It’s the season of giving, but make sure you don’t give identity thieves the gift of your personal information, says Andrew Zumwalt, University of Missouri associate teaching professor and Certified Financial Planner.

Thieves can use information such as your Social Security number, credit card data or account logins to open accounts, make purchases, drain funds or commit other fraud in your name, Zumwalt said. “Identity theft can damage your finances, credit score and reputation, and it often takes months to repair that damage.”

During the holiday season, more people are shopping, both online and in stores, which means more financial transactions, creating more opportunities for thieves to intercept data or slip in fraudulent activity unnoticed, he said. With busy schedules, gift hunting, travel and holiday stress, people may pay less attention to red flags such as suspicious emails, fake offers and other scams.

Protect your identity during the holidays

• Review bank and credit statements promptly to catch unauthorized charges.
• Be suspicious of unexpected emails or texts about package deliveries, tax refunds or “holiday deals,” especially from unknown senders.
• Limit how much personal information you keep in your wallet or purse; avoid carrying sensitive documents unnecessarily.
• When shopping online, double-check website URLs and avoid unfamiliar retailers.
• Make photocopies of your credit cards, front and back, and put in a secure location.
• Use strong passwords on your computer.
• Check your credit reports at least once a year. You can get a free credit report annually: Fill out a request online or call 877-322-8228.
• Make photocopies of your credit cards, front and back, and put them in a secure location.

If you suspect your identity has been stolen

• File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at FTC’s Identity Theft website or call 877-438-4338.
• Place an fraud alert on your credit report by contacting one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies: Equifax, 800-685-1111; Experian, 888-397-3742; or TransUnion at 888-909-8872.
• Notify the fraud departments at your credit card issuers, bank and other places where you have accounts.

The holiday shopping season is here, bringing with it the hustle and bustle of searching for the perfect gift. When it comes to children, it is important to buy toys and gifts that are not only safe but also appropriate for the child’s age and development. That is why many organizations recognize December as National Safe Toys and Gifts Month.

Age Is Important

Silvia Vilches is an Alabama Extension early childhood development specialist at Auburn University whose focus area is children up to 5 years old. She said age is the first thing people should consider when buying for a child.

“You always want to pay attention to any safety recommendations out there for the age that you are buying for,” Vilches said. “In terms of child health, remember that the younger the child, the more likely they are to put their toys in their mouth, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Just make sure those items are safe.”

Many toys come with their own safety guidelines that often include an age recommendation for that product. Toys designed for younger children will often have the age recommendation listed on the outside packaging, making it easier for shoppers to select age-appropriate toys. There are some larger toys where people may not think to stop and consider if they are age appropriate, such as tricycles and bicycles. Just like smaller toys, Vilches said it is equally important to consider age when buying ride-on toys.

“It is not a good idea to buy a child an oversized ride-on toy, thinking that they will grow into it,” Vilches said. “If you give them something that is not the right size for their body, they will have a harder time controlling it, and that means that they are not as safe.”

Vilches said children 10 years old and younger have limited peripheral vision. Even with an appropriate-sized toy, people should make sure the child’s surroundings are safe when riding it. For example, people may set up a barrier at the end of the driveway to make sure their child doesn’t accidentally run into the street.

Boost Imagination

Age is not the only factor to consider when choosing gifts. For younger children, Vilches said people should consider buying items that will help in that child’s development.

“Generally, what you don’t want to do is pick a toy that is too narrow in what it does, such as a dollhouse with all premade elements,” Vilches said. “Instead, buy toys that they can assemble, because that sparks their imagination and helps them practice their fine motor dexterity.”

Simple toys like building blocks offer endless possibilities for a child. One day, they can build a house; the next day, they can build a tall tower. These simple toys can also be paired with other smaller toys and stickers to add variety.

“Remember that a child’s interest passes really quickly when they are younger, so what’s fun for a week might not be fun next month,” Vilches said. “Buying toys that let children use their imagination will potentially hold their interest for a longer time.”

Books are also great gift options for children to help with development. Vilches recommends buying books that have bright colors and simple pictures that people can point to and talk about with their child.

“Books are really great because they introduce language and conversation, enhancing a child’s comprehension as you talk to them about the pictures,” Vilches said.

Testing and Recalls

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, all toys intended for children 12 years old and younger must undergo testing and certification to ensure they are compliant with the applicable children’s product safety regulations. However, there are times where toys and other items are recalled because of safety concerns. The Consumer Product Safety Commission provides a searchable database for consumers that lists recalls and product safety warnings. People can find that at cpsc.gov/Recalls.

More Information

From child development to nutrition, Alabama Extension’s Human Sciences team has many resources for families. Visit aces.edu or contact your county Extension office to connect with an agent in your area.

