http://www.lite959.com

This morning we woke up to this on the news. I can honestly say I was sick to my stomach.

“Crying, cold and alone. A 21 month old toddler was found last night in his car seat in a car parked at the silver dollar casino. Police say he might’ve been there for 6 hours…dressed in light clothing, no socks, no shoes… It was -8 outside. EMS took the child to hospital for an assessment, family services will be involved. The child’s father has been charged…after *he* was found inside the casino.”

Having a child the same age, I can’t imagine what that child went through. Instead of being upset about this I wanted to give you a list of resources for childcare. It is out there. If you NEED to get out for a while, please leave your child in the care of someone who is willing to do it.

Here’s are some website links for childcare.

Here is the link to the Alberta Children and Youth Services, Child Care Services, Resources for Parents page:

http://www.child.alberta.ca/home/702.cfm

More specifically, here is the link to assist parents in finding specific child care options in their area, along with advice on what things to consider as a family for their specific child care needs, and suggestions on what to look for in a quality child care centre:

http://www.child.alberta.ca/home/724.cfm

Should parents require any additional information, they are encouraged to call Calgary and Area Child and Family Services Authority office main number at 403 297-6100, and they will be referred to a member of the Child Care Services team.

If EVER you know of a child in Crisis – please keep this number hand for the Child Services in Alberta Crisis Line – 403-297-2995 – They’re available 24/7 for Child intervention services in Calgary and area.

www.canadiansitter.ca This is a site I’ve used. Remember that no one is screened first. You must interview them. But I use 3 sitters from there, and they’re all GREAT!!

www.parentzone.com

Here’s one with a list of things to do for babysitters and parents http://www.calgarypolice.ca/kids/babysitting.html

And often your community will have a list of people who have taken the babysitting course. Contact your local community centre association.

Here are two other links related to this story. First is AADAC – http://www.aadac.ca/
A healthy society that is free from the harmful effects of alcohol, other drugs and gambling.

The other that may be helpful is the Canadian Mental Health Association – http://www.cmha.calgary.ab.ca/

One of the best ways to help a child is to love them! (Love is your bonus code)

`Freedom To Create … Spirit To Achieve.’

This new logo and slogan will cost taxpayers a pretty penny at $25 million over three years. This is for TV, radio and print ads.

So why do we need a slogan… they say it’s to boost the our province’s image.

I think the video is inspirational… what do you think? Click on the video below.

On Saturday, March 28, from 8.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. (local time), Rogers will be participating in Earth Hour.

Earth Hour is a World Wildlife Fund initiative that encourages individuals and companies around the world to turn off the lights for one hour in order to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Rogers offices across Canada will be turning off exterior signage and office lighting to support this important initiative.

For additional tips on energy saving, please visit www.onemillionactsofgreen.com. Use earth as your bonus code.

Car Seat tips from Calgary’s Child Magazine
We’ve all experienced it at least once. The joy of getting an uncooperative child into a child safety seat or booster seat.

When used correctly, child safety seats and booster seats save lives and reduce injuries. Here are some tips from the Alberta Occupant Restraint Program to keep your children content when riding in their child safety seats or booster seats:

Place your child in a safety seat from the very beginning. Children who ride
in safety seats for every ride from the time they are born are more likely
to stay in their seats when they are toddlers and pre-schoolers. Start the
‘buckle-up’ habit early and help your child view the safety seat as a
necessary part of any ride in a vehicle.

Be consistent. Buckle your child into the safety seat correctly for every
ride, no matter how short the trip.

Set an example. Buckle your seat belt correctly every time you get into the
vehicle. Point out to your child that you buckle up, too. Parents are
powerful role models and children learn from what we do as much as from what
we say.

Bring fun things for your child to do in the car. Have soft toys,
activities, books or music in the vehicle to keep your child busy. Change
the toys often to keep your child’s interest remember to store them safely
so they won’t fly around and hit someone in case of a crash. Consider having
a few toys that your child plays with only in the car. This can make a car
ride something your child looks forward to.

Make sure your child is comfortable. Dress your child so he or she will be
snug and warm in the child safety seat with as few layers as possible
between your child’s body and the shoulder straps. Try riding in the back
seat yourself. Is it too hot or too cold? You may want to use a sun shade
for sun shining in the back or side windows. Some children are happier when
their shoes and socks are off.

Encourage your child to look out the window. Child safety seats lift
children up and allow them to see out the window. Children are happier when
they can see what’s going on. For infants, tape bright, colorful images in
the vehicle to catch their eye. For older children, make it a game by
playing ‘I Spy’.

