We've all seen certain movies that we don't mind watching over again, and each time we see them they remind us exactly why we liked them in the first place. Well, for me Halloween is that kind of movie.
Halloween is a story about a murderous-escaped mental patient, named Michael Myers, who returns to his fictitious home town of Haddonfield, Ill. on Halloween in order to continue his homicidal predilection discovered by his parents when he was six years old, after killing his older sister.
Halloween was made in 1978, but still remains one of the best horror movies ever made. Here are just a few reasons I believe why.
Halloween: The night he came home.
The first thing I must say was John Carpenter's and Debra Hill's decision to write a horror movie using Halloween as the backdrop. They figured out that if done right they could maximize the latent potential for terror, suspense and horror that creating a movie surrounding the holiday could present. And baby, was it done right. The result, 29 years later, the movie has become a cult classic and is considered by many to be the forerunner to most of the horror movies of the 80's and beyond.
A Star is born.
Jamie Lee Curtis played Laurie Strode, the wide-eyed innocent and awkward teen who took on Michael Myers, and although she along with movie-goers was absolutely scared out of our minds, she gave Michael Myers as much as he could handle. For someone who hadn't had one single role on film to that point, and although Ms. Curtis was very critical of her performance, I can't image this movie being as good as it was with out the young actress in the role.
Mr. Myers the Doctor will see you now.
It's been said that, no matter the type of movie, you really don't have a story without a well written antagonist. And as for Halloween, the role of the antagonist was played exceptionally well by late actor Donald Pleasance. Donald played Dr. Sam Loomis, the doctor who had the daunting task of treating Michael Myers when he was a kid. And because of his knowledge of his patient, he knew if he ever was set free from the hospital, he would without question return to his home town, and the end result, would be as predictable, people would surely die. You get the sense from watching the Dr. Loomis' character on screen that he was very much obsessed with ridding the world of the "evil" that was Michael Myers. Christopher Lee, a very good character actor in his own right, if I'm not mistaken was originally offered the role but it obviously went to the man who with out a doubt did it justice.
The Man under the Mask
There have been many others to play the role of Michael Myers in the sequels that followed but none did it like Nick Castle. He was the perfect embodiment of John Carpenter's vision for what he saw as "pure evil". In order to really appreciate this man's stellar performance one must only see him in all of his gory. Sorry, in all of his glory.
What's the Boogey Man?
The main thing that made this movie so good was John Carpenter's ability to capitalize on our "child-like" fear of the "Boogey Man". The Boogey Man is every kid's worse nightmare. Nothing scares children like the boogey man. Kids always believe that despite what their parents tell them, the boogey man does in fact hang out under their beds and in their closets, waiting and lurking in the shadows to snuff out their little lives. Kids revere their parents, at least most do, and may even be afraid of them from time to time but, as for the Boogie Man, they are truly afraid. And for this reason the Michael Myers character is in a sense an archetype, in that he is the fullness of the only individual who scares us like no other. This is how John Carpenter envisioned him. He did, however, refer to him differently when he was writing the part. The website, pitofhorror.com says of Michael Myers, The Shape is what John Carpenter referred to Michael Myers as in the script. Throughout the movie you only see the outline of Michael lurking in the shadows, non-descript and very much a "shape". Now you tell me, who does that sound like to you?
Ok, die already will you!
What I remember most about this movie, when I saw it for the first time, was that it was truly frightening, of course any 14 year old kid would think so. I guess it was something about the large imposing masked man wielding an equally large kitchen knife, looking to take any and everyone's life, and do it with relative ease. A man, I might add, who refuses to die on more than one occasion. Clearly Lauie Strode was unaware of one simple fact about the boogie man and it was this, no matter how hard you try you absolutely cannot kill him. Okay Michael Myers may not have been the actual boogie man, the infamous purveyor of terror, but he was however, one scary ass dude. One I don't mind watching over and over again in this terrific movie.
Senin, 27 November 2017
Senin, 13 November 2017
Overnight Summer Camp - Sign Up A Year In Advance And Other Great Tips
There are overnight summer camps that are co-ed camps, boy's camps, girl's camps or brother-sister camps where boys and girls may have separate venues and activities. Basically, if you can think of any subject of interest, there's probably a camp that specializes in it. Many kid campers are enrolled in summer camp by their parents early in the year, thus camps fill up quickly.
Camps are divided by gender - girls only, boys only, or co-ed and again by age group. An overnight summer camp is a supervised program for children and teens conducted during the summer months in most countries; children and teens, called campers, who attend camp, participate in a variety of activities, many of which are special interest. The variety of camps available today is almost innumerable, meaning there will be some specialized camps that may have availability left even into the summer.
Selecting the right camp that fits into your child or teen's interests, special interests, needs, special needs and abilities will be one of the first steps Beyond the traditional sports - baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, tennis, football, and more - there are camps for outdoor enthusiasts that can offer horseback riding, hiking, camping, fishing, and even rapelling. Some camps have a targeted focus like religious study, academics, and competitive sports.
