Fall kids connection 2016

Kids Connection

2016 Fall Edition A DAILY COURIER PUBLICATION

INSIDE: Teaching kids financial lessons 8 ways kids can go green How families can manage cramped quarters

Stories, songs and fun for all ages!

AND visit orl.bc.ca for information on Science Literacy Week events in September!

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KIDS CONNECTION • PAGE 3

Make school day mornings easier School day mornings can be hectic, as getting kids ready for school and out the door on time is not always easy. Working parents may find school day mornings especially difficult, as their own work schedules can make mornings feel even more rushed.

Fortunately, parents can employ several strategies to free up time in the morning so everyone starts their days off in a more relaxing atmosphere.

• Wake up earlier. Sleep might seem like a precious commodity, but waking up just 10 to 15 minutes earlier can remove some of the stress from weekday mornings without costing you a lot of sack time. Let kids sleep in until their normal wakeup time, using your extra 10 or 15 minutes to shower or enjoy your morning cup of coffee before the house is abuzz with activity.

• Tackle certain chores the night before. Delaying certain chores until you wake up makes for a hectic morning, so tack- MetroMedia le as many morning chores as possible before you go to bed for Parents can take several steps to make sure school day mornthe night. Prepare school lunches, lay clothes out for yourself ings go more smoothly. and your children, and make sure kids have their backpacks packed and ready to go before they go to bed. Each of these things in your morning routine, try going a few days without it to see if may only take a few minutes, but when left for the morning, they this makes it easier to get out the door on time. Kids might grow distracted by morning cartoons, and even adults may get caught can add up to a substantial amount of time.

• Encourage youngsters to pick up the pace. Some people are up in morning news shows or other forecasts. Eliminating telemorning people, while others dread setting their alarms for ear- vision from your morning routine can save time and also may ly morning hours. Kids who fall into the latter group may drag help your family grow closer, as you will have more distractiontheir feet in the morning, but parents should offer encourage- free time to speak to one another. In addition to turning off the ment when kids are moving slowly in the morning. Allowing television, resist the urge to turn on your devices or scan work your frustration to show may only make kids less fond of morn- emails when getting ready in the morning.

Parents know that school day mornings can be hectic. But there ings, so remind them as nicely as possible that everyone has a are several ways to make such mornings go more smoothly so schedule to stick to if they seem to be dragging their feet.

— MetroMedia • Keep the television off. If watching the television is ingrained everyone gets where they need to be on time.

INDEX 3 School is out, but reading is still in.

6 Strong Kids Campaign makes 10-year-old happy.

13 How families manage in cramped quarters.

ON THE COVER The incredible work by now local photographer and world renowned digital artist Nikki Harrison. www.nikkiharrison.ca On the cover, the beautiful and local: Vienna Notte

CONNECT WITH US Kids Connection is published by The Daily Courier as a quarterly supplement to our paid newspaper. Vice President/Group Publisher Terry Armstrong 250-470-0721, Editor Doyle Pontenteau 250-470-0741. To be a part of our next issue contact Krista Frasz, Director of Advertising 250-470-0761 www.kelownadailycourier.ca

PAGE 4 • KIDS CONNECTION

How to save on school supplies Back to school season can be as expensive for parents as it is exciting for students. Once the initial letdown of the end of summer vacation wears off, many kids are excited to return to school, where they can see their friends, study their favorite subjects and participate in extracurricular activities.

Parents of school-aged youngsters may share in that excitement while also knowing that back to school season can stretch their budgets. One of the ways to salvage those budgets is to save on school supplies. Fortunately, there are several ways parents can do just that.

• Be patient. Shopping early can save shoppers money in many instances, but parents may benefit by exercising patience when it comes to buying school supplies for their children. Teachers often give students lists of supplies they will need for each class, and parents who wait to receive such lists can avoid spending money on items their kids won’t need.

Even if you wait it out, you may be able to get a head start, as some teachers may post supply lists on school websites, while others might email lists to parents before back to school season hits full swing.

• Take invento- MetroMedia ry. If you have more than one child, chances are you already have lots of school supplies around the house. Dust off kids’ backpacks and study areas from last school year to determine which supplies you need to buy and which you already have. Going forward, encourage kids to store their supplies in a predetermined area once the school year ends, as this will make next year’s inventory that much easier to examine and assess.

