"The Power of Town & Gown"

In his latest post, Dr. Paul Dworkin, founder of Help Me Grow and Director of the Help Me Grow National Center, has updated his blog regarding Help Me Grow Western New York and the College of Education of Niagara University. This is the first time a higher education institution is serving as the organizing entity for a Help Me Grow affiliate. In Alabama, Help Me Grow is organized under the Alabama Partnership for Children and throughout the country, Help Me Grow affiliates are associated with various nonprofits, state departments, and health providers.

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Read more to learn about this "inspiring example of strengthening town-gown ties in support of childhood system building."

Safety for Children

Newborns quickly progress from infant to toddler and it’s important to provide a safe environment for them to thrive. Watching young children learn and grow is very exciting, but several precautions should be taken to avoid common, but often dangerous accidents. The National Safety Council has assembled a quick list of tips to avoid suffocation, choking, falls, burns, and drowning. To help keep a curious child explore safely, consider these tips:

-         Infants should always sleep on their backs, and never on soft surfaces like comforters or pillows, or with large stuffed animals or toys.

-         Keep floors swept and vacuumed – infants and toddlers have an amazing ability to find tiny objects that could be choking hazards! Also, don’t allow any child to eat or suck on any hard food while lying down.

-         Keep cords and wires out of walking and crawling paths to prevent children from tripping on or becoming tangled in electronics.

-         Never leave a child unattended with a burning cigarette, candle, or any type of open flame.

-         Never leave a child unattended in a bathtub or near a pool or body of water. Entrances to bathrooms, pools, and other bodies of water should be securely closed when not in use.

For more a more thorough list with other ideas, download this PDF.