8 Germiest Places

So many things change when you become a parent. I don't think anything I heard from wizened parents before me could have quite prepared me for that. I mean, what can prepare you for the effects of sleepless nights for years and years, sassy toddlers that push buttons you didn't even know you had, or all the nasty things children touch and put in their mouths! So, here I am. My name is Aimee Carter, and I am a germaphobe. There! I freely admitted it.

So, if you join me in my germ revulsion, you might want to check out the 8 germiest places as posted earlier this week on USA Today. I'll list them here from least to most germiest spot. Then I'm going to wash my hands. Ewwwww!

1. Vending machines -35%
2. Crosswalk buttons -35%
3. Parking meters -40%
4. Kiosks -40%
5. ATM buttons -41%
6. Escalator rails -43%
7. Mail box handles -68%
8. Gas pump handles -71%

Healthy and Happy

Delightful Sounds has joined in Kindermusik International’s Healthy & Happy initiative which is created to help protect you and your children from the spread of viruses like the H1N1 flu (also known as the “Swine Flu”). As cold and flu season approaches we want to do our part to ensure a healthy classroom environment for everyone.

By collecting facts, checklists, and prevention tips from the Centers for Disease Control, Kindermusik is making sure we are more prepared than ever to provide an environment much less likely to allow viruses to spread.

• We are disinfecting toys and instruments at CDC standards to prevent transmission.
• We have added hand sanitizer distribution to each child at the start and end of each class (under parent supervision with younger children).
• We receive updated information on virus prevention and trends from the CDC.

Your child’s health and happiness are important to us at Delightful Sounds. I hope you and your child will make plans to join us for a music class today!

Internet Safety

Last Monday night, we had a Mom's night out that focused on safety issues for families. A deputy from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office came and shared some great tips and resources with us. One of them is the NetSmartz website. There are resources here for children, teens, as well as adults that teach internet and technology-related safety items. With children learning to use the internet at younger and younger ages, it is never too early to familiarize yourself with online safety.

Candy Recall

With Halloween fast approaching, I wanted to be sure everyone knew about this recent candy recall. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a warning for the Sherwood brand Pirate's Gold Milk Chocolate coins. They are being recalled due to the fact that they contain Melamine, the ingredient in milk product that has caused many infant deaths in china. These candies are sold at Costco, as well as many bulk and dollar stores. Please make sure to check your children's Halloween candy and please pass this information along to other parents!

Buckle up!

Car seats.... We know we need them, but choosing the right one can lead you down a maze of designs, features, and price ranges that leave you confused and overwhelmed. How do you know which one is the right seat for your child's size and your car's design. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a new system called Ease-of-Use ratings to help us out. All car seats rated by NHTSA meet Federal Safety Standards & strict crash performance standards. While all rated seats are safe, they do differ in their ease of use. You can read more about their rating system here. You can also find local car seat inspection sites there, where they will inspect the installation of the seat for free. Remember to buckle up for safety; it could save your life!

12 germiest places

So what do you think are the 12 germiest places around? I had my own thoughts about it. Airplane bathroom? No big surprise there! Some of the other places I read about in a recent article did surprise me though. You can read the full article here. I'm going to wash my hands! :-)

poison apples

Almost a year ago, I posted about a new threat in the drug culture of marketing drugs to children. At the time, it was not a mainstream problem here in Florida. Unfortunately, I received an email alert today from the Florida Attorney General. This trend is growing around the country and drug dealers are actively trying to package and market methamphetamines, marijuana, and herione to children by making it more like candy. You can read the entire report here. It's is so important to remind your children not to take candy from anyone, even a friend at school. You never know where that friend may have gotten it from.

Mr. Golden Sun

My family is planning a tubing trip down the Rainbow River this weekend. As a Floridian, we all certainly enjoy our time with the sun and fun. However, I decided I should brush up on some sun safety facts. Here are a few tips I picked up.

• Children should wear a minimum SPF of 30, which should be applied liberally and frequently. Adults should wear a minimum SPF of 15.


• Wear a broad rimmed hat and long sleeve clothing whenever possible to block the harmful effects of the sun.


• You should limit your exposure to the sun during the strongest parts of the day, typically between 10 AM - 4 PM.


• Artificial UV rays found in tanning salons can be just as damaging as outdoor sun exposure.

If you would like to read more about sun safety, check out the National Safety Council's website.

Too good for drugs

I read an email today that concerned me very much. It was about a new form of Methamphetamine that is being produced. It is being flavored and packaged to possibly entice children. You may already be talking to your children about drugs, but with this new type of meth, children would easily think it was candy and ingest it. You can read more about this important safety issue at this website or you can google "candy meth" and find several news articles.

Family Watchdog

As a parent, I am always looking for ways to keep my children healthy and safe. I thought you might be interested in this webpage I found. It shows the home and work locations for sex offenders in your area. I even use the map to look up offenders in other areas that we frequent.

Importance of a 5-Point Harness Carseat

Important for all of us to know, but grab your tissues first!