Consider these industry-recommended guidelines - for smaller children ages 7 and 8, there should be one counselor for every six campers; by age 15, there should be one counselor for every 10 campers. Children will get more individual attention and supervision with a lower number of campers per counselor. Although camp counselor jobs don't usually pay very well, usually minimum wage or less, counselors receive free room and board; many take the job primarily for the camping experience.
There are many types of overnight summer camps with a focus on education that cater to students with differing ages and academic interests. Specialty overnight camps can range from $500 to $1000 per week depending on the program. Camp tuition can be expensive; similar to travel insurance, there are now insurance policies for families sending their children to overnight summer camp to cover last minute cancellations, homesickness, medical emergencies and emergency evacuations.
The reputation of an overnight summer camp can also be determined by asking what percentage of counselors returned from the previous year. Check the camper-counselor ratio to determine the number of campers for each counselor. Do you think, if you have more than one child, they would they benefit from attending the same summer camp together?
Weight loss camps are for children and teens in order to help them learn about how to lose weight and how to keep it off while having a great overnight summer camp experience. Non-profit camps often range from $1200 to $3000 for four weeks and $2500 to $5000 for eight weeks. Children or teens could typically explore subjects new to them like marine science, photography, creative writing, community service, drama, magic, scuba diving, video production, comic book design, crime scene forensics, cooking, yoga, rappelling, etc.
Homesickness is a frequent problem, but with a caring camp counselor most campers adjust easily. You want to ensure your child's safety and comfort, so try to talk to current campers at the selected camps and their parents, if possible. If you spend the time needed to research your options and include your child in all the decisions, he or she will most likely have a memorable experience that provides opportunities to grow while having a lot of fun and making new friends. Choosing a camp close to home will save a lot of money on airfare and possible hotel or motel overnight stays for a parent, or other transportation costs; this is especially true if your child might get a case of homesickness and want to come home early from the overnight summer camp.
Camps are divided by gender - girls only, boys only, or co-ed and again by age group. An overnight summer camp is a supervised program for children and teens conducted during the summer months in most countries; children and teens, called campers, who attend camp, participate in a variety of activities, many of which are special interest. The variety of camps available today is almost innumerable, meaning there will be some specialized camps that may have availability left even into the summer.
Selecting the right camp that fits into your child or teen's interests, special interests, needs, special needs and abilities will be one of the first steps Beyond the traditional sports - baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, tennis, football, and more - there are camps for outdoor enthusiasts that can offer horseback riding, hiking, camping, fishing, and even rapelling. Some camps have a targeted focus like religious study, academics, and competitive sports.
Consider these industry-recommended guidelines - for smaller children ages 7 and 8, there should be one counselor for every six campers; by age 15, there should be one counselor for every 10 campers. Children will get more individual attention and supervision with a lower number of campers per counselor. Although camp counselor jobs don't usually pay very well, usually minimum wage or less, counselors receive free room and board; many take the job primarily for the camping experience.
There are many types of overnight summer camps with a focus on education that cater to students with differing ages and academic interests. Specialty overnight camps can range from $500 to $1000 per week depending on the program. Camp tuition can be expensive; similar to travel insurance, there are now insurance policies for families sending their children to overnight summer camp to cover last minute cancellations, homesickness, medical emergencies and emergency evacuations.
The reputation of an overnight summer camp can also be determined by asking what percentage of counselors returned from the previous year. Check the camper-counselor ratio to determine the number of campers for each counselor. Do you think, if you have more than one child, they would they benefit from attending the same summer camp together?
Weight loss camps are for children and teens in order to help them learn about how to lose weight and how to keep it off while having a great overnight summer camp experience. Non-profit camps often range from $1200 to $3000 for four weeks and $2500 to $5000 for eight weeks. Children or teens could typically explore subjects new to them like marine science, photography, creative writing, community service, drama, magic, scuba diving, video production, comic book design, crime scene forensics, cooking, yoga, rappelling, etc.
Homesickness is a frequent problem, but with a caring camp counselor most campers adjust easily. You want to ensure your child's safety and comfort, so try to talk to current campers at the selected camps and their parents, if possible. If you spend the time needed to research your options and include your child in all the decisions, he or she will most likely have a memorable experience that provides opportunities to grow while having a lot of fun and making new friends. Choosing a camp close to home will save a lot of money on airfare and possible hotel or motel overnight stays for a parent, or other transportation costs; this is especially true if your child might get a case of homesickness and want to come home early from the overnight summer camp.
Minggu, 15 Oktober 2017
Childhood Obesity and School Lunches - How to Put Your Child's Lunch Under Remote Control
The School Lunch Program: Parents Surrender Control of the Children's Food to The Federal Government and the School Boards
"The reason that children are currently too fat is, in part, because they used to be too thin"- The School Lunch Programs
School time, including going and coming home from school dominates a child or teen's day. The control the parents have at home evaporates once the school bus leaves and does not return for eight or more hours. The after school hours become dangerous times for eating and drinking because of the fatigue and low blood sugar experienced by many children and teens. It is easy for the parent who is also fatigued and often overwhelmed to give the child one of the bad snacks that he has seen on television. Whether it's the wrong school breakfast, bad school lunches and school sponsored vending machine the parents have relinquished control of the child and teen's food and drinks not only to the school but to their 7 year old!