• Spend more now to save later. While inexpensive supplies can be hard to resist, such items likely won’t withstand the test of time, forcing you to spend time and money each year buying replacement supplies. Paying more now for certain items, including stronger backpacks and more highly rated calculators, may end up saving you money in the long run, even if the initial pill is somewhat tough to swallow.

• Use technology to your advantage. Department stores and businesses that sell school supplies, such as pharmacies and office stores, may or may not discount too many items once back to school season hits full swing. But savvy parents can still find deals by using technology to their advantage when shopping for school supplies. Download apps to your smartphone and enable its updates so your phone essentially notifies you of any discounts the moment you walk into a given store. If you don’t receive any updates, search for discounts via the app or the Internet as you shop. Chances are strong that there are deals to be had, even if you don’t learn of the deals until you arrive at the store.

School supplies can be expensive, but parents can employ several strategies to save on school supplies now and in the future.

BACK TO SCHOOL 2016

KIDS CONNECTION • PAGE 5

Practice school bus safety every day Millions of students rely on public transportation to get them to and from school each and every day. One safety council says that riding a bus to school is 13 times safer than riding in a family vehicle and 10 times safer than walking.

Although buses are designed for safety, student riders can do a lot to make their bus trips even safer. • Stand only in the designated school bus stop. Always stand on the sidewalk, lawn or curb where the school bus stop is located. Stay away from the street because traffic in the morning and the afternoon can be very busy and hectic. • Arrive at the stop early. Rushing to the bus stop may cause you to make errors in judgment, including running in traffic to catch the bus. Leave early so you have ample time to catch the bus and obey all traffic laws. • Only board and exit the bus when it is safe. Wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before boarding or exiting. The driver will engage the stop sign and put on the flashing red lights. Move around the bus only when it is stopped. • Keep the aisles clear. Stay out of the aisle when the bus is in motion and store backpacks on your lap or under your seat so they are not tripping hazards. • Use seat restraints. Use seat restraints when available on the school bus. While not every school bus has seatbelts, many now do. • Stay in your seat. Remain in your seat while the bus is in motion. Keep your hands inside of the windows. Do not get up to engage with other riders.

MetroMedia

•Keep a good distance between you and the bus. Exit the bus and cross in front where the driver can see you. If you cannot see the driver, he or she cannot see you. Check for safety signals from the driver to proceed when traffic has stopped. Always walk, never run, around a bus. • Do not goof off. When on the bus, always behave so that you can hear any safety instructions and be aware of your surroundings. Behaving also means one less distraction for drivers.

School bus passengers can make their rides to school even safer — MetroMedia by playing it smart.

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PAGE 6 • KIDS CONNECTION

BACK TO SCHOOL 2016

Getting ready for kindergarten Schools across the country are getting ready to once again open their doors and welcome new and returning students. The newest crop of kindergarteners will be among the fresh faces roaming the hallways and classrooms, and parents can take steps to make this transition go more smoothly.

Although many children attend preschool, kindergarten typically marks a child's initial foray into formal education.

It can be a time of wonder, new experiences and rapid educational growth. Kindergarten also can stimulate nerves and fears about the unexpected. Preparing children for kindergarten requires a little finesse to make this significant milestone in a kid's life that much more special.

• Speak often about kindergarten.

Talking openly and excitedly about MetroMedia kindergarten is one way to spur a child's Help preschoolers feel confident and happy about kindergarten by adjusting to a interest in school. As the first day of school school schedule as the first day of school draws nearer. approaches, bring it up in conversation • Encourage kids’ independence. and see how your youngster feels about kindergarten. Some chilA kindergarten teacher will be supportive and nurturing but dren are anxious to begin this new chapter in their lives, while others are daunted by the prospect of starting school. will not be a substitute parent for the class. Children should be Understanding how your child feels about kindergarten can help able to do certain things for themselves when entering kinderyou more effectively deal with any apprehension he or she might garten. Taking their jackets on and off, packing up their belongings, cleaning up toys and other supplies and following direchave. tions are just a few things kids should be able to do on their own • Schedule a tour.

Some schools have programs in place to introduce incoming upon entering kindergarten. It may be tempting to do everything kindergarteners to the school and the curriculum. For others, for your preschooler, but kids who are too dependent may strugyou may have to request a visit to the school. Such visits can be gle to acclimate to kindergarten.

• Encourage kids to spend time with their peers. helpful, especially if your child does not have an older sibling alYour child may benefit from spending time with other kids ready in the school and is completely unfamiliar with the building. Sometimes just being able to see what the school and kinder- their age and sharing their expectations of kindergarten. Such dialogue can remove some of the unknown of starting school. garten classroom looks like is enough to assuage fears.

