Kidsville News - August 2009

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Dear Kids,

August is here, and for many of you this is your last month of summer vacation before returning to school. I always like to get in one more fun adventure before school starts. This summer, I went white-water rafting! You can read all about rafting in Come Out & Play. And, you can also read about what it’s like to be a rafting guide.

I have to admit that my inspiration for wanting to have some fun on the river came from a book I’ve been reading. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is a classic novel about a boy and his adventures along the Mississippi River. I hope you enjoy learning more about the author and the river in this edition!

Check out the calendar for some back-to-school tips. And for more fun, visit my Web site at www.kidsvillenews.com!

Have an awesome August! Your friend,


I’ve been reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn this summer. Playing by and in the river sure sounds fun, so I thought maybe I’d give it a try. Matthew Leonard is a raft guide and trip leader for High Mountain Expeditions in Banner Elk, NC. They give guided rafting trips down rivers in Tennessee and North Carolina. High Mountain Expeditions is a family-owned business, so Matt grew up on the river, and he’s been a rafting guide for the past six summers. He was glad to talk with me about what it’s like to be a rafting guide.

TRUMAN: What does it take to become a raft guide?

MATT: To become a raft guide for our company, working on the Watauga River, you must be highly certifi ed in fi rst aid, CPR and white-water safety. Keeping everyone safe on the river, while still having fun, is of upmost importance.

TRUMAN: When, and why, did you fi rst become interested in this profession?

MATT: Ever since my fi rst rafting trip when I was six years old, I have always loved rafting; soon after my fi rst experience, it became my dream to spend my college summers as a raft guide for High Mountain on the Watauga River. Working on the river makes for a fun day. I am able to meet new people and guide down the raging waters all day. I also get to work with my brother and sister, and they have taught me a lot about be-ing a rafting guide, as they are much more experienced than I am. To this day, I cannot think of a better way to spend a sum-mer break than on a river.

TRUMAN: What do you do? What’s a typical day on the job?

MATT: As a raft guide for High Mountain Expeditions, we follow a strict schedule of fun! We start our mornings by making sure all the rafts are blown up. After loading the rafts onto the trailer, we count out the paddles to make sure we have one for every guest. After the equipment is ready, we make sure lunch is packed and in the gear truck. The gear truck is driven by my twin brother, Chris. The gear truck leaves before anyone else and gets to the river to make sure everything is prepared for the clients. When they begin arriv-ing, we make sure everyone receives a PFD, also known as a life jacket, so they can be safe on the river. Next, we load High Mountain’s big red bus and head to Elizabethton, TN, where the fun really begins. On the bus, I try to entertain the guests by making them laugh, telling jokes and some-times acting silly. I do great impressions of people. I get to make funny faces a lot. It rocks! Before we get into the rafts, we have a picnic lunch, where the excitement of going rafting is really built up! Once lunch is over and paddles are handed out to everyone, I give a very important safe-ty talk. It’s extremely important for me to make sure everyone who will be rafting knows how to be safe on the river and what to do in an emergency. This is one of my most critical duties as a guide and trip leader, other than making sure everyone has a great time, that is! After all that, it is fi nally time to get into the rafts and start paddling down the river. I make sure all the rafts stay together and are not separated throughout the day. But once on the river, it is my job to make sure we go through all the rapids, have water fi ghts, get wet and most importantly, have a great time!

TRUMAN: Are you ever scared on a rafting trip?

MATT: There have been times when I have been scared on a rafting trip. White-water rafting is a thrilling experi-ence, but in certain situations, the water can be dangerous. It is important to always be alert and aware of how the water is fl owing through the river. Every river is dif-ferent, so it is important to take every trip, regardless of your experience, seriously.

TRUMAN: What do you do if your boat fl ips over?

MATT: If the raft were to fl ip over, as guides, we would simply fl ip the raft back over. Raft guides are trained to make the

best of these sticky situations! As a guest on the boat, you would want to make sure you are in river fl oat position, lying on your back with your toes and head out of the water. Either your guide or another guide will get to you almost instantly.

TRUMAN: What’s the wildest river that you have ever been on?

