Tip of the month

Tip of the Month: October 2010

Remember be safe (not Scared!) during October!

by Kim Estes

As October rolls in... so do lots of great activities to mark the beginning of the "holiday" season. Start off your fall with a brush up on your families safety rules. For some families, Halloween and trick or treating are part of their Fall celebrations. Here are some easy tips to make sure you keep your little ones safe, while having lots of fun!

Always use the buddy system when trick or treating.
Young kids need to be accompanied by a TRUSTED adult.
Know the homes of where your child will receive treats.
Demonstrate safety by approaching only well lit homes (inside and out).
Remind children to NEVER enter someone’s home without permission from their parents.
Older kids should have a set time to return home if they are trick or treating with friends.
Walk through your neighborhood with your kids during the day and plan your trick or treat route.
Discuss which homes are “safe houses” in case they need to seek assistance.
Remind older kids to stick to a designated route and to check in if anything changes in their plans.

More back to school safety tips.... from last month:

My Kid wants a cell phone this school year

(Safety tool or slick toy?)

By Kim Estes

At some point your child is going to ask (or perhaps skip right to begging) for a cell phone. Parents often want to know when (if ever) is the right time to allow a child to carry a cell phone. Of course each parent must weigh the pros and cons and ultimately decide if their child is ready and if the time is right. A cell phone can be a great way to stay connected with your child and can be used as a part of your safety plan with your child. Here are some considerations to think about when determining if your child should have a cell phone. Does your child:

Respect and show responsibility in keeping track of his/her belongings?
Walk home alone?
Plan on spending time home alone?
Babysit at other people’s homes?
Participate in after school activities where they'll have to coordinate rides home?
Often end up waiting for you because you are running late?
Respect the rules at school?

If you have answered “yes” to more than 5 of these questions… it may be time to think about a cell phone. Start simple! You do not have to get a phone with a full data plan. See what works for you and your child. You may find that texting is the way to go (or not!). Remind your kids not to give out their phone number or lend their phone to others. Talk about what your expectations are in regard to your family phone rules and also what the school rules are.

About the Author: Kim Estes is the co-founder of the non-profit organization: Parent Education And Child Empowerment (P.E.A.C.E of Mind) www.pomwa.org . Kim and her cohort in crime prevention, Sabrina Sessa, help liberate parents from fearful parenting! Through non fearful techniques and easy to apply parenting strategies they help empower families to be safe. Follow us onFacebook & Twitter for quick safety tweets!

Want to learn more about keeping your kids safe this school year? Does you PTA need materials for their newsletter or parent education speakers? We can help Check it out!

- All the best....Kim, Sabrina & Soosan!