Sharks attack humans about 70 times each year worldwide; four of those attacks result in fatalities.

Know how many people visit the hospital every year with pencil-related injuries? 6,000! And, of those, about 100 result in death.

Forget Shark Week, people! With those numbers we should have Pencil Month!

For too long pencils have been putting our children at risk. Well, I say, “No more!” They’re trouble, with a capital T (which rhymes with P and stands for pencil).

Sure, a shiny new box of Laurentian pencil crayons may appear bright and cheery, but don’t be deceived. Pencils have a dark side, and it’s time we take off the blinders and have a good, hard look at it. 

6 Reasons to avoid pencils

1. Pencils are deceptive. Despite what we’ve been led to believe, pencils don’t actually contain lead – just a mixture of clay and graphite. Sneaky right? For all 6,000 of you who will get injured this year, at least you won’t get lead poisoning, so there’s that. But pencil wounds, like all wounds, still carry a risk of infection, so there’s that, too.
2. Pencils are distracting. Every kid knows that a trip to the sharpener means a chance to avoid math for a few more minutes. Not only does the kid doing the sharpening waste time, but it’s also a disruption for others to have to hear that noise, try to avoid looking at the resulting butt wiggle, ignore the musky smell of wood shavings. Frankly, it’s a sensory disaster!
3. Pencils are bad for your health and oral hygiene. These writing utensils are essentially playgrounds for germs. Think of all the grubby little hands they get clutched in all day. Not to mention the havoc pencils can play with one’s teeth and bite. And you can’t blame the kids. Who among us hasn’t been tempted to feel that slight give and hear that satisfying crunch as you chomp down on the virgin yellow paint of a new HB?
4. Pencil envy. Speaking of which, did you know that the word pencil comes from the Latin words peniculus and penicillus – which mean really small penis? (Insert your own comment about chewing on pencils here.)
5. Pencils can be used to write mean things. And who likes a bully?
6. Pencils, and their accompanying erasers, eat away at our confidence. It’s like the eraser is there just waiting for us to screw up. Do we really need that kind of negative karma hanging over us?

Ask any teacher, pencils are unhealthy and a distraction. Electronic devices like cell phones are a waaaay better option.

Pencils – not filled with lead anymore but still dangerous.

October 23rd.

That was the day I saw my first Christmas ad this year. Hell, the Christmas decorations started showing up at Costco at the beginning of September.

Seriously?

No wonder today’s kids expect, and oftentimes receive, a wheelbarrow full of shiny, new plastic stuff aimed at providing “hours of fun!”

And it is fun – for a while. But eventually the shine dulls, the toys break, and you’re left wading through a playroom knee deep in cast-off bobbleheads and neglected stuffies.

The problem with too many toys

We’ve all been there – buying just ‘one more little thing’ to pop under the tree. And, yeah, it’s nice to see the kids so happy as they rip through the beautiful presents on Christmas morning. But research shows that an abundance of toys can actually leave children wanting more and enjoying and appreciating less.

Essentially what happens with more toys is less play. It’s the paradox of choice.

When there are so many things to choose from it results in distraction and reduced attention. And the play that does take place is less creative.

As much as kids don’t want to hear it, fewer toys has plenty of upside

It’s logical really. If you have only a few precious play items, you’ll learn to both appreciate and take care of them, establishing good lifelong habits.

And when their options are limited, kids will spend time more time playing outside and doing other creative activities, such as drawing, reading and writing. (Come to think of it, when’s the last time you turned off Netflix and sat down to write a letter or do a drawing . . . but I digress.)

Kids with fewer toys tend to argue less, share more and persevere. Why use a toy that frustrates when it’s easily replaced? Unfortunately, the chance to learn about patience and determination is often also lost in the process.

A good approach to giving and other strategies

So as this holiday season approaches, here are a few things you as parents can keep in mind when out hitting the malls.

First off, avoid the malls. Instead of buying stuff, think about buying experiences. Maybe a trip to the local batting cage, aquarium or mini-golf course.

Second, make better choices about what you give. You know what the Toy Hall of Fame says is the best toy ever? The stick! The box, string, cardboard tubes and dirt are right up there, too. Talk about a recipe for creative play! And even though I’d love to see my kid’s reaction when I give her a box of sticks and dirt this year, realistically that’s not going to happen. But crafts, dress-up clothes, art supplies and journals are all possible options.

Third, re-purpose or donate unused toys before the holidays. Make room for the new ones to be appreciated. If you have the storage space, consider packing some toys away for a while and starting a rotation system.

Fourth, talk to extended family and get them on board. Say you’re scaling things back and you’ll likely take pressure off Grandma and Grandpa, too. And give suggestions for creative or experiential options.

Lastly, follow this piece of advice from back in the day when thinking about what to buy: “Something they want, something they need, something to play with, and something to read.”

Play is important work – it’s how kids learn. Help your kids get more out of play by giving them less.

Make sure your little goblins and princesses are safe and seen this Halloween.

From now until October 31st, Lil Worker Safety Gear is offering a 25% discount on Hi Viz vests, bands and toques!

Our highly reflective, eye-popping gear will ensure your kids stand out when they go trick-or-treating this year.

It’s getting dark out there . . . be prepared, not scared!

Yeah, it’s dark, but you don’t need to be worried when your kids are decked out in high-visibility gear from Lil Worker Safety Gear. Day or night, our reflective, retina-blasting toques, bands and vests will help your kids stay super safe.

Hi Viz Kids’ Safety Vest: Throw this baby over your kid’s costume and – POW! – they’re transformed into a super-safety-hero! Expandable shoulder and side seams can handle bulky costumes and the wiggliest of candy-fuelled kids. Covered in industrial-grade 3M Scotchlite reflective strips and available in three high-contrast colours, these vests will shine on Halloween night and into the dark winter months.

Viz Bands Reflective Wrist/Ankle Bands: These are a trick-or-treating necessity. Quick and easy to strap on, the bands are one-size fits all. Constructed with super-strong Velcro and highly durable 3M Scotchlite reflective tape, your kids will stand out during the darkest, rainiest, foggiest of Halloweens.

Hi Viz Kids Safety Toque: Warm, safe and soooo cozy! (Not that it ever rains or anything on Halloween.) Lil Worker Safety Gear’s exclusive BriteWeave Ultra-Reflective Fibre is sewn right into the brim, so your kids never take nearby motorists by surprise. And, no fear, the ultra-soft, stretchy acrylic fibre doesn’t even itch!

All our products are designed to meet professional workplace safety standards – plus they look wicked – so both kids and parents are happy. Oh, and did I mention that they all come with a lifetime guarantee?

What are you waiting for?!  Deal ends October 31st!

Simply click here and use promo code “Halloween” to receive your savings.

Your kids are going to look rad on Halloween, and you’ll feel good knowing they’ll make the right – and bright – impression.

Have fun and stay safe!

At the local library they have a bucket for things that have gone in and out of the mouth of babes. And toddlers. And four-year-olds.

It’s always full.

And that’s because kids lick EVERYTHING! What is UP with that?

Oh, people will tell you there are various reasons, be it an oral fixation from breast feeding, vitamin deficiencies, sensory issues.

Whatever. I think it’s because kids are gross – and not very smart. There, I said it.

They give a licking and keep on ticking

I mean, who, in their right mind, would lick the handle on a shopping cart? My kid would! Repeatedly.

Who would go out and lick a frosty stop sign? My 7-year-old brother did! Then he ripped his tongue off it and lost the first layer of skin. No hot chocolate for him for a while.

When my husband was a kid he licked an icy screen door, got rescued from the back porch by his mom with a cup of warm water, and then went around to the front door and did it again! See? Not smart!

Not only that, they lick each other! Don’t they know how germy they are?

Books, bars of soap, railings, door knobs, the poles on busses and subways, cats. I’ve seen it all.

Kids are gross. Don’t get me started.

Do you remember that feeling from when you were a kid? Sitting behind the handlebars on your own set of wheels – freedom!

Man, it was so great!

You could ride over to your buddy’s and then hit the corner store for some hockey cards and Big League Chew bubble gum. Good times, my friends, good times.

But what was just a normal part of life back then is now becoming less and less common. When did letting your kid bike independently turn into another example of so-called bad parenting?

The risks and rewards of a safety-first world

Trampolines, climbing trees, hide-and-seek, riding bikes – there’s inherent risk in a lot of what kids do for play.

Pick a sport or activity and, if you’re looking for them, you’ll be able to dig up stats that can scare you into letting your kids stay inside and read until they’re 20. But rather than focus on the negative, let’s look at the benefits of biking independently and other alleged “dangerous” activities.

