We were very sad to receive this letter from Lisa Sewell of the Coweta County Car Seat Coalition and realize an error made on our part in the November issue of ParentLife. With her permission, we're printing her letter here so that you might learn more about car seat safety.
Hello, I am a nationally certified child passenger safety technician who assists law enforcement with car seat safety as a civilian volunteer. Part of my responsibility is toward educating the public. It is because of this that I noticed something that I see all too often and sadly costs children their lives. On page 24, I was shocked to see [a photo with] each of the three children using seat belts, when they should have been in either a car seat with a five-point harness, or a booster seat at the very least, judging from their size.
Seat belts kill and injure due to their positioning, which in this case is the neck (decapitation) and the belly (massive internal injuries). At times, the lap portion of the belt can go right through the child's abdomen, severing their spine. In our monthly car seat class we show a power point and video with images that show actual injuries to children's abdomen and internal organs. Most children are so uncomfortable riding this way that they take that seat belt and tuck it under their arm or behind their backs, further sealing their fates in a crash.
Kindly issue a warning in a future issue regarding the danger posed by the example of the children riding with seat belts only. In our state (GA) this is a ticketable offense in addition to the danger posed to the children. Every state has certified car seat techs through either local police, fire departments, hospitals, or Safe Kids coalitions. Many of us are volunteers with a passion for keeping kids safe. My passion for Christ makes this a ministry effort since I am sharing the love of Jesus in helping families via car seat safety.
To help prevent the spread of germs, handwashing is key. Unfortunately, while many children and adults think they know how to properly wash their hands, arguably most probably haven’t been taught the best method.
During a demonstration at NSF International’s laboratories in Michigan, children were asked to apply a special glowing lotion to their hands before washing their hands. Once the children washed up, they placed their hands under a blacklight, and “problem spots” glowed, showing them what areas were missed while washing. The culprits: under the nails, between the fingers, and wrists.
To make sure these locations are not missed when you or your kids wash their hands, follow these simple steps: Wet your hands with warm water; lather your hands with soap; rub your hands together vigorously for 20 seconds, paying special attention to the nails, between the fingers, and wrists; rinse your hands with clean water; and dry your hands thoroughly with a hand dryer or paper towel.
Here are some ways to help make the process of handwashing fun for children:
Consider creating a handwashing chart at home that tracks each time your child washes his or her hands. Offer them a prize or reward after a designated certain time frame of good handwashing practices.
Take pictures of places germs live in your child's environment, such as on the dog (or its toy or dish) or doorknobs, and post them near sinks, on the refrigerator, or near your child’s handwashing chart. This will help remind them of when they need to wash their hands.
Have young children count to 10 twice while washing their hands to better understand the required 20 seconds.
Cook with your child, emphasizing the importance of washing your hands both before and after handling food.
Check out online sites like scrubclub.org for additional fun handwashing ideas.
Handwashing is important for food safety, disease prevention and personal health. Teaching ourselves and our children the proper way to wash their hands now can help keep us all healthier.
Thank you to Cheryl Luptowski, Consumer Affairs Officer at NSF International, for this information.
Truth in the Tinsel is the kind of resource we love to share in ParentLife: a 24-day Advent experience for preschoolers and young elementary-aged kids. Each day has a Scripture, a craft, questions, and an optional activity that relates to the "lesson."
Flowerpot Press’ Record-A-Story series lets your child enjoy a book read by a loved one who lives far away or is stationed overseas. The newest title in the series, by Frank Boylan, is called If. Simple buttons allow the reader to record the text of each page. To hear the story read aloud later, the child simply pushes the button that corresponds to the page number. Sentimental moments will happen when your child hears, “If I was there I would tell you I love you,” or “If I was there I would hug you, or laugh with you, or play games with you.”
