Before You Say I Do Not Know Read This – The Basic First Aid Training

The Basic First Aid Training That You Need To Know

Irrespective of whether you are a parent or not it is always the best to know about “What, When, and How” to do things when it comes to First Aid. Some parents do approach health care centers and enroll for the basic first aid training. If you have found one such an opportunity, I strongly recommend you, Do not miss it.

Hope you read the first part (i.e.) First Aid for Children here and found it to be informative. If you want, you can also take printouts of it to be used as the basic first aid training document. If you do not have time and believe self-learning is best to learn, then I am glad to say that you can consider the points discussed in part 1 and in this post.

The Basic First Aid Training

Let us discuss some of the other scenarios as well now.

Next Set of Scenarios

6. Electric Shock in Kids

The Basic First Aid Training

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Kids trying to insert a pen and pencils or anything similar inside the electric socket is not rare.

Common Reasons

Touching live wire or inserting an object into the electric socket, slipping into electrified water, etc.

What To-Do

Think and use items (wood, plastic, rubber) through which current cannot pass easily. Use that item to move the kid away.
Ensure you are 20 feet away from the kid experiencing high voltage shock.
Turn off the mains.
If the kid is unconscious after the incident give CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) if you are trained.
Educate them not to touch electrical appliances with wet hands or metal.
Why not conduct The Basic First Aid Training for your school going kids in one of the weekends?

What Not-To-Do

Do not touch the kid unless you turn off mains.
Do not use portable water heaters when you have kids at home.
Never ask smaller children to unplug your laptop cable, turn off electrical appliances, etc. as there is an age limit for everything. Your laziness can lead to unwanted chaos at the home.

When To Rush To The Hospital + Call Doctor + Call Emergency Services (108 / 911)

In the case of severe burns.
If the kid is unable to see, speak, hear, and complain numbness.
When the shock is not a minor shock, it is better to consult a doctor.

Tip: Always dummy-proof the electrical sockets.

7. Hot Water/Milk/Substance Spills & Fire Burns in Kids

The Basic First Aid Training

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Prevention is better than cure. 2020 is no way different from the ’90s as doctors still witness cases of hot spills at the Hospitals.

Be it cooling the milk to feed the kid or boiling the water to drink, do not perform kitchen tasks when you are holding the kid. Certain things can wait. The kid might be crying but it is okay to let them stay on the cradle or bed until you are out of the kitchen and you are done cooling down the hot drink.

Be cautious and place those incandescent sticks or mosquito coils in the spots where kids cannot reach. A Big No to Acids kept on the bathroom floor.

Common Reasons

A hot substance that is kept in a place that is easily accessible for kids.

What To-Do

Try to identify the degree of burn and act accordingly.
Degree 1 Burns: Painful, No blisters, skin turned to red color.
Degree 2 Burns: Painful, Visible blisters, skin turned to red color and damaged.
Degree 3 Burns: Charred skin portion.
Run regular/cold water over the area for 5 minutes if degree 1.
Cover the affected area with a clean cloth.

What Not-To-Do

Never try to treat an open burn with water.
Do not place ice cubes over the burn.
Do not apply oil or ointment before you consult a doctor.
Let the stuck clothing stay, do not peel it off.
Never try to cool down hot substances by placing the pan or vessel on the floor or at the place that is easy for the kids to reach.

When To Rush To The Hospital + Call Doctor

If the degree of burn is 2 or 3.
Blisters and burns that are not healed even after a week or two.
Swelling and infection in the area.
When the skin is charred, damaged with clothing stuck over the portion.
Call Emergency Services (108 / 911) in case of major accidents.

8. Fractures / Broken Bones

The Basic First Aid Training

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Very common in kids in the years until 2000. The kids go to the ground to play cricket, climb trees, jump from the loft, and whatnot. Things have changed and so does the reasons behind broken bones incidents in kids. Though the occurrences of fractures in kids still exist in other forms of activities like Cycling, Skating, etc.

Broken Bones and Fractures are one scenario that makes buying or keeping a wooden scale/ruler at home still for use during need.

Common Reasons

Any severe fall.

What To-Do

Leave the broken portion in its position as it is.
Remove clothing covering the broken bone, If you think that would disturb the position, tear the clothing with scissors.
Apply an ice pack. If you have a wooden scale or similar that can be used as a splint, place it over the broken bone and wrap it with a bandage gently to hold the bone until you meet the doctor.
No waiting period in case of a fracture. Hence, pick up the kid, and go to the hospital. Trust me, the basic first aid training knowledge that you gained will reduce a lot of complications.
Let the children lay down in case of broken back, legs, neck, etc.

What Not-To-Do

Do not try to adjust the broken bone yourself.
Never try to push the visible portion of the bone inside.
Do not wash the wound.

When To Rush To The Hospital + Call Doctor

If you are sure that it is broken bone and not a sprain then forget the term “Wait and See” thought from your mind.
Call 108 / 911 if the fracture is expected to be on the head, neck, spine, and legs.

9. Ear Pain

The Basic First Aid Training

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One of the scenarios that my kid and I experience every time we fly. You can see more details about the ear pain during flying and what you can do about it. But, that is not the only reason for ear pain in children.

