Being a father of 4 children, their safety is always on my mind especially as my 3 teenagers become more independent, to me the streets don’t seem as safe as they used to be, and it’s not just the streets, social events and parties can quickly get out of control.

Having done a level of security work myself as a night club bouncer I have seen my fair number of fights just appear out of nowhere, so I do worry about my kids.

However I know my kids are not going to want to me to follow them everywhere, so they are just going to have to learn to recognise potential risks and avoid them, but in the event that they are caught up in a situation, they need to know what to do as safely and quickly as possible.

I found this great self defence video, which as the title says is the most intelligent form of self defence I have seen.

In today's podcast Vicky talks about providing opportunities for children to fully explore a "window of opportunity" for their development. They might be going through a phase of wanting to explore their sorting skills, drawing skills or their concept of cause and effect. So it is great to be able to provide them additional opportunities on top of what they discover themselves. It is also important to ensure that children can satisfy their desire to explore in a safe environment. There are lots of things in our households that we often throw away that could be used for providing those opportunities. Here's a few examples of DIY toys Vicky made herself:

Amazing what you can do with old drink bottles, caps and pieces of string. Check out the toys in detail in our post "How to stimulate your baby's development with home made toys".

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-Stefan

Very powerful ad with an important message ... well executed and great to watch! Well done.

-Stef

We've recently come across a nice little site called safetyandstyle.com. They basically sell stylised work and safety gear. So if you want to make sure everyone knows you're the world's biggest Harley fan - get a Harley Davidson hard hat. I didn't realise that stuff existed - what a great idea though. Be safe and go in style.

Safety is a huge issue for dads working in hazardous environments - so if there are products out there that make guys want to wear safety gear more often because they're kind of cool ... well that's great. After all there are too many sad stories where something happened to dad and he didn't get to see his children grow up or couldn't do the things he wanted to do with them because of some accident at work or doing DIY stuff at home.

So check out the site and gear up!

-Stef

Picking the right gift for kids or family can be quite challenging. Here's a different take on the usual "what to buy" lists ... In addition to all the toys and games you may want to give children for Christmas how about buying presents that help protect them from injuries at home, at play or on the road.

Here are some ideas:

* A car booster seat. Jazz it up and let their imagination run wild (e.g. tell them it's a rocket ship or a fairy chariot!). Kids are safer in a booster seat until they're big enough to fit an adult seat belt properly. The easiest way to tell: If your children are under 148cm or 4'10" tall, they still need a booster seat.

* A cycle helmet. If Lance Armstrong uses one, your kid can wear one too. Let them pick their own helmet and while you're at it, get one for yourself and walk the talk.

Lighting a candle at home to celebrate a birthday, get in the mood for Christmas or even to save a bit on your next power bill is a nice thing to do. Children are often drawn to the magic of the flame and enjoy the sense that something special is happening. Apart from the usual hazards of an open flame near children there have been reports over the last few years that candles literally create a special atmosphere at home - a toxic one.

Some compare the fumes created by burning paraffin candles to those of second hand smoking. Just how dangerous candle smoke is to humans remains unclear, but many common types of candles release toxins such as benzene and toluene when they are lit. It is believed that the soot from paraffin candles can also cause respiratory problems or could negatively affect people who already have asthma, lung, or heart problems.

On the odd chance that you haven't seen this clip - an accute reminder for all parents to always check that the brakes on your pram / stroller are fully engaged when you let go of it. Amazing how it took only a few seconds for the stroller to roll on to the tracks. A sheer miracle that the baby was unharmed ...

-Stef

Car safety is your responsability when driving in a car with your baby, not only is there good driving practises to follow for driver responsibility there is also correct baby seat restraints and the rules around the use for optimal baby safety. For example a 3-6 month baby will still need to stay in their rear facing car capsule (or rear facing car seat that fits like a capsule). Use ‘Baby ON Board’tags on your rear window as well as window shades to keep the sun from their eyes and face.

By Stephanie Cowan

New fathers, listen up! This article is about you and your role in protecting your baby from sudden unexpected death. Your baby needs you to be up to date in your knowledge, and strong in your decisions. Every year about sixty New Zealand babies die suddenly and unexpectedly in their sleep. Sadly, most of these deaths are preventable.

Throughout human history, fathers have been the protectors or guardians of their families. This role is a defining one for men, especially in modern times. A father who protects his children ensures their deep-rooted security, confidence and trust. It is no longer hungry lions and tigers that your babies need protecting from. The dangers now are harder to see. The lions and tigers of today lurk in the places where babies grow and the places where they sleep.

Protection as they grow