If captures the spirit and voice of the very people who would most like to sit side by side and read a favorite book but are instead on two different sides of town or in different corners of the world. This is the perfect original story for grandparents who live far away, parents who travel on business frequently, aunts and uncles who live across the country, godparents who don’t get to see little ones often enough, or military parents serving their country. The fun format and touching story makes an amazing gift.
We have THREE copies of If to give away! Just answer this question in the comments: who would you give the book to if you won?
Winners will be chosen by random December 2, 2011. USA only. LifeWay empoyees are not eligible to win.
I'm excited to introduce Emily Freeman, author of Chatting at the Sky and the book Grace for the Good Girl. I truly enjoyed and was challenged by reading her book a few months ago. I hope you'll consider grabbing a copy after you read her words here.
I’ve been a good girl most of my life. If there was a rule, I followed it. If there was a rebellion, I avoided it. If I experienced heartache, pain, or brokenness, I did my best to hide it.
One of my great motivators as a good girl all those years was fear—fear of failure, of being wrong, of letting other people down or of disappointing God.
And so when a woman who is afraid of living becomes a mother, you can imagine all the things that can go wrong. I was a great mom until I had kids. But having kids smoked the crazy right out of me. All the ways I had worked hard to control life stopped working.
So for the tired good girl moms who just want to raise good kids? You will never be more free then when you give up your right to be good and to raise good kids.
I know that sounds extreme. But if you’re a good girl like I was, then chances are your definition of good is laced with nauseating pleasantries, strict spiritual disciplines, and a religious view of God. Might I invite you do a different way to parent?
Don’t confuse her behavior with her identity. This is of the biggest mistakes I make as a parent. It is so important to encourage our kids in their identity as individuals and in Christ rather than try to shame them into better behavior. It may be true that she is acting irresponsibly. But better to call the choice an irresponsible one or the behavior irresponsible rather than to say that she is irresponsible. The goal is to empower, not to shame.
Connect with her heart rather than manage her outcomes. Good girls like to check things off lists. But parenting can’t be put in an outline. My girls are only seven, but I’ve been a mama long enough to know that seven turns into seventeen all too quickly. And we can’t really control a bit of it. The sooner we trade our manager hat for the mystery of Christ, the better off we’ll be.
Be led by love rather than pushed by fear. Fear pushes me to make sure they don’t throw fits, to control and demand for the sake of my reputation. But love makes a different choice. Remember what Love did. Even though He knew they would choose the wrong one, God still put two trees in the Garden. He could have just put the one, guaranteeing they never messed up. But a choice with no opportunity for failure isn’t really a choice, is it?
Our children need our faith, not our anxiety. They need our confident love, not our hovering fear. But they also need to see our weakness and then watch what we do with it.
(Why yes, that is MY kid again. Which means we must REALLY need you to send in your pictures!)
Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!
Here's the second post in Becky Suggs' journal on being an expectant mom. Read the first installment if you missed it!
My husband and I prayed for a very long time to have a child. Throughout the process, God reminded me in His Word, “Consider it pure joy…when you face trials of many kinds.”
Month after month, test after test … one little pink line. Consider it pure joy …
Based on the job I had and the time it required during certain parts of the year, we knew timing was important. We decided to try one last time before we had to take a break with when the baby would most likely be due. Consider it pure joy …
God graciously heard our cries and answered our prayers. Such joy as we told some of those who had been praying alongside us.
On the day of our first prenatal doctor’s visit, my boss at the ministry we worked with asked to have lunch with my husband and me before we left for the day. Through that conversation, I learned in just a short month, my job would be eliminated, along with many of my fellow employees'. Consider it pure joy …
I wish I could say that first visit, hearing the heartbeat and seeing our precious baby, was a joyful one for me. While I was so thankful for the gift God had granted us, joy was not on the forefront of my mind. I was grieving over the ministry in which I had invested so much of my time and energy. Consider it pure joy …
While I’m still wondering what God is teaching me through all of this, I know His plans are perfect. Though it’s not going the way I planned, God has a way of doing things His way and in His timing. Through it all, this precious life inside of me has brought me incredible joy. I have a new job around the corner … and I’ve heard motherhood is one of the greatest professions there is!