MATT: The wildest river I have ever been on is the Gauley River in West Virginia. It is one of the most popular advanced rivers in the

country. The Upper Gauley has class fi ve rapids throughout its 10-mile stretch! The raging white water is quite exciting and challenging. I hope to continue to raft many different rivers to gain more experience so I can become the best raft guide that I can!

TRUMAN: What’s the hardest part of your job?

MATT: The hardest part of my job is to make sure everything throughout the day is run smoothly. If my job is not done correctly, it could result in the entire trip suffering the consequences. It is especially important to work together with my fellow raft guides and help each other when needed.

TRUMAN: What’s the best part of your job?

MATT: The best part of my job is doing what I love. What could be better than spending a summer outside on the river?

TRUMAN: What advice would you give to kids who are interested in this profession?

MATT: If you are interested in being a white-water rafting guide, you simply just need to know how to have fun on the water, and all the safety precautions too!

TRUMAN: Thanks for talking to Kidsville News! My rafting trip down the Watauga was great! You really do have a terrifi c job.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE... A RAFT GUIDE?

Above: Rafting on the Watauga River. Left: Matt Leonard (far right) with his father, sister and twin brother.


River Word FindFind the words below that relate to rivers.

Y R H J Y Z B U V R G T Q T F S R A J R G Q S W E H Q P T M A W A P B L U W B S K Y L Q B K D M T I B X N B E R I V E R I J D D U D K I G R S K N A B D I U V C B S B A V T D K N P A N A M S S I K E O N Y J G O M K Q E K R P R U I E L O B O O Y K C X D Q O T R R K N N G S A O S K C O R R R R A X J X L L B B P P C T K T U U Z A A L L A F R E T A W V C L H O N V B U L D V M Q I K N E S H W N X I E R R T A U G J L C X Y J V R Z N R I R T H S B H D G

BANKSCURRENTDAMLAKES

LOCKSPORTRAPIDSRESERVOIR

RIVERROCKSTRIBUTARYWATERFALL

Can you help Truman fi nd his way to the river bank?

Let’s Go Down to the River Bank!ANSWER:THEEYESANSWER: CEILING FAN

The characters Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn from Mark Twain’s classic stories spent many hours lazily fl oating down the Mighty Mississippi on their homemade log raft. Today’s exciting and challenging sport of white-water rafting offers another way to “run the river” while going faster and getting wet — on purpose!

White-water rafting has become very popular since the 1970s, but instead of a log raft like Tom and Huck’s, rafters use a very strong and durable infl atable boat of rub-berized or vinyl material to travel down a river. These boats range in size from 11 to 20 feet long and six to eight feet wide and usually hold between four and 12 people. Each person on a raft has a PFD (Person-al Floatation Device) or life jacket, a helmet and an oar to help steer. Most rafters wear shoes and clothes that they don’t mind getting wet and that dry quickly, and any equipment like watches, phones or cameras should be waterproof or carried in a waterproof container or bag. Knowing how to swim is always a good idea when playing near — or on — the water!

Rivers are classifi ed according to how much rapids or “white

water” they have, from Class 1, which is a river with very small areas of rough water requiring little steering and skill level, to Class 6 rapids full of

waves, rocks and water-falls. Class 6 rapids are very danger-ous, even for the experts.

Unless you are an experienced white-water rafter, you will want to raft with white-water outfi tters and raft guides, professionals who take groups of raf-ters on guided trips down the river. These outfi tters and guides know how to “read” the river and how to move the raft through rapids safely. They will provide you with everything you need,

including equipment, meals, interesting information about the area and most importantly, safety presenta-tions and skills. While white-water rafting has certain risks, including rapids, rocks, fallen trees and strong currents, by following essential safety precautions, you and these rafting experts can help ensure a safe, exciting natural water ride better than anything you’ll fi nd in an amusement park!