• Don’t pressure kids at the last minute.

• Start adjusting kids’ schedules.

There is no way to cram when preparing for your kinderSummer vacation and pre-kindergarten life may be about retiring to bed late and waking up much later than the start of a gartener’s first day of school. Rushing through flash cards or typical school day. But such schedules are no longer realistic quizzing kids on the alphabet may just make them nervous about once kids begin school. Help kindergarteners-to-be acclimate to the start of school.

• Make note of the similarities between preschool and their new schedules by gradually changing their bed times and wake times in the weeks leading up to the first day of school. k i n d e r g a r t e n .

Kindergarten may not be so different from preschool, and such Five-year-olds need between 10 and 12 hours of sleep each night. familiarity can make the transition that much easier for young• Let kids choose some school supplies.

Encourage youngsters to join you as you shop for school sup- sters. Some preschools mirror the curriculum of the local eleplies, which may excite kids about school and help them feel mentary school district, introducing students to the types of more actively involved. That new backpack or folder your child lessons they eventually will learn in kindergarten. Make note of picked out can be a source of pride and a security blanket for the these similarities in an effort to calm any jitters kids may have — MetroMedia first few days of school. about starting school.

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PAGE 8 • KIDS CONNECTION

BACK TO SCHOOL 2016

Back to school: Get your child’s vision checked

School supplies: Check.

School clothes: Check.

New lunchbox: Check.

Eye exam: To Do. It’s that time of year. Parents are busy making sure their child has all the necessary tools to have a successful school year.

As much as 80 per cent of classroom learning is visual, so ensuring children can see properly will help them reach their full potential. Whether your child is starting kindergarten or attending high school, it’s wise to add an eye exam to your back-to-

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One in five children has a vision disorder. When visual skills are lacking or impaired, a child will need to work harder and may develop headaches or fatigue while attending school.

Children who cannot see the blackboard or follow words in a book will struggle to achieve their full learning potential and can develop poor learning habits and sometimes a real aversion to school. You can’t assume your child has healthy eyes because they have passed a screening test or are not complaining.

Not knowing any differently, many children accept poor vision and other eye ailments as normal. In certain cases, children may have one eye that is doing most of the work, hiding the fact that the other eye is not functioning properly.

It is recommend that infants have their eyes examined between six and nine months of age; children have their eyes examined between the ages of two and five, and yearly after starting school because vision changes can occur rapidly as they grow.

At iSight Optometry, we are completely equipped to test your child’s eyes even if he/she does not know how to read.

Vision screenings offered by family doctors and the school district are a great tool in detecting certain eye conditions, but a full examination of visual function and ocular health by an optometrist provides a much better indication of overall eye health.

Many serious eye conditions don’t have any obvious symptoms. A thorough eye exam by an optometrist is the only way to know for sure.

— iSight Optometry

TKS presents Jack and the Beanstalk Theatre Kelowna Society is excited to bring back a traditional English pantomime as their 2016 Christmas show.

Jack and the Beanstalk, a Paddy Malcolm English adaptation, has a little of everything for today’s family. There is a villain, a magical chicken, a strange little magic dude, castles, singing and dancing animals, a village full of people, and, of course, a giant.

Audiences will be encouraged to sing along and help make the magic happen. It takes a village to make gardens grow, even if it is just full of beans. If you don’t know Jack, this is a must see.

Jack and the Beanstalk, will be directed by Christine Daley (Cinderella and the Silver Twig 2013). Daley is working diligently, adapting the original Paddy Malcolm English script, adding her own bit of “magic” and getting to know Jack. She is excited to renew old Theatre Kelowna Society friendships and maybe discover new ‘Jacks’ along the way. Once again, a ‘cast of thousands’ may be involved. As a director, Daley believes the more the merrier. “Magic,”she says, “takes a lot of believers.”

Pantomimes are generally bright, bold, full of puns, with lighthearted tomfoolery and tons of spell-binding magical moments to keep audiences of all ages entranced. The modern tale of Jack surfaced in 1734, and many renditions have been performed world wide. It has been made into movies and has also found its way to comic book racks. This Jack and the Beanstalk still follows the original storyline. Jack, is a bit of an architect and a ‘jack of all trades’ in this story, always happy to help around the orphanage run by Widow Goodheavens and her son/daughter.

