Family Reacts You Going Back to Work

By ARW
Sept. 2, 2009

Although the extra money will come in handy for you all, your family’s reaction to you returning to work can take many forms. In order to make the transition from ‘stay at home’ mum to ‘working’ mum as smooth as possible, you ought to be prepared for the various reactions from your family members.

The most important thing to remember is that is you are ready to go back to work and you, with the help of your husband or partner, can arrange necessary child care then you are entitled to. Every woman and every family situation is different, but you must do what feels right for you.

Resentment

It is common for husbands or children to feel resentful over their wife or mothers return to work. For the husband, this can be because they now have to take on some tasks (taking children to childminders or cooking dinner) that their wife did when they were at home. Some men also like the ‘traditional’ aspect of them earning the money and their wife looking after the children at home.

For children, they can feel as though they have less quality time with their mother, especially young teenage children who enjoyed their time together after school. A good way to deal with this is to maintain a regular routine of having a family dinner together at the table. This not only gives you a chance to ask your partner and children about their day, but also builds confidence and social skills.

Proud

If your husband or partner is proud of you for going back to work, this can also create some problems. Although it sounds desirable, some women feel annoyed that they were not proud of them for bringing up the children, or patronised. You need to discuss this as soon as possible because in all likelihood your family was just as proud as when you were at home.

Disapproval

If you have decided that you want to return to work but your family is less keen, you will need to deal with the issue carefully. Do not allow your family to change your mind, unless you are not certain yourself. This is the type of issue that can be difficult at first, whilst people are settling into new routines, but tend to be sorted out in time. If you just do not go back to work to ‘keep the piece’ you will just feel resentful and the same issue will come up in another guise.

If the family member that is disapproving of you returning to work is your mother or mother in law, you and your partner will need to present a united front that supports your choice. Unless you rely on them for your childcare (in which case, it is better to find another source of childcare), there is no reason why they should pass judgement on your behaviour. You do not need to justify your choices.

If it is your own mother, you could take her for a coffee and a chat to explain how her comments are making you feel. You could also do this for your mother in law, although it may be more appropriate for your partner to do so, depending on your relationship with her.

Source: A Return to Work

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

US Brings Home Little League World Series

By Laura Leigh Davidson
Sept. 2, 2009

A team from California came from behind to win the 2009 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Sunday. Chula Vista’s Little Leaguers beat the Chinese Taipei team from Taoyuan, Taiwan, by a score of 6-3. (Taiwan is an island nation off the coast of China.)

This is the fifth year in a row that a team from the United States has taken home the championship banner for Little League baseball.

The game was hard-fought. The two squads were deadlocked at 0 until Wen Hua Sung and Chin Ou hit back-to-back homers in the third inning to give Chinese Taipei a 3-0 lead.

Then relief pitcher Kiko Garcia took the mound for Chula Vista. After that, no more Chinese Taipei batters crossed home plate. Kiko didn’t give up a single run for the rest of the game.

Chula Vista broke its scoreless streak with one run in the third inning. The team brought three more runs home in the fourth to move ahead, 4-3. Two more runs in the fifth inning put the score at 6-3. Kiko pushed through some last-inning jitters and struck out Yu Chieh Kao to end the game.

“We knew we could come back,” 13-year-old Kiko told ESPN. “We always do.”

Celebrating the Big Win

The west-coasters threw their gloves into the air and piled on the winning pitcher in celebration. Then the Little League champs took a victory lap around the stadium. After that, they collected handfuls of dirt from the pitcher’s mound to help commemorate their special win.

“It’s just an amazing feeling,” 12-year-old third baseman Seth Godfrey said. “We went for it, and we did [it].”

Reporters were eager to know what the team wanted to do after the game. Shortstop Andy Rios said they were ready for a victory celebration at the team’s favorite restaurant back in Chula Vista. Seth agreed, and said he was hungry for some postgame fries.

Williamsport, Little League Capital of the World

This year’s World Series action drew more than 200,000 fans to Williamsport. The central Pennsylvania town is the only home the Little League World Series has ever known. The 10-day tournament featured some of the best 11- to 13-year-old baseball players from around the globe. In all, 16 teams competed for the championship: 8 U.S. squads and 8 from around the world.

Williamsport resident Carl Stotz founded Little League Baseball in 1939. The league’s original three teams played their first season in an empty lot. Today, approximately 2.7 million young boys and girls play little league baseball worldwide.

Source: Scholastic News Online

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@goldcoastchronicle.com

Obama Going After Our Kids at School

By Joshua Rhett Miller
FOXNews.com
August 2, 2009

A suggested lesson plan that calls on school kids to write letters to themselves about what they can do to help President Obama is troubling some education experts, who say it establishes the president as a “superintendent in chief” and may indoctrinate children to support him politically.

