Day At Mount Rushmore

by Katy Slagel
Scholastic News
July 11, 2009

 

Editor’s Note: Katy Slagel, is a Kid Reporter for Scholastic News. She is on vacation with her family. She is her blog: My Vacation to Mount Rushmore.

We would like to know what you think? We would like to hear from you what you are doing with your family this summer dan@youngchronicle.com .

 

You can see eye to eye with these four presidents-if you are 465 feet tall!

As soon as I got home from school on that very last day, I was so excited I thought I was going to explode! My dad, step-mom, sister and I were driving all the way to South Dakota from Michigan to see Mount Rushmore.

I have always wanted to see it, and my dream came true that day. Lots and lots of packing was on the schedule, but it was totally worth it when we got there.

I was blown away when I gazed up at the carefully sculpted masterpiece. It was difficult to think that this sculpture was once a towering mountain, and that more than 400 men and women worked on the monument for 14 years. Building began in 1927 and ended in 1941. I couldn’t believe that so many people dedicated their lives to build Mount Rushmore for just $8.00 a day, which was a lot of money back then. They had to work really hard. To get to the top of the monument they had to climb 506 steps! Some did this every day.

The sculptor was Gutzon Borglum, who died the year before the carvings were finished. His son was in charge of Project Lincoln the final two years of the work.

A great deal of the sculpting was done with dynamite! More than 800 pounds of stone was blasted off the face of the mountain. Did you know that each President’s head is as tall as a six-story building? Or that each president’s nose is 20 feet long, each mouth is 18 feet wide, and their eyes are 11 feet across? As soon as I saw the four humungous presidents cut from rock, I knew exactly who they were: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

When it was time to leave Mount Rushmore, I didn’t want to go. Everything there was so fascinating! If I ever go to Mount Rushmore again, I hope we can stay there longer!

Source: Scholastic News Online

Magical Nature Journey -Forest Baby

Harry Potter” Star Charged with Planting Ten Cannabis Plants

By Fox News
July 10, 2009

The 19-year-old actor will have to appear in court later this month for the charges stemming from an April arrest.

Waylett, who plays Potter bully Vincent Crabbe, was busted when cops pulled over his vehicle in London and allegedly found eight bags of marijuana. He was taken to a nearby police station before a team of officers raided his mother’s home in Camden, the Daily Telegraph reports.

A Metropolitan police spokeswoman said the actor would appear in court late this month and “is charged with producing a Class B drug, nearly ten plants of cannabis.”

The plants – valued at more than $3,000 – were allegedly found among DJ equipment and a Playstation, the Telegraph said.

Waylett may face up to 14 years for cannabis production, while the maximum charge for cannabis possession is five years.

Source: Fox News

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

Splish Splash Baby

Fun With Music Sing Along Disney Pt1

Funny!!! Lion King Song!!! ( The lion sleeps tonight)

Keep Kids Safer Around Medicine

By SafeKids
July 9, 2009
 
Editor’s Note: Please check out the video in our video section.

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

 

Each year, more than 1.2 million children ages 5 and under are unintentionally poisoned and 44 percent of these poisonings are from prescription drugs and other medications. 

What young kids see and reach, they usually put in their mouths and as their mobility and capabilities increase, they can reach medicines and household products wherever they’re stored.

It’s important for adults who are around children to keep medications away from little hands-even if you’re not a parent. Twenty percent of the prescription drugs accidentally taken by children 4 and under belong to someone who doesn’t live with the child.

Is it medicine or is it candy?
 
 
Safety Tips
 
To help prevent medication-related poisoning, follow these safety tips: 

• Store medications locked out of children’s sight and reach.

• Buy child-resistant packages when available, but remember that although child-resistant packaging is not 100 percent childproof, it has prevented hundreds of deaths. 

• Keep products in their original packages to avoid confusion.

• Don’t take medicine or vitamins in front of kids and don’t call them “candy.”

• Don’t leave medicine in your purse or an unlocked kitchen or bathroom cabinet. Don’t put it on the kitchen counter, bedside table or leave it unattended while you are using it.

• Read labels to find out what can be poisonous. Keep those things separate from toothpaste, soap and other things you use every day.

• Always read labels, follow directions and give medicines to children based on their weights and ages. Only use the dispensers packaged with children’s medications. 

• Don’t involve children as “helpers” with your medication. They should not remind you to take medicine or bring you water.

• Tell grandparents and friends about avoiding medication poisoning when your family visits their homes.

