kv-nov-11

Dear Kids,

It’s November, and Thanksgiving is coming up! It is one of my favorite holidays, with turkey, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie, oh my! It’s a great time to relax with family and remember what we truly can be thankful for.

In addition to Thanksgiving, we also have Election Day and Veterans Day in November. Always remember that the freedoms that our country enjoys, such as the freedom to vote and elect our leaders, are due to the sacrifi ces made by the veterans of our country. It’s especially important to remember that now, as so many of our military are away from their families this Thanksgiving. With the holidays coming up, it might be a great time to send a letter to our troops and give them a “Thank you” this Thanksgiving. With a parent or teacher, visit a website such as www.amillionthanks.org or www.letterstosoldiers.org to get started and send your letters to our troops.

It’s important to share our gifts with others. This month, I talked with a special boy who has a gift for music. Although he is blind, he is an amazing musician and doesn’t let any thing stand between him and his piano! Read all about it in this issue.

Have a noteworthy November!Your friend,

Copyright ©2007 by Kidsville News! Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of this issue may be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without permission of the publisher or copyright holder. Neither participating advertisers nor the publishers will be responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints or typographical errors. The publishers reserve the right to edit any submitted material. Kidsville News! Incorporated is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or other material. Children’s submissions should include name, address, telephone number, and permission to publish signed by a parent or guardian.

THE CAPE FEAR REGION’SFUN FAMILY NEWSPAPER

KIDSVILLE NEWS INC. PRESIDENTBill Bowman

[email protected]

PUBLISHERYour Info Here

[email protected]

KIDSVILLE NEWS! NATIONAL EDITORJoy G. Kirkpatrick

[email protected]

GRAPHIC DESIGNERSKarissa Montgomery - [email protected]

Shani Lewis - [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONSJean Bolton - [email protected]

SALES & MARKETINGSam Lum - [email protected]

Emily Lamar - [email protected]

ILLUSTRATORCover & Truman • Dan Nelson

KIDSVILLE NEWS!PO Box 53790 • Fayetteville, NC 28305(910) 222-6200 • Fax (910) 222-6199

For advertising information, please callJack Stultz, Marketing Manager

(910) 222-6200

FPO

©

KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 3NOVEMBER 2011 WWW.KIDSVILLENEWSTN.COM

Winter is almost here, and ice skating is one of the most popular winter sports there is! In some places, where it is cold enough, people ice skate year round — and outside! In many places though, ice skating is only done inside at an ice rink where the conditions can be controlled.

The History of Ice SkatingArcheological evidence suggests that people were ice skating as early as 50

B.C. The earliest remains of skates were found in Roman ruins in London, and showed that ancient people made shoes from leather and blades from bone. Ice skating was used as a means of transportation across frozen lakes, rivers and canals in areas with long winters. Skating as a sport was fi rst developed in the Netherlands. In the 1500s, metal blades began to be attached to shoes with screws. These skates were used by the Dutch to win an important battle in 1572. Dutch soldiers were able to move quickly and outmaneuver Span-ish troops attacking the city of Amsterdam. Ice skating became popular in the United States in the 1800s.

Ice-Skating BasicsExcellent ice-skating skills are important for

other sports, such as ice hockey, fi gure skating and speed skating.

So how do you ice skate? In ice skating, you need to wear ice skates, which have a steel blade attached to a boot that comes up over the ankles to give your ankles support and keep them from turning. The movement of ice skating is similar to roller skating. You push off with one skate and

glide with the other. You need to have balance and glide yourself forward on the ice.

Because fi gure skating, speed skating and ice hockey are all very different sports, they require different equipment. The ice skates used for each sport are a little bit different. For instance, fi gure skates are made so that the skater can perform acrobatic moves. The blades are longer and have toe rakes or toe picks at the front of the blade. These saw-like teeth bite into the ice and help the skater perform certain jumps and spins.

Learning to ice skate requires good safety habits. Outside, the biggest danger is skating on ice that is too thin and risking falling through the ice to the frigid (extremely cold) waters below. When skating outside, it’s important to skate only in areas that are approved skating areas and never to skate on natural ice alone. When skating indoors at an ice rink, the biggest danger is usually colliding with other skaters. Always make sure you know the rules of the rink before you hit the ice.

If you really like ice skating, you might want to take lessons and learn how to do other types of ice skating, such as fi gure skating, ice dancing and speed skating, or maybe join a team sport such as ice hockey. Both fi gure skating and speed skating became offi cial Olympic events in 1924. Ice danc-ing became an offi cial Olympic event in 1976.

Sources: Turner, Stephen C., Ice-Skating, The New Book of Knowledge; Greiff, James M., Ice Skating, Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, Scholastic Library Publishing.

COME OUT AND PLAY!Cold Weather Means Let’s Go Ice Skating!

KIDSVILLE NEWS NOVEMBER 2011WWW.KIDSVILLENEWSTN.COM

©Kidsville News!

Daylight-saving Time ends on November 6, and

standard time resumes. This means that you should turn your clock back one hour before you go to bed.

Daylight-saving time adds daylight hours to the

evening in summer time and less light in the mornings. Did you know that one

of the original goals of DST was to reduce the use of indoor lights during the evening? In 2007, the U.S. Energy Policy Act made the daylight-saving time period longer. It now lasts from March to Novem-

ber, rather than April to October.

It’s that time of year when you look forward to spending a day with your family and having a big meal together. This year, Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 24.

You are probably familiar with the story of the fi rst Thanksgiving. But, reading the story again each year helps us realize the hardships that the fi rst settlers of America faced, and how fortunate we are today. This is the whole reason for Thanksgiving — to give thanks, celebrate good harvests and share with friends and neighbors.

The Pilgrims arrived in America on the ship the Mayfl ower in 1620. They had fl ed England so that they could worship and live free. Many of them were sick from the long trip. The winter was very harsh, and sickness and hunger killed half of them during the fi rst year. But by the fall of 1621, things were much better. They had planted seeds earlier in the year and had a good harvest. They had a peace treaty with the Wampanoag Indians and could hunt in the woods without fear. Two Native Americans, Squanto and Samoset, helped the Pilgrims by teaching them how to fertilize crops and showing them the best places to catch fi sh and eel. The

Pilgrims were eating better and were healthier. To celebrate the plentiful harvest, the Pilgrims held a celebration and,

according to legend, invited their Indian neighbors. There were three days of celebrations, including dancing, target shooting and games of skill and chance. After this fi rst Thanksgiving celebration, the custom spread to other colonies, which celebrated on various dates.