Jack and the Beanstalk will start up its rehearsals and set building the first week of September with show dates from Nov. 23 to 27 at the Kelowna Community Theatre. Tickets available at Select Your Tickets at Prospera Place. Only six shows this year, so be sure to get your tickets early.

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PAGE 10 • KIDS CONNECTION

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The pros and cons of repeating a grade The majority of students move up a grade each fall. However, some students may not be ready to move on to the next grade come the end of the school year.

Educators and parents often have to make the challenging decision of whether to have a student repeat a year — called grade retention — or to engage in social promotion. There are pros and cons to both sides of this debate, and oftentimes the decision comes down to parental preference, test scores and the recommendations of teachers and administrators regarding the best decision for each individual student.

Grade retention can be an emotionally charged issue, but having students repeat a grade is sometimes necessary.

The following examination of the ad- MetroMedia vantages and disadvantages of grade retention may help families make informed decisions and help them do what’s best for the child.

Pros 1. If a student has missed a lot of school due to illness or a family situation, it may be in his or her best interest to repeat the grade and catch up on the lessons he or she missed.

2. Developmentally immature children might find that repeat-

ing a grade reduces their stress, which can increase as students attempt, yet fail, to keep up with the development of their peers.

3. Children who are nearly a year younger than their peers may benefit from attending school with children who are their same age.

Cons 1. In certain instances, students who repeat a grade may be as many as two years older than their classmates. While academic readiness should weigh heavily as parents decide whether or not to have their child repeat a grade, parents should also consider the potential impact on their youngster’s self-esteem if he or she is asked to repeat a grade and attend school with much younger classmates.

2. Students may feel embarrassed by grade retention, especially if other students tease or pity them.

3. Kids who do not agree with their parents on the issue may protest by engaging in behaviors that make it difficult for them to benefit from repeating a grade.

Grade retention and social promotion are serious topics for — MetroMedia parents and educators to consider.

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KIDS CONNECTION • PAGE 11

GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH

How to alleviate the negative in your life Once upon a time a professor gave his students a pop quiz. They all cried out: “This is unfair! We are not prepared! We need time to study.”

The professor passed out the quiz papers face down. When they turned the page over, they found it was blank except for one black dot at the centre. The professor instructed his students to write about what they saw on the page. The professor then read each student’s answer aloud. Without exception, each response tried to explain why the dot was in the centre of the page.

The professor made the following reflections on their responses. Their answers focused solely on the dot. He called his students to see that dot at the centre of the page mirrors our lives.

The dot, he explained, stands for the challenges we all face: health concerns, employment issues, and the complications and disappointments we experience in relationships with family and friends. We seem to naturally focus on the problems and challenges in our lives.

He argued that when we focus on problems, our minds are polluted and we become blind to reality. We miss the blank part of the page. When we focus on the blank parts of the page, we see that the problems we face, the dark spots, are very small when compared to all the blessings we have in our lives.

He admonished his class to: “Take your eyes away from the black dots of your life. Enjoy each one of your blessings each moment that life gives you. Be happy and live a life full of love.”

The professor is right; we do tend to focus on our problems.

When our problems become the focus of our thoughts, we certainly do become blind to our blessings and possibilities.

It is also true that when we focus on our problems, it is impossible to experience happiness in life and to be able to effectively reach out to others.

Focus is the key issue here. You can change your focus from your problems to your blessings. When we focus on our blessings we can feel good and a can relate to others in a loving way.

The problem with the professor’s advice is that shifting our focus to our blessings doesn’t solve our problems. Something negative will inevitably happen to us, and our focus will invariably shift back to our problems and we find ourselves overwhelmed by our problems once again.

Jesus calls for a different focus.

First, he calls us to focus on our problems. We have to admit that we cannot solve most of them and have to look to someone outside ourselves to give us help. We have to hear Jesus say to us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) Second, Jesus, calls us to focus on him, to take his yoke. To take his yoke is to focus on his Gospel, on God’s word. God’s word reveals that we can see Jesus is in our problems.

The Gospel reveals that Jesus was tortured and crucified. He therefore understands our illness, physical pain, suffering and death. The Gospel also reveals that Jesus was tempted by every human temptation and overcame them.

His disciples, those closest to him, denied they knew him, betrayed him and abandoned him. He was wrongly accused, arrested and convicted of a crime by religious and political authorities. He was wrongly executed. He understands the pain and suffering that we experience when those we love disappoint us and authority figures mistreat us.

