The weather is beautiful and children want nothing more than to be outside. The outdoors is a fabulous place to be and as long as some basic safety measures are taken is perfect for children of all ages to explore. Here's a list of some safety tips for the coming warm weather:

Use Sunscreen - a sunburn hurts, and can do lasting damage to sensitive skin. Use a child safe sunscreen and apply regularly, don't forget to reapply after swimming and water fun.

Drink Lots of Water - Dehydration can happen quickly and even in weather that is moderately warm. Children tend to get wrapped up in their play time and may forget to continuously drink water. Provide water in fun sippy cups and keep reminding them to drink up.

Swimming Safely - Swimming can be one of the best ways to cool down but always be safe by staying withing arms reach of children who cannot swim and keeping your eyes on the children that can. Drowning takes only 
a short amount of time and can look just like playing. We often think that someone who is drowning will call out for help, but the exact opposite is true...drowning is silent. Setting good water safety habits is crucial to happy swimming kids. Remind swimmers to always ask or notify an adult who can watch them, that they are going into the water and swim with a buddy at all times.

Watch out for Venomous Creatures - know your local fauna and keep children away from habitats where spiders, snakes, and other venomous animals live. Wood piles, under decks, and under rocks are some locations to look out for...have fun but stay aware of potential threats.

Not Even for a Second - Do not leave children unattended in a vehicle, even for a second on hot days. Not only is it very dangerous as interior vehicle temperatures can reach over 140 degrees Fahrenheit on a day that is only 90 degrees, but it is also illegal. Just don't leave children in the car and there is nothing to worry about. If grandparents or other family members who are not used to caring for children will be transporting them during the summer, put a cute little sticker on their driver's side window that says, "Don't Forget the Baby." Sometimes adults who are not used to transporting children forget that the baby sleeping in the back seat is there, we all get side tracked sometimes and may need a little reminder. 

Enjoy the wonderful weather and keep everyone safe at the same time.

-Dana Wilson

Don't Forget to Do Your Taxes - and Save - with the Child Care Tax Credit

http://www.kiplinger.com/article/taxes/T054-C001-S001-faqs-on-the-child-care-tax-credit.html


Visit the link above for more information, and as always seek professional guidance with your taxes. Below is an excerpt from the article that may help guide you with saving the most money.
-Dana Wilson

"What expenses qualify for the child-care tax credit, and who qualifies?

You can claim this credit if you spend money for the care of children younger than 13 so that you can work or look for work. You must have earned income (that's earnings from a job, not investments) to qualify for the credit, and if you’re married, both you and your spouse must have a job or be a full-time student.

The cost of day care, preschool, before- and after-school care, day camp, or a nanny or other babysitter can count toward the credit.

How much is the credit worth?

That depends on the number of children, the cost of care, and your income. You can count up to $3,000 in child-care expenses for one child, or up to $6,000 for two or more children. The credit is a percentage of the amount spent on child care, and that percentage gradually decreases as income increases. Families that earn less than $15,000 can claim a credit for 35% of qualifying expenses; families that earn more than $43,000 get the smallest credit: 20% on eligible costs.

Is there a maximum income limit?

No. Regardless of your income, you can benefit from the credit. Keep in mind that this is a credit, not a deduction, so it lowers your tax bill dollar for dollar.


Does the cost of kindergarten count toward the credit?

No. The cost of kindergarten and higher grades is considered to be an educational expense, not a child-care expense, so it doesn't qualify for the child-care credit. However, any before- or after-school care -- whether it's through the school, another organization or a nanny or babysitter -- can count toward the credit until the child turns 13.

If your child has not yet reached kindergarten, the cost of his or her program can count toward the credit -- whether it’s called preschool, pre-kindergarten, nursery school or day care.

Are there other expenses that count?

Fees paid to a nanny agency or a deposit for a preschool program can count toward the credit if it's required to receive the care (if you forfeited the deposit and didn't use the program, however, the deposit is not eligible). Transportation costs can count toward the credit if the caregiver, as part of the care, takes your child somewhere and bills you for the cost of travel.

What forms are needed to claim the credit?

To claim the credit, file Form 2441 with your federal tax return. You’ll have to report the care provider’s employer-identification number or Social Security number. For more information, see IRS Publication 503 Child and Dependent Care Expenses and the instructions for Form 2441.

Is it better to take the dependent-care credit or pay for care with money funneled through a flexible-spending account at work?

If your employer offers a flexible-spending account for dependent-care expenses, then that’s usually more valuable. The money set aside in the FSA is subtracted from your paycheck before income taxes are calculated, and it also avoids the 7.65% Social Security and Medicare tax. So if you're in the 15% income-tax bracket, you won't have to pay the 15% federal tax or the 7.65% Social Security tax, which means that you'll avoid paying a total of 22.65% in taxes on that money. In that case, contributing the maximum $5,000 to your dependent-care flex plan cuts your tax bill by $1,133. The benefits of the FSA get even better as your tax bracket rises. (And, in most states, avoiding state income taxes is frosting on the cake.) See Flexible Spending Account vs. Dependent-Care Credit for more information.

If you have two or more children and child-care expenses exceeding $5,000, however, you might be able to benefit from both the FSA and the dependent-care credit. You can set aside up to $5,000 in pretax money in your FSA and claim the dependent-care credit for up to $1,000 in additional expenses."


Read more at http://www.kiplinger.com/article/taxes/T054-C001-S001-faqs-on-the-child-care-tax-credit.html#ucvhzDEXx0iFqlbP.99