Becky Suggs and her husband, Robert, live in the mountains of Glorieta, New Mexico, with their pug, Sadie. They are expecting their first child in April. In her spare time, you can find Becky reading, enjoying the great outdoors, filling in squares to the latest crossword puzzle, and spending time with family. She has a passion for both kids and camping ministries.
Our Growth Spurts articles in the November 2011 issue discuss what your baby might eat for Thanksgiving based on his or her age ... but what should you pack if you're traveling with a little one? The answer: you will probably pack WAY more than you need, but it's better to be safe than sorry!
Some items you will want to consider packing:
Portable crib. You may need to lay your baby down for a nap at Grandma’s house, or have a place for her to sleep at night.
Portable high chair. Baby will want to join the family at the table too.
Formula, baby food, bottles, snacks, and baby's utensils and bowls. Pack lots of extra, just in case Auntie’s kitchen is not set up to accommodate a baby.
Diapers, wipes, clothes. You can never pack too much!
What do you always forget to pack? I somehow manage to always pack way too much clothes for the kids and way too few items for myself. And I always, always forget baby shampoo!
Need a few books to read as you curl by the fire this late fall and winter? (We don't have a fireplace, but we do have a radiator. Does that count?) Here are a few to peruse on cold nights.
Nutrition: What Every Parent Needs to Know was just released in its second edition. The cohesive volume gives parents all the information and strategies they need to meet the dietary needs of children from birth through adolescence, as well as the facts about standards of weight and height. It allso addresses eating disorders and special dietary needs; alternative diets and supplements; allergies; and concerns over food safety.
If you can find a copy of this charming book in the next week or two, it's a great cuddle-up-and-learn read for your preschooler. Off to Plymouth Rock by Dandi Daley Mackall has engaging illustrations, fun rhymes, and is perfect for explaining to your young children about the first Thanksgiving.
If you are a historical fiction lover, Mine is the Night will make you swoon. it's a retelling of the biblical Book of Ruth, told by the exquisite Liz Curtis Higgs through the lens of 18th century Scotland. The Kerr women, tossed from a place of privilege and both their husbands gone, must readjust to life as commoners in the Naomi-figure's hometown. Intriguing, utterly delightful, and romantic. Just like Ruth!
If you were inspired by the movie Courageous, you might enjoy - and be moved by - The Resolution for Men. It's a challenge to step up as the leader of your household, marriage, and children.
What's on your bookshelf this fall and winter? Don't forget to enter our November Giveaway for a chance at adding Candace Cameron Bure's book, Reshaping It All, to your shelves!
Today’s date is unique - 11/11/11. Did you know it is supposedly a special “wish day”? Wishing is ingrained in our culture. We wish on birthday candles, falling stars, and even numbers.
As adults, we know inanimate objects cannot give us what we desire. But when a child hears a trusted relative say, “Blow out the candles and make a wish!” she may believe the wish will be granted. How can we explain the truth about wishing to our kids?
One way to debunk the wishing myth is to compare wishing and praying. To start a discussion with your children, ask questions like:
What is a wish?
Do you think candles can hear you making a wish?
Do candles have ears?
How can a star give you a new bike?
Ask similar questions about praying, such as:
What is a prayer?
Can God hear your prayers?
How do you know?
Does God answer every prayer?
Are wishes and prayers the same?
To help kids and parents with this discussion, I wrote a children’s book called A Wish and a Prayer. In the story, Jason loses his parakeet when it escapes out the window. He tries wishing to bring his pet home. Then one night during a thunderstorm, he discovers something better than wishing. This book is close to my heart because helping our children understand the truth about prayer is so important.
Forget wishing. Let’s make 11/11/11 the biggest “prayer day” ever!
Beth Bence Reinke holds a Bachelor's in biology & secondary education, a Master's in nutrition, and is a registered dietitian. She writes articles about food, health and nutrition for magazines and websites such as ParentLife, Smart and CBN.com and is the wellness columnist for Living Light News, a Canadian newspaper. Overall, Beth has written more than 120 articles and numerous devotionals for publication. Her latest assignment is writing for Adventure, a devotional magazine for 3rd & 4th graders from LifeWay.
Twins Alice and Elsie were 8 months old and already fighting over toys!
Thanks to proud great-aunt Joy F. for this sweet picture.
Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!
We always want to keep you up-to-date on the latest health and safety recommendations for your children, and SIDS is a doozy! There are many, many pieces of advice on how to help prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), including putting your baby on a firm surface, always putting him to sleep on his back, and avoiding overheating.
1. Infants should be breastfed when possible, because it has been shown to reduce cases of SIDS.
2. Infants should be immunized on schedule and go to all well-child visits.
3. Bumper pads should not be used at all. They can cause suffocation if an infant rolls against one and cannot roll away, or strangulation if the baby were to get caught in the pad's ties. Pediatricians assert that an infant cannot thrust himself against the rails of the cribs hard enough to harm himself.
In the past, bumper pads were often used to prevent babies crawling out from between crib slats and getting stuck; but in recent years the regulations have made it so the slats must be closer together.
To see a full list of the SIDS guidelines, you can visit HealthyChildren.org.
We are proud to have Dr. Linda Mintle in ParentLife each month answering questions submitted from readers. To submit a question for Dr. Mintle, e-mail it to parentlife@lifeway.com and include "? for Dr. Mintle" on the subject line. This month we have an extra Q&A from Dr. Mintle we wanted to share.
Q: My 11-year-old son is constantly on his cell phone, the computer, or his gaming system. He is becoming disrespectful and getting in trouble at school because of his media use. We have taken away his privileges but he seems worse. What would you advise?
A: Parenting is all about training and teaching. It works best when you teach your child to obey by giving instructions that are consistent and clearly stated.
Media use is a brave new world to navigate. Begin by clarifying your media usage rules. Remember kids should have no more than one to two hours of screen time per day! Once you determine the rules of usage, have a conversation with your son to establish those rules. You may even want to write up a contract so there is no room for interpretation. Then stick to your guidelines no matter his response.
Instead of taking away privileges, I would turn it around and make him earn them. His use of media is determined by how well he complies to the agreed-upon guidelines. Put the responsibility on him — his usage is up to him, not you. Reward behavior that is compliant and also reward behavior that is media-free. Praise him for compliance to the guidelines.
Most of us underestimate the power of praise and find ourselves focusing on the negative versus the positive. When parents make this shift in emphasis (from negative to positive), the atmosphere in the home changes. Children know they earn privileges rather than assuming they are entitled to them. The rules are clear and enforced. It is then up to kids to comply with established rules if they want to engage with media, rather than parents playing the bad guys who always take things away.
How do you deal with media usage in your household?
Your child can help prepare for the holidays this year! Give her some orange and brown crayons or colored pencils (or green and red for Christmas) and white construction paper or cardstock. She can draw on several pieces of paper.
When your child is done coloring, cover the drawing with clear contact plastic and use them as place mats or a table runner for your holiday table. (The clear plastic helps protect the drawings. You can use them on your table without the plastic, but the pictures cannot be cleaned afterward.)
What a wonderful opportunity to let your young child feel a part of the holiday celebrations! For older preschoolers, offer stickers, glitter glue, feathers, and tissue paper for additional decorating.
Two-year-old Megan displays her high fashion look while enjoying fruit kebabs.
Thanks Mandi H. for this picture!
Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!
Elmo? Really? Well, if you toddler is anything like mine, he or she probably LOVES Elmo. (Libbie is growing out of it a little bit at just 3, but a year ago I think Elmo could have convinced her of anything.)