School lunches offered to your children may differ among school districts, areas of the country or whether the school is public or private. Some schools have only cafeterias and provide the standardized school lunches while other schools also have a la carte food items, fast food kiosks or even student stores. Comparing what large groups of children end up eating for lunch, reveals twice as much fat from cafeteria lunches compared to bag (lunches brought from home.) Total fat and calories are even greater when students buy meals on an a la carte basis because they often pick two, three or more items and often the "wrong" items.
Where School Lunch Programs Began:
Undernourished and malnourished families and children began to be widespread across the U.S. in the 1930's. Draftees during World War II were regularly turned away because they were undernourished. Seeing this problem, President Harry S. Truman in 1946, pushed through the School Lunch Program, guaranteeing a hot lunch for every schoolchild who could not afford one. Thus began a plan that would contribute 60 years latter to the obesity epidemic we see today!
Changing School Lunch Programs:
The programs have changed over the years, adding free and reduced-cost breakfast during the 1960's. The government is in the school-food-supply business, buying surplus products from farmers and sending it along to the schools. School lunches tend to exceed the national recommendations for fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and calories. While the quality has improved somewhat in recent years, fresh fruits and vegetables usually are lacking. A sample of 24 public middle schools in San Diego County, CA. found that almost 50% of students in a school that has a student store or a la carte facility bought mostly candy, cakes and cookies and significantly fewer servings of fruit, and vegetables.
Scoop of the School Lunch Program:
Here is the 2005 USDA Food and Nutrition's Service presentation entitled "School Meal Program Performance: What Do We Know?
o 94,622 schools (90% of public schools) participated in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) which served 49 million students
o School cafeterias served 4.8 billion lunches.
o NSLP serves over 29 million lunches, 9 million breakfasts and 154 million after school snacks
o About half of all lunches and 3/4 of all breakfasts are served free.
Children from low-income families may receive more than half of their daily caloric intake for from these meals. Fresh fruits and vegetables are not common place at homes can be come a stable of school lunches. Nutrition education could give students the tools they need to make healthy choices regarding eating and physical activity.
Mindless School Lunches vs. Packing a Lunch from Home:
Children, teens and their parents can buy their lunch at school or bring it from home. The choice should depend upon which results in the children obtaining the right foods at lunch. The typical school lunch is often much higher in calories, carbs and fat than it should be. It means that the parent needs to look closely at the cafeteria lunch menus which in most school districts are available for a week or two ahead. Here is what to look for in the school lunch:
What to Eat: Sandwiches, subs, wraps, vegetables, fresh fruits, yogurts
What to Drink: water, low fat or no fat milk, zero calories, fruit flavored waters
What NOT to eat: fried foods, meat, pasta, pizza, rice or potatoes
What NOT to drink: whole milk, sugar filled juices, soft drinks, sport drinks
On the other hand a lunch prepared by the parents is not always automatically healthier than one bought at school. If parents pack cookies, cake or potato chips, that's not a nutritious meal! But a packed lunch, if the parent does it right, does have a clear advantage. When you pack your children's lunch, you know your children and teens are eating the "right foods" - stuff you know they like. Remember you are not around at lunch, so you must direct their food almost by remote control.
Talk to your child or teen:
Make sure what you send for lunch is what they like. Even better, take them shopping and listen to their input. Stock up on their favorite healthy foods, you can save some money and end up with a healthy child.
Here are some quick lunchbox tips:
o Easy to open small packs which children like. It needs to be made quick. Remember, lunch time may be no more than 15-20 minutes.
o Small children may not eat very much at one sitting. Think about packing appetizers instead of a large sandwich and whole banana. You can also include more choices if the quantity of each is smaller.
o Small foods are not only easier for children to handle, but they are more fun to eat. Cut sandwiches into smaller pieces, small sandwich buns, and fruits or vegetables in small bags. Don't overwhelm the child with a large portion of anything.
o Some kids are content to eat the same thing day after day. It often can drive you crazy about the habits they get into. Don't worry as long as the food is healthy
o Instead of making sandwiches, consider packing individual sandwich ingredients to let your child make their own sandwich at lunch, or eat the ingredients separately.
o Cereal bars can pack a lot of nutrition into a food kids love to eat.
High tech insulated lunch boxes and bags on the market that have built in food safety features: thermoses, a space to slip a pre frozen gel pack, even pockets for wet wipes
Children and teens need to make good choices at lunch:
Whether the better choices are accomplished by taking food from home or by careful selections from school cafeterias, it's really unimportant. Parents need to understand they have little control of their child's food from the time the school bus pulls away until 8 hours latter. School menus need to be reviewed constantly and the parent needs to watch the selections. If eating a school lunch, child needs to learn how to make the best selections from what is available.
