There are millions of toys out there, and hundreds of new ones hit the store shelves each year. Toys are supposed to be fun and are an important part of any child’s development. But it’s sobering to learn that in 2002, more than 212,000 children in the United States were treated in hospital emergency departments for toy-related injuries – and that 13 children died.
Consider these additional statistics from the National SAFE KIDS Campaign:
Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a genetic disorder that gradually weakens the body’s muscles. It’s caused by incorrect or missing genetic information that prevents the body from making the proteins it needs to build and maintain healthy muscles.
A child who is diagnosed with MD gradually loses the ability to do things like walk, sit upright, breathe easily, and move the arms and hands. This increasing weakness can lead to other health problems.
There are several major forms of muscular dystrophy, which can affect a child’s muscles in different levels of severity. In some cases, MD starts causing muscle problems in infancy, while in others, symptoms don’t appear until adulthood.
Sleep helps kids grow strong and healthy. Preschoolers typically sleep about 10 to 12 hours during each 24-hour period, but there’s no reason to be rigid about which 10 to 12 hours these are. At this stage, the important thing is to help your child develop good habits for getting to sleep.
Establishing a Bedtime Routine
A bedtime routine is a great way to ensure that your preschooler gets the sleep that he or she needs. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re setting up that routine:
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in children in the United States! This horrible statistic is made worse when we discover that 75% of child fatalities and 50% of child injuries could be eliminated with the consistent and correct use of child safety seats and safety belts! Educate yourself about your responsibility as a caregiver/parent to provide the children in your care with the protection that law and common sense dictate. When you drive with children in the car, children must be in safety seats and belts and in them correctly!
The American Egg Board calls it incredible, but for children with an egg allergy, the egg is simply inedible.
One of the most common food allergies in infants and young children, egg allergy can pose many challenges for parents. Because eggs are used in many of the foods kids eat – and in many cases they’re “hidden” ingredients – an egg allergy is hard to diagnose. Ultimately, it’s up to parents to monitor what their children eat and to consult with the doctor when they have concerns about a possible allergic reaction.
