Cool for Kids

Contact Form

2008-08-09T01:44:00.000-07:00

How Long to Keep Kids in Five Point Harness Car Seats

2008-07-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

There are 4 steps to keep child passenger safety. Choose the right car seat or booster seat and use it correctly on every ride, will protect your child in the vehicle. Which car seat is right for your child? and How long to keep kids in five point harness car seats? Try reading this article, you would find the answers to your questions.

First Step: Rear Facing Car Seat

The head of baby is heavier, larger and the neck is smaller, weaker than older children and adults. A rear facing car seat protects the baby's head, neck, and spine. In a crash or sudden stop, the force of the crash is spread across the back. It is the strongest part of the baby's body at this stage. Use a rear facing infant with five point harness car seat from birth and stay as long as is safely possible until at least age one. If your baby outgrows her infant seat before age one, choose a convertible car seat and in the rear facing position until your baby reaches the height limit or weight limit of the convertible seat in the rear facing position.

Rear facing seats are outgrown when:
1) The weight limit is reached - 22lbs for infant carriers, 30-35lbs for convertible seats
OR
2) There is less than 1" of seat above the child's head. Otherwise the tops of the child’s ears are above the top of the retraint.

Most kids outgrow seats by height before weight.

Step 2: Forward Facing Car Seat

A forward facing car seat faces the front of the car, is designed to protect a small child who is at least one year of age in a crash or sudden stop. It is meant for the child who have had spines, bones, and muscles grow strong. The five point harness straps of a forward facing car seat would spread the force of a crash over the strongest parts of the body.

Keep your child in the forward facing car seat as long as is safely possible or until the child reaches the height or weight limit of the seat. If you are using a car seat that can be used for other stages as well (Convertible Car Seat or 3-in-1 Car Seat), make sure you follow the height and weight limits of your car seat for when it is used forward facing.

Many forward facing car seats have height limits of 40 inches (102 cm) and weight limits of 40 pounds (18 kg). But there are forward facing car seats with five point harness car seat which have higher height and weight limits. (see Car Seat for Older Kids) Therefore this stage could extend until the child reaches 80 pounds or 57”.

Forward facing seats are outgrown when:
1) The weight limit is reached – 40-70lbs for Convertible Car Seats , 80lbs for Older Forward Facing Car Seat.
OR
2) There is less than 1" of seat above the child's head. Otherwise the tops of the child’s ears are above the top of the retraint.

Most children outgrow their forward facing car seat between ages 4 and 5.

Step 3: Booster Seat with Seat Belt

When your child has outgrown the forward-facing seat but is too small to use your car's safety belt system alone, it's time for a booster seat. Boosters reduce the potential for belt-induced injuries in small children and help transition them from a safety seat to an adult-size lap and shoulder belt. Booster seats also come in the backless variety, which allows an adult seat belt to fit safely across your child's body. The seat uses the car's seat belt to hold your child therefore, your child must wear both the shoulder belt and the lap belt.

Just as you did with the booster seat, teach your child the importance of proper buckling. In a crash, an improperly buckled seat belt may do serious harm — and following a few simple rules may save your child's life.

Seat belts are made to fit people who are at least 4 feet, 9 inches (145 cm) tall. Please use the booster seat until the adult seat belt fits correctly and when your child weighs at least 80 pounds or reaches a height of 4 feet 9 inches.

Step 4: Seat Belt

Most kids can safely use an adult seat belt between ages 8 and 12. Here's how you'll know that your child is ready:

1.) Your child weighs at least 80 pounds or reaches a height of 4 feet 9 inches.

2.) Your child sits against the back of the seat, with his or her knees bent comfortably at the edge of the seat. The lap belt rests flat across your child's hips under your child's belly., and the shoulder belt rests on your child's shoulder and across the middle of your child's chest.— not on the face or upper arm.

3.) The seat belt does not touch your child's face or neck.

4.) Your child can remain seated like this for the entire trip.

Never allow a child to put the seat belt shoulder strap behind her back.

As your child gets older, you may be more likely to drive his or her friends as well. Even when it's crowded in the car, seat belt safety still rules. Allow for extra time to make sure each child is safely buckled in. If you keep extra booster seats in your car for car pool day, buckle them in or store them in the trunk. Loose booster seats may hit someone inside the car if you're in an accident or come to a sudden stop.

Sources:

www.riversideonline.com
www.sickkids.on.ca
www.nhtsa.gov

Enclosure Links:

Type of Car Seats Available
Car seat for Older Kids
Car Seat Ratings
Harness Type for Car Restraint
5 -point car seat, is it necessary?
Choosing the Best, Most Affordable 5-Point Harness Car Seats
Britax Convertible Car Seats Information
Sunshine Kids Convertible Car Seats Information
Evenflo Triumph Advance Information

Type of Car Seats Available

2008-07-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

We’ve known that there are four steps to keep child safely in the vehicle. The first three steps have to use the extra car seats called rear-facing, forward-facing position and booster car seats. Car seats aren't just essential the law in all 50 states of US. As soon as you leave the hospital, you'll need to be prepared to transport baby safely--no matter where you go. That's why, before baby arrives, you should do some research and carefully choose an appropriate car seat.

There are many types of car seats available as follows:

Infant Car Seat: This seat is used specifically for infants up to 22 pounds or 26 inches long as rear-facing position only. Many models offer a stay-in-car base that allows both quick installation and gentle removal to prevent waking a sleeping baby. Newer infant car seats offer a safe, five-point harness restraint system

See weight-height limit of each brand for infant car seat here.

Convertible Car Seat: A convertible car seat can usually be used first as a rear facing up to one set of height and weight limits and then can be used forward facing up to a higher height and weight limit. This is the best choice if you're using the seat for a small baby, and it provides the best protection against head injury. Like infant seats, convertible car seats usually have a five-point restraint system and some convertible seats also offer an overhead shield--a padded bar that swings down over baby's head and buckles to the seat at the crotch. It is sometimes called an:

* Infant/child car seat

* 2 in 1 rear facing to forward facing car seat

See weight-height limit of each brand for convertible car seat here.