"The reason that children are currently too fat is, in part, because they used to be too thin"- The School Lunch Programs
School time, including going and coming home from school dominates a child or teen's day. The control the parents have at home evaporates once the school bus leaves and does not return for eight or more hours. The after school hours become dangerous times for eating and drinking because of the fatigue and low blood sugar experienced by many children and teens. It is easy for the parent who is also fatigued and often overwhelmed to give the child one of the bad snacks that he has seen on television. Whether it's the wrong school breakfast, bad school lunches and school sponsored vending machine the parents have relinquished control of the child and teen's food and drinks not only to the school but to their 7 year old!
School lunches offered to your children may differ among school districts, areas of the country or whether the school is public or private. Some schools have only cafeterias and provide the standardized school lunches while other schools also have a la carte food items, fast food kiosks or even student stores. Comparing what large groups of children end up eating for lunch, reveals twice as much fat from cafeteria lunches compared to bag (lunches brought from home.) Total fat and calories are even greater when students buy meals on an a la carte basis because they often pick two, three or more items and often the "wrong" items.
Where School Lunch Programs Began:
Undernourished and malnourished families and children began to be widespread across the U.S. in the 1930's. Draftees during World War II were regularly turned away because they were undernourished. Seeing this problem, President Harry S. Truman in 1946, pushed through the School Lunch Program, guaranteeing a hot lunch for every schoolchild who could not afford one. Thus began a plan that would contribute 60 years latter to the obesity epidemic we see today!
Changing School Lunch Programs:
The programs have changed over the years, adding free and reduced-cost breakfast during the 1960's. The government is in the school-food-supply business, buying surplus products from farmers and sending it along to the schools. School lunches tend to exceed the national recommendations for fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and calories. While the quality has improved somewhat in recent years, fresh fruits and vegetables usually are lacking. A sample of 24 public middle schools in San Diego County, CA. found that almost 50% of students in a school that has a student store or a la carte facility bought mostly candy, cakes and cookies and significantly fewer servings of fruit, and vegetables.
Scoop of the School Lunch Program:
Here is the 2005 USDA Food and Nutrition's Service presentation entitled "School Meal Program Performance: What Do We Know?
o 94,622 schools (90% of public schools) participated in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) which served 49 million students
o School cafeterias served 4.8 billion lunches.
o NSLP serves over 29 million lunches, 9 million breakfasts and 154 million after school snacks
o About half of all lunches and 3/4 of all breakfasts are served free.
Children from low-income families may receive more than half of their daily caloric intake for from these meals. Fresh fruits and vegetables are not common place at homes can be come a stable of school lunches. Nutrition education could give students the tools they need to make healthy choices regarding eating and physical activity.
Mindless School Lunches vs. Packing a Lunch from Home:
Children, teens and their parents can buy their lunch at school or bring it from home. The choice should depend upon which results in the children obtaining the right foods at lunch. The typical school lunch is often much higher in calories, carbs and fat than it should be. It means that the parent needs to look closely at the cafeteria lunch menus which in most school districts are available for a week or two ahead. Here is what to look for in the school lunch:
What to Eat: Sandwiches, subs, wraps, vegetables, fresh fruits, yogurts
What to Drink: water, low fat or no fat milk, zero calories, fruit flavored waters
What NOT to eat: fried foods, meat, pasta, pizza, rice or potatoes
What NOT to drink: whole milk, sugar filled juices, soft drinks, sport drinks
On the other hand a lunch prepared by the parents is not always automatically healthier than one bought at school. If parents pack cookies, cake or potato chips, that's not a nutritious meal! But a packed lunch, if the parent does it right, does have a clear advantage. When you pack your children's lunch, you know your children and teens are eating the "right foods" - stuff you know they like. Remember you are not around at lunch, so you must direct their food almost by remote control.
Talk to your child or teen:
Make sure what you send for lunch is what they like. Even better, take them shopping and listen to their input. Stock up on their favorite healthy foods, you can save some money and end up with a healthy child.
Here are some quick lunchbox tips:
o Easy to open small packs which children like. It needs to be made quick. Remember, lunch time may be no more than 15-20 minutes.
o Small children may not eat very much at one sitting. Think about packing appetizers instead of a large sandwich and whole banana. You can also include more choices if the quantity of each is smaller.
o Small foods are not only easier for children to handle, but they are more fun to eat. Cut sandwiches into smaller pieces, small sandwich buns, and fruits or vegetables in small bags. Don't overwhelm the child with a large portion of anything.
o Some kids are content to eat the same thing day after day. It often can drive you crazy about the habits they get into. Don't worry as long as the food is healthy
o Instead of making sandwiches, consider packing individual sandwich ingredients to let your child make their own sandwich at lunch, or eat the ingredients separately.
o Cereal bars can pack a lot of nutrition into a food kids love to eat.
