A little refresher on protecting our children

As parents, we spend most of our waking hours protecting our children in some way or another, often without even realizing it.

As the mother of a six-year-old, I find myself changing the channel on the television when there's something violent, rather than allow her to see it.

And when she's riding her bike, she must wear a helmet – she doesn't even question it, it's just an automatic habit.

But every once in a while, it's good to get some refreshers and pointers about safety and our kids – a topic that spans a wide range of concepts.

In this issue of Raising Yuma, we take a look at baby proofing homes, with tips from experts, on page 15.

And, we talk with a local pediatrician about common injuries and how to prevent them. Learn more on page 10.

In Yuma, any talk of safety must also include a discussion about keeping kids safe around water – be a bucket, pool or the Colorado River, which is on page 13.

Unfortunately, there's a darker side to safety that makes any parent shutter, and that's the concept of Stranger Danger, which has changed from when we were kids. Read how on page 8.

And, on a lighter note, we have a perspective from dad Eddie Carifio, and his experiences with keeping his kids safe … from themselves.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Raising Yuma. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please let me know at rmolenar@yumasun.com

One more thing!! You can now get Raising Yuma in your email. Sign up now at http://www.yumasun.com/sections/sp-alerts/

Thanks for reading!