Common Reasons

Water Splashed into the ears during swimming, Pressure changes, Blocked Eustachian tubes, infections in the ear, bugs in the ear, and tear caused by inserting things like swabs, pencil, pen are some of the reasons.

What To-Do

Breastfeed the kid or use pacifier as the pain reduces due to the suckling movement. This is the reason why it is recommended to breastfeed smaller kids especially when they are airborne and when the airplane descends.
Talk to the kid to understand about any recent incidents that happened at school. This will give us clarity on whether the ear pain is due to any tear induced by the kid himself or others accidentally.
A warm compress over the ear.
Few drops of warm olive oil in the ear will help. Do this only when there are no fluids coming out of the kids’ ear and you don’t expect any major issues.
Let the kid drink warm fluids. Eating candies will help to relieve the pain a bit due to the jaw movement.
Place a pillow beneath the mattress to elevate the head posture of the kid. Remember to elevate the mattress and do not ask the kid to lay his/her head on the pillow directly.

What Not-To-Do
Do not use antibiotics or any medicine unless you consult a doctor.
Never use cotton ear swabs in front of smaller children at home.
Do not use a cotton swab or anything yourself on to the kids’ ear.

When To Rush To The Hospital + Call Doctor

If the ear pain does not go away in 24 to 48 hours after trying simple first aid at home.
If you suspect the pain to be due to any tear or damage to the eardrum.
When there is fluid dripping out of the ear.

10. Head Injury

The Basic First Aid Training

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None of us can say that we had never fallen down, right. Sometimes we hurt our heads and sometimes other parts of our body.

Common Reasons

Sports injury, Child abuse is more common.

What To-Do

Monitor the kid for 24 hours minimum for any signs like vomiting, bleeding in-ear, etc.
If it is just swelling, give the kid ice cube pack massage over the swelling by covering the ice either in a cloth or anything similar.
When bleeding, hold a clean cloth over the injury to avoid blood loss and rush to the hospital as The Basic First Aid Training you learned may not be enough unless you are a doctor.
If you see any kid being abused, call the authorities for help.
Educate the kid to wear Helmets meant for each sport be it riding bicycles or skating.

What Not-To-Do

Do not delay when the injury seems to be a major and bleeding.
When you suspect next or spine injury, Do not move the child.

When To Rush To The Hospital + Call Doctor

Call Emergency Services (108 / 911) in case of head injury due to major accidents.
If the kid is unconscious.
If the kid is vomiting post the head injury.
When there are signs of bleeding from the ear.
If the kid is experiencing Seizures and Concussions.
If the kid looks drowsy.

In parts 1 and 2 of these blog posts, I had discussed 10 scenarios but as you know they are not all.

Let me know your comments if you think there is something that I need to cover in the content so that it will help someone out there. As I had mentioned earlier, do not hesitate to sign up for The Basic First Aid Training if you come across any such programs. If you are new to parenthood and if you do not have any elderly person who can guide, please do consider reading about The Basic First Aid Training so that you are doing the correct thing at the time of need.

Irrespective of whether you had attended and learned The Basic First Aid Training, trust your gut feeling. Do what your mind says especially when you need to decide on whether to call your doctor or not. In all the cases, it is good to connect with Doctors to get an opinion even after giving the required first aid.

Emergency Numbers That You Should Call:

108 – India (22 states)
100 – India, Greece, and Israel
000 – Australia
106 – Australia for textphone/TTY
110 – China, Japan, Taiwan
111 – New Zealand
112 – Across the European Union
119 – Jamaica and parts of Asia
911 – North America and the Philippines
999 – many countries

Help Others By Sharing

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Help Others too by sharing these posts. We don’t know the parts 1 and 2 about the first aid may save and help someone in need.

References:

httpss://kidshealth.org/#catemergencies

httpss://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/eari3

httpss://www.lifespan.org/lifespan-living/ear-pain-children-what-you-should-know

Stop Reading At The 4th Minute If You Think You Know It Better

One Snail Speed Sunday Led The Path To Realization – The Basic First Aid for Children At Home

It was one dull Sunday of partially lifted COVID 19 lockdown. The day was progressing in the speed of a snail just like all other days in the week. Drained from official tasks, I thought I would keep the weekend to rejuvenate myself by doing nothing relevant to work. As I was sitting by the entrance of my house, came the voice Please Help! When I looked up, I saw one of my apartment friend carrying his two-year-old son and running towards me panting. Oops, that was really a moment that I don’t want to experience anytime again in my lifetime. The kid was experiencing a seizure. My friend and I were helpless as the situation does not allow our brain to work and we do not know the first aid for children during seizures. We took the kid inside our house and started to calm him down by pouring normal water on to his head. I could not recollect from where I heard about this water therapy to treat Seizures. Yes, the water therapy approach was not that effective and we were stuck.

Without taking a chance, we pulled out the car and reached the hospital. The Good news is that the Doctor had performed the required things and it had calmed the kid down. The kid got discharged the next day and he was fine. But, those thirty minutes of waiting outside the physicians’ room had hit me hard. It made me realize an important thing that most of us parents and caretakers fail to learn. It is nothing but a lack of knowledge about the basic first aid for children that can be given at home.