High tech insulated lunch boxes and bags on the market that have built in food safety features: thermoses, a space to slip a pre frozen gel pack, even pockets for wet wipes
Children and teens need to make good choices at lunch:
Whether the better choices are accomplished by taking food from home or by careful selections from school cafeterias, it's really unimportant. Parents need to understand they have little control of their child's food from the time the school bus pulls away until 8 hours latter. School menus need to be reviewed constantly and the parent needs to watch the selections. If eating a school lunch, child needs to learn how to make the best selections from what is available.
Jumat, 22 September 2017
What Every Mummy And Daddy Should Know To Keep Their Kids Safe During Halloween
With Halloween fast approaching, Executive Defense Technology is doing a lot of radio and TV interviews on Halloween safety for your kids. An area that they are being quizzed on is safety tips for teenagers that head out for a night of fun.
Remember, Halloween is for teens, too. It is an incredibly exciting time for them because this is the age where kids want to venture out for Trick-or-Treat fun without their parents. They are at an age where being on their own is not only cool but a necessary part of their development as they make their way into adulthood. The good news for you is that you can let them go with a few common sense safety tips:
1. Teenagers should head out in a group of least four individuals or more. Heading out alone is not an option! Make sure your teenager is with a group of good friends. Make sure that they know everyone well. Halloween is not a good time to be running around costumed in the dark with strangers or new friends they are not very familiar with.
2. Make sure you know exactly where your teenager will be when they are out. Ask them what their plans for the night are and hold them to it. Knowing where your teenager is on Halloween, is not about not trusting them, it is about safety. It is about you, the parent being able to find them in an emergency. Send your child out with a cell phone and have then check in periodically, every 45 minutes/ hour - whatever the two of you agree upon, just to let you know where they are and that they are okay.
3. Teenagers also need to keep their eyes open for the smaller, younger kids. This is one of the nights of the year where all age groups mix together. Teens, even with the excitement of being out on their own should keep their eyes open for the younger kids in case there is someone who needs help or just to simply keep from running into them or tripping over them. Smaller kids are more easily injured when running into larger kids simply because they are smaller.
4. Set a specific time with your child that they need to be home. This year, Halloween falls on a weekday. This means kids have school the next day. Have them home no later than 10 p.m. It will take another hour or so for them to calm down and relax before they can head to bed. Yes, tomorrow, they'll be tired but the day after is also a part of Halloween memories.
What about those younger ghosts and goblins? How can we keep them safe? Actually, one of the biggest threats that parents sometimes overlook on this fun day isn't going to come from a poisoned piece of candy or a predator lurking in the bushes. Although, we don't want to minimize those risks either. The biggest danger on Halloween for kids is - injuries from tripping and falling. The majority of injured children showing up in the Emergency Room will do so with broken arms or wrists, chipped teeth and cuts and bruises from falling or tripping in the dark due to excitement and obstructed vision from masks.
As parents, we are enjoying ourselves visiting with neighbors and talking as we travel "around the block" from house to house. While you do so, here are some tips for keeping your kids safe so everyone can have a fun, memorable, safe evening:
1. Arm you kids with flashlights so they can negotiate their way down dark paths. A small, bright light that fits nicely in their hands is best. Make sure any flashlight has fresh batteries and illuminates well. Carry one yourself.
2. Remind the kids, before leaving the house about street safety. In their excitement, don't let them rush out in front of a car. Larry Elliott, of Executive Defense Technology, also recommends placing reflective tape on your child's shoes and on their costumes.
3. Make sure your child's shoes fit and are tied properly. Keep costumes above the ground by a few inches so your youngster doesn't trip on it while walking and running.
And since we don't want to forget about "Personal Safety", make sure your children (young and older) follow these suggestions so they don't become "easy targets" for predators:
1. Stay in well lit areas and avoid dark, lonely locations / paths.
2. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. If someone makes you uncomfortable, cross the street, head the other direction and go to a house of a family that you know and trust. (Review "Safe Houses" with your kids BEFORE Halloween so they know exactly where they can go for help)
3. Never give your name or details about yourself to a stranger.
4. Only visit the houses of the neighbors that you know and are familiar with - don't drop your children off in areas you are unfamiliar with.
5. Let the adults be the one to answer the door to Trick-or-Treaters. Don't let the children answer by themselves.
6. Never get close to or into a strangers car or go with them ANYWHERE. If a car pulls up, advise your children to take a few steps back. They should never get close enough so they can be grabbed unexpectedly. If someone needs help or directions, they should be asking an adult - not a child!
7. If you are approached, use your voice! FBI statistics say that 70-80% of assaults can be stopped by good verbal boundaries alone.
Staying safe is a choice! We still have a few days before the Halloween holiday - practice and rehearse safety with your kids so they know what is expected of them and how to prevent accidents or assaults BEFORE they happen.
Have a safe, fun Halloween!
