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About a week or so ago the kids and I went shopping and one of our stops was Babies R Us. We have the same routine getting out of the car every time but this time, for whatever reason, my son decided either not to pay attention or that he didn’t like the routine.

As I was getting the baby out of the car and shutting the door, Jake just started walking into the traffic lane. Luckily I managed to get a hand free without dropping the baby and grab him as I yelled “Jake get back here.” He turned and looked at me a little startled and confused. I reminded him (while my heart tried to start beating again) that he MUST stay by the car until I take his hand. He said “why” in a way that made me wonder where he has been the last few years when we were drilling this into his brain. I, of course, explained to him that he could get hit by a car but I was not convinced that the explanation alone was enough.

The other day I happened across something called the Parking Pal Magnet and I wondered if this would solve our problems.

What is it?
The Parking Pal Magnet is a big bright colorful magnet that you stick to your vehicle to help encourage your kids to stay next to the car until you are ready to go.

How does it work?
It’s simple. You stick it on your vehicle right on the back panel behind the door and as the kids get out, they put their hand on it and wait.

Why do I need it?
According to kidsandcars.org 942 children in 2007 were involved in accidents caused when left unattended in or around motor vehicles. They also state that these statistics vastly underestimate the true magnitude of this public safety issue.

Who created it?

One mother residing in Virginia began to think of ways to keep her kids focused so the chance of them bolting or wondering in parking lots would be eliminated. She created the Parking Pal and IT WORKED. Austin, her 5-year old, and Aiden, her 3-year old, love the Parking Pal. When getting out of or coming back to the vehicle they go directly to it, put their hand on it, fiddle around with it and chat with each other while she gets her youngest into his stroller or back into his car seat. Until all vehicles are equipped with back-up cameras and all until all drivers remember to pay careful attention in parking lots, this is a great aid in keeping your child safer.

My Thoughts
So far, Jake is enamored with the Parking Pal magnet. He even goes over to it while the van is parked in the driveway and puts his hand in the hand outline on the magnet. We actually have put the magnet on the front passenger door of our van because that is the spot Jake always stands while I get the baby in and out of the car. He stands there so I don’t have my back to him.

Here is a picture of Jake in our driveway with the Parking Pal (it’s hard enough just getting 2 kids out of the car, there was no way I could get a picture in an actual parking lot):

The magnet is of high quality, is very cute and colorful and at $7.99 plus shipping, is worth every penny if it helps ensure the safety of your child in a parking lot.

If you would like to get your own Parking Pal magnet, you can visit their website and check out all the cool designs and purchase one or more for yourself (they take Paypal, which I think is great). Or, if you are feeling lucky, you can enter our giveaway and win one!

Giveaway

We have 1 Parking Pal PlanetPal magnet to give away to a lucky reader!

How to enter:

• Visit the Parking Pal website and choose which design is your favorite
• Leave a comment on this post telling us which one you like best (the giveaway is only for the PlanetPal design, but we want to know which one you like best)

How to earn extra entries:

• Subscribe to our email updates – 1 extra entry
• Stumble this post – 1 extra entry
• Digg this post – 1 extra entry
• Favorite our site in Technorati – 1 extra entry
• Rate us on Blogged.com – 1 extra entry
• Blog about this giveaway – 2 extra entries
• Add our button to your sidebar – 5 extra entries

(note, make an additional comment for each extra entry telling us what you did; for blog entry and button entry, make a single extra comment for each one and your additional entries for these items will be added manually)

This giveaway is open to the US and Canada.

Giveaway ends at Noon on July 22, 2008.

Check these out too:

1. Announcing the Blanket Clipz and Parking Pal Winners
2. Cookies by Design Cookie Bouquets – a review and giveaway
3. Blanket Clipz by 3 Kids Designs – Giveaway
4. Chex Mix Bars and a “Basket of Indulgence” – review and GIVEAWAY