One of the biggest worries parents have is keeping their children safe. The best way to do this is to know where your children are at and what they are doing at all times. Technology has made this easier than ever. There are several ways that you can use technology to keep track of your children to ensure that they stay safe.

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The easiest way for you to keep track of your children is to give them cell phones so that they can call and check-in. You can also use text messages for updates. Cell phones are a great resource for children during emergencies and they are widely available. Most parents like having the security cell phones provide. Cell phones can be expensive, but they provide a great deal of convenience and peace of mind when it comes to your children’s safety.

You can also use a cell phone to track where your children are at. All you have to do is install a geo-positioning app on their phones and then link it to your phone. The app then uses GPS technology to alert you of the location of your children on a map. This is especially useful if you have older children who can drive because you can keep tabs on their whereabouts without making them feel like you are always pestering them with questions.

You should use technology to keep your children safe. Cell phones are one of the easiest ways that you can track your children. Plus, your children will want a cell phone anyway, so it will make everyone happy.

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Giving a cell phone to your child is enough protection when you are taking your child out in a public place, right? The child can simply call you and identify your location in the event he or she gets separated from the family. Well, this is based on the presumption that your child will retain access to the cell phone.

Expecting your child to do something to find you after getting lost do not make sense. Rather, you should opt for that technology which helps you identify the exact location of your child even if he or she is not in a position to use the technological device.

Make use of the GPS facility in-built in your cell phone to identify the location of your child. Going in for an expensive GPS enabled cell phone for your child may seem like an unnecessary expense. However, you will be very thankful when you can identify where your child is by simply pressing a button on your cell phone.

As time goes by, one can only expect these technologies to become simpler, easier to use and less expensive. GPS enabled shoes will help the parents keep track of the child even if he or she does not carry a cell phone. Currently, the best option to keep track of your child in public places is to go in for GPS devices, either built-in phones or independent devices. Further, make sure you have a non technological backup in hand.

Despite these options, the old option of contacting law enforcement authorities is always a good idea. Tell your child to stick to the nearest police officer until called for.

Parents who have young children are in a constant state of ensuring their children are safe and accounted for, particularly while out in public. There are many situations in which a single parent is the guardian of multiple children while out in public, and this can pose a problem if environmental factors are chaotic and dense. Regrettably, situations such as this can result in children getting lost, or even abducted. Fortunately, there are some things parents can do to ensure this does not happen to them. Below are some simple to follow preparation methods parents can utilize prior to going out.

Dress Accordingly

Dress your children in bright and easily recognizable clothes if you plan on going out to a public place. This will ensure that they are easy to spot, and will not blend in. This same principle can be applied for night time outings by utilizing glow sticks that children can wear on their wrists for easy spotting.

Always Know Where Security and or Police are

Generally, in crowded places, there are some form of security and or law enforcement deployed for ensuring safety and order. Upon venturing to these places, take note of where these individuals are, should you need them in a moments notice. This will help speed up reaction time between noticing your child is missing and taking action.

Use a Stroller

For young children, employ the services of a stroller. Many people neglect the use of a stroller in crowded places due to the difficulty of maneuvering. However, it is much easier to keep track of younger children when you know they are strapped comfortably into a stroller.

 

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In the fast paced and technologically driven society we live in today, it can be difficult to keep up with everything. This concept is particularly prevalent as it applies to parents who are working. Unfortunately, due to the demands of life, it can be exceedingly difficult to keep track of a child, whether while out together in a public place, or when they go out with friends. Fortunately, with the advances in innovative mobile devices, there are many options available that can assist parents in keeping track of their children.

Cell phones are by far one of the most widely used types of mobile devices; more people utilize cell phones now than ever before. Whether for text messaging, or one touch Internet access, cell phones are particularly attractive to teens and even younger children due to the vast array of tools that are available from one single device. While many parents are apprehensive in providing their children with cell phones, they can actually serve a very important benefit.

Most new cell phones being released utilize smart phone technology, providing specific operating platforms that allow for the downloading of applications and various customizable aspects through the phone settings. Due to these implementations, parents have a great deal of control over their child’s cell phones, including tracking capabilities. The tracking can remain private to the child if necessary, and provide a signal to the parent’s device indicating where the phone is at all times. This technology comes in handy if a child gets lost while out in a crowded public place, or if they go out with friends.

Children are born innocent. They have no say into which situation they are born. Not all children get to live the charmed life. Parents try, but circumstances are not always in their control. Babies are born every day to poor parents, drug addicted parents, or they have other problems, such as birth defects and catastrophic illnesses. Any one of these situations can take its toll on a little soul.

The parents cannot always help the problem; sometimes they need help themselves. Children’s charities are there to grant that help. There are numerous charities doing amazing work for kids in need. The Make a Wish Foundation grants wishes to terminally ill children, granting them sometimes, their final wish. Through donations from companies and individuals, the Make a Wish Foundation has made the dreams come true of a child with a life-threatening illness every six minutes.

Kars for Kids takes donations of used cars and uses the profit made from the sale of the cars to do charitable works for children. They also run toy drives, and accept other donations to help children all over the country. Ronald McDonald House is a charitable organization affiliated with McDonald’s which has built housing all over the country near hospitals which treat children. Their families have a place to stay while their children are receiving life-saving treatments.

There are so many charities who need so much help. A donation to a children’s charity can mean the difference in a family having to struggle with a child’s illness and a family who gets to spend all their energy just being with their child. Consider being part of the solution.

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A family outing can be fun.  Losing your child in a crowd will quickly turn a fun family outing into a nightmare.  There are gadgets available to keep track of your child when you are out and about.  A personal safety alarm for a child is a cost effective method to keep track of your child when in an unfamiliar and crowded place.

Child locator personal alarms are a great way to locate your child if you have lost them in a crowd.  Using a technology commonly referred to as “Mommy I’m here”.  The devices use a transmitter and receiver.  The transmitter is usually a small key-chain that the parent keeps, and the receiver is a device that can be clipped onto the child, either on their clothing or shoe.  Many of these kinds of alarms come in the shapes of fun animals, or a teddy bear.   If you notice that your child is missing, simply press the button on the transmitter key-chain and the receiver attached to your child will sound out with a high pitched alarm.  This will not only alert you to where your child is at, but it will also alert the people around the child that the child is missing.

These types of child safety alarms are perfect if you are going to a place that could potentially get very crowded.  The family might be planning a trip to Disneyland, or a bustling and crowded city like New York.  Having a personal safety alarm attached to your child will ensure peace of mind when in an unfamiliar and crowded place.