Yet, the Gospel reveals that Jesus forgave those who hurt him and reached out to mend broken relationships. He calls us to do the same.

Third, Jesus calls us to focus on following him. He promises that those who focus on the words of Gospel, on God’s word, will be changed. They will have faith and trust in Jesus and God’s word. The Gospel calls us to reach out to Jesus for mercy and healing. Jesus may miraculously heal our ills and/or give us the grace to endure the pain and suffering and overcome our illness.

Jesus will convince us we are sinners and that all of our sins are against God. He will convince us that we must be forgiven by God and that God forgives us of our sins because of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection.

Jesus will permit us to see our fault and our part in creating the breakdown of relationships with employers, family members and friends and desire their forgiveness for the hurt we caused.

He will give us the grace to forgive those who have wronged us.

Jesus promises he will go ahead of us to open hearts and minds so that true reconciliation can occur.

We meet for worship at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. We focus on our troubles, on Jesus and on following him.

Why don’t you join us? Those forgiven by and reconciled to God through Jesus Christ are given a clean slate. Perhaps, if you focus with us, you will come to see your life as a blank page that can be filled with paragraphs peppered with acts of forgiveness, love, Yours in Christ, Pastor Ed Skutshek mercy and grace.

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PAGE 12 • KIDS CONNECTION

BACK TO SCHOOL 2016

Financial lessons to teach your children Many adults express a desire to save more money.

Parents who want to instill financial responsibility in their children and encourage youngsters to save money alongside mom and dad can do so in various ways.

• Start giving kids an allowance in return for doi n g t h e i r c h o r e s.

A great way to teach kids about money management is to give them an allowance in return for doing their weekly chores. This teaches kids that they must earn their money and also teaches them to budget.

Resist the temptation to give kids extra money or advances on their allowances, as doing so can compromise the lesson that kids need to budget.

• Encourage kids to establish specific financial goals.

Kids can benefit just like adults by setting specific financial goals. If kids have their eye on a new gadget or gaming console, encourage them to create a savings log that tracks how much they’re saving each week and how close they are getting to reaching their goal.

MetroMedia As kids’s balances increase and they get closer to their While saving money is important, it’s just one of many lessons that today’s goal, they may grow just as excited as adults do when children must learn about finances. they see their investments perform well.

• Match kids’ contributions.

Another great way to encourage kids to save money is to match the deposits they make into their accounts. Whether it’s 1. Turn grocery shopping teenagers saving for their first into a teachable moment. car or younger kids saving for a This is a great opportunity new bike, kids may be more like- to teach kids about comly to save if they know their con- parison shopping. Teach tributions are being matched. children how to shop by Parents can explain that match- value rather than brand. ing is not just for kids, as many 2. Help your child open moms and dads benefit from em- a small business. ployers who match their retire- During summer, lemonade stands are common in ment contributions. many neighbourhoods. This • Let kids make mistakes.

Everyone makes mistakes, es- is a great way for young enpecially when it comes to money. trepreneurs to learn finanMany adults feel the best finan- cial skills. Children learn cial lessons they learned were a how to set and achieve byproduct of a mistake they goals, understand profit made that forced them to reex- and price, and further deamine their approach to money. velop basic math skills.

Letting kids make financial mis- —MoneyManagement.org takes now may help them avoid bigger and more costly mistakes down the road.

• Teach impulse control.

Another valuable financial lesson parents can instill in their kids is controlling their impulses with regard to spending. Many adults exercise impulse control by waiting 24 hours to make purchases. In this scenario, adults who see something they like online or in-store that they did not intend to buy will wait a day after seeing the item before deciding whether or not to purchase it.

That 24-hour waiting period often prevents people from buying products they don’t need. Kids can benefit just as much from following this guideline. In the interim between seeing the item and deciding whether or not to buy it, discuss with kids the pros and cons of buying the item. This can teach them to carefully consider each of their purchases, making them more responsible — MetroMedia consumers for the rest of their lives.

More lessons for children

BACK TO SCHOOL 2016

KIDS CONNECTION • PAGE 13

Central Okanagan Food Bank: Here to help Local mom says she’s extremely grateful for assistance that COFB gave her Tragedy struck Alina’s home a few years ago.

“My kid’s father passed away just over two years ago,” Alina said. “He had a heart attack. He was only 36. My daughter was only a couple months old at the time.”

Things kept getting worse: “He was the main income provider.