Upcoming Community Programs you can participate in:
1. RAD Training classes to begin at Oakville high school for girls 13 - 18 and their mothers on Monday, January 7th,2008
2. RAD Training Classes at Forest Park Community College to begin at University City High School starting March 19th, 2008
3. 3 hour Community Awareness Programs at St Louis Community Colleges - Saturday, February 23: Wildwood community college; Saturday, March 8: Meremac Community college; Spring Safety Day at Flo Valley Community college on Saturday, April 19th, 2008; Saturday, April 26th: Forest Park Community college; Saturday, May 10th: Forest Park Community college - SIGN UP AND JOIN US!
To Schedule a Program: Visit our website to schedule a program for your next Lunch and Learn / business meeting / seminar / get together / home party/ scout meeting/ symposium / conference/ speaker / school assembly - TODAY!
Remember, Halloween is for teens, too. It is an incredibly exciting time for them because this is the age where kids want to venture out for Trick-or-Treat fun without their parents. They are at an age where being on their own is not only cool but a necessary part of their development as they make their way into adulthood. The good news for you is that you can let them go with a few common sense safety tips:
1. Teenagers should head out in a group of least four individuals or more. Heading out alone is not an option! Make sure your teenager is with a group of good friends. Make sure that they know everyone well. Halloween is not a good time to be running around costumed in the dark with strangers or new friends they are not very familiar with.
2. Make sure you know exactly where your teenager will be when they are out. Ask them what their plans for the night are and hold them to it. Knowing where your teenager is on Halloween, is not about not trusting them, it is about safety. It is about you, the parent being able to find them in an emergency. Send your child out with a cell phone and have then check in periodically, every 45 minutes/ hour - whatever the two of you agree upon, just to let you know where they are and that they are okay.
3. Teenagers also need to keep their eyes open for the smaller, younger kids. This is one of the nights of the year where all age groups mix together. Teens, even with the excitement of being out on their own should keep their eyes open for the younger kids in case there is someone who needs help or just to simply keep from running into them or tripping over them. Smaller kids are more easily injured when running into larger kids simply because they are smaller.
4. Set a specific time with your child that they need to be home. This year, Halloween falls on a weekday. This means kids have school the next day. Have them home no later than 10 p.m. It will take another hour or so for them to calm down and relax before they can head to bed. Yes, tomorrow, they'll be tired but the day after is also a part of Halloween memories.
What about those younger ghosts and goblins? How can we keep them safe? Actually, one of the biggest threats that parents sometimes overlook on this fun day isn't going to come from a poisoned piece of candy or a predator lurking in the bushes. Although, we don't want to minimize those risks either. The biggest danger on Halloween for kids is - injuries from tripping and falling. The majority of injured children showing up in the Emergency Room will do so with broken arms or wrists, chipped teeth and cuts and bruises from falling or tripping in the dark due to excitement and obstructed vision from masks.
As parents, we are enjoying ourselves visiting with neighbors and talking as we travel "around the block" from house to house. While you do so, here are some tips for keeping your kids safe so everyone can have a fun, memorable, safe evening:
1. Arm you kids with flashlights so they can negotiate their way down dark paths. A small, bright light that fits nicely in their hands is best. Make sure any flashlight has fresh batteries and illuminates well. Carry one yourself.
2. Remind the kids, before leaving the house about street safety. In their excitement, don't let them rush out in front of a car. Larry Elliott, of Executive Defense Technology, also recommends placing reflective tape on your child's shoes and on their costumes.
3. Make sure your child's shoes fit and are tied properly. Keep costumes above the ground by a few inches so your youngster doesn't trip on it while walking and running.
And since we don't want to forget about "Personal Safety", make sure your children (young and older) follow these suggestions so they don't become "easy targets" for predators:
1. Stay in well lit areas and avoid dark, lonely locations / paths.
2. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. If someone makes you uncomfortable, cross the street, head the other direction and go to a house of a family that you know and trust. (Review "Safe Houses" with your kids BEFORE Halloween so they know exactly where they can go for help)
3. Never give your name or details about yourself to a stranger.
4. Only visit the houses of the neighbors that you know and are familiar with - don't drop your children off in areas you are unfamiliar with.
5. Let the adults be the one to answer the door to Trick-or-Treaters. Don't let the children answer by themselves.
6. Never get close to or into a strangers car or go with them ANYWHERE. If a car pulls up, advise your children to take a few steps back. They should never get close enough so they can be grabbed unexpectedly. If someone needs help or directions, they should be asking an adult - not a child!
7. If you are approached, use your voice! FBI statistics say that 70-80% of assaults can be stopped by good verbal boundaries alone.
Staying safe is a choice! We still have a few days before the Halloween holiday - practice and rehearse safety with your kids so they know what is expected of them and how to prevent accidents or assaults BEFORE they happen.
Have a safe, fun Halloween!
Upcoming Community Programs you can participate in:
1. RAD Training classes to begin at Oakville high school for girls 13 - 18 and their mothers on Monday, January 7th,2008
2. RAD Training Classes at Forest Park Community College to begin at University City High School starting March 19th, 2008
3. 3 hour Community Awareness Programs at St Louis Community Colleges - Saturday, February 23: Wildwood community college; Saturday, March 8: Meremac Community college; Spring Safety Day at Flo Valley Community college on Saturday, April 19th, 2008; Saturday, April 26th: Forest Park Community college; Saturday, May 10th: Forest Park Community college - SIGN UP AND JOIN US!