The fi rst national Thanksgiving Day was proclaimed by President George Washington and was celebrated on Nov. 26, 1789. However, it wasn’t an annual holiday celebrated by all states. Sarah Josepha Hale began campaigning for a national Thanksgiving holiday in 1846. Her campaign, including writing letters to fi ve presidents, lasted 17 years before it was successful. (Hale also wrote the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb”!)

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln made it an annual holiday and established the date as the last Thursday in November. In 1941, Congress declared it to be celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday of November.

It’s Thanksgiving Time Say Thanks to a VeteranVeterans Day — an important holiday in America — is

on November 11. Some people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. What’s the difference? Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring those who died serving their country. Veterans Day is a day to thank and honor all those who served in the military. It is observed on November 11 each year.

Veterans are people who served in the military — the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Coast Guard. You should be very proud of our veterans. They have served our country in war and peace and have made many sacrifi ces to keep our country safe and free.

Almost 1.5 million people serve in the U.S. military on active duty. More than 800,000 serve in the reserves.

Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day, which celebrated the end of World War I fi ghting in 1918. An unknown American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in 1921 in remembrance of Armistice Day. In 1954, the U.S. Congress passed the bill changing the name to Veterans Day. Today, the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery is a memorial to all Americans who gave their lives in all wars.

Information from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and www.military.com. Images: Metrocreativeconnection.com.


AR UND THE W RLD Space

November 2 is the 10th anniversary of the date that people fi rst began living in

space! The Soyaz shuttle left Earth on October 31, 2000, headed to space with the fi rst crew to live at the Interna-tional Space Station. American commander Bill Shepard and two

Russians, Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev, arrived

on November 2 and lived on the space station for four months. The International Space Station, at an altitude of 230 miles, orbits the Earth every 90 minutes.

MexicoNovember 1-2 is the Day of the Dead,

or Día de los Muertos, in Mexico. It is also recognized by Catholics as All Souls’ Day. “Dead Men’s Bread,” round loaves decorated with sugar skulls, are sold in bakeries. Families remember their family members that have died with happiness, not

mourning. They visit the graves of their loved ones,

decorate them and hold candlelight vigils. They also decorate altars with

fl owers, fruits and vegetables.

Guatemala On November 1, at

the Day of the Dead Kite Festival in Santiago Sacatepequez, people use kites to communicate with the spirits of the deceased. It is believed that the deceased relatives communicate through the wind and the movements of the kites. Families fl y kites constructed of cloth, colored paper, bam-boo and wire. The kites come in all sizes, from eight to 30 feet. They are beautifully decorated and are brightly colored. There is a prize for the best design. Sometimes the kites are fl own from cemeteries.

Lemur You probably know the cute lemur from the movie Madagascar. The country of Madagascar is also the only place in the world where lemurs are a native animal. This means that lemurs are “endemic” to Madagascar.

There are almost 100 species of lemurs. One of the most popular, the ring-tailed lemur, is easy to recognize by its black-and-white ringed tail. It spends more time on the ground than the other types of lemur. They also like to sunbathe! Like most lemurs, the ring-tails face many threats to their habitat. Fires, over-grazing and development all contribute to habitat loss. In some parts of Madagascar the ring-tailed lemur is hunted, and individuals are kept as pets.

Lemurs are cat-like in their appearance, with a pointy nose and whiskers. They have long bushy tails that help with balance when

they leap through trees. They can be from 4 to 24 inches long. The tiniest lemur weighs only one pound, but they can weigh up to six pounds. Their fi ngers and toes have fl at nails, not claws. Lemurs rely on their sense of smell to communicate with other animals. They mark their territories with special scent glands on their wrists and bottoms.

Lemurs are social animals, living in groups of up to 25 individuals. They live in the trees in the tropical rain forest They feed on fl owers, fruit, leaves, bark and sap from plants. They are mostly vegetarian but sometimes eat insects and small vertebrates. Lemurs have an important ecological job on the island of Madagascar. They feed on a variety of seasonal fruit. It’s gross, but as they travel, they help spread the undigested seeds in their manure. The seeds sprout and replenish the vegetation.

Sources: SeaWorld, www.seaworld.org; The Zoological Society of London, www.zsl.org.

Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: MammaliaOrder: PrimatesSuborder: StrepsirrhiniFamily: Lemuridae

The ring-tailed lemur, Lemur catta. Photo by Chris Gin from Auckland, New Zealand.


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 the symbol °. Get ready to travel the world!

Where in the world is Algeria? Find 28ºN latitude and 3ºE longitude on your globe, and you'll fi nd Algeria on the continent of Africa. Algeria is in Northern Africa and is bordered to the north by the Mediterranean Sea. It is surrounded by several other

countries: Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Tunisia and Western Sahara.November 1 is a holiday in Algeria. It is the anniversary of their revolution against France in 1954. The

country fi nally gained independence from France in 1962. During the last 20 years, there has been a lot of violence in Algeria. There have been many attacks on villages and many people have died.

The geography of Algeria is mostly high plateaus and desert. There are vast empty desert areas, tiny oasis villages and crowded cities. It has mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along the coast and is drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateaus. Sirocco is a hot wind full of dust and sand

that is common in the summer. The mountainous areas can have severe earth-quakes, and mudslides and fl oods occur during the rainy season. The Issaouane Erg, or "sand sea," is located in eastern Algeria. Ergs are huge areas of moving sand with little to no vegetation. The moving sands make landforms, such as star dunes and crescent dunes.

Far left: Desert sand dunes and an oasis. Left: Rooftop view of the capi-tal city of Algiers. Source: "Algeria," The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, www.cia.gov.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS...ALGERIA?

Art Gallery

Paul Signac was a French artist made famous for helping to develop the pointillism style. Up close, his paintings just look like thousands of colorful dots. But, when you take a step back and look again, the dots blend artfully together to show landscapes, people and other scenery.

Paul Victor Jules Signac was born on November 11, 1863, in Paris, France. The only child of wealthy parents, Paul grew up in a neighborhood filled with famous artists and stage actors. As a child, he was drawn to the creative world but decided to study architecture instead of fine arts. However, when Paul was 18, he saw the artwork of Claude Monet and became convinced that he should be a painter instead of an architect.

Although Paul had no formal art training, he was supported by his parents’ money and did not have to work. So, he

could spend time painting and learning from his own mistakes. He was particularly drawn to Impressionist art, which used bright col-ors and short brushstrokes that did not include a lot of detail work. In 1884, Paul met fellow artist Georges Seurat, who painted in a different style. Working with Georges, Paul soon abandoned his short brushstrokes and began experimenting with painting patterns of dots on his canvases. Together, the dots formed an image of a landscape or a portrait of a person. This was the

beginning of pointillism. Soon, pointillism went even further and came to be called Neo-Impressionism, a style in which artists used the pointillism technique to showcase bold colors. Georges was the father of Neo-Impressionism, and when he died, Paul became the leader of this new art movement.

Paul spent his career working with pointillism and Neo-Impressionism. He used this style to capture landscape scenes of the French coast and other areas. A sailor, in 1892 he began traveling to various European ports and painted large canvases based on rough sketches he made on his travels. Color was very important to him, and he loved to experiment with different mediums. He painted watercolors and oil paintings but also made many etchings and pen-and-ink drawings, all done in the small dots of pointillism. By the turn of the century, however, he took pointillism to a new level and started creating works of art out of small squares of color rather than the thousands of dots. This stayed in the Neo-Impressionism style but gave his later work more of a mosaic feel.

Paul died on August 15, 1935, in Paris. He left behind numerous important works of art, as well as a book and several articles that are all now used to set the standards on Neo-Impressionism artwork.

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: Paul Signac on Art Archive, www.artchive.com/artchive/S/signac.html; Paul Signac on Renoir Fine

Art, Inc., www.renoirinc.com/biography/artists/signac.htm; Paul Signac on Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Signac.

Paul Signac & Pointillism

Women at the Well, 1892, by Paul Signac. On display in the Musée d’Orsay, Paris.


I love to listen to music. It’s even better when the performer is right there in front of you. Have you ever been to a live concert? It’s pretty amazing! This month, I had the chance to meet a pretty awesome kid who is a great pianist — and, he just happens to be blind, too. Michael Macias is a 6th grader who has an extraordinary ability. Michael and his twin brother were born early, and Michael weighed only one pound and six ounces. Unfortunately, his brother passed away. Despite the odds against him, Michael survived but was diagnosed with Retinopathy of Prematurity. He had several surgeries to try to repair his retinas, but at four months old, Michael was blind. For the next fi ve years, he continued to have surgeries several times a year. Michael is now 12 years old and can see only a little light. Even though he cannot see, Michael is in a regular class room in middle school and is an A-B honor student. He is a 100 percent Braille reader, but he does not read music in Braille. Remarkably, he plays piano completely “by ear.” This means he can hear a song and then learn to play it just by listening.

When Michael was only two years old, he was given a stand-up toy piano with fi ve keys. It also played fi ve lullabies. Within three days, Michael was playing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” all by himself. He moved to a keyboard and in just a week, he was playing all fi ve lullabies. He soon had his own piano and has been playing ever since. He has other disabilities, but regardless of the many obstacles, he is an inspiration and tremendously talented. Music is how Michael expresses himself. And he loves to share his gift with others. He performs at school with the chorus, and last year his beautiful piano music could be heard wafting through the halls at his elementary school during the morning announcements. Now he also plays with Essential Elements jazz band and will be performing with the Fayetteville Symphony as part of the Exceptional Children’s show. He loves to play classical music, but also can play everything from country to hip hop. He is just happy playing any music at any time!

Michael and his mom, Angela Rafferty, talked to me about his love of the piano. He loves other things, too, like science, America’s Funniest Home Videos, baked potatoes and chicken pot pie. But music is his passion. Sometimes it was hard to pull him away from the piano long enough to talk to me, but listening to him play was amazing. Note after note, song after song, his fi ngers swept across the keyboard. And he loved every minute of it.

TRUMAN: What does it take to become a pianist? Do you have to practice a lot? MICHAEL: A lot of practice, sometimes every day. And, I practice for auditions. ANGELA: He plays the piano every single day, but we don’t really consider it practice. But when he’s doing a performance with certain song requests, he will practice those.TRUMAN: I think it’s amazing that you haven’t had music lessons. You play the piano by ear — how do you do that? What does it feel like to be able to do that?MICHAEL: I’ve never had a piano les-son. When I listen, I can hear the notes. It feels like “joy.”ANGELA: He’s memorized every sound of every key on the piano. He loves sounds. He collects wind chimes, and he has over 300 of them. He can take those wind chimes and play little songs. His blindness heightens his other senses. He’s always been an A student; he’s got a great memory. TRUMAN: How do you feel when you are performing in front of an audience. Do you get nervous?MICHAEL: Yes, I get nervous at fi rst. When I start playing, I’m happy. I like how it makes me feel — and the clapping. ANGELA: He becomes an entirely different person in front of an audience. It’s like the crowd pulls that different person out of him.TRUMAN: What’s the hardest part of performing?MICHAEL: Some songs are hard, doing the really fast parts.ANGELA: If he can’t fi gure something out, he gets frustrated. We make him take a break from it and come back to it later. Even when he’s not at the piano, he plays it in his mind.