COME OUT AND PLAY!White-water Rafting: Not Just Another Float Down the River



BANKSCURRENTDAMLAKESLOCKSPORTRAPIDSRESERVOIRRIVERROCKSTRIBUTARYWATERFALL

River Word FindY R H J Y Z B U V R G T Q T F S R A J R G Q S W E H Q P T M A W A P B L U W B S K Y L Q B K D M T I B X N B E R I V E R I J D D U D K I G R S K N A B D I U V C B S B A V T D K N P A N A M S S I K E O N Y J G O M K Q E K R P R U I E L O B O O Y K C X D Q O T R R K N N G S A O S K C O R R R R A X J X L L B B P P C T K T U U Z A A L L A F R E T A W V C L H O N V B U L D V M Q I K N E S H W N X I E R R T A U G J L C X Y J V R Z N R I R T H S B H D G

Can you help Truman fi nd his way to the river bank?

Let’s Go Down to the River Bank!


It’s time to get out your globe! You need to know about the imaginary lines on globes and maps. These lines are called lines of latitude and longitude, and they tell a pilot or ship’s captain exactly where in the world a certain place is located. Basically, latitude lines (also called parallels) are the horizontal lines on your map. Lines of longitude (also called meridians)

are the vertical lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. This mapping system is written in degrees and uses thesymbol °. Get ready to travel the world!

Get out your globe, and fi nd longitude 77º W and latitude 2º S to locate Ecuador, a country that celebrates its indepen-dence day in August. Ecuador is located in western South America, bordering the Pacifi c Ocean at the Equator and between Colombia to the north and Peru to the east and south. The country also includes the Galapagos Islands in the Pacifi c Ocean.

They are located about 600 miles from the mainland.Ecuador is located on the equator, from which it takes it name. The

equator is an imaginary line on the Earth's surface equal distance from the North Pole and South Pole. It divides the Earth into a Northern

Hemisphere and a Southern Hemisphere. Equador has three main geographic regions. The coastal region, la costa, is low-lying land along the

Pacifi c coastline. The mountainous highlands area, la sierra, is in the center of the country, running north to south. This area includes the Andes mountain range and Mount Chimborazo, the highest point on Earth. The Amazon rainforest region is known as la amazonia or el oriente (the east). It makes up half of the country's area, but is very sparsely populated. The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago (chain) of volcanic islands.

Equador is one of 18 "megadiverse" countries. This means that it has the majority of the Earth's species located there. Over 1,600 bird species and 25,000 species of plants live in Ecuador. There are many species that are endemic to the Galapagos Islands, which means they are found nowhere else in the world. These species were studied by

Charles Darwin and contributed to his theory of evolution. Sources: “Ecuador,” The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency; Wikipedia.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS...ECUADOR?

The Galapagos Islands

Music As Art

Louis Armstrong was an African American musician. A trumpeter and singer, he is often called the founding father of jazz music.

Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans on August 4, 1901. His family was very poor, and from a young age, he worked to help support them — singing on street corners, working on a junk wagon and even cleaning graves for tips, among other things. His jobs took Louis all over New Orleans and intro-duced him to the different kinds of music found there, from the blues played in noisy bars to the brass bands that marched in the city’s parades. Louis seemed to be a born musician; he bought him-

self a cornet and taught himself how to play it before he was 10 years old!As a young teen, Louis got into trouble with the law and was sent

to the Colored Waif’s Home for Boys. There he received his first actual music lessons from the director of the Home for Boys’ band, Peter Davis. He was such a natural that it wasn’t long before Louis was the leader of the band. When he was released from the home in 1914, he played music in New Orleans’ local bars. He also found a new mentor and teacher, Joe Oliver, who was one of the best trumpet players in the city.

By the end of 1918, Joe Oliver had left New Orleans to start a band in Chicago. In 1922, he asked Louis to join him as a member of the King Oliver Creole Jazz Band. Soon, Louis had recorded his first record with the band, and it wasn’t long before he was recording with other influ-

ential musicians, too. In 1929, Louis made his first Broadway appearance. A pit musician in the orchestra for the musical Hot Chocolate, Louis regularly stole the show with his singing cameo of “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” which is still his biggest selling record today. With his growing fame and popularity, Louis was free to improvise and explorehis own style. He toured the country and abroad and played with several different orchestras, all the while recording more and more music.