First Aid for children

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How Equipped Are Parents With Correct Information On First Aid For Children?

As most of us know the importance of First Aid, let us ask this question to ourselves.

first aid for children

How many of us own a first aid kit in our homes?
Even if we have one, are we holding all the items that are to be in the first aid box? Parents play an imperative role in children’s health but how many of us know about the first aid for each condition?

We never thought that we will remain at home for this long until the pandemic COVID 19. When we ourselves are not brave enough to go to a hospital during this pandemic, taking kids is not the best thing to do. Taking kids who need medical attention to the Doctors is mandatory but there are some exceptions. There are a few scenarios when we can wait before rushing to the Hospital after giving the basic first aid for children at home.

In this blog post, let us look at some details on the first aid for children starting from Bumps to Burns, Cuts to Chokes, and more, that are common.

1. Seizures / Fits in Kids

first aid for children

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Common Reasons

Fever and long term illness, Interruption of Electrical Signals in Brain, Stress, and Lack of sleep

What To-Do

Do not panic. Instead, allow your brain to help you so that you can make better decisions.
Ensure that no hazard is near the kid. Keep them in a comfortable position with soft pillows.
Let them breathe fresh air.
Ensure to make a note of before/after symptoms.

What Not-To-Do

Do not feed the kid.
Do not leave them alone.

When To Rush To The Hospital + Call Doctor + Call Emergency Services (108 / 911)?

If the seizure continues for more than 5 minutes.
In case of any other injury caused during the seizure.

2. Choking in Kids

first aid for children

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Even now my mom tells me how I had swallowed a toy when I was a child and how the neighbor aunt (Kaappi Thool Maamee) lifted me upside down gave a slap/blow on my back to dislodge the food particle.

Common Reasons

Block in the windpipe caused by food particles, small toys, etc. making it difficult to breathe or talk.

What To-Do

Ask the kid to cough as forcefully possible to see if that helps to bring the particle out.
If the kid could not speak, breathe or cough, stand behind the kid and cover your arm around his/her wrist.
Clench fist of your hands just above the kids’ naval and try to lift them up and down gently.
Perform Heimlich Maneuver (i.e.) give abdominal thrust for 3-5 times to try to dislodge the food particle as the basic home first aid when the kid is leaning forward.
For Infants – Hold them upside down on your arms and gently give a blow at their back.

What Not-To-Do

Never give the kid water to drink during choking.
Do not slap the back of the kid when they are standing upright during choking.
Do not use fingers to pull out the object from Kids’ mouth especially when you cannot see the food particle or an object. You may end up pushing it further inside.

When To Rush To The Hospital + Call Doctor + Call Emergency Services (108 / 911)?

If the kid is not breathing and unconscious.
If the kid could not speak and swallow food.
When he/she continues to cough, wheeze after the chocking incident.

3. Paracetamol Overdose / Calpol Overdose in Kids

First Aid for Children

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Once, at home, when my kid was not well, we ended up giving multiple doses of Paracetamol syrup in shorter than the recommended interval. Man, that was one horrible night. The doctors were not there in the hospitals to tell whether it is okay or not. I experienced it hence I am sharing about it here for anyone who may experience in their lives.

Caution: Paracetamol / Calpol syrup given to kids without considering the recommended dosage and interval, may lead to Liver Damage and in the worst scenario to death.

Common Reasons

Accidental, Lack of knowledge, Kids drinking it by mistake in the absence of Parents or adults nearby.

What To-Do

Do not panic.
Read the dosage and interval mentioned in the syrup bottle/prescription again to confirm the extra dose.
Make a note of the time when the last 3 doses were given to the kid with its interval and dose. Note details on the other drugs which had been given to the kid. This detail is vital for the doctor to recommend the next steps.
Write down the kids’ age, weight in the same sheet you had made a note of other details mentioned in the above line. Weight is an important factor to arrive at a conclusion on the next steps.
If you are in the middle of the night or in the early hours and if the kid does not seem to show any adverse signs, wait until the next day to start so that you can contact the Medic.
Let the kid drink enough water.
Observe the kid for any discomfort.
Call the National Poison Information Centre (24×7).
011 26589391
011 26593677
Toll-free number: 1800116117

What Not-To-Do

Do not try to make the kid vomit.
Never place the medicines in the spot that is easily accessible for kids.

When To Rush To The Hospital + Call Doctor + Call Emergency Services (108 / 911)?

When the kid is unconscious.
If too much syrup has been administered.Tip: Search for the term Paracetamol Dose Calculation in Google.

4. Dog (Spike) / Cat (Tom) / Rat (Jerry) Bites

First Aid For Children

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Could there be anyone who does not like Tom & Jerry cartoon? But in reality, it is a nightmare when kids’ are bitten by a Dog, scratched by a cat, or bitten by a rat. One of the common issues for which my grandmom take me to the hospital during my childhood. I am a proud owner of 2 dog bites that happened in my childhood and 1 cat scratch in adulthood. Let us check about the first aid for children that need to be administered by the parent or the caretaker during an animal bite.

Common Reasons

In the case of dogs/cats, they might have bitten due to fear or when they were playing. Rat bites are common in infants especially when they are laid on the floor unattended.

What To-Do

It is very important that you don’t shout and become restless in front of the kid.
Ask the kid questions to understand if there are more than one bitten spots.
Wash the area of the bite with soap water and hold the spot under running water for several minutes.
Put a clean cloth over the wound and apply slight pressure over the spot if bleeding.
Apply antibiotic cream over the wound once the bleeding has stopped.
Educate kids not to tease/harm animals. Ask the kid to handle them gently and keep a distance from Stary animals.

Gather details on the below and call the doctor as the bites and scratches can lead to an infection if unattended.

Type of Animal involved.
In the case of Dogs, Cats – their vaccination history.
Abnormal behavior if any from the animal involved in the scene.
Location of the animal in case of pet. If stray animals, contact the animal control board seeking help.
Keep your child vaccination record handy.

What Not-To-Do

Do not hurt the animal involved.
Do not try to catch that stray dog or cat yourself.

When To Rush To The Hospital + Call Doctor + Call Emergency Services (108 / 911)?

If the animal involved is a stray animal. In the case of a pet, if the pet vaccination is not done or short by a few weeks or months.
If the skin is punctured.
Found the animal to behave strangely.
When the bitten or scratched area is red, swollen, painful.
If the bite is on the face, head, neck, hand, and foot.

5. Poisoning Due To Household Cleaners or Similar

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Child poisoning happens at home 90 percent of the time.

First Aid For Children

This is one more scenario I can relate to myself. As a super active kid, I drank Kerosene kept in a stainless steel water glass. I don’t know what my Mom and granny did as first aid for children to handle the situation. But, one thing for sure that my capability to sense smell seems to be very poor during my childhood days, phew.

The usage of strong chemicals as a household cleaning liquid is common nowadays in our houses. Hence, it is our responsibility to ensure that these items are not in kids’ reach. We are no longer in the Phenyl era, and now most of these cleaning agents come in attractive colors. It is possible for the kids specifically infants to assume it to be a toy and keep it in their mouths. It is all the history that repeats. I say this because, for most of us in our childhoods, the empty talcum powder container and green colored VVD oil container with yellow cap were the toys we had around. Some of you might have a photograph of you holding any of these containers in your childhood. Check your childhood photo album now.

Common Reasons

Cleaning chemicals/medicines kept in a place that is easily accessible for kids.

What To-Do

Check the cleaner container for instructions on what to do.
Call National Poison Control for advice.
Save the container as you need to carry this with you when you meet the doctor.

What Not-To-Do

Do not try home remedies when you are not sure about what you are doing.
Never try to make the kid vomit by yourself or by giving any medicine.
Do not store cleaning agents in regular containers used in the kitchen.
Do not forget to remove the rat poison kept at the nook and corners of your house especially when you have crawling toddlers at home.

When To Rush To The Hospital + Call Doctor + Call Emergency Services (108 / 911)?

Post administering the first aid for children start to the hospital,

If the kid starts acting abnormally.
If the kid shows signs of drowsiness, vomiting, etc.

I am not stopping here and would cover some more first aid for children scenarios in part 2 of this blog post. Below are some details on the emergency numbers for your usage.

Emergency Numbers That You Should Call:

First Aid for children

Image Credit: Pixabay

References:

httpss://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3157131/
httpss://patient.info/doctor/paracetamol-poisoning
httpss://www.aiims.edu/en/disclaimer/79-about-aiims/6905-national-poison-information-centre-24×7.html
httpss://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/policy-and-issues/How-overdose-of-paracetamol-hits-kids/article16046095.ece
httpss://www.starship.org.nz/guidelines/paracetamol-poisoning/
httpss://www.mydr.com.au/babies-pregnancy/paracetamol-for-children
httpss://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3157131/
httpss://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_numbers
httpss://kidshealth.org/en/parents/firstaid-safe/?WT.ac=p-nav-firstaid-safe

GPS Tracking For Kids Safety, Should We Opt For It Or Not?

Is GPS Tracking For Kids worth it?

It is an undeniable fact that we, today’s parents need to be very vigilant when it comes to the safety of our kids and grownup daughters as well. Be it they are at home, apartments, schools, colleges, or workplaces, no place is confirmed safe based on what we come across in the newspapers and television in recent years. Being a parent, I am writing here about the safety measure or an option that I had researched about recently (i.e) GPS Tracking For Kids. This blog post would answer most of the questions that might arise in our minds.

GPS Tracking For Kids

Hope you had already read my other posts on Child Abuse – Are Our Kids Really Safe? | Things To-Do Before & After registering our kids at school | Parenting vs Effective Parenting that we had covered earlier.

In case, if you have not got a chance, do give it a read. Though they are more than a year old, I had covered the basics of the kids’ safety in much detail. In this blog post, let us explore a few points in line with the GPS tracking for kids and how safe are the kids when used in proximity.

That Skip Of The Heart Beat

Isn’t that true that our heart skips a few beats especially when our kids haven’t reached home from school at the regular time?

Isn’t that true that we become disturbed at times when our daughter is late from work and when they did not pick up our call & when we do not find our kids at the market or at any public places like parks etc.?

I am sure most of the parents would have experienced it. Yes, the world is evolving and we grow too amid new technology innovations. Most of them are good and at the same time bad if not used wisely or overuse it, just like our mobile phones. Hope we all remember how the Blue Whale challenge had impacted the lives of many kids, adults, and their families.

How GPS Tracking For Kids Help Parents?

As a parent, we all want to know about the status of our children after leaving them at school and even when they are spending time with their friends during Holidays, especially if both the parents at home are employed.

GPS Tracking For Kids

Yes, GPS tracking for kids would help parents from unnecessary tension by letting us know about the whereabouts of our kids. GPS devices/receivers can not only be used by the parents for GPS tracking for kids but also can be used by the kids & women to raise an alert using the SOS (a morse code distress signal) button when they feel unsafe and need help at any point of time away from home. GPS tracking for kids receivers nowadays does come with an SOS button equipped in it.

Precaution Turned To Nagging

GPS Tracking For Kids

Parenting a teen is challenging. As most of us keep a cell phone with us during the day, it is not very uncommon to see parents calling their kids with an interval of an hour when the kids are away.

What would be some of the kids’ mindset when a parent makes a call regularly to him or her asking about their whereabouts?

Being in an adolescent phase, it is very normal for the kids to get frustrated. We, as a parent are cautious and want to know that our kids are safe but the teens on the receiving end might feel uncomfortable.

One option we have got to handle these kinds of scenarios is to opt for GPS tracking for kids. It would help both the parents and the kids to stay away from a lot of unwanted differences in opinion.

What is GPS?

You might ask me back, what a silly question, Vinoth?

Yes, most of us knew that the abbreviation of GPS is the Global Positioning System. This term is very much used in our daily life. As our mobile phones can act as a GPS receiver, we utilize it to the most starting from tracking the uber cab, food delivery person, find a location while driving a car using Google maps and whatnot.

Most of us exploit GPS technology which is good as we are in sync with the modern age and its devices. But, how many of us know anything about GPS beyond its abbreviation? May be 10 members in a group of 100?

We should not use any gadgets or technology without knowing the basics of it as that may lead to a fatal error. So, let that not be the case going forward.

GPS – The Basics

GPS does not use our cell phone towers or the internet. Instead, they work with the help of a chain of Satellite that are revolving the Earth.

When we turn ON GPS, a GPS receiver or device receives the signal from these satellites about the time and the position of an object in the ground.

The GPS receiver or device on the ground catches signals from 3 to 4 satellites, measures its distance from the satellites-based on the time taken by the signal to reach you, and arrives at the approximate location.

GPS Tracking For Kids

Earlier, Ships, Aircraft, and Trucks were the ones that widely relied on GPS and we had recently joined the group.

GPS is a space-based radio navigation system developed and owned by the USA government. It is operated by the United States Air Force to meet the needs of Defence, Security, Scientific and Commercial areas.

GPS Is Not The Only One

Each country has its navigation system. For example, India has got its regional navigation system called IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System) aka NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) developed by ISRO and Japan has its regional system called QZSS (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System).

Countries with Global coverage are the USA’s system GPS, Chinese system called BDS (BeiDou Navigation Satellite System), the Russian system is called GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System), and the European system called Galileo. All these navigation systems work based on the concept called Triangulation.

GPS offers two services. Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and the Precise Positioning Service (PPS). The SPS is free and that is what everyone uses worldwide. PPS access is restricted to the USA government and its Armed forces.

GPS receivers are a part of many commercial products, such as automobiles, smartphones, exercise watches, keychains, pens, and pendants. The GPS inside these devices is only a Receiver and not a Transmitter. So, the receiver on the ground does not send signals to the satellites.

You might find the information here interesting.

GPS is not only used in GPS tracking for kids but also to track elderly people and pets at home besides tracking vehicles.

How Can Parents Track Kids Using GPS?

GPS Tracking For Kids

There are so many devices available in the market like GPS enabled key chains, GPS enabled wristwatches, and GPS enabled school bags, etc. to make GPS tracking for kids and loved ones easier. These devices need to be charged and turned ON so that the parent can get to know the status of the kids with the help of a third-party GPS tracking service provider sending details on to the mobile phones.

Are GPS Signals Received By The Receiver Bad To Kids Health?

NO. Because the devices that we use are just the receivers and they do not transmit anything.

Even if there is an emission, that would be nothing compared to the 4G and 5G networks in our cell phones, Bluetooth, and Wifi that we use around us. Hence, we need not worry about any kind of radiation. However, GPS tracking for kids has its own advantages and disadvantages outside health.

GPS Tracking – The Major Disadvantages

I am jumping into the demerits section as we already know the merits of using GPS or similar navigation systems.

Privacy Matters

GPS devices can be used to stalk people without their knowledge. For example, if a device is placed in a car, the location may be tracked by others. This method can also be used for a criminal purpose.

Not 100 % Accurate

GPS devices rely upon receiving signals from at least four satellites. If they connect only with three signals the positioning might not be accurate at all times. Problems can arise when obstacles such as walls, buildings, etc such as obstruct the signal. Extreme atmospheric conditions may cause problems and GPS may show navigation slow error.

