Besides Halloween trick-or-treating, the fall brings plenty of fun, but also it’s fair share of unique safety hazards. These autumn safety tips can help to keep kids out of harm’s way.
Child Passenger Safety
To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements. Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12. Recommended car seats based on your child's age and size Rear-Facing Car Seat Birth-12 Months.
Link Here to find more information on choosing the right car seat and installation.
Early Childhood Connections is part of a South Dakota State program to provide free car seats to families on any form of State assistance. For information about acquiring a car seat from ECC, call 605-342-6464.
The colorful leaves that make a crisp sound when you walk on them are the first signs that autumn is around the corner. Kids enjoy jumping on piles of autumn leaves carefreely. But playing with those colorful leaves can up their risk of:
Scratches and injuries: Leaf piles can hide sticks and small rocks that might harm your child. Moreover, if the pile has been lying in the backyard since last week, it might hide bugs, spiders, frogs, or even snakes.
Mold exposure: Wet leaves gather harmful bacteria and mold. If your child is allergic to mold, leaves might trigger an allergic reaction.
Parasite exposure: Think about autumn leaves as homes to parasites that come from trees. Touching leaves or raking them means getting in contact with parasites. If the leaves are close to the woods there is a higher risk to be exposed to more parasites.
Looking for a fun activity for your kids to do when you’re raking the leaves? Make aleaf mazeor a leaf labyrinth for them to play in! It’s so simple to make but it provides hours of outdoor fun for toddlers and preschoolers.
Nighttime arrives more quickly during the fall. Kids still like to play outside on warm evenings. Be especially cautious with young children; they are still learning traffic safety and may inadvertently dart out into the street. Dress children in bright-colored clothing and sneakers, or apply reflective tape to clothing so drivers can easily spot kids.
Helmet Safety. Babies younger than 1 year old have weak neck structures and shouldn’t wear a helmet or travel on a bike. After a year old, toddlers can begin to ride tricycles and ride in seats or carts attached to an adult’s bicycle. Toddlers should wear a helmet every time they ride; their little brains need protection every, single time. The earlier you establish the habit, the more it will stick as the child gets older. Check out the video Helmets 101: A Parent's Guide
Flu Season ramps up in October. Kids are back in school, coughing and sneezing all over each other. Help protect your children from getting sick by teaching them to wash their hands often and to keep their hands away from their nose and mouth. Help them learn to cough into their elbow instead of their hand. And please keep them home if they are sick—their friends (and their parents) thank you. The CDC offers free printable posters that can be used to help raise awareness about handwashing in highly visible public areas, such as schools, child care center, and restrooms.Order for freevia CDC-Info on Demand.
For lesson plan ideas around books families receive from the Imagination Library go toBlack Hills Reads Resources. Each Book Stop features information about the book, discussion ideas and activities.
