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Spring Cleaning and Child Safety
Spring cleaning doesn't have to be such a chore, especially when you get motivated by knowing that the following spring cleaning activities will help to keep your kids safe.
Medicine Cabinet
Your medicine cabinet is not meant to be a storage area for all of the medicines that your child has ever been prescribed. For whatever reason, parents do seem to end up having left-over or half used prescriptions in their medicine cabinet though. Spring cleaning is a good time to get rid of them and any expired over-the-counter medicines that you may have. Smoke & CO Detectors
If you didn't replace the batteries in at the start or end of daylight saving time, now is a good time to do it. It is also a good time to test your smoke alarms and CO detectors, although you should be doing that each and every month. You can also this time as a reminder to review and rehearse your family. Broken Toys
Many parents use spring cleaning as an excuse to go through and get rid of toys that their kids no longer play with, but you can also use it as a time that you check the toys that they do still play with and get rid of those that are broken and can't be repaired. When considerin, you should  weak or loose parts that could fall off and become a choking hazard  loose screws and bolts, especially on things like playground equipment and ride on toys  loose or exposed wires in electrical toys Even if your home is well childproofed, with latches on cabinets, gates on stairs, and covers on door knobs, you do have to regularly inspect them to make sure they are still working properly. Cabinet and drawer latches and locks are especially prone to wear and tear, which may allow your child to get in them and to any unsafe items you have stored in them. You should always be watching for reports and alerts about recalled products, but if you don't, spring cleaning time is a good time to check and see if any toys or household products in your home have Checking your child's car seat to make sure it still fits and is installed properly is another thing that you should be doing much more often than when you are doing your spring cleaning, but it is a good time to think about it all the same. Is your child ready to move up to a booster seat? Is he ready to move out of a seat and to use regular seat belts? Springtime Allergies
By Ellen Neuborne: How to handle those springtime sniffles and sneezes. Your little one is sniffling and sneezing. Is it a cold or allergies? In spring, it's not easy to tell. Could be a late winter cold. Could be an early spring allergy. Allergies are quite common in young children but are often overlooked by parents and caregivers because little ones also come down with so many common colds. Expert estimate that 35 million Americans suffer from allergies to airborne pollen -- the condition commonly known as hay fever. And children whose parents have allergies are much more likely to have them, even if it's just one parent who suffers. So what do you do when you hear that sneeze? First, see if you can make the call between cold and allergy. The distinction is important because colds and allergies call for different treatments and responses. How can you tell the difference? The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) offers these guidelines for deciphering the springtime sniffles: In addition to nasal symptoms, child also complains of fever or aches and pains Symptoms begin faintly and then escalate over a few days Symptoms clear up in several days to a week Allergies:
Symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, wheezing, and watery/itchy eyes
Symptoms begin quickly
Symptoms can linger all season -- even year-round
Colds should be treated with rest, a bit of TLC, and frequent hand washing by family members to curtail the spread of germs. But
allergies call for a different response.
The medications used to treat allergies are decongestants, antihistamines, and steroids. If your child's symptoms are relatively mild,
you may consider using over-the-counter forms of allergy relief. (Read the label to make sure it's appropriate for children.) Be aware
that antihistamines may cause drowsiness and can affect a child's participation in playgroups or school.
If over-the-counter remedies aren't providing adequate relief, consult your child's doctor. There are many nonsedating antihistamines
available -- most still require a prescription. Also, topical steroids, found in nasal sprays such as Flonase and Nasonex, are a possible
treatment option.
Some allergies do not improve even with these methods. At that point, your child's doctor may recommend an allergy specialist for
skin testing to isolate the specific allergens and possibly begin immunotherapy injections.
You can help out at home, too. For a child with seasonal allergies, experts offer these tips:
Keep the windows in your car and home closed, especially on days when forecasts call for medium or high pollen levels.
Limit outdoor activity in the early morning, when springtime pollen counts are generally highest.
Set bath time just before bedtime. That may help wash off some pollen that could otherwise make for a sniffly night.
Administer any allergy medications before your child's allergy season begins and continue them on a daily basis throughout
the season.
Reading Tips for Parents
Read together every day
Read to your child every day. Make this a warm and loving time when the two of you can cuddle close.
Give everything a name
Build your child's vocabulary by talking about interesting words and objects. For example, "Look at that airplane! Those are the
wings of the plane. Why do you think they are called wings?"
Say how much you enjoy reading
Tell your child how much you enjoy reading with him or her. Talk about "story time" as the favorite part of your day.
Read with fun in your voice
Read to your child with humor and expression. Use different voices. Ham it up!
Know when to stop
Put the book away for awhile if your child loses interest or is having trouble paying attention.
Be interactive
Discuss what's happening in the book, point out things on the page, and ask questions.
Read it again and again
Go ahead and read your child's favorite book for the 100th time!
Talk about writing, too
Mention to your child how we read from left to right and how words are separated by spaces.
Point out print everywhere
Talk about the written words you see in the world around you. Ask your child to find a new word on each outing.
Get your child evaluated
Please be sure to see your child's pediatrician or teacher as soon as possible if you have concerns about your child's language
development, hearing, or sight.

Source: http://www.bluegrasscommunityaction.org/supportFiles/franklin/franklin_hs_may_news.pdf