TRUMAN: How do you feel about having to have surgeries every year?MICHAEL: It makes me sad. But I want to go to Michigan (to his eye specialist) and have surgery so that I can see.ANGELA: Hopefully one day he can be a stem-cell recipient. TRUMAN: What is your favorite hobby or favorite thing to do besides play the piano?MICHAEL: Rock climbing — I can go all the way up to the top and ring the bell at the top. I also like swimming and listen-ing walks.ANGELA: That’s when we go on a walk on a trail or in the neighborhood, and we explain the sounds he hears, to give him exposure to what he can’t see. I asked

him ‘what does it sound like when we do listening walks?’ and he made up a song, “The Listening Walk.” MICHAEL: In the summer, I usually go to the camp for the blind. I do pottery, swimming and rock climbing, and we went bowling and to Waldo’s Beach (a water park). ANGELA: They also teach them a lot of independent living stuff at camp. Things like teaching them how to brush their teeth, walk with their canes, etiquette and how to eat diffi cult foods, like spaghetti. And other things that you don’t think about, like getting dressed — tagless clothes are a challenge because you can’t feel the tag to know which is the back.TRUMAN: You know, you’re right. I’ve never thought about that! Thanks so much for talking with me and sharing your story, Michael. I’m going to let everyone know to listen to your beautiful music on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2A68_LbgxA&feature=youtu.be. You are amazing!

A PIANIST?


Turkey Trivia ScrambleUnscramble the words to complete the sentences.

1. Male turkeys make the O G B E B L sound.

2. Like other birds, sometimes turkeys like to spend the night in E S T E R.

3. A mature turkey will have about 3,500 E T F A R E S H!

4. The skin that hangs from a turkey’s neck is a E T L T A W.Source: www.metrocreativeconnection.com

November Word FindFind the hidden words in the puzzle that relate to the

month of November.

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

AMERICANELECTIONFAMILYHARVEST

INDIANNOVEMBERPILGRIMTHANKSGIVING

TRADITIONTURKEYVETERANVOTE

What’s the Difference?There are fi ve things different between Picture A and Picture B.

Can you fi nd them all?


Tru-Truman Truman’s Tricky Picture Find these

items! Be sure to fi nd Truman’s hat! Look for more fun and games at

www.kidsvillenews.com.

Coloring CornerNational Family Week is the week of November 20. Use this space to draw a picture of your family. Write a sentence about what’s special about your family.

‘

Truman

Truman?


Quetzalcoatl is a Serial Story by Carl Gundestrup.

Toby was not used to running to or from anything. But he mustered all the strength he had and sprinted with all his might. It was only 50 more feet to the end, but Toby was exhausted already. He wasn’t sure he could do it. But see-ing those crutches swing back and forth so quickly made him angry. He wanted to see the new boy fall fl at on his face and skid in the gravel. That would shut his mouth. With just 10 feet to go, Toby stuck out his left leg as far as he could go and just nicked the crutch. It couldn’t have been better if he had practiced it. Garrett crashed and tumbled in the gravel right in front of Toby.

Toby hurdled Garrett, landing just one step from the grass.

DAVY: Garrett skidded to a stop two feet from the fi nish line. His face and hands were a raw, bloody combination of gravel and ragged fl esh. Before Mrs. Sternhammer and the rest of the school arrived, Toby came back and kicked Garrett, then pretended to see how Garrett was doing.

TOBY: Take that, smart mouth!GARRETT: You cheated! You

kicked my crutch, or I would’ve won!TOBY: Life’s hard, ain’t it.DAVY: Mrs. Sternhammer checked

Garrett over but did little to help the situation. Instead of comforting Garrett and praising him for having the courage to try, she lectured him about learning to accept his limitations.

MRS. STERNHAMMER: You know Garrett, as a new boy in school, you should be more polite and seek the kindness and charity of those who have strong, healthy, normal bodies. I think you should stay inside where it is safe and warm. You need to protect your delicate condition.

DAVY: What little respect Garrett could possibly have mustered for Mrs. Sternhammer disappeared that instant.

He determined from that moment forward that she was as much his en-emy as was Toby Hallorand.

GARRETT: Leave me alone! I’m fi ne! There’s nothing wrong with me!

LOUIE: Yeah everyone falls on their face the fi rst day of school.

TODD SMITH: And bleeds on their poor boy clothes.

DAVY: Garrett gathered himself and got to his feet. Mrs. Sternhammer ,not knowing what else to do after giv-ing Garrett a lecture on how to give up, turned and walked backed to the class.

TOBY: Little problem there, sport?DAVY: Toby gave Garrett a smack

to the back of the head while Todd stuck out his foot. Down went Garrett again. Garrett was surrounded by dozens of students. But never in his entire 13 years of life had he ever felt so alone.

CATHERINE: Oh Garrett.GARRETT: I’m ok.CATHERINE: You are a scratched-

up, bloody mess. Come here, let me clean you up.

GARRETT: I said I’m fi ne!JAMES: Garrett? What happened?DAVY: Garrett was determined

not to speak. James gave Catherine one of those ‘I’m the father and I’ll handle this’ looks, and Catherine took the hint. James coaxed Garrett outside where they could talk man to man.

JAMES: What happened? Garrett, tell me what happened.

GARRETT: I’m not a strapping young lad! I’m a cripple! I hate my leg! I hate it!

JAMES: What happened?GARRETT: Fat Toby Hallorand

and his friends were making fun of me. He challenged me to a race. I was less than 10 feet from beating him, and he kicked my crutch. After he won, he came back and kicked my leg and he said, “Take that, smart mouth.” Then Mrs. Hammerhead gives me this lecture about accepting my “limitations and my delicate condition.” She says I need to stay inside where it’s warm and appeal to the charity of children with normal bodies.

DAVY: James’s ears went red as the anger that fl ared in his heart made its way upward.

JAMES: Well you’re man enough to know that is a crock of... bilge water. No one can make you a cripple, Garrett. Only you can do that.

GARRETT: I remember when I was little, and you and mom used to help me with my prayers. The very fi rst day I said my own prayers, I asked God to make me whole. I have never missed a day. But nothing has changed. I’m 13 years old, and I’ve probably caught more ground balls, hit more pitches and climbed more trees than any kid on this island. But I’ve never played baseball on a team. I’ve never had a kid for a friend. The whole school thinks I’m a whiny little sissy boy.

JAMES: The best thing I can tell you...

GARRETT: I know! I know! I have heard it 10 million times. Never, ever give up. I just want a chance, that’s all. Just a chance. Just one chance to play baseball and prove I’m not a helpless little crippled boy whiner.

JAMES: It’ll take most of the day to get to the mainland and back.

DAVY: It’ll be good for Garrett to get away.

JAMES: I don’t worry about the bruises and scrapes from his run-in with that Hallorand kid. It’s what he thinks of himself that worries me. Will he see himself as a hopeless cripple unable to defend himself and be the butt of every-one’s jokes, or will stand up for himself?

DAVY: He’ll be ok.JAMES: I hope so. I only wish I

knew how to help him.DAVY: When we got to shore,

Garrett had perked up a bit. He had his knapsack slung over his back and was off to the library.

JAMES: We’ll meet you here at about 4:30.

DAVY: Around four o’clock, James and I returned to fi nd Garrett, standin’ on the wharf, as bold as brass, talkin’ to one of the biggest and meanest men on the entire coast.

JAMES: Garrett’s talking to Nate

Mc-Millan.

DAVY: Yes, he is.JAMES: He eats children. What’s

Garrett thinkin’? Come’on’ we better go get him.

DAVY: Hold on! Hold on! Garrett lived on this wharf long enough to know Nate’s reputation. If Garrett isn’t afraid of Nate, then who would he be afraid of? Look. He’s standin’ there takin’ notes like Nate was his professor. Look there. There goin’ over a chart together.

JAMES: In 15 years, I’ve never seen Nate say more than 10 words to any man. There Garrett has him chattin’ like a parrot.

DAVY: Let’s get aboard, get our things stowed, and let’em be. It’ll be good for’em. For both of ‘em.

It was common knowledge on the wharf that Nate had killed several men with his bare hands. In each case, it had been ruled self defense. He was a man that was better left alone. But I could see that Garrett had touched something deep within Nate that few ever had. It was plain to see that both were enjoy-ing their conversation. At 4:30, Garrett offered Nate a fi rm handshake. Nate slapped Garrett on the back like they were old chums. Without a word, Garrett climbed aboard, settled himself on a net and read the entire way back to the island.

(to be continued). To listen and read-along with the rest of this month’s episode of QUETZALCOATL, go to www.talesofdavyjones.com or www.kidsville-news.com. A Teacher’s Guide to accompany this 12-chapter story is available at www.KidsvilleNews.com. An audio version CD-set and workbook are also available online. Copyright 2011 by Carl F. Gundestrup. All rights reserved.

Story Time with TrumanQuetzalcoatl

(Ketz-al-co-ah-Tel) Chapter Three


A “Cool” Cafeteria — It’s Really Possible By Barbara Gilmour

“It was fun to have Clarissa visit our class last time. Tanner, Nicole, Rudy, Carmen, Stephen and Truman the dragon all wanted to know when she could come back. I hope she will come back soon.”

“How many of you took the Cafeteria Challenge at your school?” All hands went up.

Rudy jumped up and said, “My school cafeteria needs a lot of work. We had a low score. Kids push and shove and don’t wait patiently in line.”

Tanner shared, “Mine is like that, too. The kids don’t seem to care about how they act.”

Nicole added, “I don’t like when some kids won’t let others sit with them. That is just mean.” Everyone agreed.

Stephen shared, “Some kids in my cafeteria throw food or take others’ food. They think it’s funny.” Everyone nodded that the same things were happening in their cafeterias. It didn’t sound like there were any great scores.

“Did the Cafeteria Challenge list we made up last time help you to see some of the things that need to be improved?” All the kids said, “YES!”

Tanner was excited to share, “I took the list to my principal and asked him if we could do the Cafeteria Challenge, and he said, ‘Yes.’ I think that is great.

Now all the kids will learn how ‘Cool Kind Kids’ can act to have a ‘Cool Cafeteria’.”

Rudy added, “That’s so cool. I want to do that at my school.”Carmen was looking at Truman and asked, “Truman, you’ve been very

quiet today. What is going on in your cafeteria?” He sadly said, “My school cafeteria isn’t any better than yours. We need

to improve all the things on the Challenge list. It bothers me to see the unkind things that happen in the cafeteria.”

Carmen asked, “What do you mean?” Truman continued, “The cafeteria is an easy place for kids to be mean

and not get caught. Every day I see kids teasing and making fun of other kids. Many exclude kids for no reason. Some are bullying other kids. I try to stop this when I see it. I can do that because I’m so big. But kids need to know how much they are hurting other kids and stop this. Part of our Cafeteria Challenge should be to step in and help someone who is being bullied or get an adult.”

The kids all jumped up and cheered for Truman. “Do you think that you can help stop these things by stepping in when you see unkind things happen?”

Tanner was quick to respond, “Yes! ‘Cool Kind Kids’ stand up to bullies. We aren’t afraid of them!”

Nicole added, “I think some of them are hurting, so we can be nice to them.” Stephen said, “I think some of them just need a friend. We can be friends to them.” “Let’s do it!” they all shouted.

“Cool Kind Kids” help in bullying situations and know that telling when someone is being hurt is not tattling.© Cool Kind Kid. 866-KID-KIND. www.CoolKindKid.com.


Éstos son misamigos…

Es-toes sohn mees

ah-mee-goesThese are my friends

ah

Y… mi amigo elalacrán!Eee… mi ah-mee-go el

ah-lah-krahnMy friend the scorpion

Mi amiga AnaMe ah-mee-ga Ah-nah

My friend Ann

This is the only sound of this

vowel. It never changes, even

if it is next to another letter.aBaBah

CaCah

MaMah

TaTah

Club de amigosdel español

LaLah

PaPah

Mi amiga la abejaMe ah-mee-ga lah

ah-bay-haMy friend the bee

Replace

Ana with María

Abeja with rana

Alacrán with caballo

Y… mi amigo elalacrán!

h nahMy friend Ann

Copyright © 2007 by Amiga Communications, Marketing & Consulting, LLC - www.amiga-us.com

Stay Tuned for the Aurora

By Dr. Marc RaymanSometimes, the night

sky is fi lled with dancing curtains of blue-green light, with patches of red and pink. It’s the aurora borealis, also

called the northern lights. The closer you live to the North Pole, the

more likely you will see an aurora. The same light show is also visible near the South Pole, where it is called the aurora australis, or southern lights.

