This giveaway is part of our Three Gs For The Holidays event. Visit the announcement post to get involved in other fun giveaways, get shopping ideas from our Gift Guide, and learn how you can help children in need this holiday season!
As our family size begins to increase over the coming years, we’d like a have a vehicle that can handle all of our kiddos and the strollers, car seats, and diaper bags that come along with them. So having a load of room is one of the main reasons we are considering an SUV purchase. But we’ve realized that owning an SUV can also have its cons; limited visibility being one of them. When backing up in my current car, I can generally see most of everything behind the car as I back up. But, when backing up in an SUV, I’ve noticed that there is a huge difference in backend visibility. Anything, and more importantly, anyone, under a few feet standing directly behind the SUV is virtually impossible to see. Combining that with a busy parking lot full of children can spell disaster.
That’s why one mother of three who realized this major problem created the Parking Pal. The Parking Pal is a circular magnet that contains a hand print, along with fun shapes and colors, that sticks to the side of your car. The purpose of the Parking Pal is so that children can view it as their safe spot and place their hand on it while outside of the car at all times. This helps to reduce their chance of running or playing in the parking lot where cars are in motion at all times. Parking Pals are only $8 a piece, so buying one for each of your children is definitely an inexpensive option.
Simply discussing the dangers of playing in parking lots with your children can help also. Here are some tips on parking lot safety directly from the Parking Pal website:
* Teach children that vehicles can be dangerous and drivers cannot always see them
* Teach them that parked vehicles might move and teach them to stay safely away
* Teach them NEVER to play around or behind a vehicle
* Teach them never to play in driveways
* Teach them to use their Parking Pal in parking lots
* Know where your children are in parking lots when loading and unloading
* Never leave a child unattended around a moving vehicle, not even for a few seconds
* Be especially careful during Holidays or when parking lots are full
* Always hold a child’s hand when walking to and from the vehicle in parking lots
* And remember to always watch for other children, always move your vehicle slowly when pulling in or backing out of a parking spot
* We do want to add, be especially careful in church parking lots
* People tend to let their guard down
If you purchase a Parking Pal before December 15th, you will automatically be entered in their drawing for a $100 Toys-R-Us gift card! Use coupon code “123 Pal” for free shipping!
We’re giving away TWO Parking Pals for the holidays! The danger of kids playing in parking lots increases during the cold season because of ice on the ground. If they stay in one spot, the risk of them slipping on ice and hurting themselves decreases.
How To Enter
There are a total of 5 ways you can enter this giveaway, and everyone is eligible! You can enter using as many methods listed below as you’d like. Each method of entry is worth 1 entry. Here is how you can enter:
1. In the comments, share a tip on parking lot safety that you practice with your children.
2. Write a post on your blog about this giveaway. You can write whatever you’d like or you can copy and paste the text provided by us below. Be sure to let us know in the comments that you’ve done this by leaving a direct link to your post.
3. Put our Three Gs For The Holidays button in your blog’s sidebar. Be sure to let us know in the comments that you’ve done this.
4. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter. You can write whatever you’d like or you can copy and paste the text provided by us below. Be sure to let us know in the comments that you’ve done this by including a direct link to your tweet (how to link directly to a tweet).
5. Subscribe to receive e-mail updates so we can keep you updated on future happenings here at Mommy Daddy Blog. All you have to do is enter your e-mail address below and click Subscribe. Be sure to let us know that you’ve done this (or if you are already subscribed to receive e-mail updates from us) in the comments using the same e-mail address you subscribed with.
This giveaway, along with all other Three Gs For The Holidays giveaways, will end on December 8th 14th!
We’d like to help out those who are less fortunate this holiday season, so we’ll be donating some toys to Toys For Tots! But, since there’s only so much we can do, we encourage you to make a donation also. You can donate toys or cash to Toys For Tots, at your nearest Toys For Tots drop-off location. You can also donate a cash gift, online via credit/debit card by visiting the Toys For Tots Online Donation page, or by texting “TOY” to 90999 using your cell phone. With your help, there’s no limit to the amount of smiles we can put on childrens’ faces this year!