Combine Car Seat: This car seat can be used first as a forward facing car seat and then as a booster seat. This type of booster seat can be used as a forward-facing child safety seat for a child who weighs between 20 and 40 pounds. The booster seat is attached to the vehicle with either the LATCH system's lower anchorages or the vehicle's belt system, while a five-point harness provides full body protection. When the child reaches 40 pounds, the five-point harness is removed and the seat converts to a belt-positioning booster seat using the vehicle's lap and shoulder belts for restraint.

It is sometimes called a:

* Child/booster seat

* 2 in 1 forward facing to booster seat

* High-Backed Booster with Five-Point Harness

* Toddler car seat

* Older kid car seat

See weight-height limit of each brand for combine car seat here.

3-in-1 Car Seat: This type of car seat can be used first as a rear facing seat and then as a forward facing and finally as a booster seat. It is sometimes called an:

Infant/child/booster seat.

Please note: There are the seats called same 3-in-1 in name but are not same in meaning of this 3-in-1 car seat type such as Graco Nautilus 3-in-1. The Nautilus 3-in-1 can be used as five point harness forward-facing and then high back or backless booster seat, therefore, it should be Combine Car Seat Type which use for older kids.

See weight-height limit of each brand for 3-in-1 car seat here.

Booster Seat: Belt-Positioning Booster is designed for children who weigh between 40 and 80 pounds, and available in high-backed and backless models. The child sits in the booster seat and uses the vehicle lap and shoulder belts for restraint.
Backless booster seats are designed to keep the lap belt positioned over your child's hips and the shoulder belt positioned comfortably across the shoulder and chest. If your vehicle doesn't offer a headrest or adjustable head restraint to protect your child's head and neck in a crash, consider using a high-back booster that fits your child's height and weight.

See weight-height limit of each brand for booster car seat here.

Enclosure Links:

How Long to Keep Kids in Five Point Harness Car Seat
Car seat for Older Kids
Car Seat Ratings
Harness Type for Car Restraint
5 -point car seat, is it necessary?
Choosing the Best, Most Affordable 5-Point Harness Car Seats
Britax Convertible Car Seats Information
Sunshine Kids Convertible Car Seats Information
Evenflo Triumph Advance Information

Cool for Kids Blog Contents

2008-06-27T02:17:00.000-07:00

Cool Books

J.K. Rowling's Hand Written

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Alexander By Judith Viorst

I Love My Mommy and Daddy

A Classic Bedtime Story : Goodnight Moon

Best Children’s book Award Winner : Elijah of Buxton

Newbery and Caldecott Winners for Best Children’s Book

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf : An Anti-Violence Classic Book

Harry, the Dirty Dog: Bath Book

Cool Car Seats

Harness Type for Car Restraint System

5-Point Harness Car Seat, is it neccessary?

Choosing the Best, Most Affordable 5-Point Harness Car Seats

Car Seat Ratings

Car Seat for Older Kids

Cleaning Tips for Car Seats

Type of Car Seat Available

How Long to Keep Kids in Five Point Harness Car Seat

Cool Tips

Housework and Cooking Tips

Benefits of Venegar

Free Beading Patterns

Warm Hearted Family

Introduction

Cleaning Tips for Car Seat

2008-06-27T01:58:00.000-07:00

For Leather Car Seats

Stain : leather become dyed as a result of wet sugar, stickler adhesive.

Try to use a 1/2 teaspoon of a laundry stain remover such as spray n'wash or shout. Dip a clean white cloth (T-Shirt) in the stain remover then try to buff the stain out.

Otherwise wash the stain remover off with warm water (never cool because this sets the stain further).

If that does not work, try a small amount of product called Goo Gone. Should always try the product on an inconspicuous area of leather first to test for colour fastness.

Finally if those still do not work, lightened the stain by using shoe polish the same color as the leather.

Ink pen toddler drawing

Try magic eraser, it is good for new stain. The fresher the ink the more chance of removing it. Mild alcohol is a fairly good non-bleaching solvent and removes pen ink from almost anything. Dab with a cloth soaked in mild ethanol (alcohol) then wash with soap and water to get the smell of alcohol away. Try not to use so much alcohol because nail varnish remover/solvents or alcohol will remove the finish on the leather depending on the finish strength on the leather.

Melted Crayon

To get crayon marks off upholstery, first scrape excess crayon off with a dull-edge knife or metal spoon. Spray with WD-40 and let stand a few minutes. With a small, stiff bristle brush work crayon stain and wipe with paper towels. Respray with WD-40 and apply liquid dishwashing detergent on the sprayed area; work in with the brush and wipe stain away with a damp sponge. If stain remains, repeat the procedure...

If you don’t want to damage the leather finish accidentally by knife, you can put the brown paper sacks over the crayon and then take the iron on top of the crayon and the heat will cause the paper sack to soak up the wax.

Free Beading Patterns

2008-04-21T03:42:00.000-07:00

I was introduced to beading craft by my niece, recently. She is 7 years old, made her crystal bead bracelets herself ! Yet, she could make crystal rings for her friends as well. I started to study beading since then and found that it is very pleasure and funny hobby. Currently, I have no doubt at all, by the words like : bead mania, bead lover, beadaholique, bead passion, bead fever and so on. When you try on beading work, you would also understand these words deeply.