As a parent it is your job to protect your teenagers, sometimes even from themselves! Bullying has always been a problem, but with new technology it is an even bigger problem. With the anonymity that the internet provides, teens are faced with even more vicious bullying than ever before. In fact, otherwise friendly, good kids can participate in cyberbullying. Having that screen between you and your victim seems to give people a sense of entitlement to say whatever they want with no thought to the feelings of the victim. Things are said online that an individual would never dream of saying to a person’s face.

Parents can watch for signs that their child is being bullied by being aware of a change in their child’s behavior. Does your teen appear stressed, sad, or depressed after spending time online or on the phone? Are your teen’s grades or behavior declining? Has your teen recently been withdrawing from participating in her normal activities or refusing to participate in school sports or activities that she would normally have participated in? These things could be signs that your child is being bullied and it may be time to do some investigating to get to the bottom of things.

To protect your teen from these things there are many software programs available now that can be loaded onto computers, cell phones, iPods, and other handheld devices. These programs monitor online activities and can alert parents when there is suspicion of cyberbullying. Being aware of the problem whether your child is the victim or the perpetrator can help give you the information you need to step in and get your child the help they need.

Do you know how to spot an online predator? Does your child? There are several warning signs that you can watch out for when socializing online. The best protection is to stay out of public chat rooms and stick with socializing online only with people you have met in person. However, we all know that children do not always do what we tell them and of course they “don’t see the harm.” As a parent it is your job to give your child the information they need to understand the dangers and protect themselves if they are faced with a situation that could potentially be dangerous. Although your child may not always listen, arming them with the information is a good place to start.

So, how can you tell if you may potentially be dealing with an online predator or just a normal person? Knowing the basic warning signs to watch for can help you or your child remove yourself from a situation before it gets out of control.

Anyone who asks for age, gender, and/or full name should be blocked immediately. Is your new online friend overly friendly or tends to agree with you on everything? The goal of an online predator is to gain your trust, develop a friendship, and then move in for the kill. Does your new online friend want to meet you in person? Do not do it! This is a warning sign of an online predator. If your child is involved in an online “relationship” and your child is still quite young, you need to investigate this situation immediately. This is another warning sign that your child has been targeted by an online predator.

It is inevitable that at some point you will have to allow your child to begin using the computer and accessing the internet. However, you can teach your child about the dangers of the internet and some warning signs of dangerous situations. You would never consider allowing your child to use a power tool or drive a car without proper instruction first. Using the internet should be no different. Just like there are dangers of operating power tools or driving a vehicle, there are dangers in using the internet. Giving your child the knowledge and tools to use it wisely and carefully is important.

You have taught your children young about “stranger danger” and “good touch – bad touch” scenarios to protect them against child molesters and pedophiles. But, have you considered needing to teach them about “stranger danger” that they can face in the cyberworld? This danger is as real as the other issues mentioned, in fact could be even more dangerous. Online predators can be very tricky. They prey on the emotions of young people and the false sense of security that the anonymity of the internet provides.

Many school systems across the United States are now offering programs to help young people identify a predator. These programs are teaching youth about the dangers, how to recognize a dangerous situation, what to do, and the consequences of participating. If your school district does not offer a program such as this, you may want to try to find a way to bring this program to your school in an effort to not only protect your own child, but to help give important information to other children as well.

The Parenting Center is your resource for everything that comes along with being a parent.  Whether it be budget, babies or backpacks we’ve got you covered.   Raising a child can be hard, and even harder while trying to hold a full time job.  Let us show you how to construct a budget so that you can plan for your child’s immediate and long-term future.

While finances are always a looming concern, the health and well being of your child is gravely important as well.  Make sure your child has a well balanced diet, is involved in engaging activities and is doing well in school.  This site will give you advice and information on all of these subjects and more.  Sometimes it helps to have one valuable resource to aide you in becoming the best parent you could possibly be.

According to TopTenReviews, the top three internet filtering software programs include Net Nanny at number one, PureSight PC at number two, and CYBERSitter at the number three slot. All three of these programs offer protection for our children with parental controls and filtering abilities. All three have received high marks for features, ease of use, ease of installation, and filtering effectiveness.

The use of software programs like these allows a parent to have greater control over the content that their children are able to access. These programs block questionable or dangerous content and are set up in a way that allows parents to block specific websites, gaming sites, and even some of the social networks that they do not want their children accessing. Parents have the ability to allow as much or as little access as they feel is appropriate for the age of their child.

With these programs it is even possible to block what your child is able to upload. For example you can set the parental controls in a way that does not allow your child to enter personal information or upload pictures to the internet on any site.

As far as management abilities, there are remote features in all three of these programs. This allows parents to manage features when away from home. Alerts are sent to parents’ email addresses informing them of suspicious, dangerous, or inappropriate activities. All three of the top programs also offer the ability to run the program in “stealth mode” allowing parents to have these programs installed on the computer without anyone else having access to them or knowing that they are there.

As a parent you want to do whatever you can to protect your children. You cannot be everywhere with your children, although you wish you could, to protect them and keep them safe from harm. This includes protecting them while they are online. Even though you cannot be with your child physically all of the time, you can be aware of what they are doing while they are online and keep tabs on their online activities. There is software available to help you do this along with providing you with parental controls to limit your child’s access to harmful internet content.

One of these software programs, in fact the most popular one, is Net Nanny. In fact, Net Nanny 6.0 has received the Gold award from TopTenREVIEWS for “best internet filter software” for five years in a row. It was also names as “editor’s choice” in PC Magazine.

Net Nanny is an internet filter system that allows you, as the parent, to control the content that enters your home. It not only blocks pornography, but it also blocks other questionable websites, questionable chat rooms, and other internet dangers. You can set it to block online gambling websites or gaming sites.

The control you have with the Net Nanny can also allow you to block your child’s ability to upload information or images on the internet and can even block your child’s ability to post on forums and blogs.

One of the features many people like about the Net Nanny is its remote management abilities. When you are away from home you still have the ability to monitor and control parental settings. Another feature that is popular with the Net Nanny is that it alerts parents of potential predators, cyberbullying, or other inappropriate behavior through online chats or other instant messaging program.

Unfortunately in the world today there are predators lurking everywhere! They may be at the mall, at the movie theater, next door, or on the internet. You cannot be everywhere with your child all the time, but you can teach your child about things that she can do to protect herself.

At the mall or other crowded places, ensure that your child is never there alone. Discuss with your child the dangers of associating with anyone they do not know. Talk about never going anywhere with anyone they do not know personally. Meeting someone with a group of friends that day does not count as “knowing” them personally. Remind her to be aware of who she is around and who is watching her. If she ever feels uncomfortable in a situation, trust her instincts and get out of there!

