How to remember the kid is in the back seat
BY SALLY BERENZWEIG and CHERIE BENJOSEPH
In this record-breaking hot summer, children have been dying due to adults "forgetting" about them in the car.
We would all like to think it couldn't happen to us. But if you have been a parent long enough, you have learned to say to yourself ... never say NEVER.
So, let's think about some prevention strategies:
1. Leave your pocketbook (or dads, your wallet) and cellphone in the back seat next to your child. By doing this, you are not only ensuring that you won�t forget your child, but it will keep you from talking and texting behind the wheel.
2. Put a stuffed animal in the car seat when your child is not in it. Then when you go to put your child in the seat, move the animal to the front, next to you, as a reminder that your child is in the back.
3. Write yourself a sticky note on dashboard - baby in back.
4. Get a mirror that attaches to your rearview mirror so that you can see your child at all times.
Local moms Sally Berenzweig, who holds a master's in education, and Cherie Benjoseph, a licensed clinical social worker, are the creators of the KidSafe personal safety education program. Their eight-week program is taught in preschools and elementary schools throughout South Florida. Sally and Cherie also offer seminars for parents in schools and corporations and workshops for teachers. Visit their website, and follow them on Twitter @KidSafeMoms.
