It’s no secret that our Hispanic population is growing in Las Vegas.  In fact according to the Hispanic Fact Pact, 2008 Edition, distributed by Advertising Age magazine, Las Vegas is now ranked #20 in the list of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets. 

I came across this article and wanted to share this with all of my readers.  I hope it prompts you to discuss this serious subject with your children.

Latino Parents Urged to Counteract Effects of Targeted Alcohol Ads

August 20, 2008
Source: Join Together

With Latino/Latina youths viewing a disproportionately high number of alcohol ads compared with other young people, parents need to have open discussions with their children so they will delay drinking, the Al Día weekly newspaper (Philadelphia) reported Aug. 14.

According to a 2003 report from the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth, alcohol advertisers spent $23.6 million in 2002 to run ads on 12 of the 15 television programs most watched by Hispanic youths. The report added that Hispanic youths saw 24 to 32 percent more alcohol advertising in magazines than did non-Hispanic young people.

With unintentional injuries, homicide and suicide constituting the three leading causes of death among Hispanic youths ages 12 to 20, and alcohol a prominent factor in all of these categories, the article urges parents not to avoid conversations about alcohol and unwittingly deliver the message that it is OK for children to drink.

According to the 2007 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Hispanic teens are more likely than their non-Hispanic peers to ride in a car with someone who has been drinking, and also more likely to drink on school property.

The newspaper article discusses in detail the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s (NIAAA’s) “Talk to Your Children About Alcohol” initiative, listing tips for parents such as asking open-ended questions of youths and responding constructively rather than emotionally.

Sincerely,

Adam S. Kutner

It’s a difficult time for many local companies that need to cut back on their community giving.  Non-profits are suffering tremendously, but their needs aren’t going away.  
 

As I mentioned before in my blogs, we’ve recently associated our company with a wonderful local organization called NALA (Nevada Association of Latin Americans).  NALA was founded in 1969 and is the only Hispanic social service agency in Southern Nevada.  Their mission is to improve the opportunity and the quality of life for people of all ages, by providing individuals and families of low to moderate income outstanding educational and social services in an environment of caring and mutual respect.

Their preschool and childcare services are available to 2-5 year old children of working parents.  This is where we come in.

We recently were made aware that the kids are in need of additional educational materials, art supplies and other resources that can assist with preschool activities.  So, tomorrow, July 30^th, our company is going to be making a donation of $5,000 to NALA to help their 4-year-old students with materials they need for their ESL education. 

Our company employs and services the ever growing Hispanic community in Southern Nevada, so it is with great pleasure that we make this donation and hope that there will be more to follow.

While many of us can’t give donations, there are organizations out there that need our time and resources, so please remember that anything helps.

Regards,

Adam S. Kutner

Nevada-based author Dana Sullivan, a frequent contributor to Your Baby Today, Fit Pregnancy and Parenting magazines wrote an article that parents should be aware of.  I thought it would be of interest to my readers.

The article is titled “The Top Five Mistakes Parents Make with Car Seats.”  It talks about the importance of reading and following directions when using a car seat.  Sounds simple, but a lot of people don’t do it.  Here are the top five mistakes parents make with car seats, according to Julie Prom, a certified child passenger safety expert:

1. Buying the wrong seat for a particular car.  Some seats fit better in certain cars than others.  But the only way you’ll know which seats work best in your car(s) is through trial and error.  If possible, months before your baby is born, go to a baby store and ask to install several different models in your car until you find one that fits. “I tell people to do this before they start looking at cribs,” says Prom. “A safe car seat is one of the most important purchases a parent can make for her baby.” You can also call your hospital or fire department, or visit the SafeKids website, to find out when and where the next car-seat safety check will be held in your area.
2. Facing baby forward too soon and/or using a seat that doesn’t fit properly. Infants should be in the rear-facing position, in either an infant carrier (a seat with a carrying handle) or a convertible seat (a seat you can turn forward when your baby is big enough) until they are one year old and weigh at least 20 pounds, whichever comes last.  If your under-one-year infant is so tall that his/her head reaches the top of the infant carrier, you need to switch her into a convertible seat, but keep her facing rear.  Many convertibles accommodate children in the rear or forward position until they weigh about 35-40 pounds.
3. Not tightening the car seat enough.  Make sure the seat doesn’t move more than approximately one inch from side to side or front to back.  Read the car seat manufacturer’s instructions so you know where to thread the seat belt, and your vehicle’s manual so you know whether you must use a locking clip to secure the seat belt.  Be sure to install the locking clip next to the latch plate.
4. Positioning the harness height incorrectly.   Read the car seat’s instruction manual to determine the proper harness height. Some harnesses should sit level with your infant’s shoulders, others should be set just below. You will need to adjust the harness height as your baby grows.
5. Not tightening the harness enough.  Adjust the harness so you can’t slide more than two fingers between the harness and your baby.  And, make sure that the chest clip is at your baby’s armpit level to keep the harness in place.

Read the entire article here:

http://articles.directorym.com/The_top_five_mistakes_parents_make_with_ car_seats_Nevada-r903051-Nevada.html

Sincerely,

Adam S. Kutner