Long before he stepped onto a research field in western Kansas, Rayhaan Kabenge was building small systems in Kampala, Uganda, trying to understand how technology could make everyday work easier.

That early curiosity, shaped by a family that valued precision, discipline and service, eventually led him halfway across the world to Kansas State University, where he is now helping design advanced digital tools for farmers as a graduate research assistant with the Testing Ag Performance Solutions team.

Kabenge grew up as the oldest of three, raised by an engineer and a gynecologist who set high expectations in both academics and character.

Kampala’s diversity exposed him to a wide range of ideas, but he found himself drawn to engineering and problem-solving. During his undergraduate studies in water and irrigation engineering at Makerere University, he designed an innovative wireless irrigation control system.

The experience deepened his interest in developing technology that could improve farmers’ livelihoods.

A meeting that redirected his future

His path shifted in 2023, when Daran Rudnick, K-State director of sustainable irrigation and leader of KSU-TAPS, now his advisor, visited Makerere University.

Rudnick described the hands-on agricultural research underway through TAPS, a model that blends scientific experimentation with real decisions made by farmers housed on the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Stations. The program draws on engineering, agronomy, sociology, economics and data science.

That interdisciplinary structure is part of what makes TAPS distinctive and effective, giving producers access to solutions shaped by multiple fields rather than a single discipline.

Kabenge recognized immediately that it was the kind of work he had been seeking. It was practical, applied and directly connected to producer needs. Rudnick later offered him an internship, and within months, Kabenge was in Kansas experiencing his first season of field trials, data collection and producer engagement.

“Seeing that level of engagement and practical learning was exciting,” Kabenge said. “It showed me how impactful research can be when producers are directly involved.”

Bringing data to life for farmers

Now a master’s student in the K-State Carl and Melinda Helwig Department of Biological and Agriculture, Kabenge is leading the development of a TAPS Decision Support Suite, a web-based dashboard designed to help producers interpret complex field data and make timely decisions.

The dashboard integrates weather data, soil moisture readings, irrigation and nitrogen logs, drone imagery and crop-health indices. Its distinguishing feature is an AI-powered interpretation tool that converts technical analytics into plain-language explanations.

Kabenge said the tool “bridges the gap between technical analysis and practical decision-making” by helping users understand what patterns mean and why they matter.

Working beside producers reshaped how he approaches engineering. Earlier in his academic journey, he began with technology and sought a way to apply it.

Now he works in reverse.

“I begin with producer needs and reverse-engineer the solution,” he said. “Understanding their challenges, habits and decision-making processes ensures that the tools we design are not just technically sound but genuinely useful.”

Adjusting to a new home and a new rhythm

Coming to Kansas required a steep learning curve. From research methods to climate to cultural norms, almost everything was different from what he knew in Uganda. He also spent long stretches driving between classes on campus at K-State in Manhattan and the Northwest Research-Extension Center in Colby for fieldwork, a route he jokes he could now navigate in his sleep, though he is quick to add that he never would.

Even with the adjustment, Kabenge found a sense of community within the TAPS program and the broader K-State Extension network.

“Any time I face a challenge, in class, in research or in coding, people are genuinely willing to help,” he said. “This level of openness and teamwork creates an environment where you feel supported.”

He was especially struck by how effectively a small team can run a program with such a significant footprint. Watching the TAPS team organize producer outreach, manage trials and maintain data integrity left a lasting impression.

“It honestly surprised me how such a relatively small team can run a program as large and impactful as TAPS,” he said.

Their collaboration has shaped his understanding of leadership and teamwork.

A global vision for agricultural innovation

That perspective also influences how he thinks about the future. Kabenge hopes the tools he is building at K-State will eventually support producers far beyond the High Plains.

“My goal is to create systems that help producers get more out of what they invest while prioritizing environmental sustainability,” he said.

Whether deployed in Kansas, Asia or Africa, he wants those tools to simplify decisions and improve efficiency.

Kabenge is encouraged by how quickly AI is advancing and what that progress could mean for producers. He sees a future in which farmers will not need deep technical expertise to make confident decisions because the tools will translate complexity for them.

The possibility of combining global data, shared knowledge and advanced models to support agriculture anywhere in the world is something he finds genuinely exciting.

For students, especially those from abroad, who want to pursue agricultural research, Kabenge encourages curiosity and a broader perspective on the field.

“Many students hear ‘agriculture’ and immediately think of soil, hoes and rakes, but there is so much more to it,” he said. “There are endless opportunities to innovate and solve real-world problems using engineering, data science, AI and automation. Come in with an open mind, be curious and don’t be afraid to chase bold ideas.”