Family Engagement Specialists

Welcome to our blog! We are passionate about empowering parents and educators with the knowledge and strategies to boost and sustain family engagement goals. Our products and services are currently in 48 states and Puerto Rico and New Zealand. All products are available in Spanish. When schools and communities connect, students succeed.


Friday, September 13, 2013

September is National Child Safety Month - Child Proof Your Home


September is National Child Safety Month. This will be the perfect time to check around your home for potential safety hazards. You can begin by “viewing your home” from the eye level of your child by getting down on the floor and taking a “crawling tour” of your home. By seeing what your child sees everyday will give you a better perspective of potential safety hazards for your child. Making a home safe for children is a critical task for any parent of young children. You will want to look for sharp corners on tables, electrical cords and sockets, and cleaning supplies that could be poisonous for your child.

As you take your tour of your home on your knees, think about how many places your child will end up in the course of the next three years. Sooner or later, your child will find his way to every corner of every room in your home. The more remote the corner, the more likely it will be out of your sight but directly in the sight of your toddler. A book shelf looks like a good place to climb but could be very dangerous for a young child and topple over on him. Table cloths look like something to pull on or to tug on but whatever is on that table will fall onto the child. These are things that grown-ups don’t think about as being a safety hazard, but remember you are looking for trouble spots at your child’s “eye level”.

One of the most common causes of child death is choking. Smaller objects must be kept where your child cannot reach. Remove small objects from tables, floors, and areas your child can reach until he is over three years of age. Brittle, breakable and chewable food items are also dangerous at this age as they too can become a choking hazard. Another frequent cause of child death is strangulation from cords on lamps, TVs, computers, or curtains. The best ways to prevent cords from getting wrapped around your child is to shorten them to no more than 6 inches or to tie them up out of reach of your child.

No child under the age of three should be left unattended and free to wander the house for even as little as five minutes. No matter how careful you have been in baby proofing your home, your child can find the one thing you left undone. Be cautious around radiators, fireplaces, and wood burning stoves, as well as, around buckets of water or tubs. You can give your child more freedom to move around your home if you follow the suggested safety precautions and monitor your child as much as possible. It is impossible to prevent all accidents and falls of small children but being mindful of the areas your child will be crawling or walking into will help to monitor potential trouble spots. Have fun with your little one and enjoy these early years watching him grow and learn about his world.

Home Safety Tips for Parents in the Fall

Now that summer is coming to an end, families are thinking about getting their home safe for autumn. Autumn can be an enjoyable time of the year with holidays approaching and colorful changes in the foliage. But it is time to think about the possible hazards around your home that need to be addressed so your family and neighbors will be safe in your yard and in your home.

When the leaves begin to fall from the trees, the hard work begins to remove them from the sidewalk and yard; don’t forget the porch steps and porch itself. If the leaves become wet from a rain shower, they can become slippery and pose a safety hazard. Consider helping older family members up and down the outside steps and walking along wet sidewalks to help prevent injuries.

Raking leaves is a chore that children can have some fun with as they help to clear the yard but you will want to remember the safety rules to keep everyone safe.
1. Wear lace-up shoes and socks to protect your feet and legs.
2. Wear gloves to protect against splinters and blisters when handling the rake.
3. Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from blowing debris from the falling leaves.
4. Lift heavy bags with care by using your legs to lift rather than bending your back.

Another point to remember as fall approaches, natural daylight is shorter in the evenings. When the sun was setting at 9:00 PM in the summer, it is now very dark at that hour. So for safety with your family, carry a flashlight in your car in case of an emergency and carry a small flashlight with you at all times. It would be helpful to leave a porch light on or have a night light plugged in near the sidewalk or porch steps. By planning ahead with these safety tips, you will keep your family free from accidental falls or injuries.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Children's Safety Tips for School

The start of the school year is full of exciting new experiences for your school age child. It is also an opportunity for your child to discover new dangers. As a parent, you will want to make sure that your children know that the rules you enforce at home are also to be applied in school; along with addition safety rules that the teacher may announce. The number one rule you will want your child to put into practice is: if he/she feels threatened or unsafe, always seek out a trusted adult (teacher, parent, family member, principal, guidance counselor) to whom he/she will discuss any worries or concerns.

Here are a few tips to consider for guidelines for your child’s safety at school:

1. Classroom rules: children should pay close attention to all classroom rules that the teacher announces or posts. As a parent, explain to your child the importance of following safety rules at school. The school rules are designed to keep all children safe and should be supported by the home. Parents and teachers need to become partners in keeping children safe at school and supporting the school rules is a good place to begin this positive collaboration.

2. School Bus Safety: Traveling to and from school requires students to follow special safety guidelines on the bus. Students should remain in their seats while the bus is moving. They should avoid throwing items or placing their arms or heads out of the windows. When boarding the bus and waiting or exiting at the bus stop, students should avoid running and shoving each other. Always cross in front of the stopped bus when the driver can see that it is safe for students to cross the road. Talk to your child about the importance of being quiet on the bus and to listen carefully to the bus driver’s directions. Stress the importance of school bus safety so your child can commute to and from school safely.

3. Avoid Physical Confrontations: Teach your child not to get into a physical fight with another child. Instead, he/she should find the teacher or another trusted adult and ask for assistance in settling the argument. If another child asks your child to do something he/she feels uncomfortable doing, he should alert an adult or teacher immediately. Teaching your child to talk things out with an adult present can teach him/her that arguments can be settled without physical confrontations.

These three tips will help to keep your child safe at school. Remember to communicate with your child’s teacher if you have any concerns about your child’s safety on the school bus or at school. Building a strong relationship with the school will bring a positive influence on your child’s success during the school year; so don’t hesitate to talk with the teachers, principal, or guidance counselor when you have questions or concerns about your child’s safety or academic progress.