Obama will deliver a national address directly to students on Tuesday, which will be the first day of classes for many children across the country. The address, to be broadcast live on the White House’s Web site, was announced in a letter to school principals last week by Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

Obama intends to “challenge students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning,” Duncan wrote. Obama will also call for a “shared responsibility” among students, parents and educators to maximize learning potential.

But in advance of the address, the Department of Education has offered educators “classroom activities” to coincide with Obama’s message.

Students in grades pre-K-6, for example, are encouraged to “write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president. These would be collected and redistributed at an appropriate later date by the teacher to make students accountable to their goals.”

Teachers are also given guidance to tell students to “build background knowledge about the president of the United States by reading books about presidents and Barack Obama.”

During the speech, “teachers can ask students to write down key ideas or phrases that are important or personally meaningful.”

For grades 7-12, the Department of Education suggests teachers prepare by excerpting quotes from Obama’s speeches on education for their students to contemplate — and ask as questions such as “Why does President Obama want to speak with us today? How will he inspire us? How will he challenge us?”

Activities suggested for after the speech include asking students “what resonated with you from President Obama’s speech? What lines/phrase do you remember?”

Obama announced his intention to deliver the address to students during an interview with Damon Weaver, a middle school student from Florida who gained a following of his own last year on the campaign trail for his interviews of high-profile figures.

The Department of Education is using the president’s address to kick off a video contest titled, “I Am What I Learn,” in which students are invited to submit videos of up to two minutes on the importance of education in achieving their dreams.

Obama’s critics say the lesson plans and the president’s calls for a “supportive community” are troubling on many levels.

“In general, I don’t think there’s a problem if the president uses the bully pulpit to tell kids to work hard, study hard and things like that. But there are some troubling hints in this, both educationally and politically,” said Neal McCluskey, associate director of Cato Institute’s Center for Educational Freedom.

Among the concerns, McCluskey said, is the notion that students who do not support Obama or his educational policies will begin the school year “behind the eight ball,” or somehow academically trailing their peers.

“It essentially tries to force kids to say the president and the presidency is inspiring, and that’s very problematic,” McCluskey said. “It’s very concerning that you would do that.”

Parents of public school students would also have to pay for that “indoctrination,” regardless of their political background, he said.

“That’s the fundamental problem. They could easily be funding the indoctrination of their children.”

Frederick Hess, director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, said the suggested lesson plans cross the line between instruction and advocacy.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for teachers to ask students to help promote the president’s preferred school reforms and policies,” Hess said. “It very much starts to set up the president as a superintendent in chief.”

Amid the debate on the federal government’s level of involvement on issues like health care and others, Hess said, “There’s a lot of people” on both sides of the political spectrum who will rightfully be concerned with the president’s call to action.

“It shows exactly what the problem is,” he said. “This is going to open the door to all kinds of concerns.”

Messages to the White House seeking comment were not immediately returned early Wednesday.

After reading the Department of Education lesson plans for the speech, McCluskey said he noticed several passages that should set off “alarm bells,” including language that attempts to “glorify President Obama” in the minds of young students.

“It could be a blatantly political move,” he said. “Nobody knows for sure, but it gives that impression.”

McCluskey also noted that the lesson plans for young students contain suggestions to write letters to themselves on how they can help the president, but that suggestion is not in the lesson plan for middle and high schoolers — perhaps due to the likelihood of increased political ties at that age.

“You don’t want to see this coming from the president,” McCluskey said. “You don’t want to see this coming from the federal government.”

EDitor’s Note: FOXNews.com’s David Paulsen contributed to this report.

Source: Fox News

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Who Were Our Presidents? Part 6

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/GCC
Sept. 1, 2009

Editor’s Note: How many of us along with our children? Know who our Presidents were and what they have done in Office.

Each week we will pick a President and tell you about them and their accomplishes.

We hope that you will enjoy this series. And let us know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

6. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS 1825-1829

 

The first President who was the son of a President, John Quincy Adams in many respects paralleled the career as well as the temperament and viewpoints of his illustrious father. Born in Braintree, Massachusetts, in 1767, he watched the Battle of Bunker Hill from the top of Penn’s Hill above the family farm. As secretary to his father in Europe, he became an accomplished linguist and assiduous diarist.

After graduating from Harvard College, he became a lawyer. At age 26 he was appointed Minister to the Netherlands, then promoted to the Berlin Legation. In 1802 he was elected to the United States Senate. Six years later President Madison appointed him Minister to Russia.

Serving under President Monroe, Adams was one of America’s great Secretaries of State, arranging with England for the joint occupation of the Oregon country, obtaining from Spain the cession of the Floridas, and formulating with the President the Monroe Doctrine.