The auroras look like Earth is performing for us, with the sky for a stage. However, the Sun is actually directing the show. The Sun is always sending out a stream of electrically charged particles called the solar wind. When the particles get close to Earth, they start to feel the effect of Earth’s strong magnetic fi eld.

Earth is like a giant magnet, with its fi eld curving all around the planet and coming together into almost a funnel shape near each of Earth’s two poles. This fi eld is called Earth’s magnetosphere. It protects us from the solar wind, most of the time steering the charged particles away from our planet. But the magnetic fi eld also traps some of the charged particles and funnels them down toward the poles. Then we get an enormous fl ow of electricity right into Earth’s atmosphere.

When the charged particles collide with the thin air 60 miles or more above the ground, the gases in the atmosphere give off light like the glowing gas in a neon light tube. Nitrogen may turn red, blue and violet, and oxygen can color the sky red and green.

Although auroras occur every year, some years the Sun is more active. Sometimes, huge explosions on the Sun fl ing tremendous numbers of charged particles into space. If these happen to be aimed at Earth, we can be treated to an especially marvelous display two or three days later, once the particles have raced across the space between the Sun and us.

The new GOES-R satellite will keep track of these charged particles from the Sun as part of its regular duties. Help GOES-R gather up all this data. Play the fun, colorful game Satellite Insight on The Space Place at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/satellite-insight.

This article was provided through the courtesy of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasa-dena, C.A., under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and support from the U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The aurora borealis, as seen from Bear Lake, Alaska. (Credit: U.S. Air Force/Joshua Strang)


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

From Wind to WaterOpen a faucet, and fresh water will quench thirst. Turn a handle,

and a shower will cleanse a person. But what if the tap was dry, and bringing water home was your job?

Almost one billion people around the world live this way. One in eight people does not have immediate access to clean water, and lugging it home for miles often is the only option. Within the next 10 to 20 years, worldwide demand for fresh water could outstrip supply by 20 percent. It soon could cost more than oil.

Growing up in Greenwald, Minnesota, Daniel Ohmann was acquainted with pumping water. Windmills were found on most farms. His father installed many windmills to pump water before electricity reached the area. Years later, as a Maryknoll priest in Tanzania, Father Ohmann thought about the windmills as women carried fi ve-gallon water buckets on their heads six miles from a river. Drought is common in Africa. Villagers often can be seen scooping murky water from makeshift wells in scorched riverbeds.

“You don’t need to be here long to see that water is the number-one need in this part of Africa,” said Father Ohmann.

When Minnesota farmers converted to electricity, many donated their windmills to Father Ohmann. Others were purchased from Nebraska, Australia and South Africa to support Tanzania’s initiative to ensure all homes had access to water. Government ineffi ciencies, though, eventually closed the windmills for 15 years. But Father Ohmann was committed to get them pumping again, and more were installed. Twenty windmills now provide water to 18 villages. Each fi lls a 2,000-gallon tank, and water can be used to irrigate gardens and orchards.

“People enjoy better health in the villages served by clean water,” said Father Ohmann. And he’s proof that one person’s ideas can make a difference.Source: NewsUSA and www.maryknollsociety.org.


AT THE MOVIES

Happy Feet Two (In Theaters: Nov. 18)If dancing-and-singing penguins are your thing, then you’ve come to the right place with the musically energetic follow-up to the Oscar-winning animated feature Happy Feet. Antarctica appears in 3D with a story about a tap-dancing penguin named Mumble. Mumble has a problem. His tiny son Erik is afraid to dance. The shy little guy runs away from home and meets up with a penguin who calls himself “The Mighty Sven.” Sven can fl y! Poor little Mumble just can’t seem to measure up until the perfect opportunity comes along. Naturally, Erik’s dad has something to do with making such an important transition possible for his son. Erik has more potential than he gives himself credit for. There’s plenty more animals than just penguins who get involved in the musical fun that is Happy Feet Two. You might just want to get up and dance!Not Rated at press time. (Warner Bros. Pictures) Arthur Christmas (In Theaters: Nov. 23)Aardman, the same animation company that brings you “Wallace and Gromit,” and Sony Pictures Animation introduces a new kids’ movie set on Christmas Eve. Arthur Christmas promises to fi nally answer the mysterious question about how Santa Claus delivers presents to every child on Earth in just one night. Santa is a high-tech kind of guy. These days he uses a giant spaceship instead of a sleigh drawn by fl ying reindeer. James McAvoy is the voice of Santa’s son Arthur. He’s a boy who loves Christmas more than his dad. Arthur’s 136-year-old grandfather Grandsanta isn’t such a fan of the modern world. For as perfect as Santa’s new high-tech system of present delivery is, a problem comes up when one child gets missed. It’s up to Arthur to put things right. He might have to resort to some old-school methods to get the job done. Rated PG for some mild rude humor. (Sony Pictures Anima-tion/Aardman Animation)

Hugo (In Theaters: Nov. 23)“It’s Neverland and Oz and Treasure Island all wrapped up into one.” Martin Scorsese directs his fi rst children’s movie with Hugo. Based on

Brian Selznick’s award-winning fantasy novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the story follows the adventures of a little boy named Hugo (Asa Butterfi eld). Hugo lives in ‘30s-era Paris when he becomes an orphan. The lonely boy lives inside the walls of a train station with a mechanical automaton left him by his deceased father (Jude Law). The mystery of Hugo’s hope for a home warms up when he meets a girl (Chloë Grace Moretz) who possesses a magical heart-shaped key to Hugo’s automaton. Created in 3D, and benefi ting from an all-star cast that includes Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Christopher Lee, Emily Mortimer, Ben Kingsley and Sacha Baron Cohen, Hugo promises to be an instant classic of children’s cinema from America’s master fi lmmaker Martin Scorsese. Not Rated at press time. (Paramount Pictures)

MOVIES ON DVD

Cars 2 (Available Nov. 1)The tow truck named Mater is best friend to Owen Wilson’s little red racecar champion Lightning McQueen. A televised announcement about the World Grand Prix, an upcoming three-city race in Tokyo, Porto Corsa and London, inspires McQueen to bring his tow-truck pal overseas where, unbeknownst to them, a spy plot is unfolding. Finn McMissile (splendidly voiced by Michael Caine) is a James Bond-styled sports car loaded with plenty of gadgets. Finn can climb buildings and motor underwater as a submarine. Finn’s sleek assistant is a little purple British number named Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer). Alternative-fuel mastermind Miles Axlerod (Eddie Izzard) provides the ecological foundation for the big race wherein all the competing cars will run on his “Allinol” biofuel to prove the days of Big Oil are over. John Turturro voices McQueen’s Italian rival, an open-wheeled racecar named Francesco Bernoulli. The detailed animated renderings of exotic locations are positively beautiful. Cars 2 is a keeper.Rated G. 107 mins. (Disney Pixar)

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.


