Children should always be supervised when in or near water. Even if the water is shallow and a child seems confident, it's imperative for an adult to always stay alert and available to help. According to Life Saver Pool Fence, supervising adults need to make sure that they are not distracted by other things like a smartphone or a book so they can give their full attention to the child. They should even be in the water nearby, if possible. Children need to understand this as the first rule of water safety, and adults need to be willing to offer some examples of why supervision is necessary without making a child anxious about the water.
Teach children to always keep the adult supervising them nearby and to get out of the pool if they can't see the person who is supposed to be watching them. Teach them to listen to lifeguards and to be aware when the pool they are swimming in doesn't have lifeguards available. Most of all, teach them to never go in the water alone.
Diving looks like a fun, skilled way to enter the pool, but kids need to understand when it is not safe to dive. Pool depth matters when kids want to dive, and they need to understand that all pools are different when it comes to how deep they are.
Children should always look for signs around the pool that advise them not to dive. If these signs aren't present, kids still shouldn’t assume that diving is safe. They need to find out what the water depth is first. According to GBW.Law, the pool should be at least nine feet deep for diving to help protect children from getting head and spinal cord injuries. This is non-negotiable, and not heeding this advice can lead to major injuries or death.
When kids are in the water, they should have a partner. This helps kids keep up with each other and offers another set of eyes in case anything goes wrong. A partner is not a substitute for adult supervision, but it helps when the pool is crowded, and kids are trying to gain confidence in the water.
Partners need to know when to call for an adult and that they won't get in trouble for asking for help. Children who are drowning or struggling in the water don't make much noise, according to Soundings Online. A partner can spot this behavior and be the voice that calls for assistance.
Even if a child has taken swim lessons and feels safe in the water, you still need to talk about water safety regularly and supervise at all times. Making sure that your kids are safe when they are playing in the pool will not only help prevent injuries but also give you peace of mind. The pool is great fun on a hot day, but only if everyone knows the rules.
Many children spend too much time watching television, surfing the web, or viewing posts from friends on social media. While these activities are not harmful in moderation, there can be a number of negative consequences to the child that spends too much time doing these things. The first step to limiting screen time for your children is to lead by example. All children are greatly influenced by the behavior they see from their parents. Parents should also remember that not all decisions they make will be popular with their children. When you set the viewing times for your children, be willing to stand by your decision and explain to them why the decision is necessary.
It is important to protect your children from nature and the elements when they play outside. The heat from the sun is a major concern. You can protect your child from sunburn by applying sunscreen to their skin half an hour before they go outdoors. Do not forget to apply sunscreen to lips, nose, ears and the tops of their feet. You should also take measures to protect your children from dangerous bugs and pests. Planting the right herbs and flowers in your yard can make it relatively free from mosquitoes and other pests. This is a great eco-friendly way to keep your kids safe from the bugs without using chemical-ridden pesticides.
Playing outside can be a little uncomfortable at first for a child who is not used to being outdoors very much. You can make the process a little easier by promoting outside activities as games that can be enjoyed by the entire family. There are many ways that you can do this. Ideas include building forts in the backyard, having treasure hunts in an outdoor area and taking timed bike rides or nature walks. The options are only limited by your imagination.
Teach your children to use nature's resources as play equipment. Boulders can be used to climb, they can jump from tree stumps and use logs to play balancing games. Nature will allow your children to use their imagination while they play. They will enjoy the free and unstructured play that nature will provide to them.
The benefits of playing outdoors are too many to state. But, many parents find it difficult to coax their children into spending significant time outside. With a little patience and creativity, you can help your kids see the fun that awaits them outside your door.
Playing outside with your kids can be great for your whole family. Try one of our family mats to sit on outside while you watch your kids play!
]]>When it came to designing our Tribe West mats, the mission was always to provide socially-conscious families with a quality (and stylish) product. Based on the numerous features of Portuguese cork, it turned out to be a natural fit.
The Tribe West cork playmat collection features a Portuguese cork top combined with an extra cushioned base of 100% natural rubber for an soft option that’s kind to elbows and knees and friendly to the environment. The cork is bound to the rubber playmat using heat, rather than harmful adhesives. We use cork that is natural, eco-friendly, toxin-free and sustainably-sourced.
Our cork can be found on the outer bark of the cork oak tree (Quercus suber), and is gathered from the very Portuguese oak trees that supply 70 percent of wine corks globally. It is carefully harvested (by hand) once every 9 years in late spring and summer, and is quickly replaced by new layers of cork, making it exceptionally sustainable. The process is designed to prevent damage to the trees, so it’s not unusual to have a 200 year-old tree still producing cork bark.
