Parent Talk Today

Enjoy the 4th — But Keep it Safe

It’s impossible to picture July 4 in America without fireworks. But they can be dangerous, causing serious burns and eye injuries.

Of course, it’s always best to attend a community celebration where fireworks are handled by the pros. But if fireworks are legal where you live and you decide to set them off on your own, be sure to follow these important safety tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

°    Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.

°    Read and follow all warnings and instructions.

°    Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.

°    Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves and flammable materials.

°    Never try to relight fireworks that have not fully functioned.

°    Keep a bucket of water handy in case of a malfunction or fire.

Happy Valentine's Day from the Sena Family!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Wow! Thanks for Your Holiday Mail for Heroes

Dear Readers --

I received this note from the folks who put together the Holiday Mail for Heroes program. Your cards and letters really made a difference to our soldiers! Check out the video link.

Thanks so much to all the teachers and parents out there who encouraged our kids to get involved in this wonderful project! You guys rock.

Kathy

Hi Kathy!

I wanted to thank you for encouraging people to get involved in Holiday Mail for Heroes.  I worked with Pitney Bowes and the Red Cross on this project and thought you might want to know whether we’ve reached the goal of delivering more one million cards to U.S. service members, veterans and military families. We not only reached it, but we surpassed it! And it’s all because people like you and your blog readers who got involved.

I hope you will view  and share this video for more details and a personal message of thanks from all of us.  We could not have done it without you!

Best,

Valarie

 

Happy Holidays From The Sena Family!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Need Teacher Gifts — In a Hurry?

Tired of giving apple stationery, apple earrings and “#1 teacher” sweatshirts to your children’s teachers every holiday season? Imagine how the teachers feel! Here are some parent- and teacher-tested gift ideas that will really make the grade.

°    Think Outside The Classroom. “I like giving something that conveys that you know the teacher is human, too — not just a teacher,” says Las Vegas, Nevada mom Joy Hall. Think sports memorabilia (if you know the teacher’s favorite team), an addition to a favorite collection of bears, dolls, snow globes… The list can be endless if you or your child just happen to listen up when the teacher mentions favorite hobbies and activities.

°    Consider a Gift For the Classroom. As school budgets are increasingly cut, teachers are often asked to supply certain classroom items. So when her child was in kindergarten, Dorothy Foltz-Gray of Knoxville, Tennessee asked what classroom game the kids needed. “The teacher responded as if I were a saint!” she says. Another time, she gave a monetary gift, again to be used for classroom supplies. Jennifer Vena of Manhattan Beach, California gives goody bags full of classroom supplies — dry-erase markers, paper clips, post-its, overhead markers, etc. With many teachers spending their own money on these items, this is a welcome gift.

°    Make it Personal. “Have your child make something that shows how much the teacher is appreciated,” suggests Hall. Including a photo is a wonderful touch, she adds, and it will help the teacher to remember your child when she looks at the gift in years to come. A personal letter of appreciation, along with a drawing from your child, is something many teachers say they read over and over again — and keep forever.

Happy Holidays From the Sena Family!

Have you tried "Elf Yourself," the fun-and-free service from OfficeMax and JibJab? You can turn your family into silly dancing elves and share your dance with family and friends. It's easy and it's a hoot!

Here's the Sena family (featuring "Charlie the Rescue Dog") sending you our disco wishes for a great holiday season! Just click here!

Let Krista Colvin Help You Get Orgnized For the Holidays

I love Krista Colvin's organizational tips, and she's got a terrific post for the holidays (about gift hiding) over at Real Simple.

Krista is a lifestylist and organizing maven who "wouldn’t be caught without lipstick, a morning cup o' joe + fabulous girlfriends." My kind of gal! She writes a fun, helpful blog, Organize in Style, and she's the creator of The Shebang - The Smart Woman's Guide to Doing it All! (See the link on Organize in Style.)

No pressure, Krista, but I plan to follow all your great tips and turn myself into a fabulously organized, on-top-of-it-all woman in 2009! So keep 'em coming.

Here's The CORRECT Address to Send Holiday Cards to Soldiers

The address I gave in yesterday's post, about sending holiday cards to soldiers, turned out to be a hoax.

(Who would do such a thing to our soldiers, and to Americans who want to support and honor them during the holidays?)

Thanks to the readers who commented and e-mailed right away to let me know. You guys are great!

This is a terrific project for kids to help with. They can sign the card, add a special message or draw a picture inside the card. Believe me, no other card you send this holiday season will be more appreciated.

Here’s the ACCURATE information, from the American Red Cross press release, re where letters can be sent:

Holiday Mail For Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Please be sure to affix adequate postage. Cards must be received no later than December 10. Cards received after this date will be returned to senders. Don't add glitter, additional goodies, etc. per the instructions from the Red Cross.

Thanks — and Happy Holidays! 

Get Your Halloween Safety Tips Here!

Happy Halloween! I hope you're looking forward to a fun day — and a spooky evening — with your kids.

While you're busy getting those costumes and bags (and bags!) of candy ready, make sure you're up to speed on Halloween safety tips, too.

It's easy. Just click here and scroll down the page a bit to hear my tips on the Rob & Joss show on Froggy 92.9 in Sonoma, California.

Happy Halloween!

Yes We Carve!

If you're an Obama supporter and you're looking to light up the night in a show of Glowbama support on Friday, check out Yes We Carve, a fun site created to promote the Obama campaign with some Halloween fun.

You'll find stencils, plenty of cool photos, contests, and more. Ready to create your Barack O' Lantern? Head on over and grab change by the stem. (OK, we'll stop with the pun-kins now.)