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Let The Summer Begin!

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My favourite part about the summer is spending time with friends and family! In the summer we go camping in our travel trailer. It’s called the #SilvaBulletRV.

Camping is so much fun because we get to see our camping family. We have become very close with some friends at our campground. They are just like part of our family. I am so excited for when we go to Ohio because I will get to ride in a go-cart by myself! Ohio is going to be so much fun because we are going with our camping family. I am so excited!

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l love to go to the park and play with my friends at camp. Going swimming at the campground’s pool is so much fun. I get to make big splashes when I jump in! Swimming is the best this year because I can go to the pool with friends, and not have to have Mom and Dad come with me. I never swim alone, because it is not safe.

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Summer break is awesome because we don’t have to do any school work! Lots of popsicles and freezies for all those hot days. Even if it rains, we still have fun! I like to ride my bike and go on bike rides with my friends!

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Last year in the summer was lots of fun. We went to Universal Studios! I went on a few of the roller coasters!

We went to 3 campgrounds on the way to Orlando. While in Florida we stayed at 2 campgrounds. We stayed at 3 more campgrounds on the way home. We were so excited to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It was amazing! We tried some Bertie Botts every Flavour Beans, Butterbeer, Frozen Butterbeer, and Chocolate Frogs. We had lots of fun at Universal Studios.

I cannot wait for the rest of the summer. We have a lot planned. It’s going to be so much fun!

TTFN,
Lauren

Water Safety Week: Watch your kids! #WaterSafetyChat @redcrosscanada

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Every year, approximately 520 Canadians die needlessly in unintentional water-related fatalities. 

A high percentage of these preventable water-related fatalities consist of young children, almost always due to lack of or adequate supervision.

Safety is in my blood.  My mother and my aunt were lifeguards and swimming instructors and I was a lifeguard and swimming instructor.  I am now a car seat technician and hold my First Aid, CPR and AED certification.  Safety is important to me.

When Red Cross of Canada approached me and asked if I would help spread the word about Water Safety Week, it was a not brainer!

Water can be fun! But water is also very dangerous!

Infographic Water Safety Week @ mapsgirl.ca

Watch your kids!

Water Safety @ mapsgilr.caIf you are near water, a pool or beach, don’t take your eyes off your kids.

I don’t care how well they can swim. 

It only takes a second for something to happen, your kid goes underwater and then doesn’t come back up.  

Yes, it’s horrible to say. Yes, it’s scary.  But if I got your attention, then…good!

Active supervision

  • The absence of adult supervision is a factor in most child drowning’s.
  • Whether it’s a pool, the bathtub, a water park, or the beach, always watch children actively around water-even if they can swim.
  • Consider requiring all non-swimmers to wear a lifejacket to keep them at the surface to assist you while supervising.

Backyard pools

  • Backyard pools are especially dangerous for small children. Ensure adequate barriers are in place such as four-sided fencing along with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
  • Empty portable toddler pools after each use.

Bathing children

  • When bathing infants or toddlers, an adult should remain with the child at all times- children should never be relied upon to supervise other children in the bath.
  • When a child is in the bathtub, never leave to answer the phone or for any other momentary distraction.

Take swimming lessons!

Water Safety @ mapsgilr.caAnother great way to increase safety around water, is to learn how to swim.

Red Cross Canada has put together a great page for Water Safety week with lots of information about swimming lessons and staying safe around water!

Anyone can learn!

When Craig and I got engaged, my parents were very supportive! But the one thing that my mom asked of Craig was that he learn how to swim.  The reason that my mom and my aunt became lifeguards and swimming instructors was that my grandfather required his children to learn how to swim.  His college roommate had drowned. Water safety was very important to him and therefore, was very important to our family.  Craig, at the age of 29, took swimming lessons for the first time.

Join us for a Water Safety Week Twitter Chat!

Date: Thursday, June 11, 2015

Time: 10:30 a.m. until noon

Host: @RedCrossTalk

Topic: Q&A/chat on water safety with a focus on children

Hashtag: #WaterSafetyChat

 

*Statistics are based on ongoing surveillance of data surrounding unintentional water-related fatalities. The data has been compiled by the Canadian Red Cross from coroner’s offices for the period of 1991-2012, the most current in the database.

my girls make me feel like I’m flying

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Being a parent is like riding roller coaster.

There are times when they are constantly bugging each other or they won’t stop whining and I think that the coaster is just going to go crashing into the ground.

Then at the last second, the ride flies upwards, sun in your eyes and the sky is so bright.

I had one of those nights last week.

While walking into the recreation centre, I was questioning the girls on what they’re supposed to do at swimming lessons: pay attention, listen to the teacher, don’t fool around.

The first class is where the teachers can see what the kids are capable of doing.

Munchkin did everything the teacher asked.  She did 10 bobs without hesitation.  While standing in chest deep water, she dove down and picked up the rings off the bottom.  She used a flutter board and started to learn proper front crawl breathing.

She totally blew me away.  She’s getting so much braver and much more willing to try new things.

As an older sister, I knew that my little brother was always trying to do what his big sister was doing.  With Munchkin and Peanut, it’s the opposite.  Munchkin doesn’t want Peanut to do things that she can’t, so Munchkin will try things so she’s not outdone.

(By no means, do we push Munchkin to be better than her sister, it’s just an observation that is different from what I experienced.)

Peanut is a fish and swimming comes much more naturally to her than it does to Munchkin.  She too was able to do everything her teacher asked her to.  And I believe she exceeded everyone’s expectations.  She was asked to do a back glide and then kick her feet.  She did.  He stopped her before she swam into the rope…10 metres from the wall.  10 metres!!  My kid at 4 1/2 swam 10 metres on her back.  It was very cool to watch!!

I’m sure that none of the other parents even realized how amazing my girls did because they were focused on their own kids.  Doesn’t matter.  In my eyes they were standing on centre stage getting a standing ovation….from me!

I love this ride that my kids take me on!