Portuguese cork production is a “triple bottom line” industry that achieves environmental, social, and economic benefits. Here are just a few outstanding facts from the Portuguese Cork Association APCOR:
But, in order to be useful for our mats, cork not only had to be sustainable, but also safe and functional. Could cork stand up to a baby on a mission or 1,000 vinyasas?
The Portuguese have been utilizing cork for three-hundred years, and for good reason. Portuguese cork is non-toxic, antimicrobial, hypoallergenic, stain resistant, slip-resistant, anti-static, and flame retardant. Talk about a wonder-material! It’s also great for your home because it’s a thermal and acoustic insulator, holding heat and minimizing sound.
Cork is able to last a long time because it is impermeable to liquids and practically impermeable to gases, thanks to the composition of cork cells. It is the resistance to moisture allows it to grow old without deteriorating.
Contrary to popular belief, cork is not disappearing and cork forests have actually grown 3% in the last 10 years. However, it will take continued consumer support to combat the shift to synthetic materials. Cork is primarily supported by the wine industry and the move to synthetic stoppers has drawn international attention. Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales comments that (…) a seemingly simple decision taken by several wine producers to use synthetic closures instead of natural cork stoppers has a long-term impact. Understanding the reason why someone wants to find a synthetic and ugly cap in the neck of a bottle is something that is beyond me. However, this practice is causing serious changes in the cork oak forests in Portugal and Spain.”
As consumers we are challenged to vote with our dollar, making eco-friendly a movement rather than a trend. Since cork is 100% recyclable and biodegradable, it is on the forefront of the environmentally-conscious movement. Furthermore, the industry takes steps to utilize every piece of cork and its byproducts in the manufacturing process, separating it from all other materials on the market.
All parents want to create a safe and healthy environment for their family. Choosing cork is a positive step when compared to foam play mat alternatives.
]]>All Tribe West products are thoughtfully made with materials that offer organic benefits, eliminating harmful toxins and limiting cost to our environment. These are small steps that we are taking to ensure the footprint of our large play mats are something our tribe and yours can be proud of.
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We’re proud to be a small business that prioritizes social enterprise for both our artisan partners and our customers. We enjoying providing unique, high-quality products to you and your family while also assisting our partner families around the world.
]]>Some of your favorite brands may actually fall into this category. They are your favorite brands because not only do they have high quality products, but also a social mission. The official term is Social Enterprise: a market-driven approach to solve a social problem, creating a business model that gives back. There are a few different approaches: employing individuals who typically face barriers to market entry, creating products or services that lead to social or environment impact, or by donating a portion of their profits to a nonprofit.
Our approach at TribeWest (read more) is a combined effort of the first and last. Not only do we source designs from artisan partners, paying them a fair-wage percentage on the sale of their designs, but we also provide annual donations from our yearly profit. Tribe West’s adventurous spirit is captured in our brand’s craftsmanship aesthetic and inspired by our own global adventures and service excursions. We collaborate with the nonprofit organizations Social Enterprise Alliance, Aid to Artisans, and Artisan Alliance to develop relationships with the ever growing artisan organizations around the world, partnering with them to create thoughtful, timeless designs characteristic of their culture.
And, we’re not the only ones! Businesses of all sizes are starting to catch on to the potential of using artisan products to fuel social enterprise.The artisan sector is the second-largest employer in the developing world after agriculture. It’s worth an estimated $32 billion a year, doubling in a period of 6 years in the early 2000’s as eCommerce gave us easier access to a global market (hear of Etsy?). Now many of the largest US businesses are on board; for example, Handmade at Amazon and Starbucks Reserve. Big business is bending to their customers cravings for quality and craft, and the market stats are too big to ignore.
The artisan trend isn’t going away anytime soon - and it’s both domestic and international, as evidenced by the surge in craft breweries in the US over the past decade. The idea that “craft is cool” is driven by the growing drive for exclusivity. Unlike conventional goods, artisan products are created in small batches, unique and made with mastery, both features that are synonymous with luxury. Think beyond the tourist shop magnets to home goods, art, food and more, skillfully crafted from skills passed down through generations.
The huge boost in the craft style and artisan economy is an exciting indication that the global marketplace will one day become a more socially conscious space. According to the the 2016 Alliance Impact Report from the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise, “Artisan activities increase local incomes, preserve ancient cultures, and provide employment for hundreds of thousands of individuals around the world, particularly women.” Clearly the benefits of buying handmade products are felt on both sides. Consumers receive beautiful, lasting products while the artisan communities themselves benefits from fair trade practices.
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