Louis changed jazz music with his gravely voice and solo improvisations. And he loved to perform! Throughout his career, he played in numerous jazz ensembles and appeared on

television, in movies and stage musicals and on live radio shows. Despite recurring health problems, he performed until almost the day of his death on July 6, 1971.

Written by Tamar Burris, a former elementary school teacher who now works as a freelance writer and curriculum developer for PBS, the Discovery Channel and other education-related companies. Sources: Louis Armstrong House Museum, http://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/; Louis Armstrong on Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Armstrong; The Time 100: Louis Armstrong, http://www.time.com/time/time100/artists/profile/armstrong.html.

Louis Armstrong: Father of Jazz


At the Movies

Bandslam (In Theaters: August 14)Actors Aly Michalka (Phil of the Future) and Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical) team up with Gaelan Connell (Chocolat), Scott Porter (Speed Racer) and Lisa Kudrow (Friends) in a music- fi lled picture about a rock band competi-tion for kids. Up-and-coming songstress Charlotte (Aly Michalka) gets local newcomer Will (Gaelan Connell) to manage her new rock band so she can outshine her ex-boyfriend’s group at the upcoming “Bandslam” competition, where musical acts of assorted musical backgrounds will test their skills. Pure teenybopper bubblegum fun from start to fi nish, Bandslam is all about kids fi nding their musical voice before an audience of their peers. Rated PG. 111 mins. (Summit Entertainment) It Might Get Loud (In Theaters: August 14)August is music month at the movies for kids, and although it might take a while to come to a theater near you, It Might Get Loud is the kind of music documentary that parents can enjoy just as much as their children. Davis Guggenheim (the director of An Inconvenient Truth) brings together rock music legends Jimmy Page (guitarist for Led Zepplin), U2’s The Edge, and The White Stripes’ guitarist Jack Black for a behind-the-scenes look at how these great musicians communicate with each other and create the music together. Impromptu jam sessions and walks down memory lane reveal each guitarist’s childlike passion for playing his instrument and their intense inspiration from different musical infl uences. You’re never too young, or too old, to enjoy watching master guitar players practicing their craft and taking the time to explain their creative process.Rated PG (for mild thematic elements, brief language and smoking. (Sony Pictures Classics)

Shorts (In Theaters: August 21)Director Robert Rodriguez (Spy Kids) returns to making kids’ movies with a sci-fi -fantasy picture set in the suburban community of Black Falls, where the appearance of a Rainbow Rock that falls from the sky empowers locals with supernatural powers. For 11-year-old Toe Thompson (Jimmy Bennett), school life is “survival of the coolest” until a Rainbow Rock hits him on the head and makes his every wish come true. Of course, there are alien forces at work, so little green aliens are part of the plot. Things get out of control when the head of an evil local corporation called Black Box gets ahold of the rock and asks for things better left alone. Only Toe and his friends can save their community from a danger that isn’t so “alien” after all. Rated PG for mild action and some rude humor. (Warner Brothers Pictures)

Movies on DVD

The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth SeasonSoak up hours of hilarious Simpsons’ episodes like “Treehouse of Horror XI,” “Insane Clown Poppy” and “Homer vs. Dignity” until your sides hurt from laughing in yet another year’s worth of comedy from television’s longest-running animated show. Bart, Lisa, Maggie, Homer, Marge and all of the gang from Springfi eld are here, along with loads of extras like commentary tracks, deleted scenes, making-of featurettes, StoryBoard comparisons, Easter Eggs and a sketch gallery. Not even Bugs Bunny or the Road Runner have anything on the Simpsons for stirring up laughs that make watching DVDs almost as much fun as eating ice cream. The Simpsons’ Twelfth Season isn’t really a movie, but there aren’t too many kids’ DVD movies this month. Besides, the Simpsons episodes will last a lot longer than any old movie. Not Rated. (Twentieth Century Fox)

Cole Smithey, also known as “the smartest fi lm critic in the world,” has been a fi lm critic for 11 years and writes for over 50 publications, in print and on-line. Truman loves to watch movies and has the highest appreciation for great popcorn.