I was on employment insurance at the time, so there wasn’t much coming in. I had to cash out RRSPs for the funeral expenses and then I went into debt just to cover every day costs.”

The newly single mother found herself facing other unexpected challenges.

“I was so stressed that I wasn’t able to breast feed. I lost my milk. Formula and diapers are so expensive. “ “I just don’t know what I would do without the extra help,” Alina said. “The Central Okanagan Food Bank is so great with helping with baby basics and special dietary needs. My 10-yearold autistic son has severe diabetes, so we need to be extra careful with what he eats, even things like tomatoes spike his blood sugar.

“It’s a huge sense of relief when you know there’s help available.

That sense of being trapped by all the expenses and bills when you aren’t able to work and you have little ones to feed is sometimes overwhelming. I want people to know how much the Central Okanagan Food Bank really helps. In times of turbulence, it’s a small sense of security.”

Alina is starting to rebuild her life. She remains positive about the future, knowing there will be more bumps along the way.

Contributed

Alina with her 4-month-old son.

“Life is funny. I volunteered for a Food Bank when I lived back East. I never thought I’d end up in a position of needing help. I am so, so grateful. You just don’t’ realize how quickly things can change. Tragedies happen every day, even when you do all the right things.”

Unfortunately, there are many similar stories to this one. To help families like Alina’s please visit www.cofoodbank.com.

PAGE 14 • KIDS CONNECTION

BACK TO SCHOOL 2016

Contributed

Ice Age on Ice will be appearing in Kelowna for two shows at Prospera Place in October.

Ice Age on Ice coming to Kelowna Stage Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products have announced that Ice Age on Ice will tour 20 cities across Canada, including Kelowna’s Prospera Place for two shows, Tuesday, Oct. 4 and Wednesday, Oct. 5.

Based on the incredibly popular Ice Age movie franchise, the all-new story and live show will bring an avalanche of adventure to audiences everywhere. Ice Age on Ice features the coolest crew on the planet, including Sid, Scrat, Manny, Ellie and Diego.

Tickets are be available at www.livenation.com and charge by phone at 250-762-5050.

Ice Age on Ice features stars from the whole herd including Scrat, the beloved pre-historic squirrel who gets the wake up call of his life when he buries his prized acorn in a once-dormant volcano that rumbles back to life. With an eruption threatening our sub-zero heroes’ home, they must find a way to stop a tidal wave of lava and save our gang from certain extinction.

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Greg Lombardo of 20th Century Fox Consumer Products said that “All of the hallmarks of the Ice Age franchise – compelling adventures, highly adored characters, and that distinct humor enjoyed by all ages – will now be presented live in its most natural environment – on ice.”

The ice show tour comes on the heels of the brand new feature film Ice Age: Collision Course.

Ice Age on Ice Western Canadian tour dates Date City Venue September 9–11 Winnipeg MTS Center September 16-18 Regina Brandt Centre September 21-25 Edmonton Rexall Place September 30-Oct. 2 Kamloops Sandman Centre October 4-5 Kelowna Prospera Place October 6-9 Vancouver Thunderbird Sports Centre October 11-12 Victoria Save-On-Foods Centre October 15-16 Prince George CN Centre October 18-19 Grand Prairie Revolution Place October 21-23 Lethbridge Enmax Centre October 28-30 Saskatoon SaskTel Centre

BACK TO SCHOOL 2016

KIDS CONNECTION • PAGE 15

8 ways today’s children can go green Raising eco-friendly children is less complicated than it once was. From very early ages, today’s kids are exposed to environmental topics and how they can do their part to maintain and protect the planet. Between activities at daycare and lessons at school to information they receive from educational television programming, some kids are taking their MetroMedia own environmental initiaReducing waste through composttives — and involving ing is another easy way kids can their parents along the embrace going green. way.

Inspiring children to be eco-friendly can be enjoyable and get those creative juices flowing. The following are eight ways children and their families can work together to protect the environment.

1. Precycle.

Kids can attempt to reduce waste by recognizing products that could be wasteful and then avoiding those items. Toys or everyday items with excessive packaging that we use without thinking are just some examples of items that can be precycled.

2. Repurpose.

Look at items that normally end up in the trash and find new and fun ways to repurpose them. Children can make crafts out of junk mail, catalogs and old newspapers. Juice boxes or plastic containers can be turned into boats or accessories for dolls and action figures. Use natural materials found in the yard or on a nature walk to make a fairy garden or imaginative world for small toys.