 

Q&As of the Week
 

Q: What are some of the most common poisonous items for children?

A: While medicines are one of the causes of poisoning in children, children are also poisoned by products such as cosmet­ics, cleaning substances, plants, toys, vitamins, pesticides, lead, and carbon monoxide.

For more info, visit www.usa.safekids.org/poison

Is it medicine or is it candy?

How Do We Potty Train Our Kids

By The Potty Training/PIO
July 7, 2009 

It probably seems like just yesterday that you changed your baby’s first nappy, but before you know it she’ll be ready to start potty training. While there’s no magic age at which a child is ready to start using the potty, most toddlers will develop the necessary physical and cognitive skills between 18 and 24 months of age (though some aren’t ready to start until they’re as old as four). Use the checklist below to keep track of your toddler’s progress toward readiness.

You don’t have to wait until you’ve checked off every item to start training; rather, look for a general trend toward independence and an understanding of what it means to go to the bathroom like a grown-up.

 

Your child may be ready to start potty training if he or she: 

• Has regular, soft, formed bowel movements
• Can pull her pants up and down
• Imitates others’ bathroom habits (likes to watch you go to the bathroom, wants to wear underwear, and so on)
• Makes a physical demonstration when she’s having a bowel movement (such as grunting, squatting, or telling you)
• Has words for stool and urine
• Can follow simple instructions (such as “Give me the toy.”)
• Understands the physical signals that mean she has to go and can tell you before it happens
• Dislikes the feeling of being in a dirty nappy
• Has “dry” periods of at least three or four hours (this shows her bladder muscles are developed enough to hold her urine in and store it)
• Isn’t negative about everything
• Understands the value of putting things where they belong
• Demonstrates a desire for independence.

 

Can walk and sit down

Toilet training (or potty training) is the process of weaning a young child off diapers (nappies) and training him or her to use the toilet for urination and defecation. Potty training is usually done between the ages of eighteen-months and three years.

 

 Readiness

It is important not to start toilet training until both parent and child are ready. One is ready when one is able to devote the time and energy necessary to encourage a child on a daily basis for at a minimum of 3 months.

A child is ready to begin toilet training when he or she can signal that his or her diaper (nappy) is wet, or that they need the toilet. This usually occurs between the ages of 18-24 months, but it is not uncommon for a child to still need diapers until 4 years of age.

A child can have problems later in life if the training doesn’t go well, or is too strict. For example, as an adult a person could strive for perfection or excessive cleanliness because they were too harshly trained. The current popular wisdom on this subject is that toilet training is a mutual task, requiring cooperation, agreement and understanding between both the child and the caregiver. It is strongly recommended that coercion and shame are not used as disciplinary instruction tools during this phase of development.

 

Pre-Toilet Training

There are five aspects to pre-toilet training.
1) Naming urine and bowel movements is the first. When you notice that your child has a wet or dirty diaper, mention what has happened, using the words that you have chosen. These words should be culture specific, and should be frequently used words in the normal everyday environment. It is advisable for you use culture specific or commonly known words, since if the child asks for example, at Kindergarten to use the toilet, not using a known word could severely complicate the issue and lead to accidental urination or defacation.

2) Allowing your child to watch you or other family members use the toilet. This provides the child with opportunities to see, ask questions, and learn. This is OK providing your family is comfortable with this idea.

3) It is also a good idea with children to introduce the idea of “Private Zones” on their bodies, since once at Kindergarten, other people may have to assist with helping the child, and its a good idea your child becomes aware of which parts of their body are considered “private”.

4) Change your child’s diaper as soon as possible after it becomes wet or dirty to prevent the child becoming comfortable with, or even liking, wet and dirty diapers. When you change a child’s diaper, never make him/her feel bad for wetting or soiling it, or show any signs of disliking what you see or smell, but do not praise him/her.
If possible, change the diaper in the bathroom. This will accomplish a few important toilet training tasks before initiating training. Emptying the diaper into the toilet will help your child learn that the toilet is where his/her motions go. If you encourage the child to help flush the toilet, then s/he will learn how to flush.

5) Praise your child whenever s/he tells you verbally or with a gesture that they have urinated or defacated. Once the child develop voluntary control, s/he will tell you before the fact. Be sure to provide praise then, too.

 

Toilet Training

Toilet training takes time, effort and co-operation from both the parents and the child. Toilet training takes on average 3 months, however it may be much longer before your child is completely dry during the day. It is not uncommon for a child of 3 or 4 to still be having frequent wetting accidents, however, if by the age of 4 your child has still had no success at toilet training it may be worth visiting your family doctor to ensure that there is no underlying medical condition.

