Holidays: Happy Visiting & Toy Safety
The holidays can be an exciting time of year for children. Between the gifts, new toys, out-of-town relatives, festivities, and sweet treats, there can be a lot to be excited about. During the holiday season is important to make sure children do not feel too overwhelmed. One way to do this is to try to keep household routines consistent. Keeping your child’s usual sleep and mealtime schedules as regular as possible during the holidays can reduce stress and act to keep parts of the day familiar to your child. To ensure your holidays are enjoyable for all, here are some tips the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends during the holidays.
Visiting Family
- Remember that the homes you visit may not be childproofed. Keep an eye out for danger spots like unlocked cabinets, unattended purses, accessible cleaning or laundry products, stairways, or hot radiators.
- Clean up right after a holiday party. A toddler can wake up early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco.
- Keep a list with all of the important phone numbers you or a babysitter are likely to need in case of an emergency. Include the police and fire department, your pediatrician and the national Poison Help Line, 1-800-222-1222. Laminating the list will prevent it from being torn or damaged by accidental spills.
- Always make sure your child rides in appropriate car seat, booster seat, or seat belt.
- If visiting family that live where winters are colder than we’re used to here in Florida, children in car seats should wear thin layers with a blanket over the top of the harness straps if needed, in cold weather. Children should not wear a thick coat or snowsuit while in car seats.
Toy Safety
- Select toys that are age appropriate for abilities, skill level, and interest of the intending child. Toys too advanced for younger children can pose safety hazards.
- Before allowing your child to play with a new toy that they have received, make sure to read the instructions carefully.
- To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children (under age 10) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
- Young children can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.
- Children can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons; do not allow children under age 8 to play with them.
- Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.
- Parents should store toys in a designated location, such as on a shelf or in a toy chest, and keep older kids’ toys away from young children.
Other Tips:
- Take care of yourself both mentally and physically. Children and adolescents are affected by the emotional well-being of their parent or caregivers. Coping with stress successfully can help children learn how to handle stress better, too.
- Make a plan to focus on one thing at a time. Try a few ideas to balance the hustle and bustle of things like shopping, cooking, and family get-togethers during the holidays: Stop and pay attention to what is happening at the moment, focus your attention on one thing about it ,and notice how you are feeling at the time.
- Remember that many children and adults experience a sense of loss, sadness or isolation during the holidays. It is important to be sensitive to these feelings and ask for help for you, your children, family members or friends if needed.
- Give to others by making it an annual holiday tradition to share your time and talents with people who have less than you do. For example, if your child is old enough, encourage him or her to join you in volunteering to serve a holiday meal at your local food bank or shelter or sing at a local nursing home. Help your child write a letter to members of the armed forces stationed abroad who can’t be home with their own family during the holidays.
- Enjoy the holidays for what they are- time to spend with family! Make sure to do things together, like skating at a local ice rink (there are plenty in Florida!), making a gingerbread house, or playing board games, and spend time with neighbors, friends, and relatives.
For more information and safety tips, visit:
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/Pages/Holiday-Safety-Tips.aspx
