What Should You Do if You See A Lost Child?

By LA Ferguson

Parents, guardians, and adults who care for children face constant challenges when trying to help keep children safer in today's fast-paced world. 

For decades, children were taught to stay away from strangers "strangers danger." But this concept is difficult for children to grasp and often the perpetrator is someone the child knows. It is more beneficial to help build children's confidence and teach them to respond to a potentially dangerous situation, rather than teaching them to look out for a particular type of person.

What Should You Do if You See A Child Who Appears To Be Lost? 

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children encourages people to be alert and report suspicious situations regarding missing children and children who appear to be lost. Children should be taught to seek out trusted adults if they become separated and need assistance. These trusted adults include a uniformed law-enforcement or security officer, store salesperson with a name tag, person with a name tag who is working at the information booth, or mother with children.

1. Don’t be afraid to get involved.

2. Comfort the child but use restraint in physically touching  the child.

3. If the child is able to speak, ask if he or she is lost or knows the location of his or her parent/guardian.

4. Refrain from requesting too much personal information since children are taught not to give out this information to people they don’t know.

5. If you have a cellular telephone, contact authorities and report the incident.

6. Try to find someone nearby in a position of authority who may be able to assist.

7. Do not take the child from the immediate location.

8. Do not put the child in your vehicle and drive off seeking help.

9. Ask passers-by to assist.

10. Wait with the child until help arrives.

NCMEC is the nation's resource center for protecting children. They're prevention and safety education programs and materials contain information and tips that will help you keep your children safer.

Thanksgiving - Fun Craft Ideas for Kids

Paper Bag Turkey  - UNIQUE Centerpiece 

I saw this great idea on Martha Stewart's show provided by the cleaver ladies at 
One Charming Party It's great as a centerpiece or just something fun for the kids to do. Be sure to include an older child or an adult in this project. 

1. 4 bags of popcorn, a large plain brown bag, but if you can only find one with writing on the outside, turn the bag inside out
2. 2 small brown lunch bags
3. 2 plastic bags that fit inside brown bags
4. hot glue gun
5. safety scissors
6. 8 1/2 x 11 white paper for the frills  

Directions:

1. For the cute little white frilly things around the feet. Take the sheet of white paper and cut it in half - lengthwise. Fold the paper in half - lengthwise and make small cuts with a pair of scissors on the folded half to create loops.

2. To make the drumsticks, fill the plastic bags with popcorn. Then place the plastic bags inside the brown bags. Gather up the bottom of the bag and twist to keep it tight. While still holding the bottom of the bag, mold to make the bag a more round turkey leg shape.

3. Once it looks good, grab one of the frilly things and start wrapping it around the twisted end of your lunch bag. Now repeat for the other lunch bag. While the drumsticks cool.

3. Work on the main bag, open bag and fill with all or most of the bags of popcorn. Use parchment or wax paper to line the paper bag to avoid grease marks if using buttered popcorn. Fold  the sides of the bag to create a triangle shape, then hot glue the shape closed. Be sure to place glue on the inside of the bag edge and the outside. Repeat on other side. Fold down the middle opening and hot glue close. Make sure to hold securely until it is completely closed. Do the same thing as the drumstick to make the corners rounded. 

4. Hot glue the legs onto the sides of the turkey.

I've added this video to help you along.
Martha Stewart's - One Charming Party Video

Have Fun and Happy Thanksgiving!

Cell Phones - A Simple Convenience that Can Lead to Problems

By LA Ferguson

58% of 12-year-olds have a cell phone. Does this mean that your child should have one? Instead of worrying about the “appropriate age,” focus on the needs of your child and your family. 

Does your child need an easy way to contact you? Do you trust him or her to be responsible with a cell phone? Have you set clear guidelines for the use of mobile devices? Considering these factors, rather than your child’s age, will help you choose what is right for your family.

When you think about your children’s online activities, do you consider their cell phones? They have evolved from simple communication devices to mobile, miniature computers. For example, smartphones have operating systems similar to that of computers which allow users to download programs or “apps.”

These apps help users do things like access e-mail and play games. Also, most cell phones allow users to download and upload content from the Internet just as they would on a computer. However, cell phones can be more difficult to monitor than a computer, and children often use them without adult supervision. Make sure to review your family’s Internet safety rules with your children and become aware of the following risks before allowing them to own cell phones

Making Cyberbullying More Painful

Cell phones make it easy for children to communicate with their friends, but they also make them vulnerable to cyberbullying. Cell phones can be used at anytime and anywhere, giving cyberbullies unlimited access to their victims. Children may send and receive mean-spirited phone calls, texts, and pictures at any hour.

Playing a Role in Grooming
 
Predators also know and take advantage of the fact that cell phones let them talk with their victims at any time. They are also aware that parents and guardians often forget to monitor children’s cell phones.

Predators may send children cell phones and ask them to keep the phones a secret. They can then talk to and exchange text messages and pictures with children without close monitoring by parents and guardians. Others may ask children for their cell phone numbers after meeting them online or try to connect with willing children by sending texts to random numbers.

Sexting Made Easy

“Sexting” is a term used to describe the sending of sexually explicit text messages or pictures of minors by minors. What most young people do not realize is that the production, possession, and distribution of explicit photos of minors, even if they are self-produced, may be illegal. Furthermore, if these explicit photos end up on the Internet, children may be taunted by their peers and jeopardize scholastic, athletic, and employment opportunities. 

Unintentional Sharing of Geolocation Data

Most smartphones have GPS technology which allows the user’s precise location to be pinpointed by apps and on websites. Social networking sites such as Twitter, FourSquare and Facebook take advantage of this technology by encouraging their users to “check-in” or share their locations. 

A “check-in” can be shared with a list of friends, so make sure you know who is on your child’s friends list before allowing them to use this type of technology. Children also may share their locations unintentionally through pictures taken with their smartphones; these photos often have geolocation data embedded in them. 

Consider disabling the location services on smartphones before allowing children to post photos online. Stay involved to maintain your child's safety.