The important thing in beading works except bead, beading tools and kits, is beading pattern. There are many free beading pattern online in many websites. I could collect them here. (I have got them by searching “free beading pattern” on search engine and this blog: NoneOfIt Bloggang)

All Craft-Beading Pattern Link Center (English Website) http://www.allcrafts.net/Jewelry.htm#freeprojects

AllAbout (Japanese Website) http://allabout.co.jp/interest/beads/closeup/CU20021217A/index.htm

Bead Fever (Japanese Website) http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~beadsfever/

Bead Mania (Japanese Website) http://www.beadsmania.com/user/recipe/index.html

Bead Recipe (Japanese Website) http://www.beadrecipe.com/recipe/

Bead Robyn's page (English Website) http://www.geocities.com/robynl_4/

Bead Studio (English Website) http://www.beadstudio.com/projects.php

Beading Bees (English Website) http://homepage3.nifty.com/Hachimitsu8/index_english.htm

Beading Times (English Website) http://www.beadingtimes.com/beading_project.htm

Beads Factory (Japanese Website) http://www.beadsfactory.co.jp/tech/tech0202_0.html

Bumble Bees (Japanese Website) http://www.bumblebees-beads.com/

Craft Workshop (Chinese Website) http://bbs.craftworkshop.com/viewthread.php?tid=11137

Elflinda (Chinese, Japanese Pictures Pattern)http://photo.163.com/photos/elflinda/68861111/#p4

Fire Mountain Gems.com (English Website) http://www.firemountaingems.com/beading_howtos/default.asp

Free Beading Pattern Link Center (English Website) http://extrastellar.net/cjbeadpatternlinks.html

Free Pattern and Tutorial Site (English Website) http://members.tripod.com/~kyal/patterns/links.html

Hiro Bead (Japanese Website) http://www.hirobead.com/onlineshop/recipe/index.html

Kiwa (Japanese Website) http://www.kiwa-inc.co.jp/shop/recipe/

Omochabako.com (Japanese Website) http://www.e-omochabako.com/recipe/index.html

Paolo Bottoni (Japanese Website) http://www.tedukuri-club.com/res06.html

Perlesenchantees (English Website) http://membres.lycos.fr/perlesenchantees/Projects.htm

Ring Things (English Website) http://www.rings-things.com/Projects/PROJ1.HTM

Sally (Chinese, Japanese Pictures Pattern) http://photo.163.com/photos/sally550918/

Sally-Beads-Shop (Japanese website) http://store.yahoo.co.jp/sally-beads-shop/recipe-pp.html

Shamrock-garland (Japanese Website) http://www.shamrock-garland.com/beads-recipe-top.html

SYX920 (Chinese, Japanese Pictures Pattern) http://photo.163.com/photos/syx920/

TyFactory (Japanese Website) http://www.tyfactory.com/recipe.html

It is a pity that many of them are not English website, but google can help this. There is google tool called Language tool ( http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en) which is able to translate blinding language to familiar one. Here is the example.

Original Website-Japanese Language

Translated Website by Google Language Tool-English Language

This tool can not translate the words on the picture, if you would like to study Japanese beading pattern you can visit : Beejang Livejournal Blog

I hope this article could be helpful. Enjoy your Beading Works !

Car Seat for Older Kids

2008-04-08T09:50:00.000-07:00

When the child is outgrowing the existing car seat and go big, parents may have some problems like:

Which type of car seats are best for older kids?
How long to keep child in 5 point harness car seat?
Is a 5 point harness necessary for older children?
Are there any 5 point harness car seats for big kids?

Now we do realize that a five-point harness is always safer. (See related article here) By watching any kind of racing, we'll notice that the drivers use five-point harnesses instead of regular seat belts or an air bag. We try to keep kids safely buckled into five-point harness as long as possible. But some parents thought that kid would have been thrown from the car still harnessed into the car seat unless the five-point harness car seat was tethered in at the top anyways because the seatbelt came undone and there would not have been anything holding him in the actual seat. So, she /he could have still got serious injury or death even with the 5 point harness. However this situation is risky as keeping child on booster seats with seatbelt.

To keep your children safe on the roads and get correct car seat, it is important that you know your state's laws regarding child passenger safety. to get detailed information about your state's child restraint laws. To look for the law in your state, try linking here. You can also go to your local law enforcement center or to your local fire department

When is kid outgrown the car seat? It is depend on the height and weight, not age because some kids could be older just really short and could still be in danger. There are some notifications on this point here.

The harness might not work properly in an accident if the child using it is more than ten pounds heavier than what it is designed to hold.

Kid’s shoulders grow above the top set of shoulder harness slots or their eye level to the top slot.

Generally the harness is good until 40 lbs/ 4 years old. Check with the manufacturer, but the harness usually can be adjusted and most times, the manual says the harness straps should come out of the back of the seat below shoulder level, so she/he might not be too big for the harness, it just may need to be adjusted.

The bare minimum for safe and legal booster use is 4 years and 40lbs. But most four year olds are not mature enough to be using boosters yet. It is much better to wait until a child is 5-6 years old to put them in a booster seat full time. Four year olds lack the impulse control needed to sit upright without leaning forward or to the side for the whole trip. We also know that the spine is not solid until age six.

Five-point harness car seats for big kids who reaching the maximum weight for the rear facing car seat and the top of the head is above the top of the seat back. All car seats below rated by NHTSA meet Federal Safety Standards & strict crash performance standards.

Britax Regent (Forward Facing) Weight limit is 22-80lbs and height limit is up to 53"

Britax Boulevard / Marathon (Forward Facing) Weight limit is 20-65lbs and height limit is up to 49”

Sunshine Kids Radian 80 (Forward Facing) Weight limit is 22-80lbs and height limit is up to 49”

Recaro Como/Signo (Forward Facing) Weight limit is 20-70lbs and height limit is up to 50”

Evenflo Chase/Traditions (Booster Seat) Weight limit is 30-100lbs and height limit is 37"-54"

Safeguard Child Seat Weight limit is 22-65lbs and height limit is up to 57"

Safeguard Go Weight limit is 22-60lbs and height limit is 31"-52"

Safety 1st Apex 65 Weight limit is 22-65lbs and height limit is 34"-52"

Enclosure Links:

How Long to Keep Kids in Five Point Harness Car Seats
Car Seat Ratings
Harness Type for Car Restraint
5 -point car seat, is it necessary?
Choosing the Best, Most Affordable 5-Point Harness Car Seats
Britax Convertible Car Seats Information
Sunshine Kids Convertible Car Seats Information
Evenflo Triumph Advance Information

Harry, the Dirty Dog: Bath Book

2008-04-02T03:26:00.000-07:00

Harry, the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion

Did you feel sometime, it was rather hard to take the kid to bath? Many kids do not like to have bath. Maybe they have realized by themselves why we have a bath, they would be willingness to clean their body.

