The Art Deli

Good Morning!

Because my product is mostly for kids I’d like to start having information on my blog that will be helpful for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, babysitters and anyone else who may have children in their care at some point. These are the people who are visiting my website the most so I think it is a great opportunity to get the information out there. You never know when or where helpful words will make the difference.

Today I’d like to introduce Linda Hales, a good friend of mine and writer of children’s books.
Linda will be sharing her views on how to street proof our kids today.

In today’s world I think we are all trying to find that balance between letting our children explore the world around them so they develop into well rounded people and at the same time keep them safe from the all too real dangers out there. Linda is the type of person who truly wants to make a difference in the world. Her heart is with all things kids and so she has offered to share with us some of the knowledge she has picked up along the way about this subject.

Street proofing Your Kids!
by Linda Hales

Now this is a broad subject if there ever was one.  It is every parent’s #1 priority to keep their little ones safe, both indoors and especially when they first venture out beyond that great big door of curiosity.  When you think about it, we actually begin to teach safety at a very early age, perhaps as early as crawling when baby is able to access numerous objects to taste and explore, with the ever present danger of swallowing.  We start with the ‘no no’ and numerous other methods of making the object unattractive to the baby but surely there are an endless number of effective solutions that you, as a parent, have employed successfully.

And so we teach the child boundaries such as property lines, child gates and timeouts when they attempt to cross those barriers.  Whatever the methods we employ, nothing replaces caution like supervision.  It is when the child is old enough to interact with others at playgrounds, playschool, parks and any other venue they find themselves in, that parental or caregiver supervision is paramount.

The important overview here is that all children require street proofing and here are some of the tips that I have learned over the years:

• Always remember that rules and boundaries will never replace active supervision.

• Never leave your child unattended in a car or at any location out of your sight.

• Teach your child to never talk to strangers or take any gifts from them, e.g. candy.

• Teach your child what figures are actually safe to talk to e.g. other children, teachers, police officers, firemen.

• Instruct your child to report suspicious advances to the nearest authority figure such as a teacher.

• Teach your child how to dial 911 and never to do it unless someone is ill or injured and no other adult is nearby.

• Always know who your children play with and make the effort to meet their parents.

• Instruct your child to report every incident of bullying to the school office and parents.  By dealing with each situation immediately, the offender will quickly get the picture.

• Accompany your children to and from school and to all other locations.

• Do practice runs and hypothetical scenarios to test your child’s response knowledge.

Keeping your children safe has never been so difficult, thanks to an increasing number of predators and bullies in our neighbourhoods.  Parents who are facing these threats every day must be creative in their teaching so as to educate but not unnecessarily frighten their kids.

Linda Hales Author

Linda Hales is the author of two great children’s books you might want to consider for your children or as a gift for someone you know–Sunshine and Andy- Roo . I got the book Sunshine for my grandchildren for last Christmas and they love it so much I’ll be getting Andy-Roo for next Christmas.

Sunshine

SUNSHINE
I’ll Make You Smile!
Sunshine is a dear little blond girl whose sole mission in life is to make sad people happy. She lives on a hilltop and interacts in strong and positive ways with characters and situations she encounters on the hillside.

Andy-Roo

ANDY-ROO
The Birthday Surprise!
Andy-Roo is a young puppy who grew long legs and feet, quite different from the other kids at the playground.  This book tells his story, especially how he overcame his differences and became a popular player in little league games.

You can take a closer look at Linda and her books at:   www.linnieslittlebooks.com

Don’t forget to let us know what you think about street proofing your kids by clicking on comments below. Maybe you have something to say that will help someone and make a difference.
Every helpful word has a waiting ear.

Have a great day!
: )