Research has shown that play is how kids learn. And play with risk lets them learn about things like boundaries and limitations. In fact, it’s showing them how to be safe. A risky or challenging scenario allows kids to assess a situation and then determine their course of action.

Adding skills and getting the chance to master them, be they physical, mental or intellectual, are beneficial in their own right, but they also lead to increased confidence and independence.

Risk management skills, social skills, ability to adapt and overcome – who knew a bike ride would lead to all this?

Now take into account the health benefits of the actual physical activity and you truly do have to consider that the rewards may be worth the risks.

As usual, let common sense be your guide

I’m not saying you should let your six-year-old fire down to the mall on their BMX to grab the milk for dinner. But maybe the nine-year-old can be trusted to head down the sidewalk to the neighbours’ to return some misdirected mail.

And, of course, helmets, reflective clothing, knowledge of traffic rules and overall street smarts all come into play. Consider the distances to be travelled and the traffic conditions involved, as well as your kid’s cycling experience and general awareness and go from there.

What I am saying is that you know your kid, and you know whether they have the motor skills and good sense to be out there in the saddle on their own.

Trust your instincts to let you know if you can trust theirs. And then, strap on their helmet, let go of the handlebars and enjoy the ride. Because you know they will.

Fast forward to 2018. Scott and Stittsville Tree have given out over 150 pieces of kids' safety gear in their community. Great googly moogly, eh? I decided to call Scott to figure out more about this good man.

James Flawith: When did you start Stittsville Tree Service?

Scott Morphy: Stittsville Tree Service actually started as Stittsville Stump Grinding in spring 2016 then I quickly realized my customers and the market wanted way more than just stumps. I bought my first bucket truck in that fall and haven’t looked back since. Like all businesses, there has been ups and downs. But we are still smiling most days.

Flawith: Why did you start Stittsville Tree Service?

Morphy: I’ve always been quite entrepreneurial. Finally, I just put all the chips in the dump box and I went for it. Lots of hard work and time put in but there’s no better feeling than employing yourself and others.

Flawith: Can you explain what you're doing to help promote your business?

Morphy: We have a basic website but believe it or not Facebook has been fantastic for us. It’s truly the modern day's form of word of mouth marketing. I’ve run a few promotions on there like the Lil Worker promo.

Flawith: Has giving away Lil Worker Safety Gear helped you?

Morphy: The Lil Worker promo has been a great success for us. Just as I love my Lil Worker, people lover their own Lil Workers more than anything. When we give the safety shirts away it puts a smile on the kids, the parents, the grandparents and our faces equally. The bottom line: giving the shirts away to Lil Workers makes us feel like a million bucks, so regardless of the return on investment we love the response. They keep kids safe too.

Flawith: You freaking rock. What do customers think of what you're doing?

Morphy: They are loving it! So much that we are ordering another big batch. I even had a couple adults feel left out and had to rob from the crew's stash of safety shirts.

Flawith: What does the Stittsville Tree Service crew think of the idea?

Morphy: I think they thought I was nuts at first, but I quickly convinced them this was a fantastic idea. The crew loves when a Lil Worker gets their new Lil Worker Safety Gear shirt. It’s a great feeling when these kids look up at the crews, both literally and figuratively.

Flawith: I need a tree removed. How much will it cost?

Morphy: Loaded question! Well, I wouldn’t be lying when I say anywhere from free to well, the sky’s the limit. But regardless we treat our customers as fair as possible. We work hard for our pay cheques and understand that our customers do too. 

Flawith: I live in Ottawa, Ontario and want to hire the best tree service in the whole place. How do I get a hold of you?

Morphy: We'd love to hear from you! Here are our contact details.
Phone: 1-613-296-9000
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.stitttsvilletree.com
Check us out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/treesandstumps/

Scott Morphy of Stittsville Tree Service. Good man.

TGIS! Thank goodness it’s September. Am I right?

Don’t get me wrong, we had a good run there. Weekends at the beach, late nights and later mornings, sleepovers and day drinking (me, not the kids!). But, hey, we all knew it couldn’t last.

Honestly, who would want it to last anyways? Despite what they say, you know your kids are liking being back at school. Sure, they may not be eagerly anticipating science class, but what’s not to like about being surrounded by your friends all day? And say what they may about school, we all know that it keeps them from being bored.

As for us parents, well, we can only handle so much “quality time” with our little cherubs, too. (Relaxing lakeside isn’t the only reason I’m day drinking.) Can you imagine what life would be like without the school year to bring in a modicum of sanity to our lives?

The beauty of school is that it imposes boundaries and does the dirty work for us. And everyone needs boundaries. Even moms.

Setting basic boundaries with your kids

Yes, schools are great at establishing basic boundaries, kids learn about things like self-control and personal space, which leads to having good relationships and being a good citizen. But we can’t just rely on schools to set boundaries, because kids still feel their feelings and need to make the right choices at home.

And even though things like summer come along and throw a wrench into the works, it’s important to come up with your own family ground rules, based on respect, love and truth, and stick to those guidelines.

But don’t forget about yourself

As parents we need to set boundaries for our kids, but we also need to establish boundaries for ourselves, both for our benefit and that of our children. Admittedly, I’m no parenting expert, but here are a couple basics that I strive for.

First and foremost, set a good example and walk the walk. If you get mad at your kid for interrupting, make sure that you let them finish their thoughts before you respond, whether in a negative or positive way. Don’t get mad at them for spending too much time on the computer as you play your eighth game in a row of Words with Friends. It’s hard to get taken seriously when you’re a hypocrite (or so I’ve learned).

Second, let your kids know that you’re a person, not just a parent. You have a life, and it’s okay to put yourself first sometimes. I’m not saying you should throw a hi-viz vest on them and lock them outside while you take some time for yourself. Just don’t always put their wants in front of your needs.

Boundaries are good for everyone. They help us define who we are and how we relate to others. By establishing basic principles, everyone knows where they stand and we’re less likely to react with emotion.

And if it keeps us from day drinking all year long, so much the better.

Dear Button Makers of Canada,

First off, let me start by saying you guys are great. You make a hard job look easy and you’re there when we need you.

In terms of fasteners, your product is solid. Right up there behind Velcro and zippers. No, really, it has a lot going for it – cute looks, easy installment, affordability.

But, as a parent, I’m wondering if maybe you could do something to make it safer? After all, kids will be kids, and buttons, well, they just look so tasty.

I’m just going to say it. Buttons are a choking hazard. And I’d feel remiss if I didn’t at least try to work with you to come up with safer alternatives.

Some possible solutions

Have you ever thought about making buttons with bigger wholes in the middle? That way if some unsuspecting four-year-old pops one into his mouth and happens to suck in when he should be blowing out, no big deal. 

Or perhaps come up with a dissolvable button.

I know! Maybe you could get together with Lifesaver candy makers and, well, live up to their name!

Is it just bad press? I think not

Again, it’s not you, it’s your product. 

Have you ever heard the phrase “That kid is really pushing my buttons”? Well people say it for a reason. And the reason is that buttons are dangerous.

Think about it. Have you ever heard them say bad things about other closure systems?

You don’t hear folks going around muttering, “That really rips my zipper,” or “That dude is tearing my Velcro.”

Take some friendly advice, you need to work on your product’s image. And the best way to do that is to improve the safety aspect of buttons.

Aaah, buttons – can’t live with them, can’t . . . well, actually, never mind.

Yours truly,

A concerned parent

Time to get serious here people.

There’s a menace plaguing our society – causing havoc with kids’ haircuts, choking them when they least suspect it, driving parents to distraction and causing them to ignore their children and turn up the car radio. Yet four out of five people are afraid to talk about it . . . even the dentists.

Yes, I’m talking about gum. All gum – those hard, cardboardy sticks that accompany trading cards, the “healthy” sugar-free stuff filled with the latest chemicals, that soap-flavoured purple stuff ironically named Thrills. It’s all evil.

And it’s time someone blew the whistle on Big Gumma. (Kinda like Big Pharma, but different.)

If you’re one of those parents who’s been forced to crack open the peanut butter and slather it on your kid’s hair at 7 in the morning, I feel your pain. Have you lost a flip-flop to a sticky wad of green goo on a hot sidewalk? Has your couch cushion or car seat made the ultimate sacrifice? Stand with me and say, “We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore.” 

There are plenty of reasons for eschewing the chewing

Not only does gum pose a choking and hair-do hazard, research shows that it increases flatulence. Great. Like kids need any more help when it comes to farting. Apparently chewing gum causes us to swallow more air. And doing that for long periods of time leads to increased amounts of air moving through our digestive tracts and leaving as gas.

Not to mention the infamous ‘laxative effect’ related to excessive chewing of sugar-free gum. Yeah, seems that artificial sweeteners like sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol can lead to, well, the washroom. Damnitol!