In the political tradition of the early 19th century, Adams as Secretary of State was considered the political heir to the Presidency. But the old ways of choosing a President were giving way in 1824 before the clamor for a popular choice.

Within the one and only party–the Republican–sectionalism and factionalism were developing, and each section put up its own candidate for the Presidency. Adams, the candidate of the North, fell behind Gen. Andrew Jackson in both popular and electoral votes, but received more than William H. Crawford and Henry Clay. Since no candidate had a majority of electoral votes, the election was decided among the top three by the House of Representatives. Clay, who favored a program similar to that of Adams, threw his crucial support in the House to the New Englander.

Upon becoming President, Adams appointed Clay as Secretary of State. Jackson and his angry followers charged that a “corrupt bargain” had taken place and immediately began their campaign to wrest the Presidency from Adams in 1828.

Well aware that he would face hostility in Congress, Adams nevertheless proclaimed in his first Annual Message a spectacular national program. He proposed that the Federal Government bring the sections together with a network of highways and canals, and that it develop and conserve the public domain, using funds from the sale of public lands. In 1828, he broke ground for the 185-mile C & 0 Canal.

Adams also urged the United States to take a lead in the development of the arts and sciences through the establishment of a national university, the financing of scientific expeditions, and the erection of an observatory. His critics declared such measures transcended constitutional limitations.

The campaign of 1828, in which his Jacksonian opponents charged him with corruption and public plunder, was an ordeal Adams did not easily bear. After his defeat he returned to Massachusetts, expecting to spend the remainder of his life enjoying his farm and his books.

Unexpectedly, in 1830, the Plymouth district elected him to the House of Representatives, and there for the remainder of his life he served as a powerful leader. Above all, he fought against circumscription of civil liberties.

In 1836 southern Congressmen passed a “gag rule” providing that the House automatically table petitions against slavery. Adams tirelessly fought the rule for eight years until finally he obtained its repeal.

In 1848, he collapsed on the floor of the House from a stroke and was carried to the Speaker’s Room, where two days later he died. He was buried–as were his father, mother, and wife–at First Parish Church in Quincy. To the end, “Old Man Eloquent” had fought for what he considered right.

Editor’s Note: President Adams kept Americia out of the French and British war. We would like to know if you can come up more that he has accomplished? You can win a prize, dan@youngchronicle.com

Source: Whitehouse Wiki Answers

Parent Involvement at School

By Family.com
Sept. 1, 2009

When we think of parent involvement at school, we typically think of the PTA. But there are other support groups including PTOs, boosters, and foundations. In some schools, a support group such as the PTA can be a very active body, addressing issues such as budget, school policies, fundraising, and community relations. While being a member of the PTA can be very rewarding for parents, it can also be a time-consuming endeavor.

In fact, there are many ways to get directly involved with your child’s school. Let the teacher or principal know of your interest and any areas of expertise you have (gardening, photography, or cooking, for example).

You can also ask to volunteer in the classroom and help with projects or other classroom tasks such as making copies, helping individual students, or preparing activities. Similarly, you might suggest an activity or series of activities to supplement the curriculum (for example, you could come in and lead the class in a cooking lesson that focuses on measurement).

You might also volunteer around the school by helping in the library, monitoring students on the playground, or helping with tasks such as creating a brochure for new families. Think outside of the box — the options are limitless. If you express an interest in being involved, chances are the teacher and school will find a way to make it happen.

Source: Family

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

To Help Your Child to be Safe School Year

By Safekids/PIO
Sept. 1, 2009

As kids head back to school, Safe Kids’ new study “Characteristics of Distracted Drivers in School Zones: A National Report” reveals a scary truth: One out of every six drivers in school zones is distracted. With cell phones, email and text messaging being added to the list of more traditional distractions like eating and grooming, there are more ways than ever for drivers to become distracted – and potentially dangerous to children as they walk to and from school.

About 10 percent of drivers were caught using hand-held electronics—such as cell phones, PDAs, and Smartphones. These devices were the leading cause of distraction. And while laws on using electronics while driving are still being hotly debated, this research shows that simply having a law on the books could help reduce distracted driving. States that have laws are 13 percent less likely to have distracted drivers in school zones.

 

The Danger of Distracted Driving Recent studies have measured the driving skills of distracted drivers showing they perform as bad or worse than drivers who are drunk. This is frightening for anyone on the road, but it’s a particularly dangerous situation when kids are added into the mix.

Common Traits of Distracted Driving
Seatbelt use. Drivers that don’t wear a seatbelt are 34 percent more likely to be distracted than drivers who are buckled up. As a driver, if you engage in one risky behavior – you are more likely to engage in multiple unsafe driving behaviors.