Hunting for Other Earths

Our solar system has eight planets. However, planets elsewhere are a dime a dozen.

Planets outside our solar system are called “extra-solar

planets” or “exoplanets.” And the universe is crawling with them!Astronomers have detected many

exoplanets without actually seeing them. Most of these planets have been huge — as big as Jupiter and bigger. Some orbit so close to their stars they would be way too hot for life.

Of course, huge planets are easier to detect than smaller, Earth-sized ones. So there could be millions of smaller planets right here

in our own Milky Way Galaxy that we haven’t yet been able to see.

Finding an Earth-like planet that might have life would be very exciting. If a planet is too close to its star, it will be too hot. If it is too far away from its star, it will be too cold. We are pretty sure

it will be have to be rocky, like Earth, rather than a big gas ball, like Jupiter and Saturn. And if it has life, it probably needs a lot of water, like Earth.

Now, thanks to the Spitzer Space Telescope, astronomers have seen quite a few exoplanets directly. The Spitzer Space Telescope detects an invisible kind of light called infrared light. Compared to stars, planets are very cool and dim. But planets do glow in infrared light.

To see cold exoplanets, Spitzer must be very cold itself. Since it began its mission in 2003, Spitzer has been chilled by a tank of super-cold liquid helium. As expected, the liquid helium has fi nally run out. The telescope is still mighty cold, though, and more than cold enough to keep studying exoplanets. Maybe it will be able to study planets that could have life!

Unscramble slider puzzles of beautiful images from the Spitzer Space Telescope at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/spitzer/slyder.

This article was provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

This is an artist’s idea of how some exoplanets might look. Planets too close to their sun will probably be too hot for life, and planets too far away might be too cold. Astronomers would love to fi nd some exoplanets with lots of land and water right in the “Goldilocks Zone.”

Jennifer Bushman, author of “The Kitchen Coach” cookbook series, recommends making weeknight cooking a pleasure rather than a chore. A few of her ideas for dinner-tainment include:• Spread a blanket in the living room and treat the family to an at-home dinner picnic. Prepare simple sandwiches or wraps. Or, when parents and kids are on-the-run between soccer practice and music lessons, spread out the sandwich fi xin’s so the family can make their own grab ’n’ go dinner.• Celebrate a night-in with the family with a new twist on a comfort food favorite. Prepare a perfectly-seasoned Pizza Meat Loaf in no time. Set up the couch and chairs in your family living room to create a “home theatre” and enjoy pizza meat loaf, while watching your favorite family fl icks.

KIDSVILLE KITCHENTogether Time — Ask an adult for help with projects!

PIZZA MEAT LOAFWHAT YOU NEED: • 1 envelope Lipton Recipe Secrets OnionSoup Mix*• 2 pounds ground beef• 1-1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs or 3/4 cup • plain dry bread crumbs• 2 eggs• 1 small green bell pepper, chopped (optional)• 1/4 cup water• 1 cup Ragú Old World Style Pasta Sauce or other brand

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (about 4 ounces)

HOW TO MAKE IT (makes 8 servings):• Preheat oven to 350°F. • Combine all ingredients except 1/2 cup pasta sauce and 1/2 cup cheese in large bowl.• Shape into loaf in 13 x 9-inch baking or roasting pan. • Top with remaining sauce. Bake 50 minutes. • Sprinkle top with remaining cheese. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until done. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

*Also terrifi c with Lipton Recipe Secrets Beefy Onion or Savory Herb with Garlic Soup Mix..For delicious recipes, affordable meal ideas and a family fun booklet, go to www.MakingLifeBetter.com. All materials courtesy of Unilever Brands.