“Harry, the Dirty Dog” is a story of a white dog with black spots who is NOT fond of baths. One day when he realized that his owners were planning a bath he ran to hide the brush and proceeded to run away. Harry went all through town getting so dirty that he appeared to be black with white spots. After a whole day of adventures and dirt Harry wanted to go home. But when he arrived at home his family didn't even recognize him. In fact they were outraged when a strange dog (actually Harry) ran in the house and up stairs to jump into the sudsy water. To the families surprise it was Harry. After his bath he happily nestled into his favorite pillow and fell asleep thinking about his adventure and his loving family.

The book isn't making any intentional social commentary, but I did love the variety of places Harry got into. It's nice to see jobs in a kids book that aren't all posh upper middle class desk occupations. I think that the authors point, other than entertaining young children which he was successful in doing, was to explain the importance of being happy the way you are and where you are. You shouldn't take the small things in life for granted. Harry decided to leave his home to see what else was out there only to realize that he had everything he needed at home.

Such a simple story: - the adventures of Harry is hilarious and appropriate for four year olds and younger children.

More Info

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf : An Anti-Violence Classic Book

2008-04-01T03:57:00.000-07:00

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

This book is more than sixty years old, about self-discovery, the deception of appearances, pacifist and priorities.

Ferdinand is a bull that is growing up in Spain, enjoys sitting under a tree smelling the flowers. He is completely uninterested in fighting while all the other bulls want to be mean ,fierce and fight all the time, which prepares them for the bullfighting ring. When the local bullfighters come out the field to find fighting bulls, they ignore Ferdinand until he puts on a show that impresses the matadors by mistake. The truth is Ferdinand sits on a bee, which stings him and his gyrations appear to be anger and hostility. They select him, and transport him to the arena for a bullfight. When the moment of the fight comes, will he be faithful to himself, or will he go along with the crowds? It turns out that all of the men in the arena are afraid of Ferdinand, but he simply sits down and smells the flowers in the hats of the spectators. Nothing that they can do will get him angry, so they load him up and ship him back to the pasture where he came from.

Ferndinand's character and his refusal to fight is main of the story, he just liked to live quietly and peacefully. Being violent and competitive just didn't interest him. He didn’t mind being different from the rest of the herd strikes an instant chord in youngsters and oldsters alike. The book has an important lesson to teach our children today: that it is o.k. to be yourself, even when everyone else thinks you should be something else and goodness is a powerful, unshakeable force.

The story is funny and endearing, and the illustrations are hilarious. The book is best for preschoolers.

More Info

Car Seat Ratings

2008-02-26T01:29:00.000-08:00

Parents do realize that child should be kept in each stage of car seat as long as possible. In order to choose the right seat from many, we remember that the best car seat is the one that fits our child properly, is easy to use, and fits in the vehicle correctly.

For the ease to use object, there is Ease of Use Car Seat Rating by NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) which have used a five-star rating system to score child safety seats on how easy they are to properly install, and will help guide parents and caregivers in choosing the right car seat to keep their children safe. All car seats rated by NHTSA meet Federal Safety Standards & strict crash performance standards. While all rated seats are safe, they do differ in their ease of use in four basic categories:

Evaluation of Instructions: Examines the content and clarity of the instruction manual.
Evaluation of Labels: Examines the content and clarity of the labeling attached.
Vehicle Installation Features: Examines the ease of using features that pertain to installing in a vehicle.
Securing the Child: Examines the ease of using features that pertain to securing a child correctly.

The rating can be useful to evaluate the categories that are most important to the consumer and select a child restraint that meets their needs. For example, consumers who will be installing their child restraints in multiple vehicles on a regular basis may want a child restraint with the highest rating in the “Vehicle Installation Features” category. Conversely, consumers who are more familiar with child restraints or who rarely remove them from their vehicle may not find this category rating as important.

Find NHTSA Ease of Use Ratings Here

Enclosure Links:

Four Steps to Keep Child Passenger Safety
Harness Type for Car Restraint
5 -point car seat, is it necessary?
Choosing the Best, Most Affordable 5-Point Harness Car Seats
Car Seat for Older Kids
Britax Convertible Car Seats Information
Sunshine Kids Convertible Car Seats Information
Evenflo Triumph Advance Information

Choosing the Best, Most Affordable 5-Point Harness Car Seats

2008-02-20T08:17:00.000-08:00

We do realize that no price is too high when it comes to protecting our kids, but at the same time we do not have to go into debt over it and feel like to know some good options in a lower price. There are many 5 harness point car seats obtainable, for example : Alpha Elite, Alpha Sport, Babyhood, Bergeron, Britax, Columbia, Combi, Cosco, Dorel, Evenflo, Fisher-Price, Graco, SafeGuard, Kolcraft, Lenox, Mercedes-Benz, Porshe, Pride-Trimble, Recaro, Renolux, Sunshine Kids. (See Pictures in PDF formatted file here. Credit : www.carseat.org)

Although we have known that it is against the law for companies to make unsafe car seats but we need to do careful research before selecting a car seat.

Here is suggested rules:

1) The best car seat is one that: Fits Your Child, Easy to Install and Use Correctly Every Time and Fits Your Car. There are many things to take into consideration before deciding which car seat suits your child's age, size, weight, etc. When the suitable one for our child has been chosen, we do recognize that the best, most expensive car seat in the whole world isn't worth much at all if you don't install and use it correctly. Next we need to find out if the seats you like best will fit in your car.
See More Detail in www.carseatdata.org

2) Children should stay rear facing as long as possible. A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 4 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age. A child's vertebrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone. In other countries, rear facing 2 - 3 - 4 year olds is standard, they understand that its safer. Here, we turn them as soon as we get to, seeing it as a right of passage thing or something. Ridiculous.

(Most convertible seats have a 30lbs rear facing limit as Cosco/Dorel/Safety1st/Eddie Bauer seats rear face to 35lbs, Britax rear facing limit to 33lbs.)

3) Once you do turn them forward facing, they need to stay in a 5 point harness as long as possible. 4 years/40lbs is the minimum for riding in a booster. See More Detail in http://cool-for-kids.blogspot.com

There is some parent’s experience here:

The Britax Marathon/Boulevard/Decathalon (These 3 are the same seat, just different variances of luxury additions, with the Marathon being the cheapest base model). The Marathon a wide open easy to route belt path, which makes using it correctly a lot easier, as do the built in lockoffs, which mean you never again have to use a locking clip. It can be got into 4 different vehicles in under 2 minutes. Because of the way the base is made, it fits in most cars. And, it is worth the money, because it lasts usually twice as long as most other car seats (all car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacture) lasting a baby till they are 5-6 years old. Rear faces to 33lbs, then forward to 65lbs. and top slots 17inches tall, lasts most kids to ages 5-6 years old. This seat fits extremely well in almost every car because of the way the base is. It has built-in lockoffs, extremely important if you will ever use it in a car made before 1997, because they don't have locking seatbelts.

The Recaro Como/Signo (Signo is the more expensive version) is a brand new seat. It rear faces to 35lbs, and front faces to 70lbs, and has top slots at 19inches, taller than any other convertible on the market. Very plush seat, too. It even has the built-in lockoffs! They're easy to install, like the Britax seats, and include infant and toddler padding. These seats are getting mixed reviews from car seat techs, so definitely try to try one in your vehicle before purchasing. It is a very tall car seat, sits up really high with a huge shell, so likely will not work rear facing in small cars. Also, may not last as long as it ought to because its too narrow for older big kids to be comfortable. But it is the only seat like it on the market that goes from birth to 70lbs and fits many different vehicle seats. With the goals of rear facing as long as possible and staying in a harness as long as possible, this seat is great.

The Evenflo Triumph Advance (not the original Triumph, make sure it says Advance) is a great seat. It has padding similar to Britax seats, top slots of 17", harnesses to 35lbs rear facing, and 50lbs forward facing. The harness adjusts at the front of the car seat, you don't have to take the car seat out of the car just to raise/lower the straps. It's one of only 2 seats that does this (The Britax Boulevard is the other) and it has infinite harness adjustment so the harness always fits perfectly until its outgrown. No more tugging straps to tighten them either. You tighten and loosen the harness using knobs on the side of the seat. As a major bonus, it can be used in a recline position even in forward facing mode. Awesome for kids who still sleep in the car.

The Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe Convertible seat is great, it is made by Britax, without all the frills. It's the same shell as a Marathon, but for less than half the price.. Rear faces to 33lbs, forward to 55lbs. Easy to use, fits in most cars.

Side notes:

Leather looks good, but burns babies in the summer!

Sources:
www.Carseats.org
www.carseatdata.org
www.cpsafety.com
www.car-safety.org
http://answers.yahoo.com
Britax Convertible Car Seats Information
Sunshine Kids Convertible Car Seats Information
Evenflo Triumph Advance Information

Enclosure Links:

Four Steps to Keep Child Passenger Safety
Harness Type for Car Restraint
5 -point car seat, is it necessary?
Car Seat Ratings
Car Seat for Older Kids

Newbery and Caldecott Winners for Best Children’s Book

2008-02-19T02:26:00.000-08:00

The Newbery Medal honors the year's most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The medal was established in 1922 and is presented annually by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The recipient must be a citizen or resident of the United States.

Every year in January, the American Library Association announces its children's book awards. In 2008, it was announced on January 14, here is a look at the winners:

John Newbery Medal :

This award honors the best book written for children by an American author, and this year's winner is Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices From a Medieval Village, by Laura Amy Schlitz, illustrations by Robert Byrd.

Randolph Caldecott Medal :

This is given in honor of the best illustrations for a children's picture book. This year's winner is The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in Words and Pictures, by Brian Selznick.

Coretta Scott King Author Award :

This is for the best children's book written by an African-American writer and was won by previous winner Christopher Paul Curtis for Elijah of Buxton. It is also a Newbery Honor Book for 2008.

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award :

Let It Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals, by Ashley Bryan, is the winner of this award given for the best illustrations by an African-American artist.

Robert F. Sibert Medal :

This award for information books went to Peter Sis for The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain.

Enclosure Links:
Star-Telegram.com
Best Children’s book Award Winner : Elijah of Buxton

Best Children’s book Award Winner : Elijah of Buxton

2008-02-18T23:34:00.000-08:00

Christopher Paul Curtis, an African-American writer has won Coretta Scott King Author Award* once more this year for Elijah of Buxton, which is also a Newbery Honor Book for 2008. His former award book is Bud, Not Buddy which won the same awards in 2000.

Eleven-year-old Elijah is the first free black born in Buxton, Canada, a colony of escaped slaves from the American South. Curtis tells his story with lively humor as Elijah tries to make sense of what grown-ups say and do. Then disaster strikes when the money Mr. Leroy had been saving to buy his family out of slavery is stolen. Elijah accompanies him to Detroit to try to get the money back. More tragedy ensues, and Elijah finds some slaves being held before they can be returned South. He tries to free them, and while things do not go as planned, hope does come in the end for Elijah and the reader.

By reading the book, the kids will laugh out loud as they get along to Elijah on hilarious adventures with Hoopsnakes, Moth Lions, and Chunking Stones. Students will feel empathy for Elijah as he realizes that he isn't the brightest bulb in Mr. Travis's class. Children struggling to grow into young adults will identify with the shame Elijah feels when he is teased and rebuked for being a "fragile boy". Besides, they will learn a lot about slavery and its effects and realize that even the most “fra-gile” boy is capable of being a hero, and helping to make the world a better place. The book is recommended for any upper elementary or junior high student.