And what about the innocent bystanders?

Obviously if there’s flatulence and other such effects, there will be innocent bystanders. Think of them. Consider, if you will, the school custodians, the little sisters with pigtails, dogs, anyone within earshot of a lip-smacking, gum-cracking 12-year-old boy.

At least it’s not tobacco . . .

Sure, chewing gum is better than chewing tobacco, and it’s helped countless millions quit smoking. Plus, it does help alleviate bad breath and prevent snacking between meals. But, really, eating carrots and brushing your teeth will do the same thing.

Face it, bubble gum blows. As far as I’m concerned, the only thing in your cheek should be your tongue. So, join the gum fight and the next time you’re offered a stick, keep these wads of info in mind and just say no.  

Take advantage of this awesome deal and make sure your kids are seen as they head back to class!

You know us, we’re all about kids’ safety. So, with September quickly approaching we figured we’d offer 50% off our retina-blasting, high-visibility backpacks.

Yup, that’s right. From now until September 3^rd you can get a super-safe, wickedly bright backpack for half price.

Looks great and is tough, tough, tough

These babies are available in shocking pink or brilliant yellow. Covered in retroreflective tape, it’s a look that’s sure to turn heads and stop traffic.

Like all our products, they’ve been designed to meet professional workplace safety standards – which parents love. Kids just think they’re cool. Not only that, they have plenty of pockets to hold books, water bottles and a good-sized slime collection.

Check out these other features:

• Rugged, water-resistant Oxford Poly shell and bombproof YKK zippers
• Industrial-grade 3M reflective strips on the back and shoulder straps
• Two exterior zip-up pockets, two side mesh bottle pockets, a protected inner laptop compartment and even a “secret” zip-up neoprene pouch 
• 21-litre capacity; measures 18" x 10" x 7"

But hurry! Deal ends September 3

Simply click here and use promo code safetoschool to receive your savings.

What better way to celebrate making it through another summer? Grab a pack or two today and send the kids off to class with style and safety.

BC-born company the first to make professional grade high-visibility safety gear for children — and parents are loving it!

August 13, 2018, Vancouver, Canada – Vancity is abuzz as nouveau local designer James Flawith gets set to debut his “viztacular” collection of real safety gear for kids at Vancouver Kids Fashion Week (VKFW) September 22-23.

“Blending is boring,” says Flawith. “It’s time we teach our kids to step up, stand out and get the attention they deserve in this world. And there’s no better way for kids to steal your eyeballs than sporting Lil Worker Safety Gear.”

Flawith’s line of professional grade safety clothing for children, which garnered the nation’s attention and a business-building deal on CBC’s Dragon’s Den last fall, features retina-blasting retroreflectivity and bright, contrasting colours bold enough to appear next to “LOUD” in the dictionary. Sales are up 127 per cent over last August, and children across this great land are both safe and stylish in a Lil Worker high visibility vest, t-shirt, rain jacket or hoodie. Reflective armbands, toques and backpacks round out the BC-grown company’s offerings.

“Kids across North America are jumping into their Lil Worker Safety Gear before going out to bike, play or explore, and parents of Lil Workers report that they feel 87 per cent safer when they do,” effuses Flawith. “Lil Worker Safety Gear is like Toy Story — both kids and parents love it!”

From concerned parent to trailblazing entrepreneur

Flawith, 37, lives in the Vancouver Island town of Comox with three rambunctious sons and an “extremely patient” wife. A ticketed arborist who specializes in operating razor-sharp cutting implements at extreme heights near high voltage power lines, he knows a thing or two about safety.

“When I got home from work, my boys would wrestle me to the ground, strip off my high-viz safety gear and parade around the house in it,” he recalls. “They’d trip and fall everywhere because it was too big for them, so I started searching for real safety gear for kids. When I couldn’t find anything that looked like what I would wear on my job site I decided to make it myself.

“My wife and I quickly realized that the prototype designs made our boys easier to track and see – both for us and for passing motorists,” he continues. “The safety benefits of a kids’ clothing line designed to demand attention with bright, loud colours became obvious, and since nobody else was doing it, I decided to give it a shot. Kids deserve high quality safety gear because growing up is tough work.”

LWSG goes global at VKFW

Flawith’s brand is finally set to go global at Vancouver Kids Fashion Week, which holds a reputation for recognizing and celebrating creative talent and creating a platform for emerging, local and international award-winning children’s clothing designers.

“Mixing emerging and established designers from across the world has been our recipe for success for over 19 years,” says Jamal Abdourahman, producer and founder of Vancouver Fashion Week. “We are fortunate to be working with remarkable talent and growing alongside maturing designers. We are grateful that we as an organization can — and have — acted as a stepping stone in some of their careers.”

Entering its 19^th year and 30^th season, VKFW is a two-day fashion event September 22-23 dedicated to children’s fashion and creativity. The event will feature pocket-sized models strutting their stuff on the runway, live dance performances, workshops to introduce children to fashion and help foster their creativity and a partnership with the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.

~

WHEN: Saturday, September 22nd, 2018 and Sunday, September 23rd, 2018 (11AM- 2PM)

WHERE: Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza

Ticket Information at http://vancouverkidsfashionweek.com

For media accreditation, please visit www.vanfashionweek.com/media

Or email directly to [email protected]

www.vancouverkidsfashionweek.com

Facebook:  Vancouver Kids Fashion Week

Twitter:        @vfwkidshow

Instagram:  @vankidsfashionweek

YouTube:     YouTube.com/VKFWTV

For all media enquiries, imagery and additional information, please contact:

Media Contact

Jia Seung

VKFW Director of Operations

[email protected]

When’s the last time you were at a penny carnival? Or maybe someplace like Science World?

Did you happen to notice anything about the other families, in particular the parents?

Is it just me, or does it seem like there’s no middle ground between smothering your kid and raising feral humans without any guidelines whatsoever?

Granted, between the line-ups, crowds, sugar consumption and sensory overload, maybe it’s not the best place to make generalizations about parenting behaviour, but, well, it’s what I do.

Parents are parents. We want the best for our kids. We want them to be safe, be smart and be self-sufficient. But is hovering over them at every opportunity truly the answer? And is standing back hands-off any better?

Being involved isn’t a bad thing, but . . .

We all know helicopter parents – those people at every recreation class or field trip showing their child how to ‘do it right.’ “No Johnny, this is the way you hold a marimba mallet.” (Who am I kidding? Nobody names their kids Johnny anymore. But I digress.)

Helicopter parents are there hovering around being overly involved in all aspects of their kids’ lives, buttering their bread, brushing their teeth, doing their homework. Sure, they may have children who have excellent gum health, but those same kids might not be able to tie their own shoes, make decisions or have any sense of independence.

If you’re forever being told this is the proper way to do something, maybe you’ll start believing that you do everything wrong. However well meaning, instead of teaching proper form, perhaps overparenting fosters anxiety or a lack of confidence.

And then there are the tiger moms expecting excellence and obedience every step of the way. Talk about pressure! I mean, the marimbas never sounded better, but at the end of the day does that really matter if your kid starts to resent the damn things?

Meanwhile, at the other end of the playground . . .

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we should abandon all attempts of teaching and discipline, and let the cards fall where they may. We don’t want Johnny running around using that marimba mallet to crack other kids on the head and see what kind of other interesting sounds they can make.

Sure, trial and error’s a great teacher, but maybe not when it comes to lawnmowers, sewing machines, pretty much anything with a motor and a blade.

And you don’t want to be known as “that parent,” the one that lets the six-year-old ride helmetless and alone to the store to buy your cigarettes. (Though, I seemed to have turned out okay, if a little bitter…)

Frankly, there are parts of the world that are dangerous, so discipline and direct supervision are often necessary. After all, who wants to be around an adult who never really had to follow any rules as a kid? (Mr. and Mrs. Trump, I’m looking at you.)

So, what’s it going to be?

When it comes to parenting styles, there’s pros and cons for all approaches. (Not to mention people happy to share their opinions on them all!) So, who’s to say what’s best for you and your kid.

All I know is that it’s important to be around to provide love and set boundaries. But just as importantly, you need to let your kids have the freedom to experience things by themselves and learn on their own.

In a world of tigers, helicopters, and hands-offers be a friend, but always be a parent first.

Gravity, it’ll get you.

I’m not talking about the depressing and overhyped Sandra Bullock - George Clooney movie. No, I’m talking about actual gravity – that force that bonds us all to the earth. The bane of every novice skateboarder’s existence and boon to band-aid manufacturers worldwide.

As parents we do what we can to keep our kids safe, but gravity foils us time and again.