A New Twist on Meat Loaf


BOOKSHELF

PARENTOWN

Wild RiverAuthor/Illustrator: P.J. PetersenPublisher: Random House Children’s Books

Age Range: 9 to 12From the Publisher:It’s Ryan versus the river in a race against time to save his brother’s life. When 12-year-old Ryan reluctantly agrees to join his experienced older brother Tanner on a camping trip, he could never have dreamed this would turn into the most frightening day of his life. Ryan’s no good at sports or outdoor

stuff. He’d rather be home playing video games. But Tanner says it’s an easy trip. They’ll kayak down the Boulder River, catch fi sh and roast marshmallows. But the river is higher than usual, and the kayaking is scary. Tanner isn’t worried. But soon after, he’s badly hurt in a kayaking accident, leaving Ryan alone and afraid he can’t save his brother’s life. He’s only faced danger in video games. What good are games now when Ryan faces a real-life battle?

The Bugville Critters Compete in the Big Spelling Bee Author: Robert Stanek

Publisher: Reagent Press Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: August 2009Age Range: 4 to 8From the Publisher:Robert Stanek, the highly acclaimed author of more than 75 books for young people and adults, in-cluding Journey Beyond the Beyond and The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches, has selected an irresistible combination for this age group — loveable critters and exciting reading adven-tures. In this story, Lass and her friends Sarah, Buster and Barry compete in the B. Havior School Annual Spelling Bee. When Lass gets a big case of stage fright, her family and friends work together to help her through it. The wonderfully crafted story is paired with energetic illustrations and playful examples that help children discover the world around them and the joy of reading.

A SECTION ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS

TM

Marley Goes to SchoolAuthor/Illustrator: John Grogan, Richard Cowdrey (Illustrator)

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Age Range: 4 to 8From the Publisher: It’s the fi rst day of school, and Cassie is all set to go. So is her dog, Marley!Although he’s told to stay, Marley digs a tunnel out of the

backyard and sniffs his way to school. As he roams the halls looking for Cassie, he fi nds trouble instead. From wolfi ng down hot dogs in the cafeteria to setting free a bunch of mice in science class, Marley won’t stop until he locates his best friend. This loveable and rowdy dog may not be much of an academic, but he’s full of school spirit! Packed with action and hilarious Marley bad-boy antics, this follow-up to the bestselling Bad Dog, Marley! and A Very Marley Christmas will leave readers howling for more. Awooo!

Just Grace Goes GreenAuthor/Illustrator: Charise Mericle Harper

Publisher: Houghton Miffl in Harcourt

Age Range: 6 to 9

From the Publisher: Grace can do a lot of things...but can she save the planet? Or at the very least, can she help her best friend Mimi get her favorite stuffed animal back?Lots of exciting things are happening to Grace and her friends. Most exciting of all, Mimi’s older cousin Gwen is coming to stay with Mimi, and Miss Lois’s class is GOING GREEN! For their “green” project, Grace and Mimi aim to inspire their friends and classmates to conserve plastic bottles. But a far more important issue is that Gwen has taken a strong liking to Mimi’s favorite stuffed toy, Willoughby. Just Grace uses her empathy superpower to fi gure out ways to make her best friend feel better, and she makes a difference for the environment, too.


PARENTOWN’S KIDSMART

As parents, we’ve all heard the age-old question our kids yell out at some point: “Mom, Dad, can we have a pup-py, PLEASE?” Then comes, “I’ll take care of it, I’ll walk it, and I’ll even bathe it.” In their minds, the puppy will bring joy and endless play, and while this is true, there are additional responsibilities we can teach that come along with having a puppy.

Tip: Involve your child in the everyday care of the puppy, the good (joyful play time), the bad (chewing on Mom’s favorite shoe) and the ugly (cleaning up the “oops poop” in the house). This involvement gives them a well-rounded understanding that having a puppy requires time, patience, responsibility and money.

Activities: Be sure to involve your child in ev-eryday care of the puppy.

Daily walks with the new puppy are required. Be sure to set a time that your little one walks the dog, whether it’s right after school or right after dinner.

Train the puppy not to “go” in the house,

jump on the couch or chew up shoes in the house.Let’s not forget “Fido” needs to be fed! Be sure to set a feeding

schedule and stick to it.Take the puppy to the veterinarian for shots to prevent disease.

Explain what that means to your child so he will have a greater appreciation for “Fido” and his health and well-being.

