When children and parents are separated while shopping, panic can set in… that’s why Art Van Furniture is implementing CODE ADAM. Backed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the system was developed to quickly find children who are reported missing or lost in a retail store.
Beginning immediately at all Art Van stores, when a child is reported missing a special alert is broadcast over the announcement system. Immediately, specific steps are followed by the store employees and a “call to action” is taken to find a missing child. All Art Van employees have been trained in these special child safety steps.
“As a father, I completely understand the worry parents can have when shopping in a public place. CODE ADAM has proven to be successful and Art Van employees are 100% behind this program,” stated Gary Van Elslander, President of Art Van Furniture.
CODE ADAM, which began in 1984, is one of the country’s largest child safety programs.
Last-minute holiday shoppers with kids on their lists can breathe a little easier this year. The younger set almost universally appreciates gift cards (and cash) in their Christmas stockings and near the Hanukkah menorah over many other gifts for kids.
While not their first choice - video gaming machines and games hold that status - gift cards and money increased in popularity this year among both boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 18, according to new research conducted by the YouthBeat® division of C&R Research, Inc. of Chicago. More boys and girls said they prefer to receive gift cards or cash for the holidays than last year (12.3 percent vs. 7.9 percent for boys; 22.5 percent vs. 19 percent for girls).
This preference rose significantly among children in households with annual incomes of between $50,000 and $75,000 (40.8 percent in 2009 vs. 33.6 percent a year ago). And it really rose among Latino youth, ranked by 43 percent versus 25.8 percent last year.
YouthBeat’s online survey of more than 1,200 youngsters found that nearly 80 percent had received a gift card, up nearly 10 percent from 2008. They also prefer gift cards versus a present chosen for them by about a two-to-one margin. GameStop gift cards were boys’ top choice; girls preferred Target-branded cards. Cards from Wal-Mart were the aggregate store of choice overall.
“Kids of all ages understand how they can use gift cards and cash as a means of getting exactly what they want during the holidays,” explained Paul Metz, senior vice president at C&R Research. “It also shows that they’re well versed in cards’ flexibility. That will be handy for those still looking for last-minute holiday gifts for kids.”
A survey of over 1,000 people across the UK and Ireland has revealed that people, children specifically, have not lost the Christmas spirit, despite the recession.Expect the holiday children activities and festive celebrations to continue.
With more than half of adults saying that this Christmas is set to be just as good as any other, the festive spirit is, clearly, still very much alive.
64 percent of adults who took part in the survey said that Christmas 2009 will not be different to any other year.
The poll crushes any fears that Britain will have a gloomy time this winter, amid the economic recovery.
Youngsters are set to have a merry Christmas too as only 2 percent of adults admit that they will be cutting spending on their children this year. The survey also revealed that most people are looking forward to spending some quality time with their families this Christmas.
“Christmas is obviously a special time for families,” said Scott O’Donnell of http://www.triviala.com, which commissioned the survey.
“It is sometimes the only chance each year that families will be able to get time off work and all spend the day together.”
Other things people admitted to looking forward to this Christmas included, indulging in some festive food and drink, and getting a well-deserved break off work.
Receiving presents was listed as the fourth most popular answer with 11 percent, closely followed by entertaining and having people over, which 10 percent of Brits are looking forward to doing this year.
Scott O’Donnell added: “Christmas traditions are certainly not dying out either, regardless of the current economic climate. It just seems that everyone wants to have an enjoyable Christmas together and forget about any money issues.”
The survey revealed that 84 percent of people are going to have a Christmas tree in their homes this year. When asked whether their trees had decreased in size over the past few years, 64 percent of people said it had not.
With increased high street competition among retailers this year, many revealed their Christmas displays in mid October, the earliest recorded so far. 79 percent of people agreed that this is far too early for shops to be beginning their Christmas retailing.
What people are most looking forward to this Christmas:
1. Being with family
2. Food and drink
3. Time off work
4. Presents
5. Entertaining people
6. Christmas shopping
7. Work Christmas Party
8. Going on Holiday
9. Other
Backpacks are a necessity for today’s students to carry books and school supplies. They come in many styles and colors, but some doctors are concerned about possible health issues with them. You as a parent with responsibility for your child care, it is your job as well to consider this. When it’s time to buy a backpack for your child, you may want to consider these tips on how to choose a backpack for school.
* Wide, padded straps and a padded back are the best choice since it will help distribute weight more effectively. Single shoulder strap backpacks may look cool, but their use is suspected of causing back strain.
* More compartments may help distribute weight from the backpack. Having multiple compartments may also help your children find items that may be lost on the inside of the backpack.
* Choose the smallest possible backpack to hold your child’s items. Backpacks which are wider than your child’s torso are not recommended; they should also rest against the curve of your child’s back but not more than 4 inches above their waist.