Keeping your child protected in your own neighborhood is a little more difficult. Be aware of who lives in your neighborhood and if there are any registered sex offenders. Teach your children about being aware of their surroundings and let you know if anyone makes them uncomfortable.

On the internet it is a little more difficult to protect your children from predators. Internet predators are very sneaky and are able to stay hidden and anonymous. Discuss appropriate internet activities with your child. It is advisable to install parental controls and internet security software on your computer to monitor and control internet activities. This will give your child an added level of safety. However, you cannot control what your child does away from home. Therefore, it is important to talk to your child about internet safety, the dangers of internet predators, and things to watch out for.

Taking a young child into a crowded area may cause you some anxiety and stress. It is best to avoid taking your young child into crowded areas if possible. However, if it is unavoidable there are several things you can do to ensure your child’s safety and your sanity.

First and foremost be honest with your child about safety. It may surprise you how much a 2-year-old can understand. You do not want to scare your child, but your child must understand that there are bad people in this world that might want to hurt them. Stress to your child about the importance of staying as close to mommy and daddy as possible and never, ever going anywhere with anyone they do not know.

Be prepared. Take a quick picture of your little one before you ever get to your destination. If the unthinkable happens and your child does come up missing you will most likely be too worried and stressed to remember what your child was wearing. Having a picture taken just before your outing will give you a quick reminder and a visual for security or police to help find your child.

Whenever possible dress your child in very bright clothing or something that will stand out if your child wanders away from you. If you have more than one child or you are with a group let’s say somewhere like Disneyland, it may be beneficial for everyone to dress alike. This helps you to quickly identify your group and find any wanderers faster.

Using a leash type of restraint device on very young children or keeping them in a stroller whenever you are going to be in a crowded area will help you keep track of your child better and provide your child with security.

There are many paths to security risks and performance slow-downs for your computer. When you begin to let your child use the machine, you may notice even more issues. In this case, it is even more necessary to protect the family computer, and there are many programs out there that can safeguard the computer system and make sure that it keeps working at top performance. One of these is PC Tools Registry Software, which will fix any Windows Registry errors that occur, even when you or your child do not realize registry changes have taken place.

Registry issues are among some of the top problems that cause computers to slow down. It is unwise not to protect your computer in any case, let alone when your child is using it. Before you let your kid sit down and command the computer, registry software isn’t the only thing you should think about. There are various parental control programs that will allow you to set times during which your child can use the Internet, or launch certain programs. Parents can even define who a child can email, and also receive a copy of each email that is sent or received by using similar software.

Special software can even limit Web surfing to age appropriate material, based on how old your child is. These kinds of programs are important, as is PC Tools Registry Software, but you also need to consider anti-virus software. Even if parental controls are in place, as well as porn filters, viruses and other malware can infiltrate and you might not even be aware of it. You can’t expect a child to know the signs of a computer virus and alert you in time, but anti-virus programs, combined with everything else, will keep your child-friendly computer safe and let your kid grow their computer skills as well.

Teaching children about online safety can sometimes be very difficult. There is so much to learn and to remember. When your children are younger it is much easier to protect them and help them learn about ways to stay safe online. However, as your child ages, and especially if they were not exposed to safety protocols online when they were very young, it can become more difficult to help them understand the importance of online safety. Teenagers are especially difficult to teach, as they feel they are immune to the problems that “happen to other people” on the internet.

Even though it may be difficult to get your child or teen to understand, as a responsible parent you need to do your part to give your child the proper “tools” to keep them safe while they are online. Go over your rules of internet use and follow through on consequences when they are not followed. Check up on your children regularly. Giving your child rules and then handing over the use of the internet without ever checking to ensure that your rules are being followed is not effective.

Some of the basic rules can include never adding anyone to their “friends” lists who they do not personally know on their online social network pages. Stay out of chat pages that include strangers. Never put any personal information online such as addresses, phone numbers, etc. Never post pictures that you do not want strangers to see. It is important to help your children understand that anything that is posted on the internet can be accessed by hackers or computer savvy individuals. Once it has been sent out into cyberspace, it can be picked up by anyone. Even if something is deleted later, there is an electronic copy of it somewhere.

Learning CPR is very important for everyone, especially if you are a parent. Canada 411 is a useful tool for researching CPR and first aid classes in Canada. Learning how to administer CPR and first aid will help to keep your children safe and keep you from panicking in an emergency. If something ever happens to your child, with CPR training behind you, you’ll know exactly what to do.

The Importance of Learning CPR

One of the scariest things that can happen to a parent is to witness her child unable to breathe. This can occur as a result of a variety of accidents, such as choking, inhaling smoke, nearly drowning or suffocating. While you can’t control everything that your child does or is exposed to, when you know CPR, you can step in to help. When you perform CPR on a child, you are applying massage in the heart area and artificial breathing to help revive him. CPR helps to keep the blood circulating, restores breathing and can help to prevent brain damage or death.

Helping to Save People

While learning CPR may seem like one more thing to place on a list of things to do, it’s one of the more critical skills you can learn as a parent. You might also find yourself in an environment where other parents or their children are in need of CPR. When you know what to do, you can help to save lives.

Finding CPR Classes Using Canada 411

To find CPR and first aid classes near you in Canada, use Canada 411. Simply enter the keyword “CPR” and your location. You will see a list of organizations that offer such training. Narrow down your search by visiting the websites of the organizations. Check to see if they have classes you can attend after work or on the weekends.

With all of the other things you have to worry about with your children, now you have to be concerned about your child becoming addicted to the internet. Internet addiction has become a rising problem in today’s society. According to experts one in eight Americans is addicted to the internet. Those numbers continue to rise especially in teens and young adults.

One thing that can possibly explain this is the fact that technology is addictive simply because of its ease of use and immediate feedback. Because of the fact that children are growing up with so much online interaction they become uncomfortable when they do not have it.

There are warning signs you can watch for to determine if your teen is becoming addicted to the internet and online gaming. Is your teen’s internet usage interfering with other daily activities? Does your teen some to family dinners late, miss sports practices, get to school late, or have stopped activities he used to enjoy because of his online usage? If you are noticing your teen being overly tired in the morning he may be staying up later than normal. Your teen may have difficulty completing homework or other assignments because he cannot focus long enough due to his need to log into the computer. When you try to cut back on your teen’s internet time, does he become angry and overly irritable? If your teen has lost interest in friends, spending time outdoors, sports, or other activities that he used to be interested in this could be another warning sign.

If you feel that your teen is becoming addicted it may be time to take action. If this is a mild addiction at this point you may be able to take steps to reverse this problem. Limit your teen’s time online to no more than one or two hours a day. Be an example and do not spend time that you should be with your family online. It may be necessary to install parental monitoring software to limit sites that are available and allow you to monitor online activities.

There are so many things for a parent to worry about when they send their children out of the house. Who may be out there that may try to take advantage of them? What trouble may they find to get into? Protecting children is the number one responsibility that a parent has, and that means insulating them from all risks including the most basic: the elements.

The East Coast is in the midst of what may go down in history as the worst winter ever. Cities like New York are seeing big storms dumping 6 to 12 inches of snow at a time, and that means kids need to be layered up to stay warm and safe. Rapper Shaun Jay-Z Carter grew up in Brooklyn and knows how harsh the New York winters can be. He designed his Rocawear clothing line with staying warm in mind.

Rocawear features well-insulated jackets that will help block out the cold and ward off the snow. The Puffer Jacket is perfect for bitterly cold weather and comes with a fur-lined hood. The Rocawear Wool Duffel Coat is popular, as well as several leather jackets that are great for cold weather, including one just like the coat Jay-Z wore in his Empire State of Mind video shoot.

To make sure the kids are protected in cold weather, it is important to make sure they have other winter accessories as well. Rocawear offers a full line of parachute and scottie boots that are excellent for traipsing through the snow and keeping your children’s feet warm. There are also hoodies and sweatshirts for layering underneath coats to provide an extra level of warmth. For young children, there are several jacket, tees, and jeans reasonably priced that are perfect for the kids to wear throughout the day at school.

No matter what the age of your child you can take these simple steps to help protect your child while they are online.

• Keep your computer in a public area of the house. Do not allow your child to have a computer in his room or in a private room. Having a computer out in the open makes it much more difficult for a child to enter websites that are questionable and makes them more accountable for who they are talking to, etc.
• Set down rules for online activities. This can include the websites they are allowed to visit, the ones they are not allowed to visit, who they can be friends with online, situations they are to avoid, and even the amount of time they can spend online.
• Enforce the rules you have set. It is not enough to simply set the rules. You must follow through on monitoring them and having consequences when they are broken. Sometimes a parent has to exercise some tough love to keep their children safe.
• Monitor your child’s online activities. If the computer is in the open as suggested you can simply take note of what your child is doing as you walk by. Check browsing history frequently to note where your child has been online. Note anything suspicious, even if that happens to be an empty history when you know your child has been online. An empty history is a red flag that your child was possibly doing something online that they did not want you to be aware of and erased the history before you could check it.
• Install parental controls and parental monitoring software. Using a program such as Net Nanny or WebWatcher can give you an added component of internet security and allows you as a parent to control the content, websites, and interactions that your child can have online. Many of these types of programs are now available for your child’s handheld devices such as iPod, iPhone, iPad, etc. too.

With all of the technology in the world today there are many different social avenues for our children. It can be difficult to monitor everything our children are doing to keep them safe. Do you know what your child is doing when they are online? Do you know the websites he visits? How about the online friends he has? Any idea what social networks your child is visiting or how he is using them while he is online?

It is important that you become aware of your child’s online activities. The dangers to children online are real. Children are exposed to much more at a much younger age than in the past. It is very easy for predators and pedophiles to have access to your child online. Instances of cyberbullying is getting out of control. Through the online world your child may be dealing with harassment or your child might even be the one who is bullying or harassing. The “protection” of the online world seems to bring out the worst in some people.

Completely shutting your child away from the outside world is not the answer to protecting him. As a parent there are things you can do to help reduce the risks. It is your job as a parent to instruct your child. Teach your child about online dangers. Assure your child that you will be keeping track of their online activities. Let your child know that you love them and are just watching out for their safety. Discuss appropriate internet use, expectations, and consequences for improper use or any incident of your child participating in harassment or cyberbullying.

You need to be proactive in monitoring your child’s online behavior. This can be accomplished by frequently checking browsing histories, installing and using parental controls, installing an internet filter and/or a type of parental “spy” program. Your child may see this as an invasion of their privacy; you should see this as good parenting!

If you have children you understand the concerns about internet safety. If you allow your children to use the internet you may want to install some type of device on your computer that allows you to monitor what they are doing when they are online. You may also feel it is necessary to add parental controls which allow you block certain content and/or specific websites and/or gives you control to add passwords to your computer for access. If this is something you are considering you may want to look at some of the different software available that can accomplish this.

One of the most well-known products for accomplishing this task is Net Nanny. This is now available for smart phones as well. The Net Nanny is an internet filtering software. It allows a parent to monitor internet activity even from remote locations. It can monitor instant messages and will alert parents of cyberbullying, possible predators, or other inappropriate content. Alerts can also be sent to a parent’s email or cellular phone when a child is attempting to access an inappropriate website. Parents are able to access their children’s social networks such as Facebook, MySpace, etc. to monitor activities.

Another option is K9 Web Protection, which is a free online internet filter and parental control software program which allows you to take control of internet safety for you and your children. This program will protect your children from accessing adult content and participating in risking interactions with others. It protects you from scams and inappropriate temptations. It will protect your computer from spyware and malware. This software is now also available for iPods, iPhone, and the iPad.

Some additional options include CyberPatrol, OnlineFamily.Norton, Safe Eyes, or safefamilies.org. There are many more options available. To determine if this option is best for your family you may want to consider trying one of the free programs first. Although the paid programs may offer additional protection or options that the free ones do not, at least it will give you a general idea of how this kind of software works.

Everybody has heard a story on the news about a family dog biting or attacking a young child. While these stories might be horrifying, in most cases they could have been prevented. In the same way that you teach a child to respect an adult, you must also teach a child to respect a dog. Dogs always give some type of signal before they bite or attack. This could be anything from a growl to a stiffening of the body.

Adults supervision is essential in keeping your child safe around a dog. No matter how reliable the dog’s behaviour may have been in the past, its behaviour can never be predicted with 100% accuracy. You should never leave a child alone with any dog. Remember that you should always take more precautions when a strange child visits because your dog may tolerate an action from your child, but not someone else’s. If you cannot be on the scene to supervise your child and the dog, put the dog up and out of the child’s reach.