Time of day. Afternoon drivers are 22 percent more likely to be distracted than morning drivers. Throughout the year, one in three child pedestrian deaths occur between 3 and 7 p.m., making afternoons the most dangerous time for children to walk.

Gender. Female drivers are 21 percent more likely to be distracted than male drivers. Moms today have a million things on their to-do lists and too often women are multitasking behind the wheel. But that doesn’t mean male drivers are off the hook—their rate of distraction was still way too high.

Traffic volume. People driving on roads with a lot of traffic are 16 percent more likely to be distracted than those driving on roads with less traffic.

Tips from Safe Kids Walk This Way

Safe Kids and FedEx have been working together for 10 years on the Walk This Way program where we educate children about walking safely. We conduct programs in more than 600 schools and have reached more than a million kids all across the United States.

Be a Safe Kid  Always cross the street with an adult until age 10 Pause your music, hang up the cell phone and don’t text until you’ve safely crossed the street Never play hand-held games while walking Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks Look left, right and left again when crossing Always walk, never run, when crossing streets Walk on sidewalks or paths Walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible if there are no sidewalks Never run out into the street or cross in between parked cars Be a Safe Driver Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods and school zones Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings Watch for children on and near the road in the morning and after school hours

Source: USA Safekids

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Astronaut Timothy Kopra – “Where is my Ride”

By Laura Leigh Davidson
August 31, 2009

Has anyone ever been a little late picking you up from school or practice? NASA astronaut Timothy Kopra found himself in a similar situation this week.

Kopra has been living on the International Space Station (ISS) since mid-July. He is scheduled to return to Earth aboard space shuttle Discovery. But his ride has been delayed. Discovery was unable to launch at its scheduled time on Tuesday due to thunderstorms. The shutttle’s blast off has now been postponed until Friday because of mechanical problems.

Until Discovery arrives to take him home, Kopra will continue his daily duties, which include conducting science experiments in the ISS labs, and performing maintenance on the space station. Kopra and five other astronauts from around the world currently live on the ISS.

Kopra recently talked to Scholastic Kid Reporters Bailey and Mason Pownall of Austin, Texas, about what it’s like to live in space. Here’s part of their interview.

Q: As a child, was it your dream to become an astronaut?

KOPRA: When I was about 6, it was pretty normal for a kid to want to grow up to become an astronaut. NASA was landing men on the moon, and it was a really exciting time for the space program.

Q: What has been your favorite part of being an astronaut, if you had to pick one thing?

KOPRA: Probably the favorite thing that I’ve done so far was to live underwater for a week. I lived in a facility called Aquarius. Living underwater is very similar to living in space. We had a crew of six that lived inside this module that wasn’t very large. We took daily walks on the bottom of the ocean. (Walking on the ocean floor is similar to walking on the moon.)

Q: What are some of your jobs on the space station?

KOPRA: My very first job on the ISS was a space walk. I worked with robotic arms to help attach different platforms to the space station. I also spend about two hours every day working out. Living in space is very hard on your body and exercising helps you withstand the harsh conditions.

Q: What is the biggest challenge about being an astronaut?

KOPRA: For me [since I have been in training to be on the ISS] probably the most challenging part has been separation from family.

Q: What is the first thing you’ll do when you come back to Earth?
KOPRA: As soon as we get back, I’ll essentially be a lab rat. I have to participate in experiments that will help scientists understand exactly what happens to the human body when it is exposed to very weak gravity for a long period of time. Scientists will be taking a lot of measurements to see how my body is adapting to coming back to the stronger gravity on Earth.

Q: What kind of food will you be excited to eat when you come back to Earth?
KOPRA: Fresh food. We have a very limited supply of fresh food.

Q: What would be your advice to kids who want to become astronauts?
KOPRA: I think the primary way to achieve goals like that is through perseverance and hard work. You can apply those to any major goal that you have.

Astronaut Nicole Stott will be taking Kopra’s place aboard the ISS.

Source: Scholastic News Online

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Motor Vehicle safety

by Sparky
August 30, 2009

 

 

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths for children 14 and under with almost 2,000 death in 2005. Inappropriately restrained children are nearly three and a half times more likely to be seriously injured in motor vehicle-related crashes. In 2007, more than 178,000 children ages 14 and under were injured occupants in a motor vehicle crash.
 

