Another Dimension: The KamloopsParents.Com Directory

Sep 03 2010

Posted by Elizabeth as One Parents Perspective, Ongoing Events, Parenting Resources, What's Going on in Kamloops

I’m thrilled that so many of you enjoy the crafts and recipes and other great things that are shared, here, on KamloopsParents.Com. I’t’s awesome to get to meet many of you, in person, at different events and activities throughout the city. It’s great to see families getting out and getting involved with the parenting community! I am always happy to post family-friendly events on the site so that other families can get ideas of what to do with their kids.

Did you know that there is another dimension to KamloopsParents.com? Have you checked out our directory? Over there, on the far right, there is a link that you should look at. There are numerous pages of family-friendly businesses and activities as well as different resources for play groups, hobby groups, interest groups, and a directory of parents working from home. Need a local photographer? Need ideas for a birthday party? Check out the site! I’m always working at updating the directory so if you know of something that needs to be added, or something that isn’t correct, just let me know!

If you or someone you know runs a family-friendly business or works from home and you would like to spread the word on KamloopsParents.Com, just let me know! You can e-mail me at elizabeth@kamloopsparents.com and we can arrange to get you promoted through the site. The business directory features free business listings and a number of affordable advertising packages on six month terms.

If you have any questions, just send them my way. If you want to get involved with KamloopsParents.Com, there are lots of ways you can! I accept guest submissions and articles, anytime. Reviews and Craft and Recipe Ideas are always welcome, too! Do you want to be a fitness-feature parent? Just e-mail me!

Well, did you go look yet?

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Lunch Lunch Lunch: Kidz (are at school, so not) in the Kitchen

Sep 01 2010

Posted by Elizabeth as Adventures in Parenting, Kidz In The Kitchen, One Parents Perspective

Lunch, lunch, lunch…. do you ever get that?

Where if you say a word enough times you can’t even figure out what you are saying? I mean, who thought of that word… “lunch!” It’s just weird, isn’t it. Anyhow, weird or not, this has been on my mind a lot lately.

Back to school means that the kids are out of the house for lunch. I’ve heard it over and over… how do you keep lunches interesting and fun for your child, so that they actually eat it for the entire school year? Well, as a rookie-school-aged-child parent, I don’t know. I don’t know how to do it and still manage to balance everything else. I don’t know how to do it in the amount of time I have set aside to make lunches (read: very little, I’m sure). So, as I stumble my way through and try and figure it out, I will probably share some ideas with you.

Until then… here are some sources of inspiration for me:

Healthy Kid Lunch Box Ideas

Creative Lunch Recipes

Lunch List

Yummy Lunches

School Lunch Tips and Tricks

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Who Says You Need A Plan?: Crafting With Kids

Aug 31 2010

Posted by Elizabeth as Adventures in Parenting, Kidz In The Kitchen, One Parents Perspective

There are always great craft ideas to find online, when I need a little inspiration. But, sometimes, it’s just enough to give the kids a word and let them go with the materials I have on hand. ”Rocket” (enough said, for my five-year-old son) ”Pony” (my nearly-3-year-old is all over it).

We always have a good stock of dollar-store items on hand. Glue sticks and white glue, tape, feathers, googly eyes, cardboard, construction paper, funky scissors, popsicle sticks and foam sheets are just a few and provide a good base to add personality to any creation.

Kamloops’ city curbside recycling program is a fantastic thing for the environment. I love it. I smile and say “yessss” every time I see the garbage/recycling truck bins my bins. It’s SO nice to have the stuff off my hands but also makes me feel good to know that I have done my part by filling my recycling bin more than my garbage bin. I also love how it also gives me one place to look when I need a little bit of… ummm.. “junk” for the kids to work with. Cardboard? Usually. A little plastic? Yep. Soup cans? Definitely. Milk jugs? Ummm, of course. If there is something that looks particularly useful, I tend to set it aside in my “To Create” bin. Sooner or later we will get to it.

If I feel like letting the kids go wild I can just tip the bin for a few seconds and get some high-quality imagination-motivation for my little ones. And, the more I get in there with them… the less I mind the cleanup (because it’s my mess, too).

We have a designated craft space in our house. It’s a bit of a disaster at the moment.

But I like it that way.

What have you been crafting? We had friends come over with toilet paper rolls and we made some awesome things out of toilet paper rolls, feathers, googly eyes and foam. What fun! I even got to make the tp roll flowers that I had been ogling as a decoration for my bathroom. Get ready for the toilet paper roll challenge, coming in September!! Check out the next newsletter (Sept 1st) for more details!!

