As a parent one of the most nerve racking experiences we have to do is find a reliable and trustworthy babysitter. Someone that we can believe will do a good job taking care of our child or children whether it is for a few hours on an as needed basis or someone the is going to care for them daily while we are working.

Here we are going to offer a number of tips for you to help you interview a potential babysitter. I recommend asking these questions whether you are looking at hiring a teenager or an adult.

First, do a prescreening call prior to setting up an interview with the potential babysitter. During this prescreening phone call you want to ask the following questions when interviewing a potential babysitter:

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The alarm clock on the left is an example of a hidden Nanny Cam.

It is every parents nightmare. Police in Cherokee Country, GA say parents caught Nanny abusing their 13th month old child. In recent news, a woman who was hired through a national childcare service from the internet was discovered to be abusive towards a child of just a little over one year old that she was caring for. The family that employed this woman installed nanny cams once they began to notice behavioral changes in their child. The first day, in which the woman cared for the child under the supervision of the nanny cams, she was caught being abusive. The evidence portrays this individual slapping the young child in the face, pushing the child, and even pinching! Should you get a nanny cam? Stories like this seem to suggest “yes”.

You can read more of this story by visiting the following link: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/14938393/detail.html . Reading this story sent mixed emotions through me. I felt anger, sadness, and shock all at the same time. Having small kids myself made this story really touch home. The rest of this report will discuss signs of child abuse and questions you should ask your Nanny or babysitter before you hire them.

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This is one of the craziest recalls I have seen and wanted to alert parents very quickly. CNN has just published news that Aqua Dots is being recalled. According to the CNN article, about "4.2 million Chinese-made Aqua Dots toys contaminated with a powerful "date rape" drug that has caused some children to vomit and lose consciousness upon ingesting the contents"

Plus I just noticed information on the recall is at http://www.aquadotsrecall.com/. The Aqua Dot recall page was put up just yesterday.

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Whats a parent to do? The Christmas season is upon us and Santa may not make very many children happy this year. If there is a particular toy that your child wants and it is on the recall list, he or she is going to be very disappointed Christmas morning. Some toys are on hold and haven’t been shipped to the U. S. yet and some are sitting in ports waiting to see what is going to happen with them.

Not only are these children not going to get the toy they want, they may be getting rid of some of their favorites too. Recalls on Fisher Price, who is a subsidiary of Mattel are rapidly climbing as more problems are found with either lead based paint being used or small magnets that can be swallowed.

Dora, a favorite for every little girl is being recalled due to lead based paint being used. Sesame Street is on the recall list as is Polly Pocket, Barbie, and Easy Bake Oven. If you have purchased any of the toys that are on the recall list, these toys should either be returned for a refund of your purchase price. If you do not want to do this at least
throw them away to keep your little ones safe.

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Presented by Kent Estes

Parents you need to train your children in child safety, and you need to know what to do in case a Stranger approaches them. I have taught hundreds of children on how to protect themselves from danger. We learn by doing, this is why parents need to go over these 3 simple rules that will protect their kids. You do not want this to happen to your child.

Rule #1 

Rule #1, your feet, which means run away, when there is danger a child should run away. Running away is a child’s best defense against danger. Teach your children to think of their feet, it will be easy for them to remember because they will always have their feet with them. Hollywood makes it look like children can beat up an adult but in reality an adult will always win. The key here is to run away from danger and this keeps you safe.

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Good parenting is not only about when you are physically with your children, but it is also making sure they are in a safe environment when you are not there. If you are a working mom and don’t have the benefit of family or friends to watch your child, it often becomes a necessity that you enroll your child in a daycare center. While you may be understandably leery, here are some tips for choosing a daycare provider which will help in alleviating some of the fears you may have. 

• Check out the daycare centers in your area, either on line or by calling.
• Find out if there are any vacant spots so you can enroll your child.
• Ask where they are located and their hours of operation.
• What is the cost?
• Ensure the daycare provider is licensed. 
• Ask how many children are currently enrolled in the center, and their ages. 
• Ask if they supply meals to the children.

The next series of steps you take are very important. Visit the daycare center and check on the following:

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Life happens and sometimes life events are out of our control. One of the first things you think about when you are a single parent by choice (divorce, unmarried) or natural circumstances (death of a spouse), is who will care for my child or children?

There are a number of options and each has its pros and cons. Do your homework and based on your work routine, budget and the temperament of your child, choose a child care option that works with single parenting, not against it.

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I just read an intersting fact that the US Consumer Product Safety commission estimates that about 165 thousand kids 14 and under will be injured or trearted this year for toy related injuries. As a parent of two young boys, one 4 1/2 and the other 5 months it made me think about the toys we have and are planning on getting our kids this holiday season . Toy safety will definitely be on my mind this year. In doing a little research here are some quick tips to remember: Read More

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Yoga for kids? Absolutely! The slow, flowing motions not only builds flexibility but takes a lot of concentation and can help slow a young mind down. It can help you child acheive balance in their young lives. Almost every children experiences stress with homework; pressure to compete with other children as well as non-stop after-school activities and over scheduling. All this can make for a very hectic lifestyle. Kids today, like their parents, are turning to yoga for both health and relaxation. Yoga for kids is a means of helping them to develop better body awareness, controlling themselves, and flexibility as well as coordination. Kids may be able to carry the yoga skills they learn beyond class and into their normal everyday routines. Read More

by Patricia Hughes

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by Kevin Heath

It is very important to teach your child when to call  9-1-1 and when not to. In a true emergency it could be a life saver. However, it is also very important to let your child know when not to dial 9-1-1. Some examples when not to dial 911 include:

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Editors Comments: One of our writers, Karen Sibal shared with us the following story. Having 2 young children of our own it was kinda scary and hard to read. It really made my husband and I think twice about our home and how safe it is for our kids, and what we can do to make our home more secure. Julie

Here is the child safety story that Karen shared with us:

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