GetItNext Parenting Today - Tips, Advice, Laughs and Love

Is Your Pool Protected? Pool Alarms Are A Must Have

Did you know that a child can drown in the time it takes to answer one phone call?  And of the children that are hospitalized for near drowning incidents, 20 percent of them suffer permanent neurological disabilities.  While nothing can replace the watchful eye of adult supervision, there are products that can help to prevent accidents when you weren’t expecting guests in your pool.

Fences around pools are required by many local governments.  They work well as a barrier for younger children and pets.  But older children can maneuver through these barriers.  An innocent attempt to retrieve a ball that has been thrown into the pool area has potential for danger.  A child can overextend trying to reach for an object that has fallen into the pool, lose their balance, and fall into the pool.  There are alarms that can be installed on fences to bring attention to the area if someone should enter.  Installing in-ground swimming pool alarms or another device that detects motion in the water can offer piece of mind this swimming season at a nominal price.

How to Keep the Kids Busy This Summer

Kids love to be outside now that the weather is warmer, and who can blame them! There are so many activities to keep them busy; soccer, football and Frisbee get the cardio pumping and work on the eye-hand coordination.

Themed bikes or scooters with helmets like Barbie or Spiderman will help children dream up their next outdoor adventure.

Girls might want to jump rope or play on their roller-blades, while the boys play marbles or road hockey and trade their Pokemon cards with friends. And for the littler tykes, ride-on toys will help them join in the fun with their older siblings. Sounds like fun!

Silicone bakes it right

It all started with a silicone baking sheet as Martha Stewart preached the benefits of her Silpat nonstick. Without any additional grease needed, it was easy to clean up, and claimed when used it was hard to burn your baked goods. 

Intrigued, I went out and bought my first one and I quickly fell in love with it.  The obsession with silicone bakeware began there.  Subsequent purchases were made for traditional styles, bundt, cup cake and loaf-style “pans”.

I then became a fan of the whimsical shapes such as sunflower, butterfly and fleur-de-lis.  And let’s not forget about my holiday collection of hearts, pumpkins, pine trees, snowman and eggs.  My favorite, however, has got to be the giant cupcake…I’m sure you know why.   My entire silicone baking collection is oven, freezer and dishwasher safe in addition to being lightweight, easy to stack and even foldable if storage space is tight.

Collectibles - A Mother to Daughter tradition

After my daughter was born, I started a collection of “Precious Moments” figurines for her. I wanted her to have a special collection for the future that represented her years, as each year on her birthday she would be thrilled to receive another piece to add to her collection. Growing up, I collected dolls from all around the world and proudly displayed them on a shelf in my bedroom. Maybe one day she will share them with her daughter, or possibly start a new traditional collection of their own knowing that each milestone will be celebrated in its own special way.