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Dear Parent and Customer,
"Imprinting!" squawked the weathered old man. "If you spend all your time with 'em, they'll think you're their parents, and that'll be the way it is forever!" The pointy feather in his ten-gallon straw hat jabbed the air each time he emphasized a word. And so I paid for the four baby ducks that were a gift for our three kids. As I drove away from the Feed Store with my box of quackers, I thought about how we'd imprinted on our own children. Holding those babies oh so close, staring into their little faces, and feeling that this is the most crystal clear moment in life that I've ever known. The journey called Parenthood had begun. |
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 Co-founders Mark and Anne Altman with Alex, Stuart, and Sam. |
Since 1989, we, at The Childproofer, have had the privilege to assist well over 30,000 families in a part of their journey. We have sought to educate and empower parents through our classes, and by providing an honest approach to child safety product use and limitations. In this seventh revision of our educational catalog, we are proud to be able to offer you the very best in product selection. You'll find information on age- and stage- related safety issues, and you can refer to our own Sam's Safety Scale: it will help you to make an educated decision about the level of protection served as well as the limitations of each product. Products vary from easy for your child to master to difficult to master. Parents want maximum protection with ultimate convenience but it doesn't always work that way. We tend to overestimate our children's cognitive skills while underestimating their motor skills. Add to that the fact that young children don't look at consequences when anticipating their actions, and you've got yourself a moment ripe with possibilities. Childproofing is a philosophy of parenting. Look at what the risk is. With some risks you might not get a second chance. So that's the determination for the use of a strong, effective product. Then make decisions on areas that are not life threatening, based on parent convenience and personal preference. Child safety products provide nonverbal limits that can help to create a "yes" environment for our children by allowing them to explore freely. But, remember that nothing takes the place of supervision. |
We're keeping the baby ducks in an old drawer in our mudroom until they're big enough to safely join the rest of the barnyard menagerie. Each morning, their frantic squeaking makes us all come running to see what we can do for them. As I watch the kids cuddle and nuzzle with our little peepers, I realize that "imprinting" is something that works in both directionsÑ child to parent and parent to child. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
Sincerely,Anne Piotrowski-Altman holds a Masters Degree in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner, and presently serves as School Nurse for a local Sonoma County School.
Mark Altman has an extensive background in Business Operations, Marketing, and Management. The Childproofer offers Training Programs for start-up Childproofing businesses.
Amy Calhoun, our Office Manager, will take your order and answer your questions.
The Childproofer is fully licensed and bonded - California Contractors Lic. No. 690908.
We offer installation of all products throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Dear Mark,
The Childproofer has helped me so much and truly reasonable prices have made my son's first two years so much safer and more enjoyable. Mark is wise, kind, generous, and skilled in making the home a safe, sane place for a child to grow.
Sincerely,
Anne Lamott, Novelist
Dear Mark,
Thank you for the excellent job you did in explaining and installing all of the safety equipment in our home. As our two babies are learning to climb, the straight slat gates are working out perfectly - they can't get a foothold! Everything else you installed is working out fine, and I am even getting used to all of the cabinet latches. I particularly appreciated your flexibility in allowing my husband to do some of the simpler installation himself.
Very Truly Yours,
Denise Kastan Zetterbaum, Psychologist, Ph.D
Dear Mark,
I thought putting in the safety latches before Malakai's birth was perhaps too soon, but we had The Childproofer do it - and it was such a relief not to be playing catch up with Malakai as he was able to get into new areas everyday! Mark did an excellent job.
Lydia Mertens, MD