents about the programs.) Join the English conversation group, improve your English and meet people.
8. Prepare a Global Awareness presentation for one of your host kids’ classes. Talk to your counselor for ideas.
9. Volunteer at a local hospital, school, animal shelter, food bank if you have extra time on your hands and need to do something. Doing for others is always an answer for the blues!
10. (From Jennifer) Go to the Conservatory at Como Zoo for a brief visit to warm weather, flowers, and other growing things.

Peace Day Competition

I know it’s kind of a contradiction, but Au Pair in America held a Peace Day competition for our au pairs to submit art or poetry on the subject of the International Day of Peace. You can see all submissions on our Global Awareness page at http://www.globalawareness.com/

Global Awareness is our educational program, where au pairs go to schools, Boy or Girl Scout meetings, birthday parties, etc. and share aspects of their culture. They can teach a traditional song, talk about holiday customs, maybe even share a recipe. If you would like to have an au pair visit your school or other youth event, contact me!