To Schedule a Program: Visit our website to schedule a program for your next Lunch and Learn / business meeting / seminar / get together / home party/ scout meeting/ symposium / conference/ speaker / school assembly - TODAY!
Sabtu, 16 September 2017
Carnival Cruise Reviews That Will Help You Plan Your Family's Vacation
Carnival cruise reviews can get you on track with information about family vacations. Carnival is noted for having some of the best cruises for kids and families. The age of your kids will determine what activities are most important to you, but Carnival is considered the best by reviewers for certain age groups.
Infants and Toddlers
Carnival has great reviews where it comes to caring for these littlest of passengers. They have young counselors as a part of the program. These counselors help the program run smoothly be changing diapers and tending to other unpleasant chores. Another great thing is that Carnival has youth programs that start with children who are not even potty trained yet. They only have to be two years old to participate in the basic activities.
Babysitting is also available both for children under two years old and for the older children as well. You can leave your child behind in the group babysitting care with no concern for their harm. Reviewers have been very pleased. The center also rents strollers for parents to use.
Children Aged 3 to 7
Of all the cruise lines, you will find the most hours of cruise activities for children of this age group. That is why it is one of the most highly reviewed cruise lines of them all for these ages. The cruise provides a welcome aboard party that the whole family attends, but that these children especially adore. They also thrive on the competition and fun of a kids' talent show.
This program actually ends at 10 pm; however, the fun does not stop there. At that time, if their parents have not come to claim them yet, they go on to babysitting and are attended to partly be youth counselors. Rather than going right to sleep, they can enjoy activities, like getting their faces painted, until they get sleepy. After all, it is their vacation too.
Teens
Carnival cruise reviews are not as positive for the 'tweens aged 8 to 11, but the teenagers are another story. One of the new venues for teen action is the Club 02, which is available on all the ships. These are large rooms that are equipped with advanced lighting and sound gear.
There are also video games to satisfy the most avid game player onboard, as well as large screen plasma TVs. There are even shore excursions designed especially for teens to take with the assistance of a cruise counselor.
Carnival cruise reviews can make you think about the possibility of taking your family on a sea-going vacation. Most people are very happy with their Carnival cruises. They are even more interested in the fun and care their kids got on the trip.
Infants and Toddlers
Carnival has great reviews where it comes to caring for these littlest of passengers. They have young counselors as a part of the program. These counselors help the program run smoothly be changing diapers and tending to other unpleasant chores. Another great thing is that Carnival has youth programs that start with children who are not even potty trained yet. They only have to be two years old to participate in the basic activities.
Babysitting is also available both for children under two years old and for the older children as well. You can leave your child behind in the group babysitting care with no concern for their harm. Reviewers have been very pleased. The center also rents strollers for parents to use.
Children Aged 3 to 7
Of all the cruise lines, you will find the most hours of cruise activities for children of this age group. That is why it is one of the most highly reviewed cruise lines of them all for these ages. The cruise provides a welcome aboard party that the whole family attends, but that these children especially adore. They also thrive on the competition and fun of a kids' talent show.
This program actually ends at 10 pm; however, the fun does not stop there. At that time, if their parents have not come to claim them yet, they go on to babysitting and are attended to partly be youth counselors. Rather than going right to sleep, they can enjoy activities, like getting their faces painted, until they get sleepy. After all, it is their vacation too.
Teens
Carnival cruise reviews are not as positive for the 'tweens aged 8 to 11, but the teenagers are another story. One of the new venues for teen action is the Club 02, which is available on all the ships. These are large rooms that are equipped with advanced lighting and sound gear.
There are also video games to satisfy the most avid game player onboard, as well as large screen plasma TVs. There are even shore excursions designed especially for teens to take with the assistance of a cruise counselor.
Carnival cruise reviews can make you think about the possibility of taking your family on a sea-going vacation. Most people are very happy with their Carnival cruises. They are even more interested in the fun and care their kids got on the trip.
Jumat, 25 Agustus 2017
Top 10 Beach and Ocean Safety Tips For Kids and Their Families
There's nothing better than a day at the beach. The sun, the surf...what could be more fun? However, no environment is risk free. The ocean is powerful and unpredictable, and without the proper safety precautions our local beaches can be dangerous. All of us at Aloha Beach Camp Summer Day Camp want you and your family to enjoy the beach this summer, but always with the utmost safety and caution. Our camp counselors specialize in facilitating safe summer beach camp experiences for kids and teens throughout the Los Angeles area. If you are a parent, please review this info with your kids before you visit the beach this summer.
