Charity a Choice for Children, Too

This article gives some tips on involving children in charity, to get kids into giving.

When it comes to charity, everyone involved benefits. From those on the receiving end to those doing the giving, charity pays dividends for all concerned.

Parents can even reap greater rewards when involving children in charity. To get kids into giving, consider the following tips.

* Start kids young.It's never too early to involve children in charity. Instilling a charitable nature in kids can start as soon as parents see fit, and will encourage kids to make charity a lifelong pursuit. To get kids started, bring them along on your own charitable pursuits, such as to the local soup kitchen on a weekend morning, or involve them in other charitable activities such as a coat or food drive.

* Involve everyone. Parents are well aware that kids emulate adults' behavior. Younger children also tend to look up to their older siblings. So both Mom and Dad should make sure charitable efforts are a family affair, with both parents and older siblings all getting involved.

* Keep a donation jar around the house. Another way to get kids excited about charity is to keep a daily donation jar around the house. Kids will get excited as they see that jar slowly fill up with loose change or spare dollar bills.

* Let kids make some decisions. Kids will likely be more enthusiastic about charity work when they're working with a charity of their own choosing. For example, many children are very fond of animals. That said, they might be more enthusiastic about working with the local kennel than they would a soup kitchen. Let kids choose their own charities and encourage them to actively and continually participate.

* See if the child's school wants to get involved. Another way to get kids into charity is to involve their friends. Since most kids' friends are classmates, inquire with your child's teacher or principal about getting the class involved in a particular charity or activity.

CAPTION: Involving kids in charity at a young age is an effective way for parents to foster a positive attitude about charity in kids for years to come.

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Keep Kids Safe Around the Pool

When it comes to pools, kids generally love to dive right in. While parents enjoy the smiles on kids' faces as they laugh and lap it up in the backyard pool, it's important for parents to emphasize safety when kids are around the pool. To do just that, consider the following tips, courtesy of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

* Be especially vigilant with younger children. The AAP emphasizes that parents need to be especially careful with children younger than 5 years, recommending that kids that young are always within arm's length when in or around the pool.

* Keep rescue equipment and a telephone nearby. In case of an emergency, be sure to keep a first aid kit and rescue equipment within reaching distance of the pool. Also, should you need to call 911, have a phone within reach and make sure older kids bring a phone out when swimming unsupervised.

* Remove toys from the pool when no one is swimming. Leaving toys in the pool when no one is swimming could entice children to reach for them or jump back into the water to get them. Both of these scenarios could prove very dangerous, so be sure to remove all toys from the pool when everyone has finished swimming.

* Erect a fence around the pool. Many communities have laws mandating all pools be fenced in. For those that don't, it's still a great way to ensure kids don't wander into the pool area and fall into the pool. The AAP recommends gates that self-close and self-latch, and preferably a fence where the latch is higher than a child's reach.

* Don't leave kids alone. Even if it's only for a minute, children should never be left alone when in or near a pool. Adults who know CPR should be around kids whenever they're near a pool. If the phone rings or something else forces you inside, make the kids leave the pool and the pool area before proceeding.

* Cover the pool when not in use. Even if your pool is fenced in, a pool cover can be a great safety valve to keep curious kids from falling into an unattended pool. While this won't entirely prevent drowning, it can lessen its likelihood.

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kids safe swimming pool backyard pool parents

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