Want proof? Just look at your kids’ knees. Hell, look at mine! I’m still sporting the scars of bike rides gone bad and, well, pretty much just living life for more than four decades.

Life and the gravity of the situation

The thing about gravity is that it’s acting on us from the moment we’re born to our dying breath. We may not know what it’s called, but it only takes a few years before we have a grasp of its effects. Fortunately, as young kids, our centres of gravity are so low its consequences aren’t typically too dire.

And gravity’s a good teacher. Between recurrent wipe outs and Coyote-Road Runner cartoons, most kids wise up to it by the age of seven. Most, not all. Epic fails on YouTube, where the laws of physics and the theory of evolution battle it out, may suggest otherwise.

But it’s not just a young person’s dilemma. Even when you don’t go out of your way to flaunt it, gravity’ll make you pay.

It works away on us compressing our spinal column, so we get shorter and stouter with each passing year. Flexibility is lost, circulation deteriorates, internal organs shift and function less effectively. Oh, there’s still plenty to look forward to.

Can’t live with it, can’t live without it

Of course, gravity’s not all bad.

It does keep us from floating off into orbit. And it helps to maintain strong bones and muscles. Not only that, it keeps fluids moving around our bodies rather than pooling in certain areas and generally keeps us upright.

In fact, without it we’d probably look and move a lot more like a jellyfish than a great ape. Which means skateboarding and mountain biking, even though they would hurt a lot less, would probably be way trickier. Think about it, when’s the last time you saw a jellyfish cruising around town popping wheelies?

Plus, until Elon Musk gets us all living in space, it’s not like we can do anything about it, other than keep a good supply of bandages on hand.

Gravity – it’s still a jerk, but don’t let it get you down.

Quick show of hands: who wants their kids to be independent and self-reliant? Okay, so that’s pretty much everybody.

Then why does it seem like kids doing chores is a thing of the past?

At the risk of sounding like my father, when I was a kid, chores were part of life. You did the dishes, mowed the lawn, washed the floor, chopped the wood, and on it went. Sometimes you got paid, but most of the time you didn’t. It’s just what was expected.

So, are we expecting less from our kids these days? And if that’s the case, why?

The basis for doing chores

Aside from the fact that none of us want our kids living in our basements into their forties, there are plenty of good reasons to get our children helping out around the house.

When kids pitch in they’re learning skills for life. There’s nothing more pathetic than a grown man who can’t do laundry or sew on a button. When your kid learns that new skill, begrudgingly or not (okay, let’s get real, it’s almost always begrudgingly), there will be a sense of pride and accomplishment.

They can also see how doing their part benefits everyone, i.e., “The sooner the kitchen is clean, the sooner we can all go outside to play.”

And that sense of responsibility and working with others as a team transfers over to school and other social settings.

Chores help establish a good work ethic, and it’s hard to argue against that.

Is it all our fault . . . again?

I get it, we’re busy. Parents, kids, all of us.

Between work, soccer and dance lessons, scheduling is an ongoing issue for most households. But, really, is it so hard to make up a chore chart and try to start instilling a little sense of responsibility?

Also, these days, people generally have more money to spend on hiring a yard guy or someone to come in and clean every week or two. And, undoubtedly, they’ll do a waaay better job than your 12-year-old ever will.

Plus, if you don’t make your kids do chores you won’t have to put up with them moping toward the broom closet and listen to them passive-aggressively banging the vacuum on the table legs. (My brother went through a phase where he kept “accidentally” running over the electrical cord with the lawnmower. That is until my dad taught him how to fix the cord and threatened to make him buy a new one.)

So, yes, there are reasons not to bother with chores – but are they important or just convenient?

Now’s the time to turn over a new leaf (and then get your kid to rake them up) . . .

Why not take advantage of the longer, less organized days of summer to start a new chore regime?

Have some structure but leave the opportunity for choice and autonomy. Come up with a list of age-appropriate chores to choose from and a general amount of time required, and Bob’s your uncle!

Obviously, if there’s any element of risk involved, such as using power tools and blenders, supervision is required, at least at the beginning, but otherwise fight that urge to hover around making corrections.

Start with realistic goals and raise your expectations gradually. And be prepared to let go of perfection when it comes to, well, pretty much anything they do. Who needs windows without streaks anyways? 

It’s okay to set goals and expect more from our kids. Otherwise, how will they ever learn to expect more from themselves?

As you know, we here at Lil Worker Safety Gear are all about safety. With that in mind, we’re launching a monthly column called (doo, doo, doooom) . . .  “Danger of the Month.”  

In these monthly articles we’ll explore all the things that life sends us to test us and our kids—buttons, chewing gum, Sasquatch, gravity . . . you get the picture. Yup, it’s a dangerous world out there. So, hey, why not take help when it’s offered, right?

But before we start in on the myriad threats and perils that loom over our offspring, let’s focus on the root cause of them all—parenthood.

Parenting: Great Expectations or Bleak House?

Ahh, parenthood. It’s awesome. It sucks. It’s the best of jobs, and the worst of jobs. Talk about your winters of discontent.

Okay, parenthood technically isn’t a danger, unless you count the potential damage to our sanity or sense of self-determination. But it sure is a challenge, and these days more than ever.

Back when I was a kid nobody was right there with me, smartphone in hand, grabbing clips of me driving the family car on my dad’s lap (unbelted, obviously). Social pressure simply didn’t exist in the way it does today. Share a picture of your kid not wearing their bike helmet as they scooter around the backyard and you’ll feel the heat on Facebook. I’m not saying that’s a good thing or a bad thing, but it’s a thing.

And, yes, I know that as long as there’s been parenting, there’s been judging. (Did you see the club that Grok gave Kanto? He’s so not ready to hunt sabretooths yet.) But back then, the village really did raise the child. Nowadays, you raise the child and the village tweets about it.

Forget kids surfing the web—have you seen the damage something like Pinterest can do to your self-esteem? And you thought you’d be okay because you used to own a “Bedazzler.”

Oh, it’s a scary world out there alright.

What can we do to make the world safer for parents?

First of all, don’t judge others. We all have our own style and that’s okay. Remember that old adage, “If you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”? Yeah, that works for everyone, not just kids.

Second, don’t judge yourself. You’re doing the best you can. You’re trying. We learn from our mistakes, and after you make them you can try again tomorrow.

Face it; if you’re a parent, you’re screwed. You’re committed to keeping your kids alive and relatively happy for the next 20 years (or more . . .) and then you’re just supposed to let them go and mind your own business until you get a phone call. At three in the morning. From Bangkok.

There’s absolutely no winning in parenthood.

Except wait a minute . . . we’re parents, aren’t we? That means that, despite our complaints, our stained shirts and our lack of any modicum of a social life, we’ve also experienced some of the greatest joys that life has to offer. Sure, there are low points, but they’re invariably interspersed with bouts of pure exultation and unbridled pride.

Maybe we’ve already won.

When we separate our lives into boxes and identify one activity as “work” and another as “play” we are living a dangerous lie. You may differentiate between work and play by identifying that what you do for work is done for a wage, for an employer, for someone else. Play might be something that you do for yourself, for fun, for free. This is at the crux of the matter. When you work for money you are exerting effort to earn what you need to support your family, your life, yourself. When you work you are actually doing it for yourself. Yes, it may be true that you have chosen to spend your time working for an employer who uses your labor and your ideas to make a profit. Did you see it? The word in that sentence? You have made a choice to sacrifice your time and labor for an agreed upon price. You have chosen to work to live.

But work isn’t fun. Why not? If what you define as work doesn’t get you excited, doesn’t entertain you, doesn’t engage you, why do you choose to do it? Why not do something else that you love, that you can put your energy into? Why not do something that you refuse to call “work” because you enjoy it so much? Let’s be clear. Life is work. It takes a lot of investigation, self-analysis and energy to find The Thing. It may take a day, a month, a year or more to find it. Isn’t it worth investing in yourself instead of choosing to spend the rest of your life working? Is that even a choice?

Try something. Write a list of the top 5 things you spend your time doing that you don’t think of as work. As an example, here is my list:

1. Spending time with my family
2. Cutting trees
3. Helping people
4. Learning, reading, writing
5. Photography

Now, why not exert some energy and choose to do something that makes life your work?

I regularly send my kids outside to play without supervision. That’s right, zero adult supervision.

I don’t plan their backyard activities. I don’t make sure they have water or snacks. I don’t even check to see if they’re wearing socks. As long as they aren’t destructive and return with all the body parts they left the house with, I really don’t care what they do out there—in their very own fenced backyard.

Childhood is the time for kids to explore, create their own kid-type fun and tackle any challenges that arise without adult supervision. My kids are left to manage these experiences less than 10 feet from the back door. They’re free to come and go if they need to pee, load up on books and toys, or grab an apple from the fridge. They know they shouldn’t jump on the trampoline with food in their mouths or run with pointy sticks, but, to be completely honest, I take my chances with those ones.