1. Learn to Swim
The ocean is powerful and can be difficult to navigate. Do not enter the ocean unless you know how to swim. Similarly, never rely on flotation devices such as rafts or boogie boards in place of actual swimming ability. If you fall off the flotation device, but do not know how to swim, you could panic and have difficulty retrieving your flotation device. Drownings can happen this way.
2. Swim Near a Lifeguard
The numbers don't lie. According to the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA), the odds of drowning at a public beach are nearly five times as great without lifeguard supervision. The risk of drowning at a lifeguard-protected beach is nearly nonexistent - 18,000,000 to 1 - with lifeguard protection. Always swim near an open lifeguard tower. No lifeguard? No swimming!
3. Protect Your Head and Neck
Never dive into the ocean headfirst - it's a leading cause of head and neck injuries. Always enter the ocean feet first, and when you are boogie/body boarding, keep your hands out in front to protect your head and neck.
4. Never Swim Alone
Safety in numbers? You bet! Always swim with a buddy and never swim alone, because many drownings involve single swimmers. If you ever get lost or separated from your buddy, tell the lifeguard immediately.
5. Obey All Posted Warning Signs and Flags
Signs and flags alert you to ocean safety conditions. For clarification about what they mean, ask a lifeguard.
6. Never Turn Your Back on the Ocean
Even the smallest wave can knock you over and cause injury, especially if you are caught by surprise. Always face forward and never turn your back on the ocean.
7. Learn About Rip Currents and How to Get Out of Them
Ever notice that "muddy" ocean water appearance flowing away from the shore? Chances are, that's a rip current. Most lifeguard rescues are due to people getting caught in rip currents. Even the strongest swimmers get caught in them. They are dangerous because they pull you away from the beach into deeper water. To get out of a rip current, do not fight the current by trying to swim to shore. Instead, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Then you can swim safely back to the beach.
8. Avoid Drugs and Alcohol
Alcohol and drugs can impair your judgment. Under their influence you might take unnecessary risks you otherwise would not. Alcohol, which can lower your body temperature and weaken your swimming ability, plays a significant role in many drownings.
9. Beware of Trash and Broken Glass
Your bare feet are perfect targets for broken glass and other trash all over the beach. Walk gingerly and beware of these and other hazards. It is best to keep your shoes on while walking between your car and the area of the beach you set up.
10. Don't Forget the Sunscreen!
Sunscreen protects you and your family from harmful UVA and UVB rays that can lead to sunburn and skin cancer. It should be applied several times during your day at the beach, especially after spending time in the water.
Enjoy the beach and have fun!
1. Learn to Swim
The ocean is powerful and can be difficult to navigate. Do not enter the ocean unless you know how to swim. Similarly, never rely on flotation devices such as rafts or boogie boards in place of actual swimming ability. If you fall off the flotation device, but do not know how to swim, you could panic and have difficulty retrieving your flotation device. Drownings can happen this way.
2. Swim Near a Lifeguard
The numbers don't lie. According to the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA), the odds of drowning at a public beach are nearly five times as great without lifeguard supervision. The risk of drowning at a lifeguard-protected beach is nearly nonexistent - 18,000,000 to 1 - with lifeguard protection. Always swim near an open lifeguard tower. No lifeguard? No swimming!
3. Protect Your Head and Neck
Never dive into the ocean headfirst - it's a leading cause of head and neck injuries. Always enter the ocean feet first, and when you are boogie/body boarding, keep your hands out in front to protect your head and neck.
4. Never Swim Alone
Safety in numbers? You bet! Always swim with a buddy and never swim alone, because many drownings involve single swimmers. If you ever get lost or separated from your buddy, tell the lifeguard immediately.
5. Obey All Posted Warning Signs and Flags
Signs and flags alert you to ocean safety conditions. For clarification about what they mean, ask a lifeguard.
6. Never Turn Your Back on the Ocean
Even the smallest wave can knock you over and cause injury, especially if you are caught by surprise. Always face forward and never turn your back on the ocean.
7. Learn About Rip Currents and How to Get Out of Them
Ever notice that "muddy" ocean water appearance flowing away from the shore? Chances are, that's a rip current. Most lifeguard rescues are due to people getting caught in rip currents. Even the strongest swimmers get caught in them. They are dangerous because they pull you away from the beach into deeper water. To get out of a rip current, do not fight the current by trying to swim to shore. Instead, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Then you can swim safely back to the beach.
8. Avoid Drugs and Alcohol
Alcohol and drugs can impair your judgment. Under their influence you might take unnecessary risks you otherwise would not. Alcohol, which can lower your body temperature and weaken your swimming ability, plays a significant role in many drownings.
9. Beware of Trash and Broken Glass
Your bare feet are perfect targets for broken glass and other trash all over the beach. Walk gingerly and beware of these and other hazards. It is best to keep your shoes on while walking between your car and the area of the beach you set up.
10. Don't Forget the Sunscreen!
Sunscreen protects you and your family from harmful UVA and UVB rays that can lead to sunburn and skin cancer. It should be applied several times during your day at the beach, especially after spending time in the water.
Enjoy the beach and have fun!
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