Sunday Post: Water…and Some Summer Water Safety Tips for Parents

Posted on June 12, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is WATER.

WATER: provides a wonderful intergenerational recreational opportunity.

WATER: gives parents a chance to help kids master skills and develop an appreciation for preserving nature and the environment.

WATER: Kids and water go together like peanut butter and jelly…it’s cooling, refreshing and so much fun!

With the official start of summer only several days away, kids will be home and enjoying many water-related activities. Water is one of the most ominous hazards your child will encounter because young children can drown in only a few inches of water, even if they’ve had swimming instruction.

Here are few important water safety tips to keep in mind from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

Be aware of small bodies of water your child might encounter, such as bathtubs, fishponds, ditches, fountains, rain barrels, even the bucket you use when you wash the car. Empty containers of water when you’re done using them.
Children who are swimming—even in a shallow toddler’s pool—always should be watched by an adult, preferably one who knows CPR. The adult should be within arm’s length, providing “touch supervision” whenever infants, toddlers, or young children are in or around water. Empty and put away inflatable pools after each play session.
Enforce safety rules: No running near the pool and no pushing others underwater.
Don’t allow your child to use inflatable toys or mattresses in place of a life jacket. These toys may deflate suddenly, or your child may slip off them into water that is too deep for him.
Be sure the deep and shallow ends of any pool your child swims in are clearly marked. Never allow your child to dive into the shallow end.
Backyard swimming pools, (including large, inflatable above-ground pools), should be completely surrounded with at least a 4-foot (1.2 meters) high fence that completely separates the pool from the house. The fence should have a self-closing and self-latching gate that opens away from the pool, with the latch at least 54 inches high. Check the gate frequently to be sure it is in good working order. Keep the gate closed and locked at all times. Be sure your child cannot manipulate the lock or climb the fence. No opening under the fence or between uprights should be more than 4 inches (10 cm) wide. Keep toys out of the pool area when not in use so that children are not tempted to try to get through the fence.
If your pool has a cover, remove it completely before swimming. Also, never allow your child to walk on the pool cover; water may have accumulated on it, making it as dangerous as the pool itself. Your child also could fall through and become trapped underneath. Do not use a pool cover in place of a four-sided fence because it is not likely to be used appropriately and consistently.
Keep a safety ring with a rope beside the pool at all times. If possible, have a phone in the pool area with emergency numbers clearly marked.
Spas and hot tubs are dangerous for young children, who can easily drown or become overheated in them. Don’t allow young children to use these facilities.
Your child should always wear a life jacket when he swims or rides in a boat. A life jacket fits properly if you can’t lift it off over your child’s head after he’s been fastened into it. For the child under age five, particularly the non swimmer, it also should have a flotation collar to keep the head upright and the face out of the water.
Adults should not drink alcohol when they are swimming. It presents a danger for them as well as for any children they might be supervising.
Be sure to eliminate distractions while children are in the water. Talking on the phone, working on the computer, and other tasks need to wait until children are out of the water.

Children love to mimic the behavior of their parents…use this to your benefit and always follow good water safety rules yourself and your children will naturally copy you.

I hope parents (and others who know people with young kids) will check out my book for great summertime activities that the whole family will enjoy! Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking is a treasure-trove of classic picture book suggestions, quick and easy eco-friendly arts and crafts projects and simple healthful child-friendly recipes that will make planning for the summer a snap! Check out this recent review from Tom at Your Family Book Club. His library in Katona, Iowa is receiving a copy of Show Me How! The book is available on my website or on Amazon.

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

And here are some other bloggers who are doing Jake’s Sunday Post:

http://p0nky.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/sunday-post-water-sunset-in-water/

http://jmeyersforeman.wordpress.com/2012/05/30/3183/

http://northernnarratives.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/sunday-post-water/

http://myphotoyear2012.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/9th-june-2012-sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://alicethroughthemacrolens.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://firstandfabulous.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://motherwifestudentworker.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/weekly-sunday-post-water/

http://catbirdphotography.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://abusymom.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://jayjaysfavorites.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/waterdragon-weekly-sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://justfletcher.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://50yearproject.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-water/

http://blueberriejournal.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/water/

http://rondomtaliedraai.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://pollysspace.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-h2o/

http://africatoalgarve.blogspot.pt/2012/06/water.html

http://francineinretirement.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-water/

http://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://tostir.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-water/

Vital pool safety info from Red Cross (wpri.com)
ABC’s of pool safety (azfamily.com)
Teach Your Child to Swim (answers.com)
Tips for following portable pool safety practices this summer (bangordailynews.com)

Sunday Post: Vehicle

Posted on May 6, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is VEHICLE.

