Doctors have just finished their annual letter to Santa.   For the 5^th year running, I’m going to let you all have a sneak peak at our letter…

Dear Santa –

We know that you, like us, are really passionate that children have a healthy and happy childhood full of play.  You know we are huge fans of your work.  Here’s some requests from doctors before you load up that sleight later this month:

1. Please remember to bring a helmet with every new bike, rollerblades, and scooter. As docs, we love to see kids being active but you forget so many helmets every year!

2. Please don’t load up that sleigh with e-scooters this year. Just a reminder that  they aren’t legal for children here anymore – which is great!  There were so many accidents!

3. Scramblers aren’t toys either. Please don’t bring any of those – too many children and teens have been injured and even killed.

4. Please remember to have your elves safety test baby and toddler toys by using a toilet roll tube: if the toy or detachable piece of the toy fits inside the tube, a young child can choke on it. Only safe for under-3 toys for under-3’s – no matter how cute! 

5. Please don’t bring toys with magnetic beads or water beads – this can cause children serious harm if accidentally swallowed!

6. Please no smart phones for children in primary school. We are very keen to keep childhood smartphone free (and we are sure you agree!).  Please remind the elves again to enable parent controls or install/enable internet safety software an all new devices for under-16s. Cybersafe Kids has great advice if the elves need help.

7. Please don’t bring any baby walkers with wheels and amber teething beads – there have been too many accidents.  We know that many products sold for babies are cute – but just aren’t safe.

8. Batteries!  That has nothing to do with health, but you do forget some every year!

We know that so much of what children really need is more than even Daidí na Nollaig can bring:  safe home, food security, and the chance to be a child.

Thanks so much!    

-Doctors Everywhere