Taking children out of school for family vacations is illegal in many (probably most) school districts in the US, Canada, Great Britain and Australia. Most school districts have specific policies regarding absences for reasons other than illness. Some districts allow a limited number of days (usually fewer than four) for such activities – if permission […]
Children/Non-traffic car-related accident
November 22, 2015 by
About 150,000 individuals visit American emergency rooms each year for injuries caused by closing car doors, says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Many more such injuries are treated elsewhere. More than half of the victims are children less than 14 years of age. Severity of injuries ranges from minor to those requiring surgery, including […]
Driving/unruly children/accidents: an update
November 8, 2015 by
Crying infants and unruly children may be a greater distraction for a driver who is the only adult in a car than are texting or using a cell phone. Undisciplined and unrestrained pets also present problems. 1. Distraction of all kinds cause 80% of crashes and 65% of near-crashes. Distractions contribute to 16% of all […]
Children/travel/illness/insurance: A Primer
March 21, 2015 by
An informal survey of several dozen parents planning major family trips showed that about half of them did not know whether their children (or themselves) are fully covered for all medical expenses incurred away from home. Many confessed that they have never read their insurance policies, not even the large print. Many were not familiar with penalties […]
Children/Motion sickness/Prevention/Treatment
January 10, 2015 by
Everyone has a threshold for motion sickness. It may be a hurricane at sea, riding camels for several hours, space travel, or “amusement” park rides that spin you in three dimensions simultaneously, often while you are strapped in upside down. Camels cause it because they sway side to side while they walk. Astronauts experience it […]
Should young infants travel by air? (An update)
October 15, 2014 by
No single answer fits all infants nor all situations. Moreover, the answer changes based on new findings – like the one that just came to light: apparently, very rarely, parents may accidently suffocate infants sitting on the parent’s lap. Here is what is known: No government agency regulates the age at which newborns may fly. […]
Children away from home/Homesickness
June 15, 2014 by
If you send your child to sleep-away camp, especially for the first time, don’t be surprised if after several days you get a call/email from your neophyte camper demanding that you bring him/her home immediately, that you made a terrible mistake inflicting camp on a child who hates camping, and that you are a bad, […]
Children/Travel/ADHD/Medication
March 4, 2014 by
For children who take medication for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is discontinuing their medication for travel a sensible option? Here are some thoughts: 1. You’re not alone in having to face the question. One in ten American children has been labeled as having ADHD. Four to five million take medication. And the numbers are […]
Planning for your child to be a UM traveler?
February 19, 2014 by
What is a UM traveler, you ask? In airline talk, a UM (usually pronounced “U. M.” but sometimes “um”) is an Unaccompanied Minor traveling without an adult, with airline personnel providing some supervision. 1. Qualifications for UMs are surprisingly scant. On most major US and international airlines, if children have reached their fifth birthday (yes, […]
Children/Holiday season/Health and safety (Update)
December 11, 2013 by
The events that make holiday seasons special for kids – festive atmospheres, gifts, and visiting family – are also events that may spread illness and cause mishaps. Fortunately, a bit of foresight will prevent almost all problems. 1. Vaccinate against influenza. Family gatherings bring together people of all ages, from different communities, crowd them into […]
