"Whistles, info cards, cellphones, etc. are all tools that help them get OUT of a bad situation AFTER they've gotten in to it. Your job should be to keep the kids far from any bad situations in the first place."

I'm going to disagree on that.

First, most American parents try to shield their kids from everything, all the time, under all conditions. This isn't doing them any real favors.

Second, you AREN'T going to be able to protect your kids from everything. That falls into the "wishful thinking" category.

Third, if YOU can get yourself into a sticky situation, due to your own negligence or plain bad luck, why would you think kids are immune to the same things?

Kids can be pretty smart, if they're allowed to be, but NOT with mommy & daddy doing all their thinking for them. Sure, they can have the attention span of a fruit fly, and they do dumb stuff. Face it. Deal with it. Teach them to deal with the consequences of their decisions. (I know that's not PC and is fiercely un-American!) <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Maybe the woman is just fine. You know her. But on your next free days off, why don't YOU take them camping? Have a little bag of stuff for them, and show them how to use it. Talk to them. Teach them. Kids can learn foreign languages without even knowing they're learning anything. You can teach them to think for themselves. They're at the perfect age.

Sue

Um ... I'm not sure why you put that as a reply to me. I think you and I are in complete agreement here. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

BTW: I took my son for a hike yesterday afternoon and nothing bad happened. Nothing major... just about an hour of hiking and an hour of swiming in the Paluxy river and trying to catch minnows bare-handed. We were even able to assist a family that was lost. I guess to say that he "hiked" is not completely true. He is two years old so he rides on my back in one of these . It's pretty funny too because he makes everyone else (people of all ages) jealous. Seems that everyone wants to ride around in luxury. Okay, I'm drifting the thread... sorry... I'll stop. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My son and I are like siamese twins, we go everywhere together. I teach them everything I can and we practice tons of stuff. I am trying to plan for that one thing that could go wrong when Mr. Murphy decides to drop in for a visit. What if the babysitter gets sick and Jimi needs to take charge and get help from a neighbor? What if they are walking and she falls down and breaks a leg? I like to pick peoples brains to see if there is something I can add/delete to make my kit better. BTW, my kids speak two languages fluently.

He said something that hit it on the head. "We help a family out that needed help". I don't want Jimi, Gemma and the babysitters family to be that family. The reason I am not going is that I have to work and the kids get along very well with the babysitter and her kids and I want them to go out and explore the world away from the ambilical cord.

Sorry, Brian! Yours was the last post on the thread & I just hit REPLY.

You parents who spend time with your kids and actually teach them useful things are so great! And your kids probably won't even realize it, ever, because they will think that everyone was raised like that. What a pity that parents like you aren't in the majority. Just think what this country could be like in 20 or 30 years!

Sue

Just like to make a point on the cellphone idea.

After the bombings in London, the ambulance authority requested the general public to "program" their cellphones with an "ICE" number, In Case of Emergency. Gives names and numbers of people to contact. List all contacts ICE1, ICE2 etc.
Now if your are going to loan a cellphone to your child and/or babysitter then, no one has to remember any specific name or number just look up ICE.

This maybe old news, but it's what sprang to mind when reading this thread and the subject of phones.

I have one of those for my 12mth old son, he loves it, my 3yr daughter sometimes gets jealous and my wife hates it because it and child are too heavy for her. So it doesn't get much use unfortunately.

I admire parents that take the time to go out and teach their children neat stuff like this. Typical city worker, home too late and weekends always seem to be taken up with shopping, or some DIY that absolutely has to be done now.

As they get older I hope to break this rut and use my kids as an "excuse" ( no, hate that word ) reason to get out and live abit.

Sorry...stepping off soap box nox. <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

"After the bombings in London, the ambulance authority requested the general public to "program" their cellphones with an "ICE" number, In Case of Emergency. Gives names and numbers of people to contact. List all contacts ICE1, ICE2 etc."

That's a very good idea and I'm going to do it right now. I wonder if American emergency responders are told to look for that over here? Maybe some of you EMT's could answer that?

Regards, Vince

Yes few local radio stations mantioned it with a support of new york city fire and police dept. But there seem to be no "real" push for such action and it will most likely die. I hope that somebody in washington or govt agencies would stand up and make a big public announcement. Personally I would love my patients to have stuff like that on their cellphones and not only for terrorist attacks but for any type of medical emergency.

All of my neighbors envy the relationship between my kids and I. They all say that they wish I were the father of their kids. Of course being the gentleman that I am I volunteer to assist them in any future endeavors to procreate. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />