tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post7209137866697555130..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: Catastrophic ThinkingTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-53578667948149948882016-03-06T00:53:24.327-08:002016-03-06T00:53:24.327-08:00It's interesting to hear that the discussion a...It's interesting to hear that the discussion about the danger of balloons in the States seems to centre around the risk of choking, while here in Europe parents are more afraid of chemical additives in the latex. Therefore all balloon packages here contain a warning that balloons shouldn't be inflated by mouth.Michael Kallweitthttps://www.wasfuereintheater.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-19925363806181494882016-03-05T04:31:27.973-08:002016-03-05T04:31:27.973-08:00I'm so glad you posted this. I was one of the ...I'm so glad you posted this. I was one of the doomsdayers, my worry proceeding straight from what I was told by my doomsday sister 19 years ago when my child was born, which was that when a balloon pops, the loud noise startles you so that you take in a sharp breath and can inhale a piece of balloon as it flies outward. This is what I've always pictured and I thought it made perfect sense. After having done more research just now, I found this: https://www.cpsc.gov/PageFiles/122493/5087.pdf which confirms exactly what you wrote here. Now I want some balloons for my classoom! Thank you, Tom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-58824089824064866842016-03-04T13:43:48.331-08:002016-03-04T13:43:48.331-08:00I found this post interesting because I would have...I found this post interesting because I would have never thought so many people would be against balloons. Every year we fill up lots of balloons with water and let the kids play with them. We do this outside so for the purpose of not littering we ask the kids to pick up the popped balloon, but never of fear of the kids choking on the balloon. I teach 3-5 year old students. Last year we had a parent bring in many balloons for his kid's birthday and the kids had a blast with those too. Nothing happened and I didn't think anything would. I guess people can worry about anything if they allow themselves to be worried. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-32571642703826364312016-03-04T10:11:59.589-08:002016-03-04T10:11:59.589-08:00I appreciate this. In the Montessori preschool I ...I appreciate this. In the Montessori preschool I worked in, where the children were routinely allowed to work with knives, hammers, and a host of other tools, we never had a noteworthy accident. The worst accident we had was when one of our little ones tripped on the threshold of a doorway and required stiches. With attentive supervision kids are able to learn how to safely learn to handle and manipulate a whole host of "dangerous" household items. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-84335028990967709132016-03-04T07:03:45.040-08:002016-03-04T07:03:45.040-08:00The kids just younger than mine at our facility ha...The kids just younger than mine at our facility have a pool noodle covering their chalkboard tray to cushion the impact. In my room, no pool noodle. And generally, at least 1-2 kids per year hit it and about 50% of the time, it bruises. But I've always maintained that we can't bubble wrap the entire world. And my kids are learning to navigate my classroom and look for things that could hurt them.Nerd Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18191386187868225840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-26126971502445883942016-03-04T06:30:18.453-08:002016-03-04T06:30:18.453-08:00I totally agree with your way of thinking. If we t...I totally agree with your way of thinking. If we think back to our own childhood and remember what we played with and where we played it should give us a good indicator as to how we can play with children today. Most of us grew up in dangerous surroundings, playing with dangerous items and we are all still here. Thanks for expressing your view!<br />Carol<br />purplebeattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14702788006398293296noreply@blogger.com