More safety talk
Hello, and thanks to everyone who shared tips on how to keep our kids safe in light of the tragic abduction of Tori Stafford.
I find the Child Find websites very helpful. Check them out.
My daughters had an interesting incident at their small Toronto school last Friday. A man was talking over the school yard fence to the kids. (I know, we should be able to shrug and say 'big deal.'). I loved how the school communciated the info. to all parents and had teachers remind students about safety and strangers. Here are some of the tips that came home in a letter:
• Trust your instincts (my favourite) and tell your parents or teachers whenever someone treats you or speaks to you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
• Know that someone you see regularly in the neighbourhood is still a stranger (isn't it sad we have to tell our kids that?) and should be treated as a stranger.
• If a car is following you, change directions and run.
• Say 'no' if an adult wants you to do something that you think is wrong.
• Never approach or enter a stranger's car. Adults have no reason to offer you a ride, ask you for directions, or for help.
• Always walk with a buddy.
I hope these tips are helpful.
My current mum dilemma is how to keep our daughter, who turns 7 this Friday (yeah!) interested in playing the piano. Share your tips with me on how you keep your kids interested in music lessons.
Tak to you soon!
P.S. Next post, I'll tell you about a brilliant live music concert I went to, and give you the chance to win a CD. Yes, it's contest time again.
Tags: contest, kids, music lessons, safety
May 26th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Happy Birthday to your daughter! Keep your kids interested in musice lessons by exposing them to different kinds of music. You could take them to a music concert...even if it's a high school music concert.
May 27th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Great tips - thanks for sharing. We have started talking to our 3 and a half year old about these things, as well. He gets it. But it's still something that makes me very worried, and I know this fear I have will only increase as he starts kindergarten in the fall.
May 27th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
RE: Music Lessons
My daughter is currently in her first year of clarinet. I've played her some pretty cool classic jazz to show her that an instrument such as the clarinet can create some pretty wonderful melodies and sounds. My son is zooming through his first year of piano ( his natural flair ), and loves it. I think the important thing is for kids to give it a try and to not push them into something so that it's no longer pleasant, and becomes a chore or "homework". Exposing kids to different kinds of music is a great idea and finding a music school that has a good vibe and is fun is going to keep them going back for more too. If a lesson is too formal or "stiff", it's highly unlikely a child is going to be happy sticking with it. We are lucky to have a local music shop that is experienced & FUN. They make all the kids feel great at the recitals and they also put together bands and have performance nights. I think finding a school that makes it fun for the kids while still having fully qualified instructors, is a good route to go.