Medical ID Kits (good for grown-ups too!)

12/2002

Hello and welcome to my first edition of the Little Kidz Co. Chatter. This is a monthly newsletter that will “chat” about, well everything. Whatever I find helpful, interesting or fun I will share with you each month.

The newsletter is free (just us moms helping one another out). That being said, if you have an idea, a solution to a problem, craft project, poetry or stories about being a mom, or anything else you think other moms may find interesting please submit your piece to our editor at drago1943@aol.com. Your name may appear in print!!!

Well it’s summer. The days are long and the weather is hot. There are sticky fingers, skinned knees, splashes of cool water and the air is infused with the music of carefree belly laughs and giggles coming from your children. Also, it is the season for vacations, beach fun and carnivals or fairs. With so much to do and see children are often not mindful of their surroundings and can become easily disoriented and lost at many public settings.

When your child becomes lost even a few minutes can seem like a lifetime, and the longer they are gone the more danger they face. Often when children are faced with such stress they forget the very information we, as parents, have tried to make them memorize (phone number, address, even parent’s name, etc.). It is essential to shorten the time your child is lost. Following are some tips to help locate your child without delay.

Calm Down – Panicking is not going to help find your child. It may even slow down your search

Secure Siblings – If you have other children with you find a trustworthy adult to watch them.

Use Your Voice – Your lost child may not be able to see you in a crowd but may be able to hear you. Call out to them.

Get Help – Notify a security guard, store manager, lifeguard or other employee. Give them a detailed description of your child including what they were wearing and where you saw them last.

Look Actively – Try to retrace your steps back to where you last remember seeing your child. Be sure to check places like exits, food courts and bathrooms.

Call The Police - If your child is not found in a few minutes contact the police for their help.

There are ways to improve the odds that your child will be found quickly if lost:

Dress your child in bright, easy to spot clothing.
Keep a recent photo of your child in your wallet.
Carry a detailed written description of your child including height, weight, hair and eye color, birthmarks, etc.
Make sure your child has identification. Check out our line of identification items at www.littlekidzco.com.

Please, parents, plan ahead. We all say something to the effect of bad things only happen to other people, or I am a good parent, it won’t happen to my child. However, consider the following. It only takes a few seconds for a parent to be tending to a sibling and the other child wonders off to the next exhibit and becomes disoriented and lost. Or you thought your spouse was watching over them and he thought you had them. Now where are you? Plan to protect your little ones.

Portions of this article were adapted from “How To Find A Lost Child, A Step-by Step Guide, by Betsy Rubiner.

Is the phrase, “Mom, I’m bored,” ringing in your ears yet? Try giving your children one of these ideas the next time one of them utters this all too familiar mantra.

For children ages 4 and up

Look for insects and then draw them.
Have them go outside, close their eyes and listen. Ask them to tell you what they hear.
Have them tell you what they see when they look at the clouds (ex. Shapes, animals, etc.).
Draw on the sidewalk with chalk.
Have a picnic lunch.

For children ages 6 to 12

Have a toy rummage sale.
Decorate a small clay pot and plant flower seeds.
Send sunshine cards. – Place flowers or leaves on colored construction paper and leave them in the sun. The next day the outlines of the plants will be printed on the paper. Fold in half and make into greeting cards to send to friends.
Be a summer author. – Encourage them to keep a journal and pen by their bed. Write about daily activities. This will help with that first essay paper when they return to school. The one entitled, “What did I do this summer.”
Start a travel scrapbook. – Collect postcards, transportation tickets, pictures and other novelty items during your trip. Have the children arrange all of these items in a scrapbook and write a short story about what they were doing or feeling during the vacation.

Recipe of the month

This thirst-quenching cooler is a healthy alternative to a sugary snack for kids. It also takes advantage of the summer’s harvest. Enjoy!

6 to 8 ice cubes
½ cup cubed cantaloupe
½ cup pineapple chucks
½ cup cranberry juice
¼ cup sliced banana
¼ cup pineapple juice
1 tbsp honey
¾ tsp lemon juice
¼ teaspoon grated lemon peel

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor; cover and blend until smooth. Yields 2 to 3 servings. Remember honey is not recommended for children under the age of two years old.

Time for Mom!

When us moms have so many demands on our time, it is easy to forget about finding joy in our everyday life. Working mothers, in particular, are often so busy with the daily responsibilities of caring for a family and managing a career that many daily joys go unnoticed.

This month try the following:

Make an effort to be aware of everyday joyful moments. Then make a list of the everyday things that bring joy to you. Reflect back on that list when you are feeling overwhelmed.

Until next month Moms; enjoy the cooler weather, the belly laughter and the sticky ice cream kisses.