Whoa, hold on!

Now before you start dialing the number for Child & Family Services, know that my kids have always survived these backyard escapades, fairly unscathed, without my looming presence. Teeth haven’t been knocked out, bones remain unbroken and both of my children continue breathing to this day.

It’s remarkable, really. They return to me all rosy cheeked and wearing grins as wide as the Cheshire Cat's. Clearly, no fun is ever had playing in the backyard. Especially not without me directing their every move.

And are you ready for the truly terrifying part? My kids even walk themselves to and from school most days of the week. Sure, it’s an arduous seven-minute uphill journey (both ways) to the community school, but they make it. I work from home and could easily shuttle them to and from school, but self-reliance doesn’t magically appear.

Where does this parenting come from?

Growing up, I was a latchkey kid. By the age of 10 I was walking myself to and from elementary school with my little brother in tow. We walked about 15 minutes both ways in any and all kinds of weather. We crossed subdivision roads and walked through a creepy tunnel below active train tracks. Twice a day! Sometimes we walked in packs of friends. It was the ’80s; every kid was doing it.

After school, we would phone our mom to check-in, then grab a snack, complete little chores (yes, we had enough responsibility to know that chores needed to be done, even without supervision) and entertain ourselves until she got home. We had about two and a half hours alone, and those hours were awesome. No adults!!!

We mostly watched TV once all the boring stuff was taken care of, but we also learned to manage our time, work together (often reluctantly) and look out for one another (also reluctantly, but we did).

Old-fashioned independence

Now that I’m a parent I realize just how many of today’s kids aren’t developing those vital life skills that we learned through a little old-fashioned independence. To help my own kids develop those skills, my partner and I give them age-appropriate responsibilities—things like making beds, unloading the dishwasher, putting dirty clothes in the hamper rather than the floor, getting a drink when thirsty, helping with meals, etc.

Since he’s now in grade six, my big kid can make social plans according to his extracurricular schedule. He knows when his activities happen throughout the week, so he’s learning to manage his time. It’s a slow process, but he is an 11-year-old boy after all.

He also runs errands for me when needed. He sets out for the local bakery or grocery store armed with a list of needed items and some cash—often grumbling, but whatever. He figures out the rest. These tasks often result in a call home to clarify something, but get this—he asks to use the store phone—not his own. Remember when we had to do that? It’s tough stuff, but he rocks the half kilometre trek, the item location, the payment, and the polite human interaction every time. Every. Single. Time.

Sure, I worry about all the terrible things that COULD happen to my kids when they aren’t with me. I’m a mom, not a monster. I think of bullies and molesters and bad drivers and kidnappers and all manner of evil people plotting evil deeds. But then I think of much more realistic dangers, like childhood obesity, type-two diabetes, and my kids growing into those lazy, entitled, Smartphone-addicted teenagers that we all know and love.

And so, despite living in a pretty wild world, I refuse to bubble wrap my kids. Even though bubble wrap would be so much easier than all the work and worry of instilling independence and responsibility.

Like everyone else, my kids will navigate a life that isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. Thick skin and common sense need time to develop, so I’ve opted to ease them into the “real world” with a little guidance and plenty of opportunities to learn from their mistakes.

My kids are constantly testing the water—dipping their toes before diving right in. Because that’s the way they learn how to swim.

Huge thank yous to City of Courtenay Mayorial Candidate and Awesome Human Being (MCAHB) Bob Wells who nominated me and current Comox Mayor Paul Ives who put Top 20 Under 40 Chairman Roger McKinnon in a headlock and noogied him until he broke down and picked me as a winner.

Congratulations to fellow winner Kris Trudeau for representing the #ComoxValley too. Check out Kris' book Time Shift and her business Halftone Pixel Website Design and Consulting and get pixel shifted. Trust me, it's a thing, go look them up. Kris, you freaking rock, one day when I grow up I'm going to be a writer like you!

I'd also like to thank nominees Grant Powers and Greg Chadwick who Kris and I were lucky enough to sit with. You guys are hilarious, GO HURRICANES.

Shout outs to both the Precision Tree Services Ltd and Lil Worker Safety Gear crews for all your hard, dedicated work. You guys are really the ones doing it, I'm just riding your coat tails.

I blacked out during my speech and only remember one sentence - and I *think* it's worth repeating:

Do good things.

Waitaminute.

That’s not Aslan stealing me off to Narnia. Alarm takes hold as I’m slammed back into my body. This isn’t a dream. There is, literally, a ray of light slicing through my bedroom and cutting into my eyeballs.

Could this be happening?

My senses sharpen. I hear an oscillating noise from outside. The smell of dead roses seeps through my bedroom walls. Pins and needles stab my neck. Heartbeat triples. My breath tastes like rotten eggs. Roses and eggs and, damn, did brush my teeth before bed…?

“MOM-MEEEEE!!!”

Sam’s cry rips my face off and I forget all about plaque build up. My baby needs me. I’m up. I hurdle over Nancy’s side of the bed, throw myself through the door and into blinding light on the other side.

Could this be happening?

Reeling down the hall. Third door on the right. Grab the knob. Twist and shoulder check. Burst.

Shit, maybe I am in Narnia. Sam’s paralyzed little body is levitating right in front of my face. She is surrounded by a pulsing beam of razor light. And she’s moving, somehow floating through the air like a real-life Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon.

Her body is exiting stage left toward a wide-open window.

Then I see it. Outside Sam’s window. A sleek metallic surface blocks the view. That pulsing, whirring noise.

This is happening.

U-F-Os.

Does this sound familiar? Tired of aliens messing with your children in the middle of the night? I know I am. Follow my tips to keep your kids safe from UFOs, happy and healthy.

1. Do not give your kids an iPad

When you give your kid an iPad they, “grow up without the mental ability to create their own fun, devise their own games and enjoy real friendships - all because of endless screen-time,” says UK psychologist Sue Palmer. Hungry aliens want low hanging fruit, not smart, tough kids. Humans are no different. Why would a hunter chase the fastest cow in the herd when she could easily pick off the slowest? Children brainwashed into sedation through frequent use of electronic devices are prime for alien picking.

2. Go outside and play

Science has proven that keeping your kids inside all the time increases their risk of developing myopia, aka nearsightedness. It makes sense if you think about it. When kids are allowed to play outside they’re forced to constantly scan their environment to locate and identify hazards at varying distances. This training helps develop the motor-neural connections between the brain and the eyes.  In other words, if you keep your kids inside they’ll have a harder time seeing that UFO coming for them.

3. Do not give your kids whatever they want, whenever they want it

Giving your kids whatever they want, whenever they want it results in children that are,“more prone to excessive self-absorption, lack of self-control, anxiety and depression.” Why is this important? Depressed and anxious little bodies give off pheromones which are easily detected by marauding UFO spaceships. Give in to your kids and give the aliens a trail of breadcrumbs right to your door.

4. Teach your children to speak French

This tip is so obvious it doesn’t need clarification.

5. Sell the trampoline

The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly discourages the home use of trampolines due to the prevalence of injuries caused while bouncing. Think that net is keeping them safe? Ah-hem [super-scientific voice], “current implementation of safety measures have not appeared to mitigate risk substantially.”

Ok, so how does letting kids bounce on a trampoline equal alien abduction? When you let your kids bounce on trampolines they’re much more prone to injury. How is Sammy going to run away from aliens with a busted leg?

6. Dogs: Not a kid's best friend

Most dog bites are inflicted by dogs known to the victim - often their own or a neighbour's dog. When you leave your child alone unsupervised with your dog, it’s just a matter of time before Fido’s personal space needs to be defended. Kids lack the awareness to pick up on cues from canines warning of an impending bite.

Yes, punctured kids have a harder time running from UFOs. But space invaders aren’t just hunting for the slowest kids in the herd. Children who are left unsupervised for long periods do not get disciplined as frequently. Kids without rules are easier to lure outside which increases abduction efficiency. Tractor beams, teleportation and face freezing suck valuable energy from proto-nuclear reactors which aliens avoid, if possible.

7. Turn down the volume

Excessively yelling at your child doesn’t only hurt your throat, it causes your child to become more aggressive. Think that an aggressive kid is harder for an alien to nab? Nope. Aggressive children are more likely to harbour resentment and are less likely to communicate openly with their parents. “What’s that outside my window? Who cares, Mommy was mean to me.”

8. [Don't] pour some sugar on me

When your kids eat a lot of sugar their bodies have trouble figuring out when to stop eating. Studies have proven that restricting sugar intake in kids leads to children who eat less and lose weight, even when sugar calories are replaced with an equivalent amount of pizza, potato chip and hot dog calories.