Riding in a motor vehicle

• Children ages 12 and under should ride buckled up in the back seat in a child safety seat, booster seat or safety belt.
• Infants should ride in a rear-facing infant seat until they are at least one-year old and weight at least 20 pounds.
• Use a convertible or forward facing safety seat until the child outgrows it – up to about four and when the child weights 40 pounds.
• All children who have outgrown child safety seats should be properly restrained in booster seats until they are at least eight years old, unless they are 4-feet 9 inches tall. Adult safety belts alone do not sufficiently protect children weighting less than 80 pounds form injury in a crash. Children can’t ride comfortably and remain properly restrained until they are tall enough for the knees to bend over the edge of the seat when their backs are resting firmly against the back seat. If the should portion of the lap-shoulder belt comes across the neck, rather than the chest, they should be in a booster seat.

 

Bus safety for children

• While waiting for the bus, take five giant steps form the curb until the bus has stopped completely.
• Stay seated at all times.
• Keep head, arms and hands inside the bus. Never throw anything out of the bus window.
• Always hold on to the bus handrails to prevent falling.
• Be careful that clothing, book bags, and key rings don’t get caught in the handrails or doors.
• When getting off the bus, take five giant steps away from the bus, and stay on the sidewalk.
• If you drop something near the bus, tell the bus drive. Otherwise, the bus driver may not be able to see you.

 

Source: Sparky      NFPA

 

Editor’s Note:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) (12/17/08). 

We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Back to School Safety Tips

 

By Sparky
August 30, 2009

 

 

 

Say goodbye to summer and hello to fall. It’s school time again! Just like teachers, books, and homework go hand in hand with the school year, so should safety.

 

 

• While waiting for the bus, take five giant steps back from the curb until the bus has stopped completely.
• Inside the bus, stay seated at all times.
• Keep head, arms and hands inside the bus. Never throw anything out of the bus window.
• Always hold on to the bus handrails when you are getting on or off the bus so you don’t fall.
• Be careful that clothing, book bags, and key rings don’t get caught in the handrails or doors
• When getting off the bus, go to the closest sidewalk or side of the road and take five giant steps away from the bus.
• If you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver. If you bend over to pick it up, the bus driver may not be able to see you

 

 

• Children under age 10 should never cross a street without a grown-up.
• Choose a safe route to school. Look for the most direct route with the fewest street crossings.
• When crossing the street, stop at the curb or edge of the road.
• Look left, then right, then left again for moving cars before crossing.
• Keep looking left and right until you are safely across the street – and remember to walk, not run.
• Follow all traffic signals and markings.
• Don’t enter the street from between parked cars or from behind bushes or shrubs. Drivers might not be able to see you.

 

 

• If you are old enough to ride alone, plan a safe route to school and have a grown-up ride with you the first few times.
• Children under 10 shouldn’t ride on the road without a grown-up.
• Be sure that your helmet fits. It should sit even on top of the head –not rocking in any direction–and always fasten the safety strap.
• Learn the proper hand signals and use them when you turn or stop.
• Walk, do not ride your bike accross the street.
• Come to a complete stop before entering driveways, paths or sidewalks, then look left, right and left again for bikes, cars or pedestrians heading your way.
• Do not ride at night.

 

And last, but not least, if you are riding in a car to school the safest place to be if you are 12 years old or younger is in the back seat buckled up safely. Remember, you should be in a booster seat until you are eight years old and 80 pounds.

 

Source: Sparky

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Review of Six Flags America

By Our Kids
August 29, 2009

Baltimore/Washington, DC

13710 Central Ave
Upper Marlboro, MD
Google map

“Even if you’re a patient person, you can’t be patient for this!” – Senior OK Intern

Back before the internet and cellphones, when I was a teenager, I visited Six Flags (then known as Adventure World) and remember it primarily as a teen hangout. The OK Amusement Park Assessment Review Team (four staffers ages 7, 9, almost 37 and just 62), decided there was no better time than now to check out what was being billed as the new-and-improved Six Flags, and we were pleasantly surprised at the changes that have taken place since that long ago visit. Six Flags is located in Largo, Maryland about 30 minutes from Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD. It includes two main areas — the waterpark, Hurricane Harbor and the main amusement park. It was a beautiful sunny morning, so we opted to start out in Hurricane Harbor.

The Waterpark
Hurricane Harbor is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It’s definitely a nice addition to the amusement park side of Six Flags, and admission is included in your ticket price. My biggest memory of the waterpark was how dirty things were – from the water to the bathrooms – so I must admit I was quite hesitant going into this review. To get to the waterpark you must first walk through an area flanked by games for kids to play and now “conveniently” they accept credit cards to play said games. We ended up bypassing these as the OK interns were very excited to get to the waterpark.

Our first stop was at the women’s locker room, and we are happy to report that it was clean and orderly. There are plenty of bathrooms, shower stalls and regular changing stalls, but it probably gets crowded on a weekend. The floors were clean, but as the day wore on you could start to see the wear and tear on the bathrooms. Nothing you wouldn’t expect from a big amusement park.

We opted to rent a locker in the waterpark for the duration of our stay (you can also rent lockers in other places throughout the park). It is well-worth the money to be able to store your things in one safe place and not have to lug everything around. We put on our lotion beforehand and carried our beach towels from place to place. Locker rental daily rates range in price from a small ($11) or large ($15) to family ($17). We rented a large locker and could fit two filled bags in it with some room to spare. When you rent the locker, you’ll receive a wristband that one person in your party wears. Cool bonus feature: when you hold the wristband up to an electronic sensor the locker opens, even if you don’t say something that sounds like a magic spell.

Onto the waterpark! We wanted to start out slow and opted to visit Crocodile Cal’s Caribbean Beach House. It’s a five-story interactive tree house that spurts water from every which way. There’s the standard bucket up top that will delight children with a huge downpour of water every so often. There are at least seven different water slides for all ages and stages. The water is pretty shallow in most parts and there is a beach entry for the littlest swimmers.

We were very impressed by the lifeguards throughout the entire waterpark. They were almost overly attentive in some areas, but it was a nice change from the usual slack-a-dasical attitude lifeguards have, and I’d rather be safe than sorry. They stopped kids from running, getting out of the water in the wrong place and from horseplay. We even saw lifeguards practicing safety drills throughout the park.

Hurricane Harbor has lots of waterslides, so there is something for all levels and interests. Bahama Blast, a family raft ride (must be 42″ with an adult; 48″ without an adult) was our next stop. It turns out you have to lug a huge four-person “round” raft up several flights of stairs. This isn’t for the faint of heart. I run marathons and would call myself in decent shape; but was huffing and puffing by the time we reached the top with our raft in hand. Seconds after we hopped into the raft we were spiraling down a tube that was enclosed at times and not at others. It was awesome, belly-turning fun, but we’d recommend it only for those who love waterslides. I thought this slide would be a more gentle ride down for my 7-year old, more timid waterslide rider. Not so, Bahama Blast is just that — it blasts you down quickly and it is great fun!

The 7 year old and 62 year old headed back over to Crocodile Cal’s while the two other reviewers went on two other waterslides: Paradise Plunge and Reef Runner. These are two-person and single tubes that you carry up several flights of stairs before plunging down a tube slide. We went on the two-person tube and the slides were invigorating! The lifeguards were attentive both at the top and bottom.

Next we headed to Castaway Creek, a lazy river where kids 36″ and over can ride solo in a tube. It was nice and relaxing and the kids enjoyed splashing around while lollygagging around the river. Afterwards they played in the pool that was in the center of the lazy river and included the Vortex/Riptide waterslides; Calypso Cannonball tube slides and Bamboo Chutes kiddie slides.

We then went to Hurricane Bay, one of the largest wave pools in the country. Back in the day, Hurricane Bay was well-known for having hair nets, band-aids and other strange foreign objects, so we are happy to report there has been a successful makeover. The water was clean, the lifeguards were on top of things and the wave pool was not crowded. Waves are intermittent and can get up to 4 feet tall. Infants and weak swimmers are not allowed past a certain point and again the lifeguards were on hand to make sure that did not happen. The OK-interns rated Hurricane Bay as one of their favorite places. They could splash, bobble up and down and just have fun. In front of Hurricane Bay there is a large open area with dozens of lounge chairs. This lawn is a green carpet, which has definitely seen better days. It might bother some people, but it’s nothing you wouldn’t expect in an older park.

Our final stop in the waterpark was Buccaneer Beach. This area is great for the littlest kids and consists of two pools with loads of interactive features. The area is aimed at children 54″ and lower with an adult. There’s a pirate ship, water squirting out of the pool bottom and a huge octopus over a submarine in the center where kids can climb in and around.

There are several other waterslides in the park, including the Tornado (a six-story funnel of “fun”), Tony Hawk’s Halfpipe (a water ramp that can “skateboard” on), Hammerhead (a tube slide in the dark) and Mako (a tube slide that is half-open and half-enclosed). Note: on all waterslides you have to carry your tube up the stairs.

The Amusement Park

After a fun-filled morning we headed to the amusement park side of Six Flags. Map in hand, we let the kids decide where we should head first and they chose the Great Race, an antique car ride. The OK interns were thrilled that they would have the chance to drive their own car. The OK adults were excited that this was the only place they’d be driving for a long time! The Great Race features antique cars that seat 4-5 people (no lap children) that are driven around a track for about 5 minutes. There was no wait for a car but we were disappointed at this ride (the only one) because the attendants were less than helpful and more interested in texting or talking with each other. We took the experience for what it was and we were off to the Looney Tunes Movie Town, a section made just for the littlest of amusement park patrons.