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This is really helpful for different Car Donation Programs .I found another good one that helped me find a great website for Car Donation Program
My best tip is to never assume anything,they will do it!I always make one hold onto my leg while im getting the other out,an we hang on to eachother some way,so no one walks alone,EVER!They can dart so fast,I would LOVE to have one on these parking pals,so smart someone was to invent this,thanks
I am a subscriber
My son has to always hold my hand once he is out of the car and he must look for cars just as if we were crossing the street. I also point out to listen and watch for cars pulling out of spots. I’ve also tried to get him to put his hand on the car, after I saw the parking pals on the interenet recently but I’m having trouble getting him to do that so this will really help! What a great giveaway!!
I’m a subscriber!
I put my daughter in the car BEFORE I unload anything into the trunk. It’s too hard to keep tabs on her and move stuff from my cart to the trunk. Even the most behaved toddlers can get distracted and it only takes grabbing a 12 pack of soda at the same time that something catches their eye for a disaster to occur.
I also subscribe.
I’ve taught my son to always stay right by my side, with his hand on the car while I take his little sister out of her car seat.
I remind them of the book “Flat Stanley” and tell them to stay close to me!
When we get out of the car I stand between my son and traffic.
My son is 5 now and he still wants to dart out in front of traffic…I think they just get so excited to get into the store. But I always have him stay in the car till Im ready to get out myself…that way were ready to walk and “check both ways” before going in the store.
Im a subscriber too.
we remain buckled until the car is parked
I just had a scare this weekend! I’m doubly sure to make sure he’s NO where near the car if I’m backing in and out of the driveway from now on!
I am subbed
i have the 3 gs on my blog
i blogged about it
http://www.tanyetta.com/2008/12/win-parking-pal.html
i tweeted too!
http://twitter.com/tanyetta/status/1038381173
I always tell the parents I’m backing up. Especially these parents who don’t watch their kids well.
We actually have the girls place their hands on the car as soon as they step out of the inside and they’re not to let go until we tell them to. We started this with Lyric and have done it with Aria as well, it’s worked so far or else they know they can get ’squished like a bug’ in the parking lot by cars lol
Your 3 G’s button is on my sidebar
I subscribe
I made a tweet (lyricsmama)
I am MAMA to a lil’ speed demon, and so it’s vital to me to always hold his hand gently and with lots of love in parking lots. And, WOW! I know he understands because he always looks to me for guidance and no longer strays. Love my sweet’um! : )))
Thanks so much for this give~away! : )))
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
You’ll love that I’m a subscriber to your AMAZING BLOG via e~mail.
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
And, I TWITTERED about this fabulous give~away…….user name: leahita.
http://twitter.com/leahita/status/1044631505
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
I only open 1 side of the van. Then I take the baby out, the others follow. We all hold hands until we get inside.
im a subscriber
I live in apartment complex with tons of children all around so I usually just peak around behind my car for children and make sure I’m backing out super slow and aware of my surroundings.
I teach my son to never run in the parking lot and always keep his hand on my shirt until I get his sister in /out of her carseat.
I show him the vehicles coming and going and that they’ll cause a very big owie if they get too close to him.
I subscribed
I put your button on my blog
I twitter you
Win a Parking Pal at MommyDaddyBlog.com http://tinyurl.com/5bapua
http://twitter.com/calliesan/status/1048032149
i always have my two year old put his hand on his brother’s carseat while i am carrying it, so that he is “helping” mommy. that way he stays with me and is at a reachable distance.
i suscribed via email
No matter how much he fusses (or, let’s be honest, yells) I make my 3 year old hold my hand and I often have him crawl under the back of the baby’s seat to get out as I’m getting the baby out.
I’m subscribed!
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