SEATBELT SAFETY

Car crashes are the number one cause of death for Canadian children!

A properly installed car seat can reduce the risk of serious injury or death by as much as 71 per cent.

Make sure your child is safe and secure, and is buckled up right. Children under 13 years of age are safest in the back seat away from all active air bags.

By law, drivers are responsible for ensuring passengers under 16 years of age are secured properly. It is mandatory for anyone transporting children to make sure they are properly secured in a child car seat or booster seat. This applies to all caregivers, from babysitters to grandparents. Failing to do so may result in a $90 fine, plus two demerit points and a victim surcharge.

Pre-school to 8 years old
The law requires booster seats for children who have outgrown a child car seat but are too small for a regular seat belt.
Booster seats are required for children under the age of eight, weighing 18 kg or more but less than 36 kg (40-80 lbs) and who stand less than 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall.

A child can start using a seatbelt alone once any one of the following criteria is met:
>child turns eight years old
>child weighs 36 kg (80 lbs.)
>child is 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall.

A lap and shoulder combination belt must be used with all booster seats. Your child’s head must be supported by the top of the booster, vehicle seat or headrest. The shoulder strap must lie across the child’s shoulder (not the neck or face) and middle of the chest, and the lap belt must cross low over the hips (not the stomach/abdomen). Never use seatbelt adjusters.

Facts About Speech and Language

Did You Know? .....

• Speech and language difficulty is the most common problem facing Ontario's children.

• 10% of preschool children may be at risk of speech and language problems.

• Unless they receive help, children with communication problems face the risk of long term difficulties with social relationships, education and self-esteem.

• Treating a preschool child for communication difficulties costs less than treating an older child.

• For every dollar spent, six dollars are saved compared to providing speech and language therapy at a later age. • Boys are more at risk for communication problems than are girls.

Early detection counts! If in doubt check it out!

York Region Preschool Speech and Language Program

1-888-703-KIDS

www.Beyond-Words.org

HEALTHY EATING
By: Pat Panetta

HELPING CHILDREN ENJOY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Fruits and vegetables are great sources of fibre and carbohydrates. They are packed full of vitamins and minerals. Research shows that children are not eating enough vegetables and fruit. Statistics Canada data shows that 6 out of 10 children eat vegetables and fruit less than five times a day. These poor eating habits have shown that these children are more likely to be overweight than children who eat vegetables and fruit more frequently.

Here are some tips that parents can use to encourage their child(ren) to enjoy more fruits and vegetables everyday:


Pay attention to presentation: Make vegetables and fruit look fun to eat on the plate. Serve different colours, textures and shapes. Make a happy face with cucumber eyes, a mouth made from red peppers, shred carrots for hair, etc….the possibilities are endless!

Let your child dip and dunk: Prepare a tray of raw vegetables with a favourite dip. Making food fun to eat will make it quickly disappear!!!

Avoid power struggles: Pressuring your child to eat fruits and vegetables does not work! Whether your child eats a food or not, don’t worry and do not make any comments to your child. Keep the food on the menu even if your child refuses to eat it. In time your child will learn to choose a variety of foods own their own including those they refused in the past!!

Create theme days around food: Include fruits and vegetables in your theme days. For example, have an Apple Day where children can learn about apples. They can sort several varieties by kind, colour or size, make snacks from apples like apple rings or apple crisp at lunch.. Cut an apple in half across the middle to reveal a secret star and make apple star prints with paint! Read story books about fruits and vegetables. There are many fun children’s books with themes about eating fruits and vegetables. Let your child go shopping with you and help pick out fruits and vegetables that appeal to them. There are so many new and interesting varieties of food available today in our stores that the choices are endless!

Plant a garden: Have fun planting a small vegetable garden in your back yard or even a few seedlings or herbs in containers. You can teach your child about food, nature and hard work all at the same time!!

And last but not least…..

Be a good role model: If you eat healthy around your child and enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables, chances are your child will be more eager to eat them too!

Consuming vegetables and fruit is an important way to reduce the risk of disease and maximize good health. Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating recommends 5 to 10 servings of vegetables and fruit per day.

How much is one serving?

• 1 medium vegetable or fruit
• ½ cup (125 ml) of 100% fruit or vegetable juice
• ½ cup (125 ml) of chopped vegetables or fruit (fresh, frozen or canned)
• 1 cup (250 ml) salad
• ¼ cup (50 ml) dried fruit

CAUTION: Hard pieces of raw vegetables or fruit can be a choking hazard for young children. Make sure that you lightly cook or grate foods such as carrots, and apples for children under the age of four.

Nanny Tess