Watch the ingredients of the foods and condiments you choose to serve your family. Did you know that there are at least 61 different names for sugar listed on food labels? These include common names, such as sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup, as well as barley malt, dextrose, maltose and rice syrup, among others. Keep the bowls of sugar off the table and your kids will be safe - those aliens will pass them by for chocolate-gobbling Augustus down the block.

9. Respect the neighbour’s fence

They say it takes a village to raise a child. If your children reign terror on the neighbour’s property, you’re helping give UFOs unguarded access to your front door. The proximity principle dictates that people tend to form interpersonal relations with those who are close by. In other words, neighbours look out for each other, so teach your children to show respect for your them. Fail to love thy neighbour and you risk losing the village you need to help keep your kids safe.

10. Protect your kids

Dressing your kids in bright, contrasting, highly reflective clothing makes them easier to see and less likely to get hurt or injured in traffic accidents. Teaching children to wear real safety gear prior to heading out to play enables them to connect the dots and become more aware of the hazards in their environment. Children who are taught safety awareness are extremely difficult for aliens to snatch quietly. Not to mention it’s hard to look the other way when UFO light beams light up your kid like the 1^st of July.

Alright, you know how to keep your kids safe from UFOs. Now, go learn some French!

Want to sleep in? Tired of stopping after ONE glass of wine? Does it look you’ve been nursing a chainsaw? Follow my tips for keeping yourself safe and getting some out-of-this-world childcare.

1. Give your kids an iPad

When you give your kid an iPad they, “grow up without the mental ability to create their own fun, devise their own games and enjoy real friendships - all because of endless screen-time,” says UK psychologist Sue Palmer. Hungry aliens want low hanging fruit, not smart, tough kids. Humans are no different. Why would a hunter chase the fastest cow in the herd when she could easily pick off the slowest? Children brainwashed into sedation through frequent use of electronic devices are prime for alien picking.

2. Don’t go outside and play

Science has proven that preventing your kids from playing outside increases their risk of developing myopia, aka nearsightedness. It makes sense if you think about it. When kids are allowed to play outside they’re forced to constantly scan their environment to locate and identify hazards at varying distances. This training helps develop the motor-neural connections between the brain and the eyes.  In other words, if you keep your kids inside they’ll have a harder time seeing the UFO coming.

3. Give your kids whatever they want, whenever they want it

Giving your kids whatever they want, whenever they want it results in children that are,“more prone to excessive self-absorption, lack of self-control, anxiety and depression.” Why is this important? Depressed and anxious little bodies give off pheromones which are easily detected by marauding UFO spaceships. Give in to your kids and give the aliens a trail of breadcrumbs right to your door.

4. Teach your children to speak French

This tip is so obvious it doesn’t need clarification.

5. Let your kids bounce on trampolines

The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly discourages the home use of trampolines due to the prevalence of injuries caused while bouncing. Think that net is keeping them safe? Ah-hem [super-scientific voice], “current implementation of safety measures have not appeared to mitigate risk substantially.”

Ok, so how does letting kids bounce on a trampoline equal more margarita time? When you let your kids bounce on trampolines they’re much more prone to injury. How is Sammy going to run away from aliens with a busted leg?

6. Leave your kids alone with your dog

Most dog bites are inflicted by dogs known to the victim - often their own or a neighbour's dog. When you leave your child alone unsupervised with your dog, it’s just a matter of time before Fido’s personal space needs to be defended. Kids lack the awareness to pick up on cues from canines warning of an impending bite.

Yes, punctured kids have a harder time running from aliens. But UFOs aren’t just hunting for the slowest kids in the herd. Children who are left unsupervised for long periods do not get disciplined as frequently. Kids without rules are easier to lure outside which increases abduction efficiency. Tractor beams, teleportation and face freezing suck valuable energy from proto-nuclear reactors which aliens avoid, if possible.

7. Scream at your children like a banshee

Excessively yelling at your child doesn’t only hurt your throat, it causes your child to become more aggressive. Think that an aggressive kid is harder for an alien to nab? Nope. Aggressive children are more likely to harbour resentment and are less likely to communicate openly with their parents. “What’s that outside my window? Who cares, Mommy was mean to me.”

8. Feed your kids excessive amounts of sugar

When your kids eat a lot of sugar their bodies have trouble figuring out when to stop eating. Studies have proven that restricting sugar intake in kids leads to children who eat less and lose weight, even when sugar calories are replaced with an equivalent amount of pizza, potato chip and hot dog calories. Fatten up your children by regularly feeding them a sugar-laden diet and you’ll be giving aliens more kid to poke and prod.

9. Allow your kids to destroy the neighbour’s fence

They say it takes a village to raise a child. When your children reign terror on the neighbour’s property, you’re helping give UFOs unguarded access to your front door. The proximity principle dictates that people tend to form interpersonal relations with those who are close by. Your neighbours look out for you unless they feel that you pose a threat. If you fail to prevent your kids from damaging your neighbour’s property, a UFO visit might be payback for bad karma. Fail to love thy neighbour and thy neighbour will fail to alert thee to alien intruders.

10. Don’t protect your kids

Dressing your kids in bright, contrasting, highly reflective clothing makes them easier to see and less likely to get hurt or injured in traffic accidents. Teaching children to wear real safety gear prior to heading out to play enables them to connect the dots and become more aware of the hazards in their environment. Children who are taught safety awareness are difficult for aliens to snatch quietly. Not to mention it’s hard to look the other way when UFO light beams light up your kid like the 1^st of July.

Not a good candidate for alien abduction.

Alright, now you know how [not] to keep your kids safe from UFOs. You're welcome.

P.S. - If you actually want to keep your kids safe from UFOs then you should do the opposite of the 10 points listed above. Except maybe #4….

This season, safety is in style

1. Ultra Fuschia

Face melting fuchsia

PixyKids announced 2018's Color of the Year to be Ultra Fuchsia, "an enchanting pink shade that offers designers versatility of expression," per its press release. The shade represents "our shared desire to enhance female status and equality"—and it's one that's already had a presence on the streets in 2018. So far sightings have been reported in Comox, Anchorage and Los Angeles. Brave boys are jumping on the equality bandwagon, smashing sexist concepts of masculinity and femininity across North America. Expect to see the pink hue everywhere in 2018.

2. Highly reflective striping

3. Backpacks

Backpack: Charged with murdering the fanny pack

The Spring 2018 runways confirmed it: Whether you like it or not, backpacks have taken over from the fanny packs of 2017. Alaina Hewitt and her crew jumped on the newly released VizPack from Lil Worker Safety Gear in early 2018 and have been sporting them around safely in Maple Ridge ever since. We estimate that these versatile, loud designs will be totally saturating the New York child fashion scene by the end of 2018. Come back at the end of the year and read this, “you were warned.”

4. Warm toques

James Flawith, the Wicked Western Wunderkind, aka 3Dub, is the man behind the safe style phenomenon. He has reignited our fire for warm toques. Embers are still smouldering from the “cold toque” craze that seized small heads in 2014. 3Dub has been quoted widely in the media for his harsh criticism of cold toques, calling them, “the stupidest thing he’s ever seen in his life.” Retribution is a dish best served piping hot; cold little heads have been warmed up as Flawith unveiled his risqué new warm toque line. “Why in the hell would you buy a toque that doesn’t keep you warm?” 3Dub quipped at an LWSG launch party back in March. We say, good riddance to cold rubbish.

5. Vests

It wouldn't be a fashion trend roundup if there wasn't mention of a trend from the past suddenly making a comeback. We're breaking this news first, as reports from Cumberland, Calgary, Toronto and Chicago confirm it: The wild child vests of the '90s are back, brighter and bolder than ever. (Hello, new viz for spring!) In 2018, we're seeing a progression like never before. Preschools, daycares and elementary schools are buzzing with reflective little bees at drop-off, recess, lunch and pick-up. Don’t let your kid go unseen, as versatile vests are viztacular for a very vast variety of various vocations.

We hope you enjoyed our list of the key looks in child fashion you need to know this Spring/Summer of 2018! Make sure you sign up for our newsletter to keep up-to-date on the newest, brightest and hottest trends hitting the streets. 

Fortunately, there are several simple things you can do to ensure that your child is safe and can make good choices when you’re not there. It may require a little planning on your part, but you’ll soon have peace of mind.

Here are a few of the best tips on keeping your child safe when you’re a single parent:

Look for potential hazards

Home should be a place of comfort, but if it contains alcohol, drugs, or weapons, it could also be a dangerous place for curious little ones. Go room-to-room in your home and look for potential hazards such as prescription medications or over-the-counter cough syrup. Lock up any weapons and keep them high on a shelf, out of reach and hidden from little hands. Of course, there are some common household items such as gardening tools that can put children in harm’s way. Make sure to put appliances in a secure place.

