Keeping Kids Safe

Karen and Megan invite you to join them as they share their holiday traditions and give you some great safety tips for surviving this hectic season. From travel to hosting to sparkling juice selection, this is an essential podcast to close out the year, Should you have a backup plan in case of unexpected travel changes? Before you light that first cozy winter fire, do you know if the fireplace is safe? Most importantly, how critical is it to teach your kids at an early age not to pull ornaments off the Christmas tree? As we celebrate the joys and the challenges of the holidays, let's make sure we eat, drink and be merry safely. Whether we are at home or on the road.

Karen and Megan reflect on the busy holiday season and their experiences with booster shots and vaccines for their children. They also welcome Nychelle "Nikki" Fleming from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to offer guidance on toy safety. Are there any toy recalls you should know about as you finish your holiday shopping? What are some key safety essentials parents should look for when considering safe and appropriate toys for their children? Will there be any supply chain issues that could affect the safety of the toys you purchase? How can you make sure you are buying legitimate goods? As you finalize your shopping list, this episode will help ensure the kids are happy and safe when they open their presents!

The Holidays are here along with the joy and magic of the season. But for many, this time of year can be very challenging. Even downright depressing. If you or a loved one have lost someone close to you, you may struggle with handling grief and that may be even more difficult this time of year. This week, Karen and Megan welcome Mary Cullman to the podcast. Mary is an expert in grief counseling and bereavement helping both  children and adults. This is an episode to help you help your family during the holidays or any time you are dealing with the pain of loss. While nothing can ever take away the pain of losing someone, joy and happiness can still be part of your life. Mary Cullman will show you the way.

Karen and Megan give thanks to you for listening to Keeping Kids Safe and helping our mission of providing parents and caregivers with resources to help children stay safe. Karen and Megan also share some of their favorite Thanksgiving traditions and essential turkey day safety tips. How do you safely store and thaw a turkey so no one gets food poisoning? Should you deep fry your turkey? (Spoiler alert: No!) If you are traveling to a hotel with a pool do you know how to find the emergency pool shut off switch? As a bonus, you'll learn one of the absolute best ways to keep young children calm(er) on a flight. Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for being part of Keeping Kids Safe!

On this week's episode, Karen and Megan welcome Dr. Jessica Glass Kendorski, Chair of the Department of School Psychology at The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Kendorski offers essential advice to help parents and children navigate one of the most challenging school years ever. How can you help your child stay psychologically strong given all the pressures facing students today? What are the warning signs that you should look for to see if your child needs help? Why is it important to focus on your own mental health if you want to raise resilient, healthy children? This is a podcast to help parents help their children stay psychologically safe and healthy.

This week, Karen and Megan welcome Dr. Louis Giangiulio. Affectionately known as "Dr. G", he is one of the top pediatricians in the United States. A father of four, he offers great advice on how we can keep our kids healthy as they return to in-person learning. Children have endured a variety of mental and physical health challenges as a result of virtual learning and among the ongoing uncertainty of covid, many still struggle with anxiety, depression, and weight gain. Dr. G offers some ideas on how we can help our children feel better including the power of exercise and outdoor play. As parents consider whether to vaccinate their children against Covid-19, Dr. G offers advice on how parents can weigh the potential side effects against the risks of a child catching the virus. This is incredibly timely as the FDA is expected to give emergency authorization for children ages 5-11 to receive the vaccine. Don’t miss this invaluable episode dedicated to helping you keep your kids safe, happy, and healthy.

Halloween is back! Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease doctor, gave the greenlight for trick or treating and the kids are excited. What are some good strategies to give and receive candy while observing covid protocols? How can you make sure your kids are safe on dark and busy streets? What are some of the most enjoyable fall traditions that can be enjoyed safely outdoors.? Join Karen and Megan for a special Halloween episode full of tricks, treats, and great advice.

As the weather changes and we enter Autumn, parents and educators are facing new challenges when it comes to keeping kids safe during Covid-19. What protocols need to be in place as we enter cold and flu season? How important is it for children to be in school versus remote learning?  How can we ensure our children are able to participate in sports while keeping them safe? How important is it to a child’s well-being to be around their fellow classmates? To answer these questions, Karen and Megan welcome Joshua Crane to the podcast. Joshua is the Head of School at The Stony Brook School in Stony Brook, NY. This episode offers valuable advice for parents as we enter what could be a crucial time in the pandemic.

Karen and Megan are pleased to welcome a true leader in the drowning prevention movement. Dr. Miriam Lynch is the Executive Director of Diversity in Aquatics, an organization created to increase the knowledge and awareness of water safety and drowning prevention in historically underrepresented communities and vulnerable populations. This is a truly important conversation about the historic challenges and  ongoing struggles to ensure equality in aquatics.

Labor Day is the unofficial end to summer but that doesn't mean the summer fun has to end. As long as everyone is safe around water, it will be a weekend to remember. Labor Day also means back to school. You may be sending your children back to school for the first time since the pandemic began. What kind of social and emotional issues might your child face? How about making sure their mask properly fits their face? Join Karen and Megan for valuable tips to help ensure your child's school year gets off to a positive start as the school bell rings and summer comes to a safe and happy end.