Looney Tunes Movie Town offers rides geared mostly for kids ages 2 to 8 or 9 depending on their height. All of the rides are very mild and are a great introduction for children. The 9-year old OK intern went on the Great Chase first, a family-friendly roller coaster. It takes kids up a modest incline and brings them around the track to where they begin; the ride goes about three times around the loop. We tried to go onto Sylvester’s Pounce and Bounce where kids are taken 20 feet in the air before a short free fall; however one intern was too tall to ride. So instead we hit up several others to include the Tinsel Town Train, Pepe LePew’s Tea Party (kids spin around in tea cups) and Yosemite Sam’s Hollywood Flight School (kids take flight in mini-airplanes). Ride operators in the Looney Tunes Movie Town area were attentive to the children and appeared interested in what they were doing. The max height limit is generally between 52″ and 54″, so it depended on who was doing the measuring as to whether or not the 9-year old could ride.

Following the foray into Looney Tunes Movie Town, we took a ride on the Capital Railways, which is new for 2009. Capital Railways takes you on a relaxing ride around the park in a full-size locomotive. It was a great way to chill out for a few before we headed out to see some other attractions. The ride was slow and covered; so on a hot day, it would be a nice change of pace from being in the hot sun.

During our train ride we were able to peep all of the roller coasters in the park. Back when I was in leg warmers, I would have eagerly tried all
the roller coasters, but now that I have children and a minivan, my threshold for taking chances has definitely gone down. They are still fun to watch though! Experts tell me that Six Flags has some really awesome coasters. Here they are, in train view order:

• The Wild One is a classic wooden roller coaster. You must be at least 48″ to ride.
• Superman: Ride of Steel is a 20-story mega-coaster. You must be a minimum of 54″ to ride and a maximum of 76″. This ride was not running while we were at the park; there were operators working on fixing something with the ride.
• Batwing is a face-down coaster and you must be at least 54″ to ride.
• The Joker’s Jinx is probably the scariest and coolest looking roller coaster I have seen in a while. This coaster takes you from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds. You’ll twist and turn like no other! You must be 54″ minimum to ride.
• Two other coasters that we saw were The Roar, a wooden coaster that criss-crosses itself 20 times and The Mind Eraser, a coaster that you ride with your feet dangling in the air.

After our tame train ride and seeing the excitement of the roller coasters, we walked around and decided to try out two water rides, favorites from my years as a teen. Skull Mountain was the first and is a cruise through a pitch dark tunnel, high speed twists and turns where you are then dumped into a chute of water. 46″ minimum to ride and great fun! The second was Shipwreck Falls, a boat of sorts that takes you up an incline, around a curve (all in water) to plunge down and be engulfed by the water and then soaked. Warning: You will get completely soaked on these rides so do not bring anything that you do not want wet. For those who opt not to go on Shipwreck Falls, you can stand on the bridge that the boat goes under and get soaked by the spray. On a hot summer day these are great rides in addition to Renegade Rapids (a white water raft ride) and The Penguins Blizzard River.

We capped our visit with a ride on Around the World in 80 Days, a fun ferris wheel. You have to be 42″ to ride alone; under 42″ with a companion over 54″. There were several rides that we weren’t able to get to. Here are a few worth mentioning and hopefully you’ll have some braver folks in your group who will try them out and report back to Our Kids.

• Flying Carousel is a high-flying swing ride. Must be 48″ minimum to ride.
• Cyclone is a ride where spinning gondolas send riders back and forth.
• Tower of Doom is a high-speed free fall from 140 feet in the air. Make sure to leave those flip-flops at the bottom!
• Falling Star and High Seas are both giant rides where you rotate and swing around.
• The Octopus spins riders up and down on its tentacles. 51″ minimum to ride.

Six Flags America is a smallish, more compact park than others that are farther away, but even spending six hours at the park we weren’t able to get to all the rides or see any shows. Consult the Six Flags website for a current listing of shows at the park. Also worth noting is the 2009 Starburst Summer Concert Series which takes place weekly through August.

Upcoming special events:

• October 3 to 31: Fright Fest; Six Flags America will be totally transformed into a Halloween playground on weekends. There will be a special trick-or-treat trail just for kids.

All concerts are included with your 2009 Play Pass or daily admission. Get up close with preferred floor access for $10, park admission is additional.

The Food
Check out this awesome kids meal

Gourmet and healthy food it is not, so food is not a highlight of the park. No outside food is allowed inside Six Flags. You are however allowed one unopened bottle of water and we highly recommend that you take advantage of that option. As you would expect, food is pretty pricey.