Child-proof

Many parents know the basics of child-proofing a home for infants and toddlers. However, there are a few safety tips that might have escaped your attention, such as securing dressers and other large pieces of furniture to the wall. For little ones who like to climb and explore, these items can look like jungle gyms, but in reality, they’re very dangerous and can tip over, pinning a small child beneath.

Make your child visible

When venturing out--especially when you’re visiting an unfamiliar city or crowded location, such as a theme-park--have your child wear a solid, bright color for maximum visibility. Refrain from having him wear a shirt or backpack with his name on it, as this could cause safety issues with strangers. For an older child, decide on a meeting place should you become separated and make sure he knows your full name and phone number. Keep your cell phone on you at all times, so you will be accessible.

Be in the know

If your child is old enough to have social media accounts, it’s important for you to be as educated as possible about the platforms, their rules and who your child is interacting with. Some apps have age restrictions because of their public settings, while others allow you to make the account private. Talk to your child about the rules of social media and make sure they know to come to you if anyone attempts to send a private message or becomes inappropriate.

Make the bathroom and kitchen safe places

Never leave your young child unattended in the bathtub. You should wait until your child is safely out of the water. In the kitchen, teach your little one about the dangers of being around the hot stove and keep sharp knives up and out of reach. When cooking, always turn pot handles toward the back of the stove and never leave utensils in a simmering pot.

Making sure your child is safe at all times can be overwhelming. Teach your children about the importance of being vigilant both inside and outside the home and help them learn the best ways to watch out for dangers on their own.

By: Daniel Sherwin, head Dad at dadsolo.com/

The gym, you can find me there.

Lots of weight.

Every day.

Warm up. Push weight. Cool down.

Eat. Consume.

Warm up. Push weight. Cool down.

The rhythm builds strength.

Old man strength. That’s what I call it. That’s what I want. The fathers, they have this ridiculous strength. They can lift more weight. They can outwrestle. Outlast. I work hard and hope

Warm up. Push weight. Cool down.

I’ll get it.

Warm up. Push weight. Cool down.

Eat. Consume.

Warm up. Push weight. Cool down.

Don’t take shortcuts.

I like lifting heavy things.

The home, you can find me there.

Lots of weight.

Every day.

Dirty diapers. Do dishes. Bedtime.

Feed. Give.

Dirty diapers. Do dishes. Bedtime.

The rhythm builds strength.

Fatherhood, that’s what I call it. I do the things that need to be done. I don’t like doing all of them, necessarily. But my disliking is subordinate to the strength of my purpose.

I must lift more weight. Survive. Work hard and hope

Dirty diapers. Do dishes. Bedtime.

I’ll make it.

Dirty diapers. Do dishes. Bedtime.

Feed. Give.

Dirty diapers. Do dishes. Bedtime.

There are no shortcuts.

Warm up. Push weight. Cool down.

Lots of weight.

Dirty diapers. Do dishes. Bedtime.

Every day.

Giving yields the greatest gains.

I am the strength of my purpose.

Originally posted here.

Yup, I've been a Woodgrove Centre mall rat for the last 6 days. Early mornings. Later nights. Running out to the parking lot 4 times a day to get different sizes stored in my Ford. Artificial lights. Folding. Hanging. More folding. And a ton of Lil Worker love.

It's been a wild week and it's coming to an end. I need some solid IRL ("in real life") sales numbers to take back to Manjit, or a bank, or my great uncle to prove Lil Worker is worth investing in. So, if you're in the mid-Island area: Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, Courtenay (maaaaaybe Campbell River and Duncan) and want to try some Gear on, today, October 29th, is the LAST day to do it.

On that note, it's PSA time. From the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia:

Compared to an average day, crashes spike by 25% on Halloween with 330 people injured in 920 crashes across B.C.

If you're like me and hate clicking out of e-mails, I'm going to paste ICBC's "Tips to Keep Kids Safe" at Halloween below. Some good points to keep in mind as you prepare for the big night:

• Be bright to be seen: Many costumes are quite dark, making your child less visible at night. Try to nudge your child toward a lighter costume. If your child insists on being a ninja this year, add reflective tape to their outfit and treat bag, and make them use a flashlight or headlamp to help them stand out in the dark.

• Make sure the costume fits: A costume that's too big or small could cause a child to trip and fall, causing injury.

• Create a safe route: If your kids are trick-or-treating without you, plan a safe route for your children and their friends. The best route should be familiar, well-established, direct and away from busy main roads. Set a return time.

• Travel in groups: Organize a group to trick-or-treat together. Walking in a group will make you and your children more visible to drivers.

• Follow the rules of the road: Always walk on sidewalks and cross only at crosswalks when travelling with your child. If there is no sidewalk, walk as far to the edge as possible, facing traffic. For older children that are trick-or-treating with friends, review the rules and remind them to work their way up one side of the street, instead of crossing back and forth.

• Consider other ways to celebrate: Instead of traditional trick-or-treating, consider hosting a Halloween party for your child and their friends, attending a Halloween party if offered at local community centres, or taking your child to a local shopping centre that offers trick-or-treating opportunities in a well-lit, controlled environment.

Ok, I've already had to run to the truck once this morning. Here's what's sold out already:

Yellow Warm Lil Fleece, size 3

Orange Warm Lil Fleece, size 7

Look, even if you don't neeeeed Gear, I'd really like to meet you, too. Ya, in real life. Scary? Maybe. Cool? I think so. If you get a chance, swing by - I'm right beside People's Jewellers, here:

You might be thinking, "Good God, James, I'm in Ottawa, Ontario. There's NO WAY I could come meet you at the Woodgrove Centre in Nanaimo, BC!"

Ok, ok, ok. I'm sorry but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to select specific geographic areas in my e-mail list. I don't even think that's possible. E-mail doesn't have an assigned address, does it?

Aaaaaand, technically, those wicked Halloween safety tips are applicable whether you're in Ottawa, ON or Nanaimo, BC, right? Just look at this guy, he's AWESOME!!!

Alright, I've gotta run - ttyl!

Let's keep our kids safe. Because growing up is tough work.

Thank you ~James

You may have heard I took Lil Worker Safety Gear into the Dragons' Den. Well, what did they Dragons say? You can find my segment here:

Well...? How did I do? Let shoot me a message to let me know [email protected], I've love to hear from you!

I felt safe. You know that feeling, the one where you're perfectly content. Snuggled up and toasty warm. I had that 69 page NDA which prevented me from divulging what happened in the Dragons' Den. It also protected me from the truth, that nobody knew and nobody could know what happened in the Den. And then, I got the, a-hem [insert deep radio voice] "the call."

And then they stripped me naked on national television

That is "the call" where the CBC producers let me know that they'd be revealing my plush secret, stripping me naked for all of Canada to see. My pitch to the Dragons was actually going to hit the air. The CBC. National television.

"OH MY GOD," I yell, reading the e-mail from the CBC for the 13th time.

My world ends. This changes everything. Doesn't it?!? I mean, what's going to happen? To me? To Precision Tree Services Ltd? To Lil Worker Safety Gear?

Insanity. Nobody knows. The more people I talk to about it the less sure I get. And I didn't think I could get "less sure" was even possible.

Ok Jimmy, simmer down and keep your pants on

Relax. First off, I remind myself that I didn't actually get naked in front of the cameras, not to my best recollection [DISCLAIMER: I kind of blacked out during my pitch so you'll have to watch my actual episode to find out #SoTired]. Second, and more importantly, I remind myself that this is the choice I made years ago. When I started my own business, when I "leapt" and became an entrepreneur, I decided to do things my own way. It was a gamble. I felt like I could drive a business but I didn't actually know. How could I, until I was in my car ripping down Highway Entrepreneur @ 120km/h with warning lights blaring and my hair on fire?

Seth likes to talk about "dancing with the fear" of failure. At this point, I feel like a professional ballerina.

The dance

It's all a matter of perspective. I only fail if I let myself fail. I may not end up working forever in the first business I start. That is OK. I may not sell my company for millions of dollars. I will get over it. I might hit hard times. Cancel that, it's not that I "might" hit hard times, it's that I absolutely and most definitely will hit hard times. Guess what? I'll deal. The only thing I have 100% control of is myself.

It's not about how much I earn, it's about how much I learn. It's about how big of a positive impact I can make during my short time on this planet. If I focus on what's truly important, any fear melts away. Why? Because if I see every setback as a challenge to maximize my own personal development instead of a soul-crushing defeat, it's actually better for me when things go off the tracks.

