Safe Kids

A child dies from an unintentional injury every 30 seconds Safe Kids Worldwide is a global organization dedicated to preventing injuries in children. Their website has a wealth of information on how to keep kids safe. Safe Kids Worldwide has information on injuries, education and awareness programs, safety tips and how to get involved in your local Safety Kids Day. For more information visit, www.safekids.org.

Summer Water Safety

Now that it’s summer and the weather is heating up, a good way to cool down is to go for a swim! Whether it’s a pool, a lake, or splashing around with your toddler in the bathtub, kids love to engage in water play. However, water is a place where safety must come first. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children between 1 and 4 years old. It’s also the third leading cause of injury-related death among children 19 and under.

Here are a few tips directly from Safe Kids to make sure children are safe around water:

• Never leave a child unattended around water. We know it sounds strict, but there is no room for compromise on this one. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water.
• Put the cell phone away, forget about all the other things you have to do and give young children 100 percent of your attention when they are near or around water.
• Empty all tubs, buckets, containers and wading pools immediately after use. Store them upside down and out of children’s reach.
• Keep toilet lids closed and use toilet seat locks to prevent drowning. It’s also a good idea to keep doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed. 
• Parents have a million things to do, but learning CPR should be on the top of the list. It will give you tremendous peace of mind – and the more peace of mind you have as a parent, the better. 

For more information visit: http://www.safekids.org/watersafety.

Little Kids, Big Questions

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The National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families has developed a series of 12 podcasts titled Little Kids, Big Questions that addresses common and often challenging issues parents face when caring for their infant or toddler including picky eating, sleeping through the night, and problem behaviors. The series also highlights an infant’s amazing ability to comprehend and learn from interactions with their caregivers in the first three years of life that can influence their social-emotional development, the ability to develop self-control and self-esteem, and the development of healthy eating habits into adulthood. The podcast series is hosted by Ann Pleshette Murphy and each topic includes interviews with experts who help parents translate current research into their everyday lives. For more information and to download the podcast series, visit the ZERO TO THREE website.

Getting to Know Danna

My name is Danna Perdue-Melton and I am the new program coordinator for Help Me Grow Central Alabama. I received my Bachelor's of Science degree in Psychology and a Master’s of Education with a concentration in Community Agency Counseling. Help Me Grow is a program close to my heart because I can use my education and skills to support positive change in the lives of children and families. As a former early childhood educator of fifteen years and mental health associate, I have had the opportunity to work with families, children, and teens. I understand the importance of an enriching learning experience, quality care, and appropriate early intervention when delays are identified. I am very passionate about early intervention, and Help Me Grow allows me to provide care coordination for families and link them to child development and parenting information and community resources. I’m excited to be working with young children and families in Blount, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, and Walker counties. If you’re in one of those counties, dial 2-1-1 and ask for Help Me Grow. I’m happy to help and hope to hear from you soon!