* The Coretta Scott King Awards

Winners, 1970-2008
Commemorating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and honoring his widow, Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination in continuing the work for peace and world brotherhood, the Coretta Scott King Award is presented annually by a task force of the American Library Association. Recipients are authors and illustrators of African descent whose distinguished books promote an understanding and appreciation of the American dream.

Sources :
Star-Telegram.com
Elijah of Buxton, More Information

A Classic Bedtime Story : Goodnight Moon

2008-02-15T11:56:00.000-08:00

When we are so tired after hard workday, but our beloved little one is still hyper before bedtime. We would have to beg for some tools to help her calm down and fall asleep. What tools? There is a grandparent tool, listen to this rhythmic poem:

In the great green room
There was a telephone
And a red balloon
And a picture of -
The cow jumping over the moon
And there were two little kittens
And a pair of mittens
And a little toy house
And a young mouse
And a comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush
And a quiet old lady who was whispering "hush".
-----------
Goodnight stars
Goodnight air
Goodnight noises everywhere.
....................................................
zzz.................zzz....................zzz

That’s it!, "Goodnight Moon", a timeless classic picture book which is now 60th anniversary edition. Many parents said that their toddlers begged for it over and over again at bedtime. A soothing rhythm and quiet, sleepy illustrations make this the perfect bedtime story for little ones. Is it a boring book that can lull them to peaceful sleeping? No, it is so interactive. There are enough objects to point out and find on every page to keep any child's interest. Children love "Goodnight Moon," which also teaches them the names of so many objects. It's amazing how simple the story seems, yet it works like a charm. Children love a routine. This is the perfect way for small children to recognize a bedtime sequence of events and re-enforces vocabulary. Playing find the mouse and each page helps your child develop spatial skills, memory skills and eye and hand coordination as he/she points to the mouse.

"Goodnight Moon" encourages a sense of gratitude for whatever is around us. That is a profound and wonderful lesson for everyone to have. Finally, children are fascinated by how another child's room might look. So you also help them to understand the differences among families.

Finally I would say "Goodnight Moon" the effective tool to put the little ones to sleep on purpose with its simple methodical goodnights.

More Info.

I Love My Mommy and Daddy

2008-02-14T09:08:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

It’s time love is in the air. I therefore, would like to say here, “Happy Valentine’s Day, Folks”. The day I think of love, pure love which is lasting and it gives without necessarily bargaining for a return. Yes, it is my mommy and daddy’s love for me. Sometimes my parent worked at night and I would rather be with them. The books are always my friends. For little kids, I think of “I Love My Mommy” ♥ “I Love My Daddy” picture books was written by Sebastien Braun's which could be a reminder that the parents at all time, love them lots.

“I Love My Mommy” is about a variety of young animals describe the nurturing attributes of their dedicated mothers. "My mommy feeds me" shows a bird carrying a worm to a nest of chirping chicks; "My mommy stays by my side" depicts a doe and her deer; and "My mommy works really hard" features a buck-toothed beaver and her pup. The book concludes with a touching illustration of an owl with her wings draped around two owlets and the simple, powerful phrase, "I love my mommy. More Info.

“I Love My Daddy” focuses on many things a father and child do together and celebrates the loving relationship between them through the simplistic dialog of a little bear. More Info.

I could imagine that how cute it is when the kid sit beside their dad or mom and enjoy reading the book together. Warmth happiness will surround the family.

Alexander By Judith Viorst

2008-02-13T23:28:00.000-08:00

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
By Judith Viorst

Everyone has terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day., even a little kid. We all got a big kick out of it, and could relate to it easily. How can we teach our children to determine whether or not they are going to have a bad day? It is their choice.

There is a book , Alexander, which details every bad, awkward, and annoying thing that happens to him after he wakes up one horrid morning. After waking up and proceeding to trip, slip, and slide through his morning, Alexander has to face problems varying from a teacher's disapproval to being told that he's his best friend's third best friend. His mom forgot to pack his dessert, his trip to the dentist reveals a cavity that needs to be filled, he falls into mud, gets bad shoes, and has to eat lima beans. All the while Alexander repeats how he'll probably move to Australia. Finally, when he goes to bed (and this is the kicker) the cat decides to sleep with his brother and not him. Alexander's mom assures him that everyone has bad days sometimes. That goes for the land down under too.

The problems faced by Alexander are still faced by children worldwide. Reading this book, kids can feel comforted that at least it's Alexander who's dealing with all these problems and not them. They would feel better, listening to the comforting words that Alexander's mom says at the end. This book is as fresh and fabulous as the day it was thought up. I don't think any child's education is complete without having skimmed it at least once in their travels. There is no suspicion why Judith Viorst's 1972, classic picture book is one of those rare stories that hasn't aged one tiny jot.

More Info

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

2008-02-13T04:54:00.000-08:00

Diary of a Wimpy Kid
By Jeff Kinney

I was told that the book was great for reluctant readers or the kids who were totally immersed in video games and anything electronic. There was a kid who had chosen to read the book over playing his Wii. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” surprised many parents that their kids who did not like reading, could not put it down until they finished, and laughed out loud while reading. The book is likely written for kids at or above a fifth or sixth grade reading level, yet most grown person said that it is funniest book they have ever read. One thing I almost forgot, the book was marked #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling book!

A new series : “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules” have come out on February , more detail.

Preview Story:

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" is about a kid named Greg Heffley, sixth-grade. His family includes a mom, a dad, a power crazy big brother, and a whimpering, chatting little brother. His best friend is Rowley, another odd sixth-grader with controlling parents and the world-class ability to annoy.

He goes through middle school as a wimpy kid. He and his friend Rowley have many adventures together. They deal with school, family, and friendship. Eventually Rowley starts to grow more popular than Greg. Greg gets jealous and worried at the same time. He has to do anything he can to save his friendship with Rowley. That will not be easy for Greg because he still needs to have time for his school and family. Greg is confused and frustrated; he just has to find a way to stop all of the chaos.