Full circle

Necked? The fear dance? Earning vs learning?

"Do y'all need some bunny therapy?" you ask.

No. Well, yes (I hope you clicked that last link if you didn't go and do it now). You good? Ok, I'm good too.

My episode of the Dragons' Den airs on October 12th, 2017 at 8pm (8:30pm NFLD) on CBC Television. Mark the date on your calendar and tune in to watch, you won't believe what happens to me in the Den. I can't say much, but I can say that I'm glad I wore my steel-toed dancing boots. And I'm like 72.3% positive that I kept my clothes on.

UPDATE - the episode aired and it was CRAZY GOOD. If you haven't seen it, check it out here. If you have seen it, WATCH IT AGAIN!!!  http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/pitches/lil-worker-safety-gear

Days are getting shorter. Christmas is starting to make its first appearance in retail stores. Yes, you heard it, I said the "C" word. Summer is winding down. Parents across North America have the bittersweet lemony taste of freedom in their mouths as they eagerly anticipate the greatest event of the year: back to school.

Lil Worker Safety Gear knows what it takes to make sure your kids are safe heading back to school.

10 wicked safety tips to help keep your kids safe!

1. Dress kids in bright, contrasting, highly reflective clothing for their walk/bike/scooter ride to and from school
2. Map out a route to and from school that avoids major intersections and super busy roads
3. Make a game out of identifying road signs and the rules of the road with your kids while you're bopping around town
4. Keep a schedule and make it a habit to have your kids check in so you know where they are (and that they're safe)
5. Practice holding hands to keep children from darting out onto the road or outside of crosswalks
6. Model safe road habits for your children.
7. Travel in groups. Vehicles are more likely to take notice, slow down and make way for groups.
8. When driving, make a game of identifying hazards and unsafe actions so kids become familiar with the view of the road from a vehicle's perspective.
9. Check the weather before heading out and layer clothing accordingly.
10. Keep slips, trips and falls to a minimum by ensuring your children are wearing footwear appropriate for the season.

Any suggestions?

via GIPHY

I'm not about to drop the mic and walk out like this list is the be-all and end-all of back to school safety tips for kids. If you've got an idea I haven't covered, let us know in the comments!

A picture tells a thousand words (and they're all lies)

There you go. Evidence. I survived the Dragons' Den. What I'm not telling you is that they take your picture in front of this massive DD poster before you face the Dragons.

When you see someone on TV or anywhere else in the media you get to see them at their shiny best. Practiced. Polished. Primed. Perfect. Just like that picture of me. I want to let you know what really happens before all that.

Part of being an entrepreneur is dancing with fear so I'm going add notes below when I tackled something I had never done during this adventure. I'll highlight anything new like this: [NDT] for "never done this." 

Ok, time to rewind.

To TO

I decide to blast my trip to Toronto off in three days [NDT]. It's the kind of thing you do when you've got 3 young kids at home and a 2nd company to run. And if you're an entrepreneurial, "I love challenges" type of person, it's just how you do things.

Somewhere over Calgary I realize that I'm not actually going to Calgary and that the time difference may pose a challenge. There's nothing I can do about it so I shelve the concern and go back to running through my 60-second elevator pitch for the 2,392nd time. People around me on the airplane think I'm losing my marbles. They're probably right.

I land in a sea of people. Toronto. 3 hours earlier than home on Vancouver Island. The best way to get from the airport to my hotel is on the train, so I hop on a train head straight into downtown [NDT]. 

The train is empty which is nice because it gives me time to relax and watch the scenery. Haha, riiiiight. I don't watch the scenery. I call Alicia Woods to discuss tips and strategy in the Den [NDT]. Alicia pitched her wicked company Covergalls on Season 9 of DD and walked away with a deal and multiple offers. I get pretty jacked talking with Alicia and she really focuses me on what my main priorities are heading into the Den:

1. Make it to air - treat the show like a $1M commercial for your business and, for God's sake, don't be boring. If you are headed for a win, win BIG. If you're headed for a fail (and you'll know if your pitch goes this way), fail BIG. Many boring pitchers that get deals don't make it to air. Instead, pitchers that fail to get a deal but are entertaining make the air. 180 pitches are filmed and only 90 make the air each season. You want to make it to air.
2. Make a deal - you spend all this time writing, researching, calculating, prepping, pitching, revising. The Dragons in the chairs want to see you succeed. Don't get greedy. Your business isn't worth what you think it is. Stuff the pride. Make a deal.

Hotel Time

The Fairmont Royal York is a ridiculously nice hotel. I have no idea how I end up staying here. That's a lie. It's my first time in TO and, well, when in Rome.... I almost put out a post to the Lil Worker Safety Gear Facebook page asking for a free couch to sleep on for a couple of nights, I'm glad I coughed up the extra cash to stay in such an awesome place.

You'd think a guy would be able to relax in such sweet digs. I can't. I've run through my pitch 3,038 times and counting. I'm a nervy mess. Not to mention that my planned bedtime at 9pm is actually 6pm PST. Ugh.

I'm going to skip the part of the story where I get lost looking for a place to eat and wind spending $30 on a hamburger [NDT]. Man, that's embarrassing.

Back to 9pm (EST).

You know that feeling when you just can't get to sleep? You start counting the hours until you have to wake up? And counting keeps you up longer? Here's an incomplete list of techniques I try to get to sleep:

• pulling my hair
• meditation
• hitting my head on a wall
• showering
• reading
• walking outside
• yelling into a pillow. 

Nothing works.

Fresh as a daisy

I watch the clock tick from 5:29am to 5:30am and the alarm goes. Sleepless night number two. There's nothing that gets me more pumped than taking on a major life challenge after staying up for 48 hours straight [NDT]. I'm as fresh as a daisy.

Time to head to the CBC studio.

I arrive about an hour early. You never know what hurdles life is going to throw in your way. I get to meet some of the other pitchers in the hall waiting for security. An odd thing starts happening. We all just start pitching each other. I mean, why not, right? The Wike guys have a freaking amazing bike that turns into a stroller. The FUUD guys have a super cool food delivery company. Kenn invented sweet ODii grabbing tools. These guys rock.

The Resistance

Let me stop you right here. This is important. I'm having a great time talking with my fellow soon-to-be pitchers, learning about their inventions and businesses. All of a sudden, this crappy voice pops into my head.

"You don't belong here," it says. 

"Look, these guys made a bike that turns into a frigging stroller. All you have is hi viz safety gear in super tiny sizes. Save yourself the embarrassment and go home now."

"You don't have the numbers to get a deal. The Dragons are going to laugh you off the stage."

The voice is real. It's the Resistance. I can turn tail and run but I bet that almost every other pitcher in the hall has similar thoughts running through his or her head.

If you really pursue something you believe in, something you love, you're going to hear the Resistance too. Fight it. Just so you know, we're all fighting it in one form or another all the time. Don't give in. Persevere. 

Legal

Before the CBC security lets us into the studio, all the pitchers are required to sign a 69-page non-disclosure agreement. I'm exaggerating a *bit*. I start reading this titan and decide to just flip to the back and sign it. What, am I going to just leave, jump on the plane and head home...? No freaking way.

James: 1
Resistance: 0

The Den

Now, here's every detail of everything that actually happened behind the scenes in the Den....

Oops, sorry.

I know you want to know how my pitch went to the Dragons went. Believe me, I want to tell you bad. It went nothing like I planned. Things got crazy. Kids. Cameras. Dragons. [NDT]. I've said too much. Remember that 69 page NDA? My lips are zipped. You'll have to tune in for Season 12 of the Dragons' Den to find out.

Fingers crossed. Toes crossed.

UPDATE - the episode aired and it was CRAZY GOOD. If you haven't seen it, check it out here. If you have seen it, WATCH IT AGAIN!!!  http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/pitches/lil-worker-safety-gear

NDTs

Now, how many times did I write [NDT] up there? A lot. Was I freaked out about doing some of them? Yup. Did that stop me? Nope. 

Don't let the NDTs stop you.

Thank you all for supporting our run for the BEST CONCEPT Small Business BC award! My line of kids' safety shirts, vests, fleece and jackets made it right to the end of the competition, narrowly missing the top spot and taking home the trophy!

I had a great time, made a whole bunch of connections and got some invaluable experience going through the award process. Special THANKS to my friend Jesse from ArctiCup and Cathy "The Connected Woman" for their advice and company during the awards ceremony!

I'll admit that the best part of all this was continuing to spread the message to #vizyourkids to parents and guardians everywhere! Let's continue to make kids VISIBLE and SAFE wherever they go!

PS - I'll be taking Lil Worker Safety Gear into the Dragon's Den to look for some major league help in April! Stay tuned for updates!!!