You dog should be trained and socialized properly. This includes obedience training from an early age. If a dog does not receive proper training, then the dog will rely on his natural instincts. The dog should learn to obey commands in all types of conditions including stressful and distracting conditions. This could mean the difference in saving a dog’s life or saving a child. Any dog will bite under the right conditions. The dog automatically wants to assert dominance over the child to move up in the hierarchy of the family “pack”. Ground rules need to be laid down and followed by both the dog and the child. The child should be taught to not wave food around, not to tease or taunt the dog, and to always remain in control by giving a command before a reward.

Being a single parent means you have to cover everything all on your own. You have to be mom, dad, nurturer, and breadwinner for your family. This also means that you’re the only one who can pay the bills every month and keep a roof over your family’s head. There may be times when this may seem almost impossible. The good news is there are things you can do to help be prepared for the bad months when they come up. As a single parent, you need to know you are not alone. There are places you can go to for help. You need to be educated in what your extra resources are and be prepared for rainy days, because they will happen.

We always hear it but we never actually do it. Try to set some extra money aside for a rainy day, because rainy days always come. You never know when there will be extra doctor bills, or you won’t get all the hours you need at work. This can even be in the form of extra food stored under a bed. When there’s case lot sell at the local grocery store, buy an extra case of soup and store it in the top of a closet. Buy clothes for family members at second hand or thrift stores or at season end clearance sales and have them for next year. Be thirty all the time.

When bad times come, get out your list of resources and get some help. Go to family and religious leaders first. Maybe, they can help with your groceries for the month, so you can make your rent payment. Go to government and state assistance programs next. They require paperwork and time to get. You can also use payday loan programs like paydayone.com to get you through.

The Internet has become a large part of modern life and it is important that your children understand how to use it. To make this a positive experience for them, ground rules should be set forth that makes their safety a primary concern. The bottom line is that your children do not have a right to privacy when it comes to the internet and its use. It is your responsibilty to monitor what they are looking at and making sure they are not getting into anything they shouldn’t be. There are many different computer programs that you can add to the computer to filter out inappropriate content for your children. There are also “hall monitor” types of programs that you can sign up with to see where your children are looking on the internet also.

Other things that you can do to keep your computer safe for kids to use are taking the computer out of the bedroom and putting it in the living room where parents are. Sit down with your kids and teach them about the dangers of online ads and banners. Discuss the dangers of meeting online friends face to face. Set and agree upon ground rules for computer use. Make sure that your kids understand to be careful about revealing any type of personal information. Talk to your kids about social networking sites. There are several age appropriate networking sites out there and then there are inappropriate sites like Myspace and Facebook.

Be aware that kids are easy targets, so you should sit down with your child and discover the internet together. Any type of illegal online material should immediately be reported to the police. Any type of inappropriate contact should also be reported. As long as you remain vigilant and watchful to what your kids are doing on the internet, it can remain a positive experience for them.

Have you ever been out in a crowded place, turned your back for just a moment and then realized that you had no idea where your child was? This happens all too often with many parents. Knowing how to keep your kids safe in a public place and teaching them is one of the most important things you will ever do for them. The three steps rule is a great rule to have. This is telling kids that they cannot be more than three steps away from their parents at all times. When going out in public, it is a great idea to dress your kid’s in bright or distinctive clothing. Make sure that your kids know who a safe stranger is in case they get separated from you. For a child that likes to run off, using a harness can give the parent peace of mind when in a crowded setting. Make sure that your kids know your name, phone number, and home address in case of separation. If the child is too young to remember, then write down the information on some paper and place it in their pocket.

Teach your child to always check with you first before going to another area such as a restroom or play area. Make sure that your child knows to call attention to himself in an emergency situation with a yell or a loud word such as “Stop!” Always take your child into the restroom with you or if they are old enough to enter the restroom themselves, then always stay outside the door and check in with them. Never send a child into an area such as an arcade or play area unattended while you shop. Finally, discuss safety issues with your child that are appropriate in a calm manner.

Being the mother of a six month old, I know the day will come when she will be up and running, with me following after her. I know of too many instances where parents turn their attention for a split second and the child is gone. I want to make sure that doesn’t happen to me so I am looking for a child leash. There are varying opinions on this as well. If you search the internet, you will find arguments for and against the use of a child leash or a child harness. Some people say that the use of a leash or harness equates your child with a dog. Others say that it gives the parent peace of mind in knowing your child is there with you and cannot run off. I personally agree with the second argument and am going to share with you a few of the different leashes and harnesses on the market.

I did a quick google search to see what types of harnesses are available. There were several types that were cute and mult-functional as a backpack also. I found one manufactured by Goldbug that was very affordable. It was a monkey that strapped to the child’s back and around the shoulders and had a leash that came off the backpack part. Goldbug also manufactured a puppy harness as well. Both of these could be found at Walmart. Sunshine Kids also manufactures a very simple harness that can be used for older children that also straps over the shoulders and the leash comes off of the back. Eddie Bauer has a monkey child harness as well that I found on Amazon and if in doubt, you can also check the ratings that people have left about the product. These are just a few of the examples that I have come upon and I am sure there are many more out there.

When I was younger, my family belonged to a public pool. I can remember us going to the pool one day and it being closed. We later found out that a little boy, who had been unsupervised by his mom, had gotten into the deep end of the pool and drowned. This is why it is so important to teach your children how to be safe in and around water. A child can drown in less than two inches of water so children need constant supervision in and around water whether it be the toilet bowl or the neighborhood pool. It is very important to teach your child to swim as early as possible and at least by age four. It is also important that children use proper flotation devices such as an inflatible vest or arm floats.

The bathroom can also be a hazard to a child. Never leave a child unattended in the bath because they can slide down in the tub and drown in no time. Put away all electrical appliances. Be aware of the water temperature. Just three seconds of exposure to hot tap water can give your child third degree burns. Be sure that you are aware of any water hazards outside of the home such as ponds or creeks. Let neighbors that have pools know that you have a young child and to keep their gate locked.

If you have a pool or hot tub at home, make sure you have a fence installed directly around the water feature that a child cannot get through. Never let a child use your hot tub due to the possibility of overheating. Teach children that the pool is not the place for running and horseplay. Above all else, you should always keep your attention on your children when they are in or around water.

Keeping children safe in a car, begins from the time they are still in the womb. The new and excited parents are responsible for buying new things for the baby. Usually one of these items is a carseat. When buying a carseat, make sure it is the correct carseat. You need to buy a seat for an infant with certain height and weight requirements. Have the seat installed by a professional to ensure that it has been done correctly. Police stations, fire departments, and hospitals will install seats for free. Keep your receipt for the seat until it is installed to make sure it will work correctly.