We Are Being Followed

When GPS is connected with social media or mobile phone applications it becomes easy for a commercial organization to track the location of the user and exploit them.

Signal And Battery Failure

The GPS receiver needs to have enough charge to disclose the status of the loved ones. Most of the GPS devices like wristwatches, bags, etc would need frequent charging ( at least every day). It is always possible to lose the signal especially when the device is available at a place where the GPS signal jammer is used.

Talk To Your Kids When You Opt For GPS Tracking For Kids?

It is a must to have a two-way open discussion with your kids especially the teenagers before you chose to track them for their safety as a parent. Because, when it comes to defining a perimeter in the device for kids, parents should be wary to avoid making the kids feel irritated. So, a good understanding between the parent and kids play an imperative role in smooth tracking. Make the kids understand that the idea of tracking is not to curtail their freedom, instead, for their safety.

Discuss with them mainly regarding “When To” and “How To” use the SOS button just like how you discussed with them about the good and the bad touch.

Keep them informed that the device that they use needs to be charged daily without fail to make the device work.

In case, if they are already using a cellphone, as a parent you can ignore this point. Would any teen be failing to keep their phone charged? I don’t think so and I am sure you do agree.

How To Choose GPS Tracker For Kids

GPS Tracking For Kids

1. Consider the weight of the device.

2. Choose devices that can send text notifications to Parents.

3. Devices that allow the users to call for assistance, and optionally allow parents and designated people to find the kids position, typically within five to ten meters.

4. Pick devices that allow either one-way or two-way voice communication.

5. Prefer devices that also allow the user to call many phone numbers using pre-programmed speed dial buttons like in cellphones.

6. Try to find devices that can get recharged using solar power as well as electric power if available.

7. Find devices that are water-resistant at least to few meters.

8. It is wise to also focus on the device warranty duration and its global applicability.

9. The ones that have a reasonable number of service centers.
Research well before buying it.

10. Choose the tracking service provider that allows support to multiple devices of the tracker and also with provision to track via a website.

GPS signals won’t work underwater especially seawater as the signals cannot penetrate water.

What Are The Buying Options?

GPS Tracking For Kids

Browse Google and Amazon for wearables that are equipped with a GPS receiver. You can also check this link.

Some of these devices come in the form of a wristwatch as well. But, it is good to check and give it a shot post thorough research on the GPS for kids based on the user reviews.

GPS Tracking for kids

Reference

httpss://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS_tracking_unit

httpss://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_GPS_satellites

httpss://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOS

Image Credits: Pixabay

10 Tactics To Help You Master Parenting A Teenager At Home

BEWARE – TEENAGER AT HOME

Even though it sounds hilarious, this is the true angst of every parent with their kids in the ‘tweens to teenage evolution’ phase. Well, to begin with, kids ageing between 13-19 years are termed as ‘teenagers’. This is the most significant as well as the most crucial period of your kids before they become adults. It is a crucial period not only for the kids but also for the parents as they play a vital role in making their kids understand the world better. This is the critical time that is Unpredictable and Slippery. And that is exactly why we call parenting a teenager is an art.

parenting a teenager

Image Credit: Pixabay

The things they see and learn, characters and traits they acquire, behaviours they adopt in this age are imprinted in their minds, which they will be carrying along till the end of life. So parents must be extremely cautious on what’s getting etched in their kid’s minds, as they are everlasting and permanent.

Note: Some of the points penned down in this article might not be fully applicable to the parents and their teens who hail from countries like the United States of America, United Kingdom or similar.

Do Not Cross Beyond This Line – The Flashback

parenting a teenager

In earlier times, maybe in the 70s or 80s, parenting a teenager had a quite different dimension.

Especially in countries like India, every guy would be scared of getting beaten up by his father if he does something wrong, and every girl would fear the unending rebuke from her mother if she doesn’t obey her.

Just take a flashback to your childhood days…

When you were a teenager, what were the things your parents restricted you from or scolded you for?

If I ask my dad and mom this question, their list would comprise bunking school, showing pranks or stealing some penny and the lesser marks I get. But now, things and society have taken a huge transformation.

So, parenting a teenager or in other words, bringing up the millennial kids is indeed a mammoth task for the parents. The number of things the kids come across and the amount of exposure they get is immeasurable. So, to handle these proactive kids who know and think way beyond their parents, a lot of strategies and tricks are required. Many parents do fail at this and end up in a spot where the kids find themselves allergic to their parents.

The Tactics That Might Help While Parenting A Teenager

To begin with, the major difference that we can spot between the earlier generation teenagers and present generation teenagers is the boom in technology and gadgets.

1. Be Rigid On Their Ask For Mobile Phones

parenting a teenager

Image Credit: Pixabay

Don’t buy them mobile phones for their own until they reach a proper age of knowing how to use them wisely and carefully.

Just like how we were in pride of owning a Hero fountain pen, Microtip Luxor pen/pencils or a Classmate notebook, teenagers now have smartphones and top configuration laptops in their hands.

When they attain the age of 12-13, they start nagging their parents to buy them phones, and say this simple statement ” All my friends have it, dad”. A first NO from the parents will make them dejected, they cry, protest without eating food, and find their ways to hold the mobile phone they asked for in their hands. Never to blame the parents, they can’t bear their kids wailing or getting disappointed, so pave the way to everything the kids ask for.

