CAREABOUTKIDS

PARENTS: Healthy weight: It's one thing to think about the national epidemic of obesity, but as a parent, what can you do about it? The two main ways to encourage and maintain a healthy weight and prevent overweight are to make smart food choices and to be physically active. MY WORD: Parents are the child's most important role model everyday in every way.

CAREABOUTKIDS

PARENTS: Safety around the house. Never leave a container such as a bucket with even a small amount of liquid unattended. When finished using a container, empty it immediately. Do not leave empty containers outside in the yard or around the house where they may accumulate water and attract young children ; other items that contain liquids that may be hazardous are sinks, coolers, fish tanks, and landscape ponds.MY WORD: Water in any capacity is dangerous around young children.

CAREABOUTKIDS

PARENTS: Window guards and safety netting for balconies and decks can help prevent serious falls. Check these safety devices frequently to make sure they are secure and properly installed and maintained. There should be no more than four inches between the bars of the window guard. If you have window guards, be sure at least one window in each room can be easily used for escape in a fire. Window screens are not effective for preventing children from falling out of windows. MY WORD: Always think about the possibility that a child can suddenly decide to do something the child wasn't capable of in the past.

CAREABOUTKIDS

PARENTS: Bath safety: Never leave a child unattended while filling the bathtub and always empty bath water immediatley after use. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water. Test temperature with your elbow or thermometer. Temperature should be between 90 and 100 degrees fahrenheit. Consider placing a latch on the bathroom door to keep children out of the bathroom when unsupervised.Keep the toilet lid down to prevent access to the water and consider using a toilet seat lock to stop children from opening the lid. MY WORD water at this time of the year and all year in all circumstances is very dangerous for children.