* Lightweight nylon or canvas might be the best choice for material. Leather backpacks may be durable but they are considerably heavier and may retain water if they get wet.
* Some backpacks are made with wheels; however, your child’s school may not allow this type of backpack. Check with your child’s school before purchasing this type.
* Backpacks with zippers that open 2/3 of the pack enable students to remove items without emptying the bag entirely.
* Zippers which can be locked will help protect your child’s belongings as well as keep items in the backpack.
* An internal frame would also be a good feature to look for. These backpacks will not be bulky like camping ones but will provide stability, support, and comfort.
* Two more features that would assist in distribution are a waist belt and sternum strap. Both of these items will help keep the weight distributed evenly which will save your child from having excessive shoulder pain.
When you choose a backpack, teach your children the proper way to wear it. You’ll want to explain to them that wearing the backpack on one shoulder can cause curvature of the spine, shoulder pain, and cause them to lean to one side. Wearing a backpack improperly can also cause tingling in the neck, arm, and hands.
You’ll also want to recommend that your child carry only necessary items in the backpack to reduce the weight. Ask them to tell you if they begin experiencing pain, numbness, or tingling so it can be addressed as quickly as possible.
These tips on how to choose a backpack for school can be used no matter what your child’s age. Backpacks are necessary for children of nearly all ages but that doesn’t mean your child has to suffer when carrying one. Teach them how to use a backpack properly after you purchase it, to avoid any chance of injury.
Many parents look forward to the beginning of a new school year. However, many parents also they dread the prospects of back-to-school shopping. Some parents are experts at the basics of back-to-school shopping while others struggle with it. You can use some of these tips for back-to-school shopping so you can get the job done and focus on child education.
Look through current wardrobe
You and your child might want to look through your their current wardrobe to find out what needs to be replaced. Some of their jeans, shirts, and socks may still be useable. When you know what your child actually needs, it will be easier to go to the next step – talking to the children to see what they want.
Talk to your children
Before you head out to the mall, you might want to have a talk with your children to find out what new items they’d like. Of course, you can expect them to want the latest clothes that they believe their friends will have, or that they think will make them look cool. Let them know what you can afford and ask them which items are “necessary” and which items are “desired.”
Make a list
Make a list of all the clothing your children need. Then make a list of the school supplies. You may want to give the children a certain amount of money to spend on “desired” items but explain that once that money is gone they won’t get more. This will allow them to get some things that they want and definitely things they need.
Create a budget
Determine how much money you have available to spend on clothing, shoes, and supplies based on the list you made. Depending upon the ages of the children, plan to spend a certain amount per child, and then add a little extra for older children since their clothing will probably cost more.
Inform children of budget
Let the children know how much money you have to spend for their clothes and supplies. If they’re older, you may want to have them help you keep track of what you’re spending and how much money is left. This will help them with math skills and help you decide what else they can get. If there are certain items they want that you don’t have the money for, suggest that they spend their own money for those items.
It won’t be long before you’ll have to spend money on back-to-school items. Learning the basics of back-to-school shopping can make the task less stressful. After a few years your skills at saving money for school items will increase and you’ll be able to share your knowledge with others.
We want our children to learn the value of properly handling money - and it’s never too early to start teaching them. One way to make child education about money more fun is to play a shopkeeper’s game. Not only will they experience fun setting up shop, if you have play money on hand, it can be a real learning experience.
Basically, it is your goal to simulate the ambience of a grocery store. Create a setting wherein cashiers and baggers can be set up for role-playing. There are toys in the market that will simulate the sounds of a real cash register. You can also buy play money, or it may come with the toy register. This really is a perfect way to help your children learn about money before they are expected to use it in their daily life.
Instead of throwing away boxes, bottles, and empty food cans, hold onto them and clean them up. Your child can reuse these items for their imaginary grocery store. They can set these items up in your living room, dining room, or their bedroom similar to the way the grocery stores are set up.
If the items you got from the grocery store don’t have prices on them, you can get stickers and create your own price tags. Your child can pretend to be either a customer or the cashier. Both people have to know about money, so they will be able to learn math eventually.
When you’re just starting to teach your child about money, it’s a good idea to start with change only. Help them recognize each coin and how much each one is worth. As they get comfortable using coins, begin adding in the lower value paper money.
If your child is playing cashier, go through the “store” and pick out some items. Then take them to check out. Use the play money to pay for the items, and check to see that they give you the correct change.
Then let them play shopper so they can pay for the items they want. Help them add up the items as they “shop” and try to give you the closest amount to get the least change. Then help them learn to always count their change before they leave the cash register.
It’s never too early to teach your children about money, how to handle it, and how to spend it wisely. You can use the shopkeeper’s game as one of the more interesting children activities to help them learn about money. It may also increase their general math skills and make them more confident about using real money.
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