Greg is always a victim of the big, mean bullies in the school. He constantly seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. In an attempt to be "cool" he experiments with the idea of weightlifting, creating his own haunted house, running for class treasurer, and building a snowman big enough to be considered for the Guiness Book of World Records. However, the only mild success he accomplishes is as a safety guard whose job is to walk the kindergarten kids home at lunchtime.

At least with that job he gets free hot chocolate and misses twenty minutes of math class !!!

It seem that the book is not only a novel, (In fact , it is amalgam between traditional prose and graphic novel.) but everything in the book could be completely true. Readers will be able to relate to Greg's typical teenage problems. His parents ground him from his video games, his older brother picks on him, his little brother gets him in trouble, and the girls in his school think he is a waste of their time. He'd like to pretend he's just a ordinary student when he is really one of the "uncool" gifted kids. The odds are just stacked against him. The situations he finds himself in are hilarious!! Even adults would think this book is funny!!!

More Info.

Benefits of Venegar

2008-01-21T03:06:00.000-08:00

Vinegar for Every House Crisis

Besides being a seasoning ingredient, vinegar is also like a magic hand that can help you with everything around the house.

Clean the fungus on the fridge’s rubber edge: Soak a piece of cloth with vinegar and use it to rub the fungus area on the fridge’s rubber edge.

Oil-free when frying: Add an amount of vinegar to the cooking oil to prevent the food from absorbing the oil. Remember that palm cooking oil is good for your health.

Erase the burning spot on clothes: Soak a cotton pad with vinegar and wipe it on the burning spot on clothes.

Cure insomnia from caffeine: Caffeine in tea or coffee you drink during the day can cause you insomnia. Mix one tablespoon of vinegar with water and drink before going to bed. It helps you sleep more easily.

Get rid of bad smell from plastic containers: You can get rid of bad smell that is left on the plastic containers which are used to store the food by leaving the containers in vinegar before washing it. You can also drop vinegar on plates and dishes that are covered with oily stains before washing it.

Washing sweaty clothes: For shirts or t-shirts that are stained with sweat especially on the collar or sleeves, you can get rid of those stains by soaking the clothes in vinegar for a while before washing.

Clean the dirt film: You can erase the dirt film on the edge of the toilet seat, the faucet, the bathroom floor or even inside the teapot by pouring vinegar on it and leave it for a while before scrubbing. For a teapot, pour ¼ cup of vinegar into the pot and boil it with water. When it boils, open the lid and heat the pot for another 5 minutes before cleaning the pot.

Source:

Phasuk, Vol 27 No. 149, October-December , 2004 ,Os. Printing House Co.,Ltd. P.32

Housework and Cooking Tips

2008-01-21T02:53:00.000-08:00

Housework and cooking needs not be a mess anymore if you know these easy tips:

1. Stainless steel sink

Use alcohol or toothpaste on a worn-out stainless steel sink and scrub it off. Cleanse it with water one more time before dry it with a piece of soft cloth.

2. Keep Spoon and fork new

Soak the spoon and fork in water (one glass) mixed with a teaspoon of salt and a few drops of condensed milk. It will make the spoon and fork shiny and new again.

3. Clean the chopping board

To get rid of the smell left on the chopping board, rub the board with a scrub brush and salt. Use a knife to scrub off the residue then clean it with water.

4. Keep an apple fresh

In Order to keep apples fresh after you peel it off, soak them in a bowl of water mixed with salt (1 teaspoon) and leave it for a while.

5. Enliven the veggie

Add some salt or a small amount of vegetable cooking oil into water that you will use to boil green vegetables. It will keep them fresh. As for white vegetables such as cabbage or turnip, you can add some vinegar.

6. Keep the yolk in the middle

When you make a hard-boiled egg, keep stirring the egg while boiling. You’ll get a nice round egg with the yolks in the middle.

7. Easy-to-peel egg

While boiling an egg, add some a teaspoon of vinegar or limejuice in a pot. It will make the shell soft and easy for you to peel.

8. Keep the mushrooms fresh

Wrap a mushroom in apiece of cloth soaked with water. Keep it in a refrigerator. It will help preserve the mushrooms fresh.

Source:

Phasuk, Vol 27 No. 146, January-March , 2004 ,Os. Printing House Co., Ltd. P.32

J.K. Rowling’s Hand Written

2008-01-14T10:33:00.000-08:00

Hand written copy of author JK Rowling’s new book, which will never be published, has sold at auction for almost £2 million. ($4 million)

The Tale of Beedle the Bard, the collection of fairy tales is mentioned in Harry Potter and the Death Hallows. The book has been illustrated just seven copies. Six of the seven copies have gone to people who are “most closely connected to the Harry Potter books over the past 17 years” and the seventh has been auctioned to raise cash for a children’s charity, the children’s voice, which campaigns for kid’s right. It is expected to fetch up to £ 50,000 by Sothey’s.

After a bidding war between six auction participants, the book was purchased by a representative from London find art dealers Hazlitt Gooden and Fox and now has been announced that Amazon has purchased the book with the price £ 1,950,000.

The books are so exclusively, each of the seven copies has a different dedication, all are leather-bound and embellished with silver and different semi-precious stones. The seventh copy now owns by Amazon, is mounted with silver ornaments and seven moonstones. There are five fairy tales in the book. Only one, The Tale of the Three Brothers, is recounted in the Death Hallows. The others are The Fountain of Fair Fortune, The Warlock’s Hairy Heart, The Wizard and the Hopping Pot, and Babbitty Rabbitty and the Cackling stump.

Let’s get pleasure from the first images of the book and reviews of each of the fairy tales at www.amazon.com/beedlebard.

Rowling writings have been stated that they would encourage kids to take an interest in witchcraft. Although many parents could not decline that her books are able to create a great deal of imagination and keep their kids stand still when they read the books! We can help our kids to think for themselves about the magic by explaining what the truth is.

Maybe, one reason that the new book will not be published and make it a commercial campaign piece the series, is to decrease the affects of witchcraft crazy of the kids.

However, I would like to rejoice to her merit in this donation and highly appreciate to her willingness and kindness to help improve the lives of institutionalized children across Europe.

Enclosure Links:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Alexander Terrible,Horrible and No Good
I Love My Mommy and Daddy

Introduction

2008-01-06T08:58:00.000-08:00

Warm Hearted Family-Introduction

For this category, I would like to share the knowledge I get from “The Warm Hearted Family” which is a handbook on How to Care for the Heart of the Family. This book presents a collection of knowledge, experiences and recommendations, which can be found in the teachings of Buddhism and those handed down to us from our ancestors, as methods that we can incorporate to create a warm and loving family. Everybody is invited to download “PDF” file from the icon on the left. It’s absolutely Free!

When two people, who still possess kilesa, decide to co-habitate, they must make adjustments since they are both sharing their positive and negative attributes in that household. Then when they have children, no matter how many, their duties will increase. In addition to the responsibilities of being a husband and a wife, they will have the additional responsibilities of being parents.

The presence of the newborn will force the parents to work even harder, so they will have enough to care for the child. The more children they decide to have; the more their responsibilities will increase accordingly.

The family problems of today will not be going away easily or any time soon. This stems from the parents’ inability to control their children and their own kilesa. In order to develop a warm family, one must have a system to train oneself to control and eliminate the kilesa.

Family is unique of the society, so I hope that the more a person puts these teachings into practice, the more benefits will accrue to them and their family - and the more harmony and peace will be brought to society and the world at large.

5-point harness car seat, is it necessary?

2007-12-28T08:44:00.000-08:00

5-point harness car seat, is it necessary?

The laws ,safety standards and brochures said a booster seat and adult belt is safe for kids. Most parents always thought if their kids were buckled in seat belts and booster seat, they would be OK.

Seat belts in cars are wonderful things when it work but are not always reliable, especially in older cars. A child in a booster seat that is only relying on a seatbelt to work will be much less protected than the same child in a 5-point harness that is either tethered to the car or in the car with a seatbelt AND locking clip.

5 point harness could have saved child’s life when an accident happen, Why?

- Seat belts frequently fail by either unlatching or not tightening upon impact.

- “Lab tests by Blick Engineering conclude that under certain conditions, buckles can unlatch in crashes. The conditions are not unusual in real world crashes, especially rollovers”

- Research has found that premature graduation to a booster and adult belt can mean a higher risk of serious injury and death. Children under five in boosters utilizing an adult belt are at an increased risk of abdominal injuries (Tarriere 1997)

- The little bodies are not designed to support an adult belt. Boosters allow children under five to slip in accidents, causing life threatening injuries when their bodies impact on the belt. The movement allows increased momentum, crushing organs against the skeleton and the belt.

- Even small people (5’ 4”) , there is a problem with seatbelts due to they cut across the throat. Using a pad to keep the body from sliding in the seat and keep that belt down by the chest is dangerous. Firefighter told that in an accident it would have still cut the neck.

- Most young children tend to pull the shoulder belt over their head and behind their body when using a regular seatbelt- this leaves only the protection of a lap belt !

Child should be kept in each stage of car seat as long as possible, not just to legally acceptable minimums, but to the maximum of their car seat. The only way to be sure your child is belted in correctly 100% of the time is to keep them in 5-point harness.

There are some words from bereaved parents insisted the importance of a 5-Point Harness Car Seat as below:

“The only way to be sure your child is safe is to keep them harnessed for as long as possible. Always anchor and tether your seat to the car for extra security….Moving your child out of their child restraint too soon increases the risk of them being killed or seriously injured by over 300%. Is it worth the risk?...”

In loving memory of Isabelle Paige Broadhead (3 years old)

“Whether you use the lower anchors or the seatbelt to secure your child’s 5-point harness carseat, ALWAYS use the TOP TETHER. It offers a second line of defense against ejection should the seatbelt or lower anchors fail. Don’t rely on a just a seatbelt to secure your child.”

In loving memory of Kyle David Miller(3 years old)

Sources:

"Importance of a 5-Point Harness Carseat" Youtube Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ
"The Importance of a 5 Point Harness Car Seat - Belle's Gift" Youtube Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2LFo8vVi04

Enclosure Links:

Four Steps to Keep Child Passenger Safety
Harness Type for Car Restraint
Choosing the Best, Most Affordable 5-Point Harness Car Seats
Car Seat Ratings
Car Seat for Older Kids
Britax Convertible Car Seats Information
Sunshine Kids Convertible Car Seats Information
Evenflo Triumph Advance Information

Harness Type for Car Restraint System

2007-12-27T09:25:00.000-08:00

Harness Type for Car Restraint System

After watching the 5 point harness safety video on youtube, I was interesting in 5-point harness and would like to know what it is and how it works. Then I found some information from www.carseat.org , I could short it as follows:

The 5-point harness (A) has a strap over each shoulder, one on each side of the hips, and one between the legs. All five come together at a common buckle. The function of the strap between the legs (crotch strap) is to hold the lap straps firmly down on top of the hip bone (thighs), and it should be as short as possible. Because the crotch strap is merely a lap-strap positioning device, the actual restraint should come from the shoulder and lap straps. This type of harness fits children best, since the straps can be adjusted closely around the child's body, and the straps direct the crash forces at the child's strongest bony structures, the shoulders and pelvis.

There are other 2 types of harness as called Tray-Shield (B) and T-Shield (C) harness. Safety Experts recommend selection of car restraint system with 5-point harness unless circumstances require use of another type.

Credit Picture : www.carseat.org

Enclosure Links:

Four Steps to Keep Child Passenger Safety
5-Point Harness Car Seat, is it necessary?
Choosing the Best, Most Affordable 5-Point Harness Car Seats
Car Seat Ratings
Car Seat for Older Kids
Britax Convertible Car Seats Information
Sunshine Kids Convertible Car Seats Information
Evenflo Triumph Advance Information

Your Name :
Your Email :
Subject :
Message :
Image (case-sensitive):