Here is the Roman numeral for nine: IX
By adding only one line or symbol, how can you turn it into six?
Add an “S.” SIX
No You May NOT Wait in the Car
Have your children ever asked you if they could just wait in the car while you run into the bank, grocery store or post office? Though it may seem like a short trip where kids would be safe, they may not be.
In keeping with our posts about summer health and safety, I thought I would touch on another very tragic, but preventable, circumstance surrounding cars and children. It was the first very hot and humid day a few summers ago when I heard of the death of a two-year-old after his grandmother left him in the car. She just forgot he was there and went about her day. While it might seem inconceivable that this could happen to any caring and well-intentioned adult, I read an article recently that helped me to understand how possible this is.
Several years ago a mother in Calgary was returning to her job as a University Professor after a one-year maternity leave following the birth of her second child. She was a well-educated and diligent mother that did everything she could to protect the safety of her children during pregnancy, at home, and in the community. With her return to work the family had to adopt a new routine. She dropped her older child at day care and proceeded to take her daughter (11 months) to her new child care provider. The mother and daughter were singing and laughing in the car when the child fell asleep. The mother then spent the next several minutes putting together a very detailed mental plan of how she was going to get her child out of the car seat and into the day care without waking her. Once she visualized that process, and understood how it would all work, her mind rapidly switched to thoughts about her first week back at work and all the things she needed to accomplish. She arrived at work, went about her day, and realized when she came to her car to go home that her daughter was still in the car seat.
Her purpose of engaging in the interview and having the article published was to help people understand how this could happen and how it can be prevented. For her, she believes that the process of “visualizing” the drop off of her daughter made her mind believe that it actually happened. When her mind switched to thinking about work, it was convinced that her other responsibilities had been completed. This is the power of visualization, and of a distracted mind.
But I feel the most important aspect of the article were the strategies for prevention. The mother went on to have other children and talked openly about the steps she now takes to ensure she does not relive this tragedy. She explained that she always makes sure she puts something in the back seat with her children. Her purse, work bag, lunch. This requires her to enter the back seat of her car when getting out. Or, the opposite could also work – put a diaper bag, toy or child backpack in the front seat to cue you to their presence. This mother also said she has asked her child care providers to call her directly if her children are not dropped off on time, as expected. Lastly, when putting her children in their car seat she puts on a bracelet that is kept in the seat. She takes it off when getting them out. This serves as a visual cue, but has also become part of her new car seat routine that will reinforce a new behavior (put the bracelet back in the car seat when leaving the vehicle, making her access the seat).
According to WebMD “there is no safe amount of time to leave a child (or pet) in a car”. The temperature inside a car can rise or fall exponentially faster than the temperature outside, as your car functions as a greenhouse. Just get in your car on a hot day and try to breathe. Preventing child death from being left in a car is possible, and parents need to be wary of new routines, changes in schedules, and the cognitive process of remembering multiple things. And most of all, don’t be naïve enough to believe the self-fulfilling “this could never happen to me” phenomenon. Any oversight, regardless of how significant, can happen to us all.
Summer Programming Note:
Summer vacation is here and we will be taking a break from our regular schedule. We will be posting some of our popular seasonal blogs just once a week throughout the summer but will resume our regular three weekly posts in September, filled with new and exciting content including our popular O-Tip of Week series.
Weekly Mind Bender
Which cup would be filled first?
Care of www.thisisinsider.com
Number 5. Look closely, all of the pipes are blocked except for the ones leading to cup number five.
Swimming Safety: Rules for Pools
In celebration of summer, I wanted to re-share this infographic on pool safety. These helpful tips and tools are good things to review and consider, ensuring you, your friends and loved ones are safe and enjoy some fun in the sun this summer! Remember, when it comes to children, nothing is safer than diligent and attentive supervision.
Previously posted July 2017
Summer Programming Note:
Summer vacation is here and we will be taking a break from our regular schedule. We will be posting some of our popular seasonal blogs just once a week throughout the summer but will resume our regular three weekly posts in September, filled with new and exciting content including our popular O-Tip of Week series.
Weekly Mind Bender
Summer Reading Challenge
It can be difficult to keep children’s minds stimulated during the summer months and often many children suffer summer brain drain. One of the best ways to put a plug on this drain is to encourage regular reading. Encourage your child to set a SMART Goal for how many books they plan to read this summer and keep track using our free printable summer reading log. Be sure to build in rewards when your child is on track and when they meet their goal!
Summer Programming Note:
Summer vacation is here and we will be taking a break from our regular schedule. We will be posting some of our popular seasonal blogs just once a week throughout the summer but will resume our regular three weekly posts in September, filled with new and exciting content including our popular O-Tip of Week series.
Weekly Mind Bender
Solve the following:
Puzzle care of www.thinkablepuzzles.com
1. Sixth Sense
2. To Sum it Up
3. Blanket
4. Strong Undertow
5. Back Issues
6. Stretching the Truth
Fun Ways to Encourage Learning Over the Summer Months
It’s that time again… The report cards are done, the bell has rung, and summer vacation is upon us! Summer is a time for camps, vacations, trips, cottaging and so much more. But with all the fun in store, where do they fit in time to learn? How do we as parents make sure our kids don’t suffer summer “brain drain,” while still ensuring they get the break and vacation they need? Check out the following infographic for ideas to keep kids brains sharp while having fun this summer vacation:
Previously posted July 2017
Summer Programming Note:
Summer vacation is here and we will be taking a break from our regular schedule. We will be posting some of our popular seasonal blogs just once a week throughout the summer but will resume our regular three weekly posts in September, filled with new and exciting content including our popular O-Tip of Week series.
Weekly Mind Bender
I throw a penny six times into the air.
The penny falls six times on “heads”.
What is the probability that the penny will fall on heads for a seventh time?
When flipping a coin it is always 50%.
Summer Can be Stressful: Reduce Stress with These Top Tips
As Canadians, we are well-known for making the most of our short summer months! We often fill them with day trips, weekends away, and vacations with family or friends. However, this summer fun can also bring on “summer stress” with all of the errand running, planning, organization and co-ordination that’s required to make that summer fun possible. Everyone sees and defines “stress” differently, but whether you recognize these additional demands as being “stressful” or not, they certainly weigh on our minds and add to the mental list of things we need to accomplish and manage in our days.
So what can Occupational Therapy do to help? Stress management is one area where Occupational Therapists can make suggestions that are helpful. These suggestions can help you to get the most fun from your summer, while preventing and managing the inevitable summer stress. Below you will find some general examples of the kinds of Occupational Therapy strategies that can help you limit and manage your summer stressors.
Summer Programming Note:
Summer vacation is here and we will be taking a break from our regular schedule. We will be posting some of our popular seasonal blogs just once a week throughout the summer but will resume our regular three weekly posts in September, filled with new and exciting content including our popular O-Tip of Week series.