When restraining your child in the carseat, make sure the straps fit snugly against your child. You should not be able to fit more than one finger between your child and the strap. Make sure the straps are never twisted. Your child’s bottom should always be flat against the bottom of the seat. Never use pillow or blankets to boost your child up in the seat. Make sure the base of the seat is locked in place by the cars seat belt or locking clips. Teach your child to never get out of the seat. Always make sure that the child is firmly locked in place before pulling out of the driveway.

Teach your child that a car is never a place to play. A child can too easily push the gear out of park and it can start rolling with the child inside. Never leave a child in a running car unattended. Keep your child away from the front seat, all steering components, and gears shifts. A child does not understand that these are not toys and the lights and sounds may be too tempting for them to resist. Finally, teach your child to stay out of the path of a moving car in the driveway.

Summertime will arrive again in a few short months. This is why it is important now to become vigilant to keep your child safe and healthy all summer long. The pool is a great place to go in the summer to stay cool and have fun. Make sure that your kids have the proper flotation device such as life vest or arm floats. Protect your child and others from getting sick by not allowing your child to swim when they have diarrhea, do not swallow pool water, and practice good hygiene. If your child needs a potty break then take them immediately to avoid urinating or defecation in the pool. If the child is in diapers, change the diaper in the bathroom and not poolside. Wash the child thoroughly especially after using the bathroom.

Children enjoy playing outside during the warm summer months and can be bitten by all different types of insects such as mosquitoes, chiggers, gnats, flies, etc. Knowing the different types of insect repellents that are available will help in keeping outside play pleasant for your child. Be sure to use only those repellents that are deemed suitable for use on a child, follow manufacturer’s instructions, and always wash it off once indoors. Insect repellents containing DEET are safe for use on children older than two months. The percentage of DEET that is contained in the repellent is key to how long the protection lasts. Most DEET repellents offer protection lasting several hours. Other repellents contain picaridin, oil of lemon and eucalyptus, and soybean oil. These repellents are generally safe for use on children as well. Remember that most repellents do not offer protection against stinging insects such as bees, fire ants, wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets. To protect against these, make sure the child’s skin is covered, avoid scented soaps and lotions, and avoid areas where nests may be found.

When I was younger, there were no cellphones or computers to use. Now with all the new technology available, there is a new set of dangers to be aware of. By establishing clear and concise ground rules to follow, your child can be safe using a cell phone. If you aren’t already familiar and comfortable using a cell phone, take time to familiarize yourself with how your cell phone works then familiarize yourself with your child’s cell phone. It is important that you monitor and restrict your child’s use of their cell phone. Limiting the numbers that can be dialed and disabling texting can be two very effective ways of doing this.

Your child should always be aware of their surroundings. Using a cellphone can distract from this, and create an opening for someone to easily prey upon your child. Choose a phone with parental safety controls. Do not allow a camera on the phone. The cell phone you choose should not have internet access. This would only open up another avenue for your child to become easy prey from a predator. Teach your child to never talk to strangers and to never give out their private information such as name and phone number. Take advantage of cell phone monitoring devices or software that allows you to see all of your child’s cell phone activity in an online report. Make sure that along with your child’s house curfew, that they also have a cell phone usage curfew and understand when it is not appropriate to use the phone. Your child should only be allowed to place or receive phone calls at designated times. Teach your child to be courteous and respectful when using a cell phone in public. A good example of this is turning the ringer off while in a movie theatre. The phone should not be answered during this time.

Halloween is the one night out of the year that kids can dress up in a silly costume and bring home a haul of free goodies. Kids aren’t thinking about safety, so that is why it is doubly important for you as the adult to ensure that kids are safe while trick-or-treating. When buying a costume, always make sure that the child tries on the costume beforehand to ensure proper fit. Check the label to ensure that the material is flame retardant. It is preferable that the child wear makeup instead of a mask. If the child insists upon a mask, make sure that the eye, nose, and mouth holes are a sufficient size to decrease risk of suffocation. Costumes that are reflective or light in color are best if going out after dark.

If the child is younger, discuss the route you will take to trick-or-treat and where to meet if separated. Be sure that the child is always supervised by an adult and understands the importance of walking in a high traffic well-lit area. Children should not be allowed to cut through dark areas, yards, or alleys. They should only approach houses with a porch light on and should never enter a stranger’s home under any circumstance. Children should also be taught to walk on the left side of the road, facing oncoming traffic when there are no sidewalks.

A final very important point is to always make sure your child has a full meal before leaving the house to trick-or-treat. This lowers the possibility that they will indulge in candy before they get home. It is very important that they understand to have an adult inspect all candy brought home before any candy is eaten to check for possible signs of tampering. Any candy that seems odd or suspicious should immediately be thrown out.

When I was in school. I remember an instance of a boy in afterschool care getting his head stuck between some monkey bars and suffocating. Two main points of playground safety are missing in this tragedy. He wasn’t being supervised properly and his parents or guardian had not gone over playground safety tips with him. There are a few main ideas to keep your child safe when playing in the park or on the playground.

First and foremost, as much as you may want to let your child run free on the playground, you need to keep them closely supervised. You or another adult that you trust, should always be there to look for any potential hazards or alleviate any problems. The child should always be dressed appropriately for the weather. If it is going to be cold then warm up later, dress the child in layers so they do not get overheated. Protect the child from the sun by using the appropriate SPF sunscreen. There is nothing like a bad burn to ruin an outing in the park. Always keep your eye out for dangers such as insects and wildlife, equipment being in proper working order, and loose nails or other miscellaneous items. Go over playground safety with your child so they know it is not acceptable for things like horseplay to occur. They should be schooled on the proper use of equipment and how to take turns and share. Good playground behaviour will make it a pleasant experience for everyone. Children also need to know to always be observant about their surroundings. They should observe the “Check First” rule before leaving your sight. This means that the child should check with you first before moving to a different area or using the public restroom. These points should help in keeping your child safe in the park or on the playground.

The internet is a great resource for school age children. They can use it to find information for school reports, keep in touch with friends and family, and play educational games. The problem is that it’s also easy for children to frolic about various websites unsupervised. Even when you’re in the room, unless you’re watching over their shoulder the entire time your child is on the computer, there’s ample opportunity for them to run across a page with inappropriate content, or accidentally give out personal information.

You can’t rely on software to supervise your kids. Yes, there are monitoring programs out there, but they don’t restrict which websites are visited or record what activity happened on those website. All they do is give you a list, after the fact, or where your child went.