Fall is here! The weather is cooler, and it’s always nice to have a warm plate of spaghetti or a fun, quick taco night. How about a little bit of both? This quick meal will warm you up and get you going to soccer, football or cheerleading practice in time!

Fiesta Spaghetti TacosPrep Time: 25 minutesStart to Finish: 25 minutes5 servings (2 tacos each) What You Need:• 5 ounces uncooked spaghetti, broken in half• 1 pound lean (at least 80 percent) ground beef• 1 package (1 ounce) Old El Paso 40 percent less-sodium taco seasoning mix• 1/2 cup water• 1 1/4 cups tomato pasta sauce (any variety)• 1 box (4.7 ounces) Old El Paso Stand ’N Stuff taco shells (10 shells)• 1 medium tomato, chopped (3/4 cup), if desired• 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese

How to Make It:• Cook spaghetti as directed on package; drain.• Meanwhile, in 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in taco seasoning mix and water. Heat to

boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 3 to 4 minutes or until thickened. • Stir in pasta sauce; cook over medium heat until hot. Stir in cooked spaghetti.• Meanwhile, heat taco shells as directed on box. Spoon about 1/2 cup spaghetti mixture into each taco shell; top with tomato and Parmesan cheese.Variation: If you like corn, add 1 cup frozen whole kernel corn with the pasta sauce. Cook about 5 minutes or until hot.

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

Warm & Quick Is Just the Ticket for Fall Meals

Recipes provided by Family Features and General Mills/Old El Paso. For more ideas and coupons, visit http://www.bettycrocker.com/Products/Old-El-Paso/.

Turkey Trivia ScrambleUnscramble the words to complete the sentences.

1. Male turkeys make the GOBBLE sound.2. Like other birds, sometimes turkeys like to spend

the night in TREES.3. A mature turkey will have about 3,500 FEATHERS!

4. The skin that hangs from a turkey’s neck is a WATTLE.

November Word FindFind the hidden words in the puzzle that relate to the

month of November.

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

AMERICANELECTIONFAMILYHARVEST

INDIANNOVEMBERPILGRIMTHANKSGIVING

TRADITIONTURKEYVETERANVOTE

What’s the Difference?There are fi ve things different between Picture A and Picture B.

Can you fi nd them all?


PARENTOWN’S KIDSMART

From big-ticket purchases to basic household items, people from all economic backgrounds are prioritizing their shopping lists to spend wisely on items worth the investment. It is not surprising that when buying items for you or your family, it can be diffi cult to decide where to adjust your household budget. Personal fi nance expert, author and TV personality Farnoosh Torabi provides these tips on how save on everyday items and shows families where extra spending can lead to long-term savings.

Saving on the EverydayBuy in bulk and store. Basic household items such as paper towels, toilet

paper, dish soap, hand soap and laundry detergent can be purchased in large quantities and shelved for later use in order to save money over time. Look to large retailer stores that offer buy-in-bulk options. Also consider purchasing frozen food to store and use as needed.

Get creative; call for reinforcements. * E-mail friends and family to set up a kids’ clothing swap. Trading gently

used clothing with other families is a great way to get the items you need, without spending a great deal of money.

* Save on babysitting expenses by swapping out weekend nights of kid watching with a friend or family member.

* Set up a carpool to save time and fuel. Clip those coupons. Though it may seem obvious to point out that you

can save big by clipping coupons, many people overlook this money-saving practice. Look for coupons online and in your local newspaper. There are several sites online that can keep you updated about savings at stores in your specifi c location as well.

Spending for Long-term SavingsTrade up now; save more later. Certain household items may cost more

up front, but will save time, energy, money and other resources down the line if you invest in quality products. Torabi suggests the following items deserve larger budgets up-front:

* Running shoes - Fitness experts suggest purchasing quality, high-perfor-mance shoes that are designed to protect against injuries and their impending medical costs. Purchasing good workout shoes during your lifetime could potentially save you from costly injuries — such as a $15,000 knee surgery.

* Quality mattress - The average person spends a third of his or her life in bed. So, investing in a quality mattress now, and one that can adjust to your changing body over time, will provide a low cost-per-use since you sleep on your mattress every day. “For instance, the Sleep Number mattress is like getting two beds in one and it lasts twice as long as other mattresses,” Torabi explained.

* Electric toothbrush - Proper brushing and fl ossing practices are important for maintaining oral health and can save you money down the line. Avoid costly dental expenses by purchasing a quality electric toothbrush, brushing and fl ossing two or more times daily and keeping those dental cleaning appointments.

* Green appliances - When upgrading kitchen or other household appliances, spending more up front can mean big savings later. “The average household spends $1,400 a year on energy bills. By purchasing energy-effi cient products, you can save 30 percent, or more than $400 a year,” says Torabi. Over time, those savings could pay for the cost of each appliance. And purchasing a high-quality product means your appliance will continue to run properly with minimal maintenance years from now.

Source: Family Features and Sleep Number, www.sleepnumber.com.

Household Budgeting: to Save orto Spend?

Presupuesto del hogar: Ahorrar o Gastar

Desde compras grandes a cosas básicas del hogar, personas de todos los fondos económicos están haciendo sus listas de compras sabiamente para poder gastar en cosas en las que valgan la pena invertir. No es sorpresa que cuando compramos cosas para nosotros mismos o para la familia, puede ser difícil decidir que parte de nuestro presupuesto ajustar. Un experto en fi nanzas personales, autor y personalidad de televisión Farnoosh Torabi da los siguientes consejos en cómo ahorrar en cosas del diario, y enseña a las familias en dónde pueden gastar un poco extra que les ayudara a ahorrar en el futuro.