During our adventure we stopped briefly to eat lunch. We dined at Papaya Pete’s Chicken Hut, which offers various chicken sandwiches, french fries, popcorn shrimp and a kids meal. The adults had a crispy chicken sandwich and grilled chicken sandwich both with fries. We paid $7.99 plus tax for the adult entries. The best deal by far is the kids meal. For $8.99 plus tax, kids get a souvenir bucket filled with applesauce, a cheese stick, fries and popcorn chicken. They also get their choice of drink in a souvenir cup.

Other choices for dining in the waterpark included Subway, Papa Johns, Beachside Burgers and Hurricane Hot Dog. There was a cute place called Calypso’s; which served ice cold beer, wine coolers and small appetizers. Caribbean music was piped in throughout the different dining areas. Deserts in the form of funnel cakes and Ben & Jerry’s were available as well.

Later in the afternoon we decided to have some ice cream. We first stopped in the Cold Stone Creamery on Main Street. They offer a pretty nice selection, but they only have waffle cones that were much too large for our party. We headed over to Ben & Jerry’s for a soft serve ice-cream cone. The food was yummy; however the prices were very high. It was $5.29 plus tax for a soft serve cone.

Dining options in the amusement park include a Johnny Rockets restaurant, Panda Express, Papa John’s, Subway and other grill type places. You can view a detailed list online. Note: peanut oil is used in the preparation of menu items, so if you have allergies in the family as is often the case these days, contact Park Security or Guest Relations when you arrive to bring in special dietary foods. If you don’t mind paying amusement park prices then you have wide selection. If you’re trying to save a little money, consider tail gaiting. You can get your hand stamped at the exit/re-entry gate; head to your car for a bite to eat and then go back for more fun at Six Flags.

Admission

• Expect to pay $15 for parking.
• General admission to the park is $49.99; Junior admission under 48″ is $24.99; and under 2 is free. If you purchase your tickets online, you can buy one for $49.99 and get one free. Or you can Become an Our Kids member and get access to discounted tickets.
• If before you visit you know you’ll want to go back more than once, purchase a 2009 Play Pass. You get unlimited visits on regular operating days during the 2009 season and access to Fright Fest.
• If you had a ton of fun and know you’ll be back to Six Flags in one season; consider turning in your one-day admission and purchase a 2009 season pass for $19.99 plus tax. Details are at Guest Relations.
• Purchase a flash pass for $15. The Flash Pass reduces your wait time on select rides. I would imagine this would be invaluable on busy weekdays or weekends.

Things to Know Before You Go:

• Consult the Six Flags website for hours of operation. Generally they start their season in April (weekends only) and open during the week starting in May. Weekdays continue through Labor Day and then the park stays open on weekends only through the end of October.
• In addition to the amusement park rides, waterpark and food; Six Flags also has arcade games and carnival games. There are also vendors scattered that do tattoos on kids. Our interns are Harry Potter fans and got a lightening bolt and snake on their arms. Tattoos last from 2 to 4 weeks, but a word of caution. You have to let them dry after they are applied or the tattoo will get messed up (as one of ours did). Tattoos start at $5.
• Six Flags has a guest code of conduct and from all appearances it seems to be enforced. There is a dress code, behavior and language rules that apply. Six Flags allows smoking in designated areas and pets are not permitted in the park with the exception of service animals.
• Don’t forget: your towels, a change of clothes (don’t forget the underwear), sunscreen, hats, sunglasses. Bring a camera; lots of fun photo opportunities are available.
• Appropriate bathing suits may only be worn inside Hurricane Harbor. Regular clothing must be worn in the amusement park.
• The park accepts American Express, MasterCard, VISA and Discover Card for park admission, at gift shops and many food locations. Personal checks are not accepted.
• There are plenty of gift shops throughout the park. We didn’t have enough time to check them out; but they offer everything from Six Flags apparel to Looney Tunes apparel, collector’s items; along with kids super heroes apparel.
• There are plenty of bathrooms, a first aid station, water fountains and ATMs throughout the park.
• You can bring your own stroller; but if you don’t feel like it you can rent one at the park. A limited number are available.
• Consider dressing your kids in the same color shirt for easy identification. And make sure that all children you bring to the park know their parents name, their phone number and address if possible.
• Before visiting Six Flags, consult the park FAQ for a full list of things to know.

Bottom Line:We visited Six Flags on a Monday, and I am convinced it saved us from a lot of waiting in line for rides, food and general activities. Head to Six Flags on a weekday; the earlier the better. No lines, clean facilities, lots of options = maximum fun.

Editor’s Note: This review was first down in Our Kids in July. Have you been to Six Flags America? What’s your opinion? Just drop us a note at www.ourkids.com and dan@goldcoastchronicle.com will add your comments to this review.

Source: Our Kids

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