Check the sites your kids visit. Play the games and try to interact with anyone who is logged in. If you don’t like that site restrict it, and find a safe alternative. There are a number of children’s gaming sites that don’t have a chat option, or limit player interaction.

If there are only a handful of sites you want your child to visit, you can program them into your browser’s bookmark menu and hide the navigation bar. Remember, this is not a permanent solution and that it can be circumvented with a little bit of work.

Teach your child not to give out personal information of any sort. Kids don’t realize they’re giving a complete stranger information that could potentially be used to track them down. They’re just telling their friend about what happened at school.

It’s easy to spot the cliche suspicious-looking person in a van handing out candy, it’s not so easy to spot the same person in a chat room pretending to be a 9-year-old girl. By giving your child the tools they need to be safe online, you can breathe a little easier.

Navigating through a busy airport is trouble enough without having to worry about a small child. Each age group has different needs, so as your child grows your traveling techniques need to change as well. With a bit of planning you can smoothly get from one destination to the next.

Before you leave, dress your child in a bright and easily identifiable top. Use your cell phone or camera to take a picture of your child, so if you are separated you have a current photo you can show authorities. If your child’s daycare or school hands out safety cards with a fingerprint and a current physical description then bring that along, too.

Keep your passports, flight itinerary, and any other identification on you at all times. These are the most important papers you have while traveling, so don’t lose them.

If you’re traveling with an infant, tuck your wallet and personal items into the diaper bag and use that as your carry on. Don’t let your baby crawl around the waiting area. Keep them on your lap or in your travel stroller, and don’t leave the stroller unattended.

Bring a coloring book or a favorite toy for your toddler, or a personal game system for your older child. Keep them entertained so they’ll be less likely to want to go exploring. Always hold hands while walking or in a crowd, and seat your child next to you. Take your child with you to the restroom, and share the same stall if you have to.

Pick out a spot to meet at if you are separated. If you can’t find your child, don’t wait. Go directly to security and give them a detailed description of your child, along with a copy of the photo you took earlier.

Traveling with children doesn’t have to be difficult. Make an emergency plan with your older child, keep a close eye on your younger child, and enjoy your flight.

It’s a parent’s worst nightmare. You hear something strange on the baby monitor in the middle of the night so you get out of bed to go check on the kids. But when you get halfway down the hall you realize something’s not quite right, and rush into the baby’s room only to find the window’s open and the crib’s empty. Real life isn’t like television police dramas and there aren’t bad guys on every street corner waiting to kidnap your children, but it’s still important to take precautions and properly lock up your house. A little common sense can go a long way.

Start with the bedrooms. When at all possible, don’t put your children on the ground floor. If you live in a single storey home, put your children in rooms that face the street. Although your instincts may be to use the back bedrooms, people won’t usually break into a house where they can be easily spotted by passing traffic.

Lock the windows. You can purchase sliding window locks just about anywhere. If you can’t find any then place a wooden or metal rod in the window track.

Light the outside. Install a spotlight with a motion sensor and aim it towards your children’s bedroom windows. If someone is sneaking around outside they’ll activate the sensor and turn on the light.

Keep the outside doors locked and bolted when you’re home, and don’t let young children answer the door. Even if it’s just the pizza guy or the mail carrier, it’s dangerous to let your child go to the door alone.

Show your kids how to fight back. If someone does break in, teach your children to kick, bite and scream, no matter what the intruder tells them. Make sure they know it’s okay to dial 911 during an emergency.

A few years ago in San Diego there was a woman who drove her SUV to her parents house. She left it running while she hopped out, ran to the door and dropped off a package. By the time she had turned around her SUV was gone, along with her infant son who had been sleeping in the backseat.

The family was devastated and in shock. She had been away from her car for less than two minutes, but it had been long enough for someone to jump in and drive away.

The story ran all over the news and the mother pleaded for whoever had stolen the vehicle to return her son. Everyone feared the worst, and the San Diego police department was working closely with Mexican authorities in case the child was taken across the border. A few hours later the SUV was found abandoned in Tijuana, Mexico, with her son safely inside.

It was speculated that the car thief didn’t realize there was anyone in the car, that he was on his way to chop shop across the border, and when he realized there was a child in the backseat he abandoned the SUV. While the baby was returned to the mother unharmed, why take that chance with your own child?

Never leave your children unattended in a car. Your car is not a babysitter. Aside from the obvious risk of heatstroke, there are so many things that can go wrong without you there to stop them. The brakes could slip and the car could roll into traffic, or your child could open the door and wander away.

If you must leave your car, then take your children with you. It only takes an instant to loose your children, and sometimes it happens in the most inconceivable way possible. No one ever thinks it could happen to them, until it does.

You’re out with your family enjoying lunch or visiting the park, and then it happens: the potty break. Your child desperately needs to use the toilet, and you have the daunting task of navigating through hand washers and waiting lines.

Surprisingly, the most complicated scenario is actually the easiest. When you’re out with a baby you have the advantage of portability. Now, you can’t just plop your baby down anywhere and change him, but you don’t have to limit yourself to a public toilet, either. If you’re in the park you can lay a blanket down on the grass for a quick change, but keep in mind you can’t change a diaper in a restaurant’s dining area because of health codes.

If the restroom you’re in doesn’t have a changing station but the sink area is large, you can lay down a blanket or changing pad and place your baby on top of it. Make sure you always have one hand on your baby in case she rolls off. When you’re finished clean up the area, throw away the diaper and all your trash.

Things become a bit more complicated with a toddler or young child. They’re old enough to want independence, but still much too young to be left alone. It doesn’t matter what their gender is, go ahead and bring them into the restroom with you. In fact, take them into the same stall. Don’t act like it’s gross or you’ll send conflicting signals to your child. You should be more concerned with your child’s safety than your modesty.

Continue to accompany and older child to the restroom, but you don’t need to share stalls anymore. Engage them in conversation and make sure they don’t leave without you. If your child is the opposite gender, then stand outside the restroom door and wait for them to finish.

You can still keep your child safe while giving them privacy in a public restroom.

Giving your child a GPS tracker may seem like a good idea, but all you really know is where the tracker is. Whether it’s intentional or not, all your child needs to do is leave the device behind, and then it becomes completely useless.

Don’t get me wrong, the technology is great, but there’s a time and place that makes it appropriate. If you’re out camping or hiking with your child, it’s great to equip everyone with a personal GPS tracker to help stay connected or in case someone gets lost. Lots of parents take along VHF radios that have a built in GPS when they go on ocean fishing trips for the same reason: it’s an easy way to pinpoint the location of you and your child. But if this is why you want to use a GPS device, teach your child the basics of using a compass in case the device fails.