Ahorra en las cosas del diarioCompre por mayoreo y almacené. Artículos básicos del hogar como toallas

desechables, papel higiénico, jabón para trastes, jabón para manos y detergente para ropa pueden comprarse en cantidades grandes y almacenarlos para usarlo después, esto le puede ahorrar dinero con el tiempo. Busque almacenes grandes que vendan por mayoreo al público en general. También considere comprar comida congelada guardarla y usarla conformé la necesite.

Sea creativo, llame a refuerzos. *Mande un correo electrónico a sus amistades y familia y organicé un trueque

de ropa. Cambiar la ropa ligeramente usada con otras familias es una buena manera de obtener las cosas que necesita sin gastar mucho dinero.

*Reduzca los gastos de niñera intercambiando noches de fi nes de semana con algún amigo o familiar.

* Comparta el carro para ir al trabajo, así ahorraran tiempo y gasolina.Recorte los cupones. Aunque parezca obvio decir que se puede ahorrar

mucho recortando cupones, mucha gente pasa por alto esta práctica para ahorrar dinero. Busque cupones en el internet y en su periódico local. Hay muchos sitios en el internet que le mantienen al tanto de los ahorros en las tiendas locales.

Gastar para poder ahorrar a largo plazoIntercambie ahora, ahorre después. Ciertos productos para el hogar cuestan

mucho, pero van ahorrar tiempo, energía, dinero y otros recursos más adelante si invierte en productos de calidad. Torabi sugiere que los siguientes productos merecen un presupuesto mayor desde el principio.

*Zapatos atléticos (Tenis) – Expertos atléticos sugieren comprar zapatos de calidad y alto rendimiento que están diseñados para protegerle de lesiones y sus costos médicos inminentes. Compre tenis buenos durante su vida, potencialmente podría ahorrarle de lesiones costosas – como cirugía en la rodilla que puede costar $15,000.

*Colchones de calidad- una persona común pasa un tercio de su vida en su cama. Así que, invertir en un colchón de buena calidad ahora, y uno que se ajuste a los cambios de tu cuerpo con el tiempo, proveerá un bajo costo por uso, ya que uno duerme en su colchón todos los días. “Por ejemplo el colchón sleep number es como comprar dos camas en una, y dura lo doble que otros colchones.” Explico Torabi.

*Cepillo dental eléctrico- lavarse los dientes apropiadamente y usar hilo dental es importante para mantener su salud oral y puede ahorrarle dinero en el futuro. Al comprar un cepillo dental eléctrico de calidad, cepillarse los dientes y usar hilo dental dos o más veces al día, y mantener sus visitas frecuentes al dentista para hacerse una limpieza dental, le evitara altos gastos dentales en el futuro.

*Electrodomésticos “verdes”- Cuando renueve sus electrodomésticos de la casa, gastar un poco mas desde un principio pude ahorrarle mucho después. “Una casa común gasta $1,400 al año en facturas de luz. Comprando productos que economizan la energía, pude ahorrarle un 30 porciento, o más de $400 al año” dice Torabi. Con el tiempo estos ahorros pueden pagar por el costo de cada electrodoméstico. Y comprar un producto de alta calidad quiere decir que su electrodoméstico seguirá funcionando apropiadamente con mínimo mantenimiento por muchos años.

Fuente: Family Features and Sleep Number, www.sleepnumber.com


PARENTOWN’S KIDSHAPE

Kids & Gifts: How Much Is Too Much?Despite the many messages from all corners promoting a “more is

better” philosophy when it comes to holiday gifts, the truth is far more complex — especially for children. While most parents work hard to give their kids everything they need and much of what they want, it is often hard to draw the line, prompting many well-intentioned moms and dads to ask, “How much is too much?”

In general, the answer lies within each family. Parents should purchase what makes sense to them and what they believe their children will use and appreciate. However, in recent years, child psychologists and experts in child development have returned to these questions as economic conditions have forced many families to scale back, both throughout the year and during the holiday season.

Books such as The Pampered Child Syndrome by Maggie Mamen, Give Me, Get Me, Buy Me by Donna Corwin and several others on the same topic offer similar conclusions: When children are given too much over the course of their childhoods, they can develop a serious case of entitlement, become unappreciative of what they have and begin to equate love with “stuff.” And for younger children, receiving a huge pile of gifts in one sitting can be both overwhelming and overstimulating.

If you have been wondering about these issues, here are some general guidelines for having a fun-fi lled holiday with just enough stuff.

Make a gift plan: Before setting out on your fi rst shopping expedition, devise a plan that makes sense for your family. If you have younger

children, decide on the number of gifts for each. With older children, you might want to establish a dollar amount rather than a gift amount. Once you’ve made the plan, stick to it — no matter what.

Draw names: Particularly in bigger families, gift-giving can become a fi nancial and emotional burden if everyone buys for everyone. Drawing

names not only reduces those burdens, but often results in more meaningful gifts all around.

Opt for a shared experience: Consider pooling the money you would have spent on individual gifts and putting it toward a special outing, vacation or shared item for your home. Long after the toys have broken and the electronics have stopped working, your children will cherish their memories of a holiday that focused on sharing time together.

Communicate: If Grandpa Mike or Aunt Emily has a reputation for heaping on the presents at Christmas or Chanukah, let them know ahead of time that one

will do, and then offer a suggestion that is sure to please your son or daughter. If they insist that they want to do more, consider asking them to make a donation in your child’s name to a charitable organization or to purchase a gift for a local child in need.

Collaborate: Sometimes one big gift makes a lot more sense. If your child would love a new bike or a trampoline or horseback riding lessons, consider asking extended family members to contribute to that item or to items that go with it, such as a helmet or other gear.

Source: MetroCreativeConnection.com

kv-nov-11

Documents

ice rink

fpokidsville news page

ancient people

veterans day

great time

election day

copyright holder

favorite holidays