“When will we get there?” Answers that are specific, such as “After lunch,”
“When it gets dark,” “When this tape (song, story) is over, we will almost
be there” mean more to a child than ‘soon.’

Be firm with your child. All children will try to get out of their safety
seat at one time or another. If this happens when you are driving, pull off
the road to a safe spot and stop the vehicle. Tell your child that he needs
to stay in the safety seat, then buckle him back in. The key is to stay calm
and be kind, but to remain absolutely firm the vehicle will not go unless
everyone is buckled up.

When older toddlers are ‘struggling for independence’, they may try to get
out of their child safety seats, just because they can they are not trying
to be bad, they are just trying out their newly found personal power to make
things happen. Use the same strategy as above. You may have to repeat it
several times. Hint for parents: Keep a small book in the glove box for you
to read while you are waiting in your safe spot off the road for your child
to lose interest in struggling. It will help you stay calm as you out-wait
your child, and it will help to keep you from getting into a power struggle
with her.

Travel hints for longer trips. Children can get bored or tired after
spending along time in the vehicle. If you are planning a longer road trip
with young children:

Plan to stop the vehicle for breaks along the way. Bathroom stops and diaper
changes will be a necessity. If the weather allows, get the kids out and
enjoy some fresh air, snacks and activities. Pack some toys, ball or games
to play at your rest stop.

Consider some entertainment options for inside the vehicle. Music, books on
tape, travel-sized games, movie, electronics and other ideas can be great
for keeping kids of all ages happy while on the road.

Think up travel games like ‘I Spy’ or identification and counting games
(types of vehicles, license plates, road signs, flags) that can be fun on
long trips.

Keep nutritious snacks like crackers, cereal, cheese and fruit (fresh or
dried) in the vehicle in easy-to-use containers. For drinks, bring some
water and unsweetened fruit or vegetable juices.

Remember to secure everything when packing your vehicle so things won’t fly
around and hit people if a crash occurs.

Follow the instructions for your child safety seat and your vehicle owner’s
manual to make sure your seat is secured in your vehicle correctly.
Buckle your child in the child safety seat snugly for every ride.

* If you have other questions about child safety seats, call Alberta
Infrastructure and Transportation at (780) 427-8901 (toll-free in Alberta
310-0000) or Alberta Health Link toll-free at 1-866-408-5465 (LINK). For
more information, visit saferoads.com.

Don’t miss Calgary’s Child Magazine’s 4th Annual Free Family Fun Fair, April 30, 9 am to 4 pm at the Olympic Oval. Call 241-6066 for details.

Mother Nature graced us this weekend with a DUMP of snow. I don’t mind the snow so much… it’s the rude drivers out there that drive me NUTS!!! So I’ve made a Pet Peeve List for our Spring Storm. (Use storm as your bonus code)

See if you agree…
1.)First off – BRUSH OFF YOUR CAR/TRUCK/VAN. When you leave snow on the roof, guess what happens… it FLYS OFF ONTO THE VEHICLE BEHIND YOU. Creating a driving hazard!

2.)Secondly – JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE A BIG VEHICLE YOU ARE NOT IMMUNE TO THE WINTER DRIVING. I saw 3 separate collisions on Deerfoot and they all involved large vehicles (trucks and vans). Slow down and don’t be a bully with speed!

3.)This is the most important one… SLOW DOWN GOING PAST EMERGENCY VEHICLES WORKING. I saw several emergency workers, either a tow or EMS getting sprayed with the slush. They need to stay dry and do their job to help you!!!

Just a little ticked off. Please be courteous of other drivers, and keep our roads safe for you, for us, and for your families!! Feel free to add to my list!!

(Note: Platinum VIP’s you have until midnight on March 29th to enter your bonus code)

Bad news for the skinny models…

In a recession, men prefer women with a little meat on their bones. This from a study out
They found that when the bank account gets a little lean, men prefer women who aren’t.

That’s not really good news for those of us who need to shed an extra 20 pounds. They say, if a guy is insecure about finances, he only wants a woman 2 pounds heavier than a man who isn’t worried about money.

Another study compared the most popular actresses from the 1930s to the 1990s with the economy. In good times, the most popular actresses were baby faced. In tough times, playmates and actresses tended to be slightly heavier and more mature.

To be big or not to be? (Use big as your bonus code) How about we be the way we need to be, and not the way men like us!!!