 

Toilet Training Girls

Because of the female anatomy, girls and women generally urinate sitting down. Girls should be taught to wipe from “front to back” after using the bathroom. This helps prevent the bacteria in feces from coming into contact with the vagina, helping to keep it free from infection.

 

 

Wishing to urinate while standing

 If a girl has seen her father, male friend, or a sibling standing up while urintating, she may want to try it. One may wish to let, as she is curious. Cleaning up puddles may be necessary, but she may get the idea that it is more practical for her to urinate sitting down. If she persists, having someone explain why females urinate the way they do may help.

 

Toilet Training while traveling

 Parents often ask what to do if they are traveling with a child who is being potty trained, and also if they should stop the potty training process. The answer to this is no. Parents should not stop the process. In fact, this should be an opportunity to teach your child about going to the bathroom away from home.

 

Here are some hints to help parents out:

Go before you go: Your child will need to learn that s/he’ll sometimes have to use a bathroom before a long trip, even if she doesn’t feel a strong need at the time.

Bring extra clothes: Accidents happen, so be prepared with extra pants/skirts/dresses, underwear, shoes and socks if s/he accidentally urinates or defacates.

Bring wipes: Bring toilet paper or wipes in case a bathroom is not available, or if there is no toilet paper.

Where to go: Away from home, teach your child to recognize rest room signs, and encourage him/her to use public bathrooms whenever the need arises. Many kids find toilets fascinating, so compare new toilets with the ones at home. Children under the age of 6 should be accompanied by an adult when using a public restroom.

Urinating / Defacating in the Car: You should consider keeping a potty chair in the car to eliminate the need to find a rest room in the event of a potty emergency. However, if your child is desperate enough and you didn’t bring a potty with you, then you can always let your little boy use a jar or can, or for little girls, a plastic bucket can work if you ensure a good fit for her.

Urinating Outdoors:Sometimes a bathroom won’t be available when your child has to use the toilet, so you may have to teach them how to urinate outdoors. This isn’t a problem for boys, but little girls must learn to squat so their feet and clothing are out of the way. You can help your daughter by showing her the appropriate position and physically supporting her as she squats. Please also be aware that in some countries, this is forbidden by law if the child is over a certain age.

Source: Pampers

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

Exclusive with ZEKE AND LUTHER’s Adam Hicks

By Karen
STACKS Staffer
July 8, 2009

I am not a morning person. So a few weeks ago when I realized I had to get to the office by 8:30 a.m. for a celebrity video shoot, I was not happy. Not happy at all. But then I met Adam Hicks, and all was forgiven. If you’ve been watching Disney XD’s Zeke and Luther, you know Adam as the sometimes awkward, often zany, always irrepressible Luther.

So I was kind of expecting the Tasmanian Devil to show up for the video shoot. But it turns out that Adam is totally calm, down-to-earth, and cool. AND he loves to read: In addition to the video shoot, Adam also sat down for an interview with Marie (the same goddess who connects THE STACKS with all our celeb coverage – we bow to Marie).

They chatted about the show, plus everything else from books to music to cheetahs (yes, cheetahs). Keep an eye out for the full interview in Scholastic’s magazines in the fall. In the meantime, read on for a sneak peek, not to mention more videos with Adam!

(Q) First of all, let’s talk about Zeke and Luther. Tell me about the plot. 

(A) Okay, it’s about two 15-year-old kids who have this dream of becoming professional skateboarders. They’ve been friends ever since they were 5 years old so this is a dream that they take very seriously. And I play Luther, who’s a 15-year-old zany kid. He’s outrageous, always getting into these sorts of outrageous situations, and I sort of get persuaded from that dream and it’s Zeke’s job to pull me back at any given time.  

(Q) Zeke and Luther is on Disney XD. From what I understand, that channel aims to appeal more to boys than to girls. Do you think that the show is going to be more boy-oriented, or appeal to both?

(A) I honestly think it’s both in a way because Zeke has a younger sister who sort of brings the girl appeal to the show, and it has different situations where it does focus on both. Honestly anyone pretty much can love it. There’s outrageous stunts. It is extreme. So it’s definitely a new type of thing for Disney that they’re doing, and I feel like any gender will love it.

(Q) When you say it’s extreme, what do you mean by that  

(A)  Well, there’s outrageous stunts. We’re always traveling. It’s fast-paced, always moving, lots of music, lots of tricks. Stuff like that.  

