Summer Safety: Avoid Falls from Windows

Police say three children have suffered head injuries this year after falling out of windows.

  It may be tempting to leave windows open during these cool summer days, but Howard County officials are warning parents that an open window can be a danger to children.  In the last few months, three children in the county have been injured after falling out of open windows, according to a statement released by Howard County police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn.   Two remain hospitalized. “Injuries in these types of cases can be severe,” Police Chief William McMahon said in a statement. “We investigate every case to ensure there is no foul play or child abuse involved, and usually what we find are preventable accidents.” On May 23, a two-year-old boy fell from the second floor window of his Ellicott City home, according to police. During …

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Going Green

Books With Beloved Characters Help Teach Environmentalism

Explaining “Going Green” can be easier with the help of books containing favorites such as Clifford and The Berenstain Bears.

There are lots of ways to get kids involved in living a little more Earth-friendly. Even the really little ones can participate, although sometimes it’s difficult to explain the “why” of it all to a toddler. In our house we start with the simple tasks for the kids, such as making sure we turn off the lights behind us and turning off the water when we brush our teeth. We also only use reusable containers for lunch, snack and on-the-go and make sure the children understand why. But the idea of “saving the environment” is pretty complex and sometimes it’s just beyond me to explain it all to my 3-year-old. I’ve found that books help, and there are many, many excellent ones about ecology and the environment. But many kids tend to gravitate …

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