3. Reuse.

Toting lunch or snacks around can be more eco-friendly when reusable containers are part of the equation. Explore lunch bags, beverage cups, thermoses, Bento boxes and other packaging available. Many are made from recycled materials as well.

4. Walk.

Encourage getting around without firing up the car. Walking, jogging, biking, or scootering around the neighborhood is more eco-friendly than driving. Many adventures can unfold when seeing the world from a pedestrian’s vantage point, but things are easily missed when riding inside cars or trucks.

5. Conserve water.

Lessons learned in conservation are important. Water is one resource that is crucial to human life. Kids can explore ways to cut down on water consumption or use water more efficiently. The environmental resource Green Lifestyle Changes says that a 10minute shower with a standard shower head can use upward of 80 gallons of water and generate up to four pounds of CO2 emissions. Simply reducing shower time can save energy and water.

There are other ways to conserve as well. Make it a family project to collect rain water to use for washing cars or watering plants.

6. Rent rather than buy.

From toys to video games to movies, people have more entertainment options than ever before. And nowadays it’s easy to access a fresh supply of entertainment without making purchases that require the manufacturing of new items. Streaming rented content rather than buying packaged versions can reduce waste

in a number of ways.

7. Turn off/turn down.

Turn off lights, appliances, electronics, and more when they’re not in use. Also, encourage children (of an appropriate age) to unplug certain electronics so appliances aren’t consuming electricity while in standby mode, which is called vampire power.

8. Change body care products.

Introduce kids to earth-friendly soaps, shampoos, toiletries, and cleaning supplies.

Children are the next generation to take on the task of protecting the planet. When they begin an eco-friendly lifestyle early, they may be more likely to employ the same strategies in adult—MetroMedia hood.

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PAGE 16 • KIDS CONNECTION

Summer is winding down and back to school shopping season is here. Among the piles of binders and pencils, backpack shopping is likely on every parent’s list.

Due to decreasing locker availability, an increase in homework and heavier textbooks, students are carrying more weight on their backs. Dr. Jason Busse, a Canadian Institutes of Health Research funded researcher at McMaster University, gives nine tips for safe backpack use for your child.

• Look for thick straps, approximately 7 cm.

• Buy backpacks with thinner fabric. It keeps the weight down.

• Choose a bag with two shoulder straps and use them both to help balance the weight.

• Pack the heaviest items in the bottom.

• Look for a bag with a hip or waist strap.

• Try to avoid having your child wear a backpack for more than 20 minutes at a time.

• Make sure that the backpack is not too big.

• Backpacks should not extend above the shoulder or below the hip bone.

• Keep the backpack light. A child should not carry more than 10 percent of its body weight.

— Canadian Institutes of Health Research

BACK TO SCHOOL 2016

PROBLEMS BACKPACKS CAN POSE Although many factors can lead to back pain — increased participation in sports or exercise, poor posture while sitting, and long periods of inactivity — some kids have backaches because they're lugging around their entire locker’s worth of books, school supplies, and assorted personal items all day long. But most doctors and physical therapists recommend that kids carry no more than 10 to 15 per cent of their body weight in their packs.

When a heavy weight, such as a backpack filled with books, is incorrectly placed on the shoulders, the weight’s force can pull a child backward. To compensate, a child may bend forward at the hips or arch the back, which can cause the spine to compress unnaturally. The heavy weight might cause some kids to develop shoulder, neck, and back pain.

Kids who wear their backpacks over just one shoulder, as many do, because they think it looks better or just feels easier, may end up leaning to one side to offset the extra weight. They might develop back pain and strain their shoulders and neck.

Improper backpack use can also lead to poor posture. Girls and younger kids may be especially at risk for backpack-related injuries because they’re smaller and may carry loads that are heav— KidsHealth.org ier in proportion to their body weight.

BACK TO SCHOOL 2016

KIDS CONNECTION • PAGE 17

How families can manage cramped quarters Young parents living in cities face difficult decisions regarding their living arrangements. The suburbs versus city debate is one many young married couples have had, and that discussion is often prompted by the arrival of children.

Data suggests that more people are choosing cities over the suburbs in the 21st century, and there are many reasons why city life might make more sense than living in the suburbs for young married couples. Living in the city may lead to far shorter commutes for working parents, and the availability of public transportation in cities may save parents the costly expense of purchasing their own vehicles.

But city life may force families to cope with cramped quarters.

Even the most spacious apartments may not provide the same square footage as single-family suburban homes. Parents who are committed to city living may need to get creative in order to live comfortably in apartments.