What’s your latest recyclable creation? Care to share it? I’m looking for guest contributors with craft and cooking ideas, so if you want to get involved, just drop an e-mail to elizabeth@kamloopsparents.com

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Mommy’s Wellness and Nutrition Challenge

Aug 26 2010

Posted by Elizabeth as Event Calendar, Fitness for your Family, Fitting in Fitness

September 9, 2010
10:00 am	to	11:30 am

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Car Seat Safety: Traveling with the most precious cargo

Aug 26 2010

Posted by Guest as Adventures in Parenting, One Parents Perspective, Ongoing Events, Parenting Resources, Safety First

Melissa Carlin is a certified CPST (Child Passenger Seat Technician) and also a mother of three gorgeous gals, here in Kamloops. Melissa is passionate about car seat safety and shares a little bit of her knowledge on Child Passenger Safety with us, today. If you have any questions about Car Seat Safety, you can contact her at Lizzie Bits Baby Co (250-374-8706).

Please take the time to ensure that you read up on Car Seat Safety. Keep your kids safe on the road!

Child Passenger Safety… let’s start with the basics!

Fact #1. Motor vehicle collisions are a leading cause of injury and death of children in Canada.

Fact #2. It is estimated that well over half of infant and child car seats are not installed/used correctly

The changes to the BC Child Safety Seat Regulations, effective July 1, 2008, were intended to reduce the incidence of injury and death of children in crashes. It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure all passengers under age 16 are restrained appropriately. Do you know the laws?

Up to one year AND 9 kg (20 lb.)

- Rear-facing child car seat

- NOT on a front seat with an active air bag

Over one year AND 9 kg to 18 kg (20 to 40 lb.)

-Forward-facing child car seat

-May remain rear-facing if allowed by manufacturer’s weight limit

Over 18 kg (40 lb.) until 9th birthday unless they have reached 145 cm (4’9”) in height

-Booster seat and a lap/shoulder seat belt

-May remain in a forward-facing child car seat if allowed my the manufacturer’s weight limit

-If no lap/shoulder seat belt, must be secured without a booster seat by a lap belt

Over 9 years old

-Seat belts must always be used correctly to ensure your child is safe

- The back seat is the safest place

- Always choose a position in your vehicle with a combined lap and shoulder belt and a head rest

There are lots of common questions about Child Car Seat Safety. Here are a few answers.

“I always hear that I am supposed to keep my child rear-facing. Why?”
Studies show that toddlers up to the age of 2 are more than 5 times safer riding rear-facing! There are many seats available now with rear-facing limits of 35, 40 and even as high as 45 lbs. A rear-facing seat is outgrown when the rear-facing weight limit is reached OR when there is less than 1 inch of car seat shell above the child’s head, whichever comes first.

When children outgrow rear-facing, they then move to a forward-facing child seat. The majority of seats now will harness to between 50 and 65 lbs, and there many with very high-top harness slots to keep tall kids harnessed, so there is no rush to move your child to a booster when they hit 40 lbs (which is the minimum weight by law to use a booster seat). Forward-facing car seats are outgrown when the weight limit is reached OR when the child’s shoulders are above the top harness slot OR when the middle of their ears are even with the top of the child seat. Most children are not ready to sit in a booster full time until the are 5-6 years old. Before you move your child from a harnessed seat to a booster ask yourself a few questions. Will your child be able to sit up straight the whole car ride, keep the shoulder belt positioned correctly, and leave the seat belt alone for the entire car ride?

“Can you tell me a little bit more about booster seats?”
Booster seats are meant to boost the child up so that an adult seat belt fits them properly. They can only be used with a shoulder and lap belt combo. Without a booster seat, the lap belt portion will be too high up on the child’s abdomen instead of across their hips where it should be positioned, which can cause serious internal injuries in a collision. The shoulder belt will cut across their neck, which often causes the child to place the belt behind their arm or back, leaving them poorly restrained by a lap belt only.

Before you decide that your child is ready to use a seat belt only, try this test to see if they are really ready.

The 5 step test:

1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?

2. Do the child’s knees bend comfortable at the edge of the auto seat?

3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?

4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?

5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

If you answered no to any of these questions your child needs to remain in a booster seat for safety!

And a few last things to remember…

Avoid common mistakes!

Make sure the harness is snug – no more than 2 fingers can fit between the harness and the child’s collarbone

Position the chest clip at armpit level

Make sure the harness is in the right slot. BELOW the shoulders for rear-facing, ABOVE the shoulders for forward-facing

Secure the tether strap

Make sure there is less than 1 inch of movement at the belt path for installed car seats

Make sure boostered children do not put the shoulder belt behind their back or under their arm

Put children under 12 years old in the back seat

Do not move child the next stage of child seats too soon!

Are you interested in having your seat(s) checked by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician? Lizzie Bits Baby Co. runs monthly car seat checks at the store and offers checks by appointment as well. Call 250-374-8706 to book an appointment or visit www.lizziebaby.ca for more information.

Safe travels!