But still, below are the questions that should revolve in the parents’ heads before jumping into the decision of buying them their favourite smartphone. Because these questions might help you gauge the situation better.

What are they going to do with the phone?

While we all used landline phones to talk to friends, Do the kids of today’s generation need a mobile?

Considering the issues faced by today’s kids, it is obvious for most of the parents reading this post to feel that the mobile phone is necessary. Especially for the kids to contact parents during emergency situations. That being a valid thought we can consider buying them a basic mobile. It is best if the parents spend some time to check the call logs section in the itemised bill.

2. Stay Closer To The Desktop & Laptop Computer

parenting a teenager

Image Credit: Pixabay

The projects given at school, the presentations and assignments demand the use of computers to children. Yes, you can give them the freedom to use them when required, but under your supervision.

Make sure you keep the desktops in an open room like a living room, instead of confining them into bedrooms, and just take a look at what they are doing in front of the system. Spare some time of yours to supervise them, to ensure your kids are not doing anything unwanted or obscene in the system. Even in the case of laptops, ask them to sit in the place where you can take a glance at what they are doing.

Now when we wrap up the technology and gadgets part, let us look into some general tips parents who are parenting a teenager at home must follow.

3. Spend Time With Them

Image Credit: Pixabay

Yes, spend at least some quality time with them. Make them narrate every incident that happened in school, any new things they learnt, the new people they met, everything that their friends are discussing. Once you nurture this habit from a very tender age, you can see your kids treating you like friends.

The best and easiest way is to have dinner (at least one of the Parent) along with the kids. It provides a great platform to unwind their day and to identify their problems and struggles. You might be caught up with work, house chores everything, but invest some time for your kids, and trust me, it can do wonders.

4. Be All Ears

parenting a teenager

Image Credit: Pixabay

Keep the doors open – Make them feel comfortable talking to you. Never rebuke immediately when your kids say something inappropriate, keep calm and advice your kids why it is bad. Once you answer their WHY’s, most kids will listen to you, as the kids in this generation require a valid explanation for everything. Once they are convinced, they will not repeat the mistake.

Be open to discuss the taboo topics such as drugs or premarital sex, let them know the risks and ill-effects of it, and let them realize themselves why they should not do it.

5. They Mirror You – Stay Alert Always In Front Of Them

Image Credit: Pixabay

Never fight in front of your kids- The argument or fights between the parents will be deeply rooted in the mind of kids. Using misappropriate words to their mother/father, showing intense anger etc would affect the child and he/she will start acting similarly to others as well.

Always find time for your arguments and disputes after the kid sleeps or goes to school. Be cautious about what message you give to your kids.

6. Stop Comparing Instead Explain Precisely

parenting a teenager

Image Credit: Pixabay

Don’t compare your teenage days with theirs – Simply avoid the statement “ When I was your age…..”

The comparison between your teenage and theirs is beyond measure and its indeed a dumb idea to do so. The situations and exposure the kids get now are humongous (enormous), and they know so many things their parents might not know.

If you try to implement the same way how your father/mother had brought you up, the kids will show faces and not even bother to listen to you the next time. We can rewind how many beatings and thrashings we have got from parents, and now parents don’t even touch their kids.

Explain things to them in a subtle, yet powerful way so that they understand things in a much matured.

7. Trust Their Judgement

parenting a teenager

Image Credit: Pixabay

Say it when you mean it.

Let them know that you trust them – allow them to take decisions themselves where ever possible. The trust factor will help them weigh the situations better in their life and act accordingly. If they are yet to earn your trust, show them how to gain it.

8. Give Them Their Personal Space

parenting a teenager

Image Credit: Pixabay

It is very unhealthy to try to control your teenager fully. While parenting a teenager, the parents need to ensure that we set reasonable boundaries that are well established, firm and at the same time not overwhelming. Always remember that they are teenagers now hence treat them as “grown-ups”. Getting into their space would just make the situation worse by aggravating the issue instead of solving it.

9. Consider Counselling

parenting a teenager

Image Credit: Pixabay

Teenagers are fragile, highly changing, act like a kid in some areas and act like an adult in some areas. They undergo severe mood swings due to the hormonal changes. While parenting a teenager it is a must for the parents to ensure that their teens mental and emotional health is stable. Consider taking them for counselling whenever you find them feeling very low and when they experience a lot of mood swings.

10. Give Them Options Rather Than Penalizing

parenting a teenager

Image Credit: Pixabay

Don’t punish them for their wrongdoings instead try to help them learn from their mistakes and encourage your teen to make better decisions in the future.

A Well-Defined Picture

I came across the below picture shared by my friend through WhatsApp which I feel is the best fit in this blog. The millennial kids are like china glass, handle with extreme care and attention.

parenting a teenager

Parenting a teenager is indeed an art and cannot be mastered by many at the first shot itself and there are no limits for the same. It is very valid that the newer generation parents must pay extra attention to monitor their teen and correct them whenever there is a need. It is also must for the Parents to be cautious about every baby steps their teens take to bring them up as a better person in society.

Happy Parenting!