Tomorrow, November 4th, is Sesame Street's official "Put Down the Pacifier Day." On their Web site, there is a plethora of tips and videos from Elmo. You may not be ready to force your child to quit the paci cold turkey tomorrow, but Elmo's ideas and tricks might help the process along.
In conjunction with the celebration, they've also released Bye-Bye, Pacifier: Big Kid Stories with Elmo on DVD. The DVD includes three short stories about growing-up topics: giving up the pacifier, riding a tricycle, and getting a haircut. Elmo deemphasizes fear and helps kids realize that being a big kid is not so bad. I especially liked the song about how Elmo gave up the paci so people could understand his words!
So, what do you think? Could Elmo help get that paci out of your little one's mouth?
Are you like me: totally scatterbrained and forever forgetting what you were going to do? Do you make lists and lose them? Or maybe you have a college kid or have gone back to school and would really like to hear those lectures one more time while studying for exams.
Enter Mikey. Mikey is a recording device that connects directly to your iPhone or iPod. With seven positions and a large turning range, you can record up to 50 feet away.
I can think of a ton of uses for a product like this! I could record my lists while driving or right before bed, when I have all the good ideas. You could record piano music to practice for your church choir solo. And of course, recording lectures is always excellent in case you need to refer back to them.
Mikey's suggested retail price is $79, but right this second it's only $39 over at Amazon. A steal, and it would make a great Christmas gift for your college student or frazzled friend!
We received a MIkey to review. All opinions are our own and no other compensation was received.
Do you remember the episode of Full House where DJ is convinced she has to go on a crash diet for Kimmy's birthday pool party? Preteen DJ refuses to eat, goes nuts at the gym, and ends up collapsing on the fitness center's floor. (While Danny, Uncle Jesse, and Joey flirt through a women's aerobics class and look foolish, of course.)
OK, so maybe you haven't seen every episode of Full House 43 times like I have. But many others have as well, and little DJ still has a big fan club. Candace Cameron Bure is now a mother of three and has released her first book, Reshaping It All, to great acclaim.
Candace is in the best shape of her life with no trainer, no nanny and no chef after battling eating disorders.
In the book, Candace talks about:
her never-before-discussed battle with food addiction, and the effect that it had on her childhood acting career as well as her life as a wife and mother.
the power of spiritual health in making it possible to achieve physical health.
tips to help overcome the temptations of overeating and living a sedentary lifestyle.
practical advice for choosing healthier food options and becoming motivated to be more active.
guidance for maintaining a lifelong healthy outlook and avoiding the pitfalls of yo-yo dieting.
fast and easy recipes from her own kitchen.
Reshaping It All is a motivational tool to put readers on the right track toward a better physical and spiritual fitness regimen that really lasts. In addition to practical advice and fun stories, Candace offers a biblical perspective on appetite and self-control.
For our November giveaway, we have two copies of Reshaping It All for our ParentLife Online readers! To enter, leave a comment on this entry answering this question: What is your favorite TV show to watch in reruns?
If you are a historical fiction lover, 
Today’s date is unique - 11/11/11. Did you know it is supposedly a special “wish day”? Wishing is ingrained in our culture. We wish on birthday candles, falling stars, and even numbers.
Thanks to proud great-aunt Joy F. for this sweet picture.
Thanks Mandi H. for this picture!
In conjunction with the celebration, they've also released 
Enter Mikey. Mikey is a recording device that connects directly to your iPhone or iPod. With seven positions and a large turning range, you can record up to 50 feet away.
Do you remember the episode of Full House where DJ is convinced she has to go on a crash diet for Kimmy's birthday pool party? Preteen DJ refuses to eat, goes nuts at the gym, and ends up collapsing on the fitness center's floor. (While Danny, Uncle Jesse, and Joey flirt through a women's aerobics class and look foolish, of course.)