If you’re going to give your child a GPS tracker, make sure you understand its disadvantages. All it will tell you is where the tracker is. If your child takes it off for any reason, it’s not going to do much good. And it’s not a good substitute for a babysitter. Just because you know where your child is doesn’t mean you know who they’re with or what they’re doing.

Teach your child basic care and maintenance of the device. Make sure it’s fully charged and the batteries aren’t in danger of dying. If you’re relying on the GPS technology of a cell phone, keep it turned on.

There are a lot of nifty looking personal GPS trackers you can give to your child, but knowing your child’s whereabouts doesn’t mean they’re safe. You could easily be lulled into a false sense of security if you rely on a tracker to babysit your child.

Driving to your destination has so many advantages when you’re traveling with a baby. You can bring along so much more than if you were on a plane, and you’re in control of all travel aspects including the frequency and duration of your rest stops.

Traveling with a baby can be really simple. Chances are they’ll sleep most of the way in the car, and if they’re hungry or wet they’ll let you know. Pack plenty of diapers, bottles and milk. Also bring along a bottle rack, brush and a small container of dish soap so you can wash the dirty bottles in the hotel room. If you have a playpen, bring it. It makes a convenient place for the baby to sleep, and you don’t have to worry about baby proofing the hotel room.

Follow the manufacturer’s directions and make sure the baby’s car seat is secure. Don’t cram a whole bunch of stuff in the backseat with the baby. You want to be able to reach her if she needs something, and you don’t want something to accidentally tumble on top of her.

Take regular stops. Try to stick to your regular feeding schedule if you can. Change his diaper when you stop, and give him a chance to stretch and move around outside of his car seat. Nobody wants to be stuck and buckled into one place for an extended length of time. You’re baby is no exception.

When you get to the hotel room, set up the playpen first. You can plop your baby down with a few toys while you continue to set up the room. This will give you a free hand, and let her stretch out some more after finally getting out of the car for the day.

Keep to your baby’s sleep schedule as closely as possible, and try to mimic his usual sleep routine. He shouldn’t have any problems adjusting to this temporary environment.

When you have an older child you don’t need to worry so much about random strangers trying to get your child’s information. They generally know how to avoid creepy perverts. The bigger danger teenagers face is cyberbullying.

Kids get picked on. It happens everywhere and it’s difficult to control, despite whatever school policy might be in place. But when your child comes home the traditional bullying stops and they can spend at least a few hours in relative peace. That isn’t the case with cyberbullying. Cell phones and the internet are used to send threatening and embarrassing messages, so the victim can be harassed practically every hour of every day. They have no place to hide, and no where to run.

Cyberbullying is a real phenomenon and has been linked to teenage suicides. While it might be difficult to stop, at the very least you can try to monitor your teenager’s online activity to determine if they’re being threatened.

Join your teenager’s social media sites. Friend your child on Myspace and Facebook. Follow them on Twitter. Keep up with their status updates, and read the comments that are left on their pages. Read the comments they leave for others. You’ll begin to get a feeling for who their friends are (you know, the one’s they don’t tell you about) and who might be giving them a hard time. Also keep an eye out for any tagged photos of your child.

Check the history of your teenager’s browser periodically to see what other websites they’re visiting. You can also pull up their favored search engine and start typing in random letters to see what’s saved in the autocomplete. That will give you an idea of what information they’re trying to research.

Read the texts on their cell phones. If you have to, pull up the history on your cell phone statements.

These steps should help give you an idea if your teenager is being victimized.

When you’re traveling abroad you have so much more to keep track of. You need to be aware of any cultural differences or local customs that might conflict with your own so you don’t accidentally insult someone, and it’s a good idea to learn the basics of the local language. And the whole time you need to keep an eye on your children.

Before you leave for your trip do your research. Learn what the laws are in the country you’ll be visiting. Is the local culture more conservative or more liberal than yours? Make sure you dress appropriately. Do they have customs that are unusual to you or practices you dislike? If you’re invited to partake in these activities find out how you can politely decline without causing offense.

Learn what local hand gestures mean. The American sign for “okay” is a very naughty and suggestive insult in Germany. Also take the time to learn some slang. Not every word means the same thing in every country. The Spanish verb “molestar” means to bother in Mexico, but it means to molest in Nicaragua.

If you’re traveling without your spouse or your child’s other parent you’ll need to get written and notarized permission to take your child out of the country. Keep that paper on you at all times, along with your passports and other identification. Learn where the embassy is in case something happens and you need to get in touch with your national government.

Make an effort to learn the language with your children. Kids have a natural aptitude for languages, and they’ll pick it up fairly quickly. When you interact with the local population, having made an effort to learn their language will make them more receptive to you.

And remember, not everyone likes foreign tourists. Teach your child not to talk to strangers unless it’s necessary, and don’t openly advertise your national origin.

We’ve all seen the after school specials about all the horrible stuff that happens to kids when they’re left alone. They join gangs and get into drugs, they break into houses and steal cars, they have unprotected sex and catch AIDS. All of this happens between the hours of 3 and 6 in the afternoon, and it all could have been avoided if only they weren’t a latchkey kid!

Yeah, uh huh. The problem with those kinds of shows is they focus on the unlikely dangers of leaving your teenager home alone and completely ignore the very probable dangers of putting your school age child in the care of an incompetent daycare provider.

When you have to put your child in an after school facility, do some research on it first. Drop by in the middle of the day and observe how the teachers interact with the children. Do an online search to see if you can find any problems. Ask your kid if they have any friends who attend that program and find out what they think about it. If everything checks out so far, go ahead and enroll your child.

After a few days find out how your kid feels about the program. When you go to pick them up, are they playing with the other kids or are they in a corner by themselves? Talk to the teachers to find out what your child’s typical behavior is.

Listen to them when they start to complain. Are they just bored, or is someone beginning to pick on them? If you child consistently complains about one kid or a group of kids, get as much information as you can before talking to the teacher. Ask them to monitor the children’s interactions. Be prepared to pull your child from the program if the situation doesn’t improve or if you feel not enough is being done to protect your child.

The safety and protection of your child is one thing every parent worries about, and the one thing they can’t always control regardless of how many times you tell your child not to talk to strangers, come straight home after school, and drive carefully. There is always a chance that something could happen, so short of putting your child in a plastic bubble and never letting your child leave this house, Safety Center offers information to parents an children about keeping yourself safe, how to keep track of your child, and what options you have when you fear something has happened.

“Anyone missing is someone’s CHILD!”

Kim Swartz, Amber’s Mom