Kids going stir-crazy?
Then get them outside! Here’s some events and ideas our outdoor blog writer has posted that kids can enjoy in the coming weeks. Have a great New Year!
-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com
Massive recall of window coverings issued
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today has released a recall of all Roman blinds, roll-up shades and some vertical blinds in homes with children. The report says there is a risk of strangulation to young children.
This recall involves millions of blinds, as the CPSC estimates 5 million Roman blinds and 3 million roll-up blinds are sold EACH YEAR.
Anyone with these types of blinds is urged to go to www.windowcoverings.org or call (800) 506-4636 to receive a free repair kit. In the meantime, the CPSC has issued these important guidelines:
1. Examine all shades and blinds in your home. Be sure there are NO accessible cords on the front or back.
2. Do not place cribs, bed or other furniture close to windows, where children can climb on them and gain access to cords.
3. Make loose cords completely inaccessible.
4. If the shade has looped bead chains or nylon cords, install tension devices to keep the cord taut.
Since 2006, the CPSC has received reports of 5 deaths and 16 near-strangulations. And those are only reported numbers. Please consider this an urgent problem that needs to be addressed if your home has these types of blinds.
For full recall information, click here.
-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com
Thunder rolls in to help during holidays
Tuesday evening, I had to make a quick stop at Target on Penn and Memorial. I knew something cool was going on inside because I saw the Oklahoma City Thunder vehicles parked outside.
Inside, you could hear cheering, clapping and holiday music turned way up. Kids were grinning ear to ear, and the NBA players had smiles to match.
It was the Holiday Gift Assist. Grandparents raising grandchildren went around Target with the help of these NBA players to get Christmas gifts for the children. It was awesome, to say the least. I overheard some of the interaction between the Thunder and the kids. You would’ve sworn these guys were just big kids themselves. They were excited and engaged and really showed they had hearts of gold.
Rumble was there, dancing to “Jingle Bells”; toddlers were strapped in the carts, looking up in awe at these very tall athletes in blue Santa hats; store personnel were air traffic controllers. Toys? This way. Christmas trees? Follow me. PlayStation? Over that way.
It was great to witness such a great moment for these grandparents and their grandchildren. We don’t usually think of grandparents as parents, but those who step into that role after having raised their own children is truly something. It’s a remarkable kind of love and I’m glad they were brought some holiday cheer this season.
You can read The Oklahoman’s story on the Holiday Gift Assist by clicking here.
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- A Thunder player is ready to help check out.
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- Rumble the Bison shows off his moves.
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- A Thunder player talks to the families.
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- Nenad Krstic greets shoppers.
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- A Thunder player checks to see if these DVDs are on the list.
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- Music and balloons greet the grandparents and grandkids.
-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com
Christmas tree lighting at Oklahoma State Capitol
Don’t miss tonight’s Christmas tree lighting at the Oklahoma State Capitol around 6 p.m. More information here. What makes this event even more child-friendly are the 42 trees that schoolchildren ages kindergarten through eighth grade from different places are decorating today. They’ll be meeting around the Capitol rotunda around 3:45 p.m. to decorate and enjoy festivities such as storytelling, performances and card signing for the troops going on during that time.
So before you go see Gov. Brad Henry lighting the big tree on the beautiful Oklahoma State Capitol grounds around 6 p.m., check out all the fun inside.
~ Lillie-Beth Brinkman (lbrinkman@opubco.com)