(Note: Platinum VIP’s you have until midnight Sunday March 22nd to enter your bonus code)

Bedtime Battles – More tips at Calgary’s Child Magazine online

It’s bedtime, and the nightly struggle has begun. The words, ‘but, I’m not tired” – echo through the house. If this battle cry is standard in your home, rest assured, you’re not alone. The bedtime battle is one of toughest struggles between parents and children. It’s also one of the simplest to get back on track.

The trick is to establish a good bedtime routine and stick to it. Experts agree that establishing a bedtime routine and enforcing a reasonable bedtime will provide the critical rest growing bodies need to function at home, in school and in play.

While getting your child to bed earlier may be hard, it must be a priority as a child does not have the judgement skills to know when to go to bed on his or her own.

Good bedtime routines also provide children with a sense of security and control. Children relate well to knowing that certain things occur on regular schedules.

Here are some tips for establishing a bedtime routine:

• Decide on a firm bedtime, and provide and give your child a 15, 10 and 5 minute reminder that bedtime is coming up so they can finish up whatever they’re doing.

• Build in some quiet time before bed. Active play just before bedtime can leave children excited and hinders their ability to fall asleep.

• Develop a regular bedtime routine; this could include a warm bath, brushing teeth, reading, singing, or prayers. Allow plenty of time for a relaxed bedtime routine.

• Often some time allowed for reading in bed will help settle your child down and tire them out mentally.

• Leaving the room while your child is still awake will help them learn to settle themselves. If you return every time your child calls out, this will be your new routine.

When your child calls try this instead:

• Let some time pass before you answer calls from the bedroom, this extra time may be all that’s needed to help them fall asleep on their own.

• Sometimes just the reassurance that you are nearby is enough to settle your child, if you must go in, make it short and sweet.

I know I’m at least 18 years away from my son moving out… but boy am I in trouble. My son had a sleep over this weekend at Grandmas… and I had a hard time. I woke up about 4 times thinking I heard him. Wondering if he was okay.

It all worked out fine. He had fun, and slept through the night. But it got me thinking about the day when my boy moves out on me. Oh, man, I hope I’m not one of those moms who do everything for their son. The ones who do too much to try to make them stay close, but in actual fact they push them away…

Am I going to be a bawling Empty Nester?? (use empty as your bonus code). When my husband and I dropped him off at Grandmas and drove away we said… it’s just like the “good ol days” before kids. We both agreed that we don’t really remember what it was like. It’s like our son has never not been in our lives. Strange isn’t it… I’ve always said that if you want to know what it feels like to meet your sole mate, have a child. I feel like I’ve known him all my life… but yet he’s only 20 months old!

(Platinum VIP’s you have until midnight March 22nd to enter your bonus code)

Barbie turned 50 years old on Monday. I grew up with Barbie. Someone asked me the other day if I think the Barbie doll projected an unattainable body image to young girls. In a word… NO! I grew up with Barbie, and I don’t ever remember thinking that I would look like her when I grew up.

I think as parents, we need to have that discussion with our children. Let them know what type of body they can expect to grow in to. It’s not easy with skinny models, actress and magazines these days. But if your daughter brings up the issue, talk to them about it.

I was more disappointed that I didn’t have the Barbie (use Barbie as your bonus code) accessories. My friends had the Barbie Horse, the Barbie Convertible, the Barbie camper. I just had Barbie. Mind you, I stopped playing with my Barbie’s as soon as my brothers became interested in her… and cut all her hair off… then started to pop the heads off… but that’s a different blog, for a different day…

I’ll be honest with you, I really don’t like to watch shows where people argue or fight. (Use fight as your bonus code). Don’t we have enough arguing going on in our lives, I don’t like to relive it on TV… but I did tune into the Celebrity Apprentice last night. And I was a bit surprised at the “true” personalities of some of the stars…

The boys lost again. This time figure skating champ Scott Hamilton was the Project Manager. The teams had to design a comic book character to promote Zappos.com and present it to an executive. The reason the boys lost – is because they came up with the main character as “EEE”… I said the same thing Donald Trump said… What does EEE have to do with Zappos… shouldn’t the character be Z… Anyway… I was pleased that Tom Green (Canadian Comedian) got to stay on board. I’m not sure if he’s acting, but he came across as a caring individual. Which was weird for Tom…

The name turned out to be the guys’ downfall. Entrepreneur Jesse James told Donald Trump to fire Black. And Black said he would fire comedian Tom Green, because he was undermining Hamilton. Ultimately, Hamilton got fired because he picked the name, and Black is safe for another week.

(Note: Platinum VIP’s you have until Midnight Sunday March 15th to enter your bonus code)