Benefi t/Key Takeaway:Sometimes the things we buy come with additional responsibility and

costs.Next Month: “The 4 Money Buckets”Keva Sturdevant is the founder of Born To Save, a nonprofi t based in

Washington, D.C., with the mission of teaching kids of all ages the importance of saving and investing. Our goal is to begin conversations about money in households across America between parents and their kids. In an effort to foster those conversations, we grant actual shares of stock to kids. To register your child to win a share of stock in our month-ly stock giveaway, please visit our Web site at www.BornToSave.org.

How Much Does That Puppy Really Cost?

¿Cuánto cuesta realmente ese cachorrito?

Como padres todos hemos escuchado la vieja pregunta que nuestros hijos nos hacen en algún momento, mamá, papá ¿podemos

tener un cachorrito, por favor? Y después todo lo que viene de-trás: yo lo cuidaré, lo sacaré de paseo e incluso lo bañaré. En

sus mentes, el cachorrillo les traerá alegría y ratos intermi-nable de juego, y aunque en parte es verdad, hay responsabi-lidades adicionales que vienen con el tener un cachorrillo.

Consejo: Implique a su hijo en las tareas diarias de su cachorro, lo bueno (el tiempo de juego) lo malo (el com-erse el zapato favorito de mama) y lo feo (limpiar ‘los accidentes’ en la casa). Esto les da una idea global de

que tener un cachorro requiere tiempo, paciencia, responsabilidad y dinero.

Actividades: Asegúrese de implicar a su hijo en la tarea diaria de su cachorro.

Los paseos diarios con su cachorro son requeridos. Asegúrese de establecer una hora donde su pequeño camine al perro, ya sea después de la escuela o después de la cena.

El entrenar al perro a que no tenga ‘accidentes’ en la casa, a que no salte en el sofá y que no se coma los zapatos.

ÍNo olvidemos que “Fido” necesita que le alimenten! Asegúrese de establecer un horario para alimentar a su perro y de atenerse a él.

También tiene que llevarlo al veterinario para que le pongan las vacunas para prevenir enfermedades. Explíquele a su hijo lo que signifi ca para que así tengan un mayor aprecio por “Fido”, su salud ysu bienestar.

Benefi cio/consejo para retener:A veces las cosas que compramos vienen con responsabilidades y

costos adicionales. El próximo mes: “Las cuatro fuentes de dinero”Keva Sturdevant es la fundadora de Born To Save, una organización

benéfi ca basada en Washington, DC con la misión de enseñar a los niños de todas las edades la importancia de ahorrar e invertir. Nuestra meta es comenzar conversaciones sobre el dinero en los hogares a través de América entre los padres y sus niños. En un esfuerzo por fortalecer estas conversaciones, concedemos acciones de mercado reales a los niños. Para registrar a su hijo para que gane acciones de mercado en nuestro concurso mensual, por favor visite nuestra página web www.BornToSave.org.


C o n s e r v a t i o n orner

Conservation, Family-style!It’s every family member’s job to help conserve our

natural resources and save energy, too. Here are a few ways the whole family can get involved.

• Carpool to school and after-school activities, or take mass transit if available.

• Big families often use several dishes, silverware and drinking cups during the day. That adds up to a lot of energy to run the dishwasher or for handwashing. Have each kid choose one set of eating and drinking utensils each day and wash them quickly after each use.

• Take unwanted household chemicals to hazardous waste collection centers. Do not pour them down the drain!

• Reduce how much time is spent in the shower to conserve water, and turn off the faucet when brushing teeth.

• Stop to think about how much energy you are using that you don’t realize. Every time you open and close the garage door, for instance, you are using a lot of electricity.

• Turn off lights when not in use. That’s an easy one, but not everyone does it. Try opening your curtains and blinds, letting more natural light in. This will reduce your dependence on electric lights.

• Sort through toys that are no longer played with, and donate them to a childcare center or consignment shop instead of tossing them in the trash. Or, have a neighborhood yard sale, and make a little “green” of your own!

• Encourage parents to use the outdoor grill instead of turning on the gas or electric oven. It’ll save more energy, and it’s more fun!

Kidsville News - August 2009

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Transcript of Kidsville News - August 2009