Eyes on Parenting: Check out the highlights from 2017

PHOENIX — This month marks the second anniversary of KTAR’s Eyes on Parenting.

The idea was that reporter Corbin Carson, who is a father of four, had a unique perspective to share with other parents since his children have a significant age gap between them.

Of the four children, one is in college, one is in high school, one is in kindergarten and one is in diapers.

Over the last two years, an array of experts and guests have appeared in the series to share important information for parents.

Here are some of the highlights from 2017.

Opioid addiction

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey joined KTAR’s Eyes on Parenting to discuss his decision to declare an opioid epidemic in Arizona.

“This is something that affects all of our families, rich and poor, men and women, young and old,” Ducey said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated 91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose.

“These are prescription drugs that are intended for intense pain,” he said. “And often times, somebody has one of these, they become addicted or they’re sold out on the black market as a party drug.”

Tragedies

The Orlando shooting was tough for parents to discuss with their kids.

“I think it’s important for parents to directly have the conversation with their children,” said Christina Jimenez, a licensed family therapist with Doorways in Phoenix. “First and foremost, just allowing them to make sense of the situation and organizing the information.”

Parents just have to be more cognizant and aware of their child’s behavior if they notice the tragedy begin to affect the child’s life.

Daycare

State Health Director Dr. Cara Christ joined KTAR’s Eyes on Parenting to discuss the how to find the best daycare for your child.

“Well the most important thing is to go view the daycare where you want to have your child at,” said Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services.

“Make sure you are comfortable with the environment, she said. “You know where they’re going to thrive.”

The state is there to make sure the environment of child care facilities is safe for children to be in, she said.

Fire escape

After a mother and her three children died in a tragic house fire in Glendale, officials with the local fire department are urging parents to discuss fire safety and preparedness techniques with their children.

“We want to make sure that every family is having this conversation so this doesn’t happen to anybody else,” said Ashley Losch, a spokeswoman for the Glendale Fire Department. “After a really hard conversation with my own 12-year-old, I realized we’re not getting the message from parent to child.”

Losch, who witnessed the tragic fire, said parents must have this conversation with their children, even if they think their children will know what to do in case of an emergency.

Haunted houses

With this year’s Halloween, many parents had an important question to ask themselves: Is my kid too young to visit haunted houses?

Sarah VanHolland, a licensed professional counselor at Doorways in Phoenix, said parents should be aware of which events to let their children attend.

“As much as your 10, 11, (or) 12-year-old wants to go through one of these mazes, what really are you allowing them to be exposed to?”

Children’s brains may lack the ability to differentiate what is real and what is fake at a haunted house, she said.

Follow @CorbinCarson