Books For Kids And Not Gadgets – How To Motivate?

It’s the Books For Kids This Time

Some of you might have received a text message very recently from my end with some questions related to books and its Genres. Before I move on further, let me take this moment to Thank You all for your responses and inputs. This is not the first time I share something inline with books and reading books for kids. Yet, what I am going to convey in this blog post comes with some of the action items not for the kids but for most of the parents‘ community that includes me too.

Books For Kids

Image Credit: Pixabay

Ah! Did you notice any change in the thotslingo page? Let me know in case if you find any.

An Expectation / A Major Concern Of The Parents

One of the popular expectation of Parents nowadays is that we want our children to love reading books instead of spending time in front of the Mobile Gadgets and Television sets.

Is it not most of us, parent’s expectation?

Some of us go to every book fair we come across with an intention to buy books for kids, which is absolutely good. But, how many of us know whether our kids’ are interested towards reading books? A meagre percentage maybe.

Books For Kids

Image Credit: Pixabay

I am not saying that we should not buy books for kids or expect kids to read books. But, demanding them to focus on the books for kids is not an organic approach. Especially when we, the parents do not read books in front of them. Please note that even when a parent gazes at a newspaper on a regular basis, it creates a huge impact on our kids’ mind.

The question is “How many of us still buy a newspaper at home?”. Even if we buy, do we spend the time to read it? I am sure most of us have got news applications on our mobile phones instead. Agreed, that they save us time, money, help us utilize time during travel etc. But, the above-mentioned points cannot compensate what we are losing by ignoring and not reading newspapers/books in front of our kids.

All of us want our kids to become smart. But, are we really helping them?

Kids Brain Development Is Dynamic

A kids brain growth never stops. The knowledge either gets enhanced or it declines. Whatever a child come across during the early years shape him/her into who they become. Starting from how he/she gets along with others, controls feelings, academic excellence, what sort of connections he frames, and even what sort of parent he/she will become.

Children’s mind does not develop naturally with age just like how the human body parts develop. Instead, it originates from the fact and the activity that the mind gets. Everything from what they See, Hear, Touch, Taste and Smell plays a great role in the growth of their brain. The more they encounter the faster would be their brain development.

Parents Are The Moulders

Parents are the examples of Kids. I am sure that this is not the first time you get to hear this sentence. Kids consider us as the models and try to imitate us.

Books For Kids

Image Credit: Pixabay

With no doubt, I would say that every parent in the world would have come across their little princess standing in front of the mirror with a lipstick and sometimes with toys related to cooking in their tender hands. Similarly, the little prince standing with a finger comb on their fingers or a shaving foam over their cheeks. Our kids got to know where to apply lipstick and how to comb the hair by seeing us. They try to imitate us ninety per cent of the times.

Always remember that our kids grow in the way how we mould them in their early ages.

The Vital Periods

Kids growth can be categorized into 4 periods.

Period:1 – Up to 5 years
Areas of Development: Activities, Curiosity and Interests in life

Period:2 – 5 to 10 years
Areas of Development: Intellectual Knowledge

Period:3 – From 10 to 15 years
Areas of Development: Self-confidence & Independent thinking

Period:4 – From 15 years
Areas of Development: None. This is the time to see the outputs/results for all the efforts that the parents had put in bringing up the kids until period 3.

Significance Of Period 2

This is the period when cerebral knowledge is gained. This is the time when we need to ensure that we provide a good volume of information to the children either by buying books for kids or by reading informative books for them. One of the best stage/period to load the child with knowledge.

Books For Kids

That being the case, expecting children to spend time on reading books for kids is not a very easy task at least until they turn 8. So, the only best option available for the Parents is to read books and share a story with their kids in a way they understand or read books for kids.

How To Motivate Kids To Read Books?

Parents at home spend most of the time either in front of the laptop, mobile phones etc. Maybe we sit in front of them to connect to work from home and to respond to the emails or to read the news etc. But, the kids at home will relate the laptop and mobile devices just like a television and think that we get entertained by these gadgets. So, they imitate the same again by spending time in front of the TV and iPad or similar mobile gadgets.

Books For Kids

Image Credit: Pixabay

Tell me now.

How effective do you think Kindle is?

I am not taking up on Amazon Kindle or any other similar gadgets. But, the impact that a physical book in our hands leaves is so much in a positive way that no devices can provide. Not only for the adults but also for the kids which none of us can deny.

We need to note that unless we read books for kids and read books for ourselves specifically in front of the kids at home we cannot make our children get motivated to read more and more books. Doing so, would, in turn, help them on enhancing their Mental Power and ignite their focus and interest towards reading…

Yes, it is difficult to start for us now but by doing so we can still make a difference.

Hope you had enjoyed reading this post. Do not fail to share your thoughts on this post using the comments section so that it will help others as well.

Ever Heard about Page-Turners Madras?

Don’t search on google as it is too early to find any good details about it. But, here is the hint: Page-Turners Madras is a Thotslingo initiative.

Books For Kids

Oh Yes, My Mom and her few friends are working towards something inline with reading books. A mode through which they want to help people to read more books in a cost-effective way. And they are very proud about it and damn excited too 🙂

Please wait for my next post with more details.

Happy Reading.