I always try to tie in the theme with something related to parenting.

The dictionary first defines ‘vehicle’ as a means of transportation.

But the dictionary has another definition for the word…a vehicle can also be a medium for communicating, expressing or accomplishing something.

Art is certainly a vehicle through which we communicate and express our thoughts and emotions.

Books are another vehicle through which we learn information and discover things about ourselves and the world around us.

If you have young children, are you reading with them every day? Studies reveal that children who are introduced to books at an early age are more successful in school. Please join us in the Positive Parental Participation Reading Challenge and let us know what books you are reading with your children.

In my Friday post, I listed the 20 libraries that will be receiving a copy of Show Me How! If you didn’t see that article, please click on this link. I’ve asked the people who nominated their library to email me at vivian@positiveparentalparticipation.com so I can mail them a copy to present to their library.

Please don’t forget about Jackson’s Birthday-Earth Day Water Wishes page…your children are invited to draw a picture for the project…and your donation of $6 will move them closer to their goal of providing clean water for an entire community. This is a wonderful opportunity to help children become involved in the world around them. We are never too young (or too old) to learn the importance of sharing with others and reaching out to the community.

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

And here are some other bloggers who are doing Jake’s Sunday Post:

http://cobbies69.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/sunday-post-vehicle/

http://cassiemeetsworld.com/photography/before-sunday-post-vehicle/

http://jullianeford.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/sunday-post-vehicle/

http://myphotoyear2012.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/sunday-post-vehicle/

http://reflectionsinapuddle.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/sunday-post-vehicle/

http://francineinretirement.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/sunday-post-vehicle/

http://davidrwetzelphotography.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/sunday-poast-vehicle/

http://motherwifestudentworker.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/weekly-sunday-post-vehicle/

http://catbirdphotography.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/sunday-post-vehicle/

SUNDAY POST :Vehicle (jakesprinters.wordpress.com)

Sunday Post: Shelter

Posted on April 29, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is SHELTER.

I always try to tie in the theme with something related to parenting.

The dictionary defines “shelter” as a something that covers or protects.

“Oh wert thou in the cauld blast, On yonder lea, on yonder lea; My plaidie to the angryairt, I’d shelter thee, I’d shelter thee.”

– Robert Burns

Yes…parents need to be a shelter for their children. Sad to say, all too often, here in the United States and in many places around the world, parents are not. Sometimes it is because they don’t know any better or because the parenting they received was lacking in love and nurturing. In many instances, though, it is because of conditions beyond their control…war, famine and drought.

Is there anything we can do to help?

One mother and her son have found a way.

Did you know that in many parts of the world, children walk several hours a day to collect the water needed by their family for drinking, washing and cooking? And the water they finally get is often contaminated…but they must use it anyway, because there is no clean water available to them.

Angela, over at A Child’s Heart of Faith, and her six-year old son, Jackson, are doing something to help!

Instead of getting a bunch of gifts from his friends for his birthday, Jackson asked them to donate $6 to his Water Wishes Project…when the goal of $5000 is reached, they will be able to provide a well for one of the many communities around the world where children are giving up their childhood because of the lack of clean water. Please visit Jackson’s Birthday-Earth Day Water Wishes page…your children are invited to draw a picture for the project…and your donation will move them closer to their goal of providing clean water for an entire community.

Just as houses are shelters to protect our bodies and parents are shelters to protect their children, libraries are shelters that protect the books that serve as windows on the world to many.

“To a historian libraries are food, shelter, and even muse.” – Barbara Wertheim Tuchman

There is only ONE MORE DAY LEFT in the The SMH Library Project.

And, if you haven’t done it already, please nominate your favorite library in the comment section! Twenty-five libraries will receive a free copy of Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking. NOMINATIONS CLOSE April 30! Don’t let your library lose out on the chance of getting this award-winning resource for parents and teachers and your entire community.

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

And here are some other bloggers who are doing Jake’s Sunday Post:

http://jmeyersforeman.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/red-umbrella/

http://northernnarratives.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/1468/

http://jobryantnz.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/sunday-post-shelter/

http://imagesoftheheart.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/sunday-post-shelter/

http://orples.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/sunday-photo-challenge-shelter/

http://jayjaysfavorites.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/water-dragon-weekly-sunday-post-shelter/

http://truthaboveallreligions.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/sunday-post-shelter/

http://writingmuscle.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/sunday-post-shelter/

http://davidrwetzelphotography.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/sunday-post-shelter/