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A safe and busy summer The warm season provides fun for kids but can also provide a greater risk of injury By Jo Ann Kirby Record Staff Writer Keeping kids safe and healthy during the summer can be challenging in a season full of blazing sun, mosquitoes, water sports, outdoor play, new friends and baby sitters, and camp experiences. “Most parents get so focused on keeping their children busy during the summer months they forget to be diligent about keeping them safe,” said Marlin Appelbaum, an author and parenting expert who operates The Appelbaum Training Institute in Texas. Keeping kids safe can mean signing them up for swimming lessons, slathering them with sunscreen, talking to them about the dangers of peer pressure or teaching them how to communicate openly regarding situations they feel uncomfortable about. At Flaherty’s Kenpo Karate in Stockton, instructors teach students to handle potentially harmful situations through open communication and karate skills. “In this day and age, kids not only need to learn to physically defend themselves, but they also need clear instruction in verbal self-defense and open communication to expose bullies and predators,” Randall Flaherty said. Teaching children to follow their gut instincts and alert their parents if they feel uncomfortable about a situation is important. So is learning to use the power of “no” when feeling uncomfortable or threatened. “Have the child practice saying ‘no’ clearly and firmly. Reach children to follow their gut instinct and how to listen to it to protect themselves.” Appelbaum suggested. “You never know when your child may need help but is too afraid to ask for it outright.” Appelbaum suggests practicing using a prearranged code word or signal that a child can use to alert their parents that help is needed without being embarrassed in front of peers or feeling threatened in front of peers or feeling threatened by an adult. Flaherty is offering a special free karate class during July for kids 5 and older. The class, which includes a $19.95 uniform fee, will focus on helping children handle and expose dangerous and harmful situations. In one exercise, students are given a red ribbon in a role-playing move designed to expose ‘”red flags” that kids need to recognize when their safety may be in jeopardy. A student might raise a ribbon, for instance, if a stranger asks for directions or for help in finding a lost pet. Because children are often exposed to activities and situations they don’t face during the school year, it’s important to be prepared in other ways. First 5 San Joaquin’s executive director Lani Schiff-Ross says the summer season provides opportunities for fun – playing in the park, building sandcastles at a beach, or hiking – but the hot season also puts children at greater risk of injury. She encourages parents to carefully supervise their children and focus on being sun smart, watching out for water dangers, surveying potential playgrounds for safety hazards and using bug repellent. For kids facing new child care situations or going off to day camps, experts recommend parents get to know the teachers and leaders who will be caring for their youngsters by asking for references or talking to other parents. If older siblings are baby-sitting for the summer, considering enrolling them in a safety class first. Tracy Hospital Foundation has a two-day Safety Sitter Class for kids ages 11 to 13. The upcoming class, offered Jul 9 and 10, is a medically accurate program that teaches would-be sitters how to handle emergencies when caring for children. With kids out of their comfort zone of school, there are plenty of learning opportunities that will teach them skills to navigate summer – whether through a swimming or safety class, a trip to the library or a simple talk with Mom or Dad.
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Student Carnen Cervantes, 12, practices kicking at Flaherty’s Kenpo Karate in Stockton.
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