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• Hot stoves can be extremely hazardous for children and adults. The stove that you use should be at a high level so that your child cannot access it. Even though the stove is kept away, your child can always raise his hand and touch one of the hot surfaces. If you envisage that there will be times that you may be away, try and make a gate around the area where you have the stove.
• Another thing that you can do is to use the back burners as much as possible so that you child cannot reach up to that level. When you do have to use the front burners try and keep the handles of the pots on the stove towards the back. This will ensure that your baby cannot pull the handles and get the hot contents tumbling down.
• Get covers for the stove knobs so that your child does not switch it on inadvertently. These covers can ensure that there are no burning accidents.
• It is very likely that you may leave knives, forks and other sharp objects on the shelf without realizing this. It can happen to a large extent while you are in the process of cooking something. And then there is the phone call and you go to check without realizing that dangerous objects are lying around. Leave the knives and forks in the sink or in the dishwasher even if you are leaving the kitchen for a few seconds.
• When not in use, ensure that the knives and forks are in a cabinet that has a child proofing latch. These latches are available easily and should be used on all cabinets that are at the lower level.
• It is also a good idea to get a latch or lock for the dishwasher because the dishwasher generally contains all sharp used utensils that can harm your child.

These are just a few of the things that you need to ensure when you are childproofing your kitchen. Make sure that you think through the whole process and spend adequate amount of time planning the childproofing process for the kitchen. You will realize that the kitchen has the maximum number of aspects to take care of.

“While pets such as dogs, cats and birds can transmit infection, it is unlikely that you or your child will get sick from touching these animals. Some infections caused by pets are common, such as salmonellosis, roundworm and hookworm infections, and cat scratch disease, while others like plague are rare,” says Dr. Colette Pienaar of LifeLabs.

LifeLabs conducts more than 50 million, physician-requested diagnostic tests on more than 10 million Canadians every year, so this laboratory is in a prime position to identify various health trends, including infections caused by pets.

“The best defence against transmission of infections by pets is hand washing,” Dr. Pienaar emphasizes.

Other LifeLabs tips to prevent infection in you and your child include:

• Teach children to wash their hands well with soap and running water after handling pets, their feces and pet chews.

• Supervise children younger than 5 years old while they are playing with pets.

• Keep your pet(s) healthy to ensure the health of your family, by keeping up to date with vaccinations, deworming, tick and flea control as well as regular visits to the vet.

• Teach children not to kiss or share food with their pet.

• Teach children not to play rough with their pets to prevent bites and scratches. If bitten or scratched, immediately clean the affected area with soap and water.

• Keep children away from dog and cat feces, indoors and outdoors. Litter trays should be placed where your kids do not play.

• If older children are responsible for cleaning litter boxes, teach them to wear gloves while cleaning up, and to wash their hands afterwards.

• Help your pet stay clean. Remove dirt from their paws and fur. Teach your child how to bath and groom their pet regularly.

• Keep children’s sandboxes covered and teach your children not to eat dirt so as to avoid potential contact with animal feces.

www.newscanada.com

As an author, literacy is obviously important to Munsch, which is why he has been the Honorary Chair of Family Literacy Day for the last seven years. Family Literacy Day is an annual initiative created by ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation and Honda Canada in 1999 to promote the importance of reading and learning together as a family.

“I love being a part of Family Literacy Day because it allows me to meet lots of interesting people and help to create a love of reading,” says Munsch.

Anyone can celebrate Family Literacy Day on January 27 by practicing literacy activities such as writing, singing, reading and telling stories. In honour of Family Literacy Day, Robert Munsch shares some of his expert storytelling tips:

1. Be yourself, develop your own style.

2. First read the story, and then write it down. Then tape yourself telling the story.

3. Start telling the story using your own words.

4. Tell stories on the bus, during bath time or while cooking.

5. Make your voice loud and clear.

6. Include simple songs or chants to bring the story to life.

7. Use repetition of a word or a phrase.

8. Move around to act out the story.

9. Have your child pick a favourite toy or use one of your old stuffed animals to be a character in the story.

10. Relax and have fun.

Family literacy tips, activity ideas and event information, can all be found online at www.FamilyLiteracyDay.ca.

www.newscanada.com

What is a Zhu Zhu Pet?

Zhu Zhu Pets are electronic toy hamsters and they are so hot this year that they caused a scuffle among Black Friday shoppers in Indianapolis. It is said that the online versions of Walmart and Toysrus have sold out of them. Some retailers are still selling them, but at four, five, even eight times their suggested retail price.

These electronic hamsters has been the runaway hit of the recession-hobbled holiday season so far. The furry little, wheeled critters scoot around a Habitrail-like track, spin in a hamster wheel, and drive little hamster sports cars. The battery-powered pets coo and squeak and have a little artificial intelligence—knowing to make teeth-brushing sounds when they enter their little bathrooms, for example. “They’re so real—without the mess,” chirps a television commercial.

Check out Amazon for possible stock.

That brought back memories of my childhood, when Creamsicles were one of my favourite treats. The other frozen treat high on my list was Fudgesickles.

Then, as I continued around the store, pecan pie appeared. When I was in high school (I know, that’s a bit old for Grandpa Richard’s Kids, but it is related!) mom used to buy me pecan pies to try and help me gain weight. Nobody else was allowed a slice. Just me.

Have you had a childhood flashback, of either yourself or your children, while shopping for groceries? Share it in the comment section.

They live in the country and she is always wanting a container to put her new “pet” into. Sometimes it is a frog or toad. Other times a mole or similar, or maybe a baby bird.

The other day she came across a potential pet that she decided not to try and keep. A 2 foot snake. (see photo)

The interesting thing is where she found the snake.

Under her bed, on the second floor of the house.

That evening, she did not want to go to bed. I just happened to be visiting, so I offered to go up with her. Well, the next thing I knew, I woke up (still on top of her bed) and stumbled downstairs to find out it was 3 am and my grand daughter was asleep on the smaller living room couch. Her uncle was asleep on the other couch.

I really bugged her in the morning about abandoning grandpa to fend for himself! She offered no defense.

And the snake? It was released back in to the wild, hopefully never to bother with a human house again.

(but if you remember Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, there was an incident with a snake, and it suggested that snakes travel in mated pairs!!! So where is this one’s mate?)

Talk about a cool use of technology.

Leave her some comments as well.

The full address is myadventuresinmommyhood.com/.