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Parking Pal Safety Magnet

Parking PalConfession time: parking lots scare me. Now that my daughter is mobile (and fast!), I tend to see danger lurking behind every parked car. There’s enough risk from people driving correctly in the lots, not to mention the idiots who appear to believe that 50 mph is the correct speed for navigating among parked cars. And don’t get me started on people who cut across the lots by driving through empty spaces…

Anyway, I’ve been using “a first-in, last-out” approach to getting my daughter into the car: I buckle her into her seat before loading anything else when we set out and upon arrival, everything else is unloaded before she gets out.  Generally, this works well and ensures that she’s either with me or buckled into her seat. However, there are times when I have to let go of her hand to set something down or open the car door. Whenever possible, I shield her between the car door and my body, but when that’s not possible I have her “touch the tire” for the few seconds I need to get things settled before putting her in the car.  I know, I know: the tire’s not the cleanest part of the car, but my daughter knows what it is and understands that she’s not supposed to move her hand from it until I tell her it’s ok.

However, I just learned about Parking Pal, a CD-sized magnet that serves the same purpose as my method, but in a manner that’s easier for kids to understand. And it goes without saying that the magnet should be a lot cleaner than my car’s tires.

The Parking Pal is available in several colorful designs featuring dinosaurs, flowers, fish and more. In the center of each Parking Pal is a bright handprint to show your child exactly where to put her hand, a definite improvement over my system (”but dad, you didn’t say which part of the tire!”). Made of heavy material, the magnets are durable, wipe clean and, although they’re easily removed, fasten securely to your car. That last feature is important if you’re like me and forget to take the Parking Pal off the car before hitting the highway.

Sure, you could use any one of the ribbon auto magnets sold in stores, but why not spend the $8 and pick up something that appeals to your child. Actually, for that price, why not pick up one for all your family’s cars?

As an added bonus, now instead of “touching the tire,” my daughter knows to “give the car five!”

 

Nashua SummerFun 2008 Information Posted

We’ve added some key Nashua SummerFun 2008 event information to the SNHParents Calendar and there’s more to come.

You can also find complete program information on the Nashua City Website.

 

New Hampshire in Top 5 for Child Health Care

NH was ranked #5 in the country in a study of child health care done by The Commonweatlh Fund, trailing Iowa, Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts. Unfortunately, we were also among the ten most expensive for that care and in the middle of the pack for access to health care services.

The study focused on “13 performance indicators of access, quality, costs, equity, and the potential to lead healthy lives, the authors find wide variation among states, including distinct regional patterns. Across states, better access to care is closely associated with better quality of care.”
The executive summary, as well as links to downloadable versions of the report are available here.

We’ve had good luck with doctors so far, but fortunately we haven’t had too many visits, and those we’ve had have always been to our chosen pediatrician. How about you? Do you think the New Hampshire ranking was on the mark?

[Foster’s Daily Democrat]

 

Why Doesn’t WY Like SNHParents?

Sunday I was going through the SNHParents stats and I cam across something interesting: in 2008 we haven’t had any visitors from Wyoming.

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MRSA Quick Facts and Links

Yesterday morning WMUR reported that a student at Sunset Heights Elementary school in Nashua had a confirmed case of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and that a teacher was a […] Continue Reading…

 

weemote DV Remote Control

A few months ago I reviewed the weemote 3 from Fobis Technologies. Today it’s time to look at another of their children’s remotes, the weemote DV. The weemote 3 […] Continue Reading…

 

Have You Checked Your Baby’s Bottles for BPA?

Heard of Bisphenol-A (BPA)? If not, get ready, because you’re about to. The chemical is used in a variety of consumer products, but it’s its use in water bottles, […] Continue Reading…

 

MySpace ‘Linked’ to Underage Drinking…Well, Duh!

The Telegraph posted a story yesterday about a Pelham man who had advertised a party on MySpace. Among those who paid to get in were 25 minors from Dracut, […] Continue Reading…

 

New Hampshire Tops 2008 State Rankings

New Hampshire just keeps getting better and better, at least according to CQ Press. They’ve named NH the “Most Livable State” for the fifth time in a row. This […] Continue Reading…

 

Google Street View Comes to Southern New Hampshire

By now I’m sure you’ve heard of Google Maps. Like many people, you’ve probably already used it (or a similar mapping service) to find directions to a new restaurant, […] Continue Reading…

 

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