• Actively police clutter.

Few things can make apartments seem more cramped than clutter. Unsolicited mailings, old magazines and unused kitchenware are just a few of the items that can make small apartments seem even smaller. Discard junk mail the moment you walk through the door, making a daily effort to keep kitchen counters and tables, coffee tables and other areas that tend to accumulate clutter clear of clutter. Reducing clutter also makes homes safer for young children, making it easier for them to navigate a home while reducing choking hazards.

• Keep hosting duties to a minimum.

Many men and women love to host friends and family, and that desire to host won’t subside simply because you live in a city.

But even if you love to host, host more intimate gatherings so you are not forced to use your already limited storage space to store items, such as extra plates, utensils and drinking glasses, that you will only use every so often. Fewer guests means fewer items you need to store yearround.

• Go easy on the tots’ toys.

Parents of young children know that kids’ toys take up a lot of space, and that’s space that many city dwellers simply don’t have.

Rather than adding to youngsters’ toy stash each month, explain to them that space is limited and that some older toys will have to go MetroMedia before new ones can be There are many reasons why young purchased. Donate old couples are choosing to live in the city toys and let kids know rather than the suburbs, including less their items will be giv- time commuting to work. en to less fortunate youngsters, as that may make kids feel better about parting ways with their toys. Set a good example by showing kids when you discard or donate older items before replacing them with new ones.

• Think vertically.

Single-family home owners may not need to make much use of the vertical space in their homes, but such is not often the case with apartment dwellers. Utilizing vertical space in an apartment can be as simple as buying some shelving units or bookcases. To be safe, keep items the kids will use on lower shelves so they are not tempted to do some climbing to reach their toys or books.

Parents who choose the big city over the suburbs may need to make some sacrifices to make better use of cramped quarters.

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PAGE 18 • KIDS CONNECTION

Back to school means elevated risk for lice

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Millions of children will soon be heading back to the classroom.

Although the return of school may elicit smiles from parents who have spent the entire summer trying to keep kids busy and out of trouble, when kids start bringing home notices of head lice outbreaks, those wide grins may fade.

Although head lice can strike just about anyone anywhere, it seems to proliferate in close quarters, like those of a typical classroom. Children who keep backpacks and belongings beside other students’ items may unwittingly pick up lice and bring them home, where they can infect the child and other members of the family.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says lice are parasitic insects that can be found on people’s heads and bodies.

Lice feed on human blood. There are three types of lice that live on humans: head louse, body louse and pubic ‘crab’ louse. Only the body louse is known to spread disease.

Lice are wingless parasites that can only crawl to their host for feeding. They cannot jump or fly like fleas. By and large, lice are relatively harmless creatures, though they can be a nuisance. Lice bites are known to cause irritation and inflammation on the scalp. MetroMedia Persistent scratching may lead to infection. Lice do not signal Returning to school means that a person has bad hygiene, keeping an eye open for head lice. and a child who contracts lice should not be embarrassed. Lice are a common problem among students.

Lice are small and grayish-white in appearance, and they are usually no larger than a sesame seed. They can move fast, so usually lice infestation is identified by spotting the lice eggs, which are called nits. These look like tiny, yellow or tan dots before they hatch. Lice lay nits on the hair shaft close to the scalp. This is the ideal temperature for keeping the eggs warm until they hatch. Many lice nymphs will feed on blood every day to grow into adult lice. However, a louse can survive up to two days off of the scalp. That means a person can “catch” lice from a hat or a piece of clothing if a louse climbed into the material.

Treating head lice means ridding the head of all nits and adult lice. A special comb is used to capture the tiny eggs. This can be a painstaking process, particularly for children with long hair.

Topical insecticides in lotion and shampoo are used to kill the lice. However, these products may not penetrate the nits, so the topical solution may need to be applied several days later to kill any emerging lice.

The best way to combat lice is to emphasize prevention.

Children should not share combs, brushes, scarves, hats, or other clothing. They also should avoid close physical contact with someone who has lice. But should a child get lice, he or she should stay home from school and the nurse should be notified. Wash all objects that the child has used and launder all clothes, towels, linens, and other items in hot water to kill any lice. Vacuum the home frequently to remove lice or fallen hairs with attached nits from upholstered furniture and rugs.

Back to school season reintroduces kids and their parents to lice. Parents and their kids can take certain preventive measures to greatly reduce youngsters’ risks of coming down with lice.

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