(Q) Now, did you skateboard beforehand?

(A)  I did actually have a dream of becoming a professional skateboarder when I was a little kid, but I sort of jumped out of that phase. I had been skateboarding about six years before the show, and then I got the show, so I am pretty good, yeah.  

(Q) Do you have to take classes, work with professionals?

(A) Oh, yeah. We have this professional there, and his name is Jimmy Gorecki. He has helped Hutch and Daniel and me – everyone on set pretty much, and he’s pretty much guided us because skateboarding is always changing. The kids are always bringing new flavor into everything and it’s his job to let us know because we’re not always there to pick up on what the new trend is. He’s helped us so much from the pilot all the way to the end of the season.

(Q) Do you do all your own boarding or do they have stand-ins?

(A) We have a stand-in. My stand-in, his name is Sammy – I mean, he’s amazing. He’s a pro, and he pretty much makes us look great.

(Q) Do you have a personal favorite move?

(A)  A 360 Flip.

(Q) How long did it take you to learn how to do that?

(A) I actually learned it on the show. From Sammy. I had never really understood how to do it, but all you really need is guidance – because it’s complicated, but only in your head. For someone else, they’ve mastered things that you think are complicated, so if you just listen for a second, it’s very easy to pick it up.

(Q) Any scary or funny moments on the board?

(A) Man, I have done things. Yeah. There have been a lot of races and stuff where we just totally came off the board. And I mean, it’s gonna happen. I remember this scene, and I had this huge backpack on and I had to go down this hill. It took at least 20 tries because the backpack kept weighing me down, so every time I jumped on the board, the backpack would come over my head and I would just wipe out immediately. And they didn’t call in our stunt doubles that day, so we had to do it.

(Q) In real life, do you think Luther would be a friend of yours?

(A) Definitely. I think Luther is in every kid really. That’s why I think he has an appeal to every person, girl or boy . . . Have you ever had those moments where you live in that quiet type of abnormal state? Like you live in the outrageous moments? I know in your life you have a couple moments where you shouldn’t have said that or you shouldn’t have done that. That’s sort of Luther all around. He lives in those types of moments: “Oh no, I shouldn’t have done that! Why did I do that?” But he doesn’t realize it. And that’s sort of how I based the character. I looked at other people’s outrageous states and just sort of created him.

(Q) Have you ever met anybody like Luther?

(A) Honestly, no, to tell you the truth. I mean, he has his serious moments. He’s into girls; he’s starting to hit that age, but he’s still outrageous. He wears outrageous clothes. He eats outrageous foods. He doesn’t get it. You can tell him, but he still just won’t listen. And I don’t think it’s that he doesn’t care; he’s just not aware. You can go as far as doing whatever with this character. That’s why I love it.

(Q) Now, I know that you write songs and play the drums. Do you have a band?

(A) Well, we tried a band when I was little, but as I grew up I started hanging with an older group and they sort of influenced me on the hip hop type of music. I know at first look –  I mean, I get this all day long: “What, what? What are you – ?” But actually, Daniel Curtis Lee, who plays Kojo on the show, we make music and we have a whole thing of mix tapes and CDs. We’re working on that right now. And so hopefully that gets launched. So yeah, we make music and I wish you guys could hear some. [Karen] Well, your wish is our command, Adam! Little did he know that we’d eventually get our hands on this  to watch Adam and Daniel’s music video for their remake of MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This”! (in our Video section)

(Q) I’ve heard that animals are a big part of your family’s life and your mom takes in a lot of stray animals. Have you ever been with your mother when she’s rescued an animal?

(A) You have no idea. It’s like daily – yes. Constantly . . . If you talk about an animal lover, then you talk about my mom. Seriously. She’s like 150 percent, all the way – I mean, she’ll drive down the freeway and see a dog off the freeway and get off the freeway and go down to rescue it. I mean she has seven, eight cats. I can’t even – I don’t even know! We have seven or eight cats, two dogs . .

(Q) Silly question about animals – if you could be an animal, what animal would you like to be?

(A) Let me think. Probably a cheetah. Speed, beauty, physique.

(Q) You’ve said that a favorite book of yours is Henry VIII. Do you like biographies?

(A) I do, I do like biographies. I have a weird taste . . . I don’t want to say tragic, but real life stories appeal to me more than stuff. I read a lot of autobiographies, a lot . . . I don’t know, I think it’s more appealing. It draws you in more, does it not? And it’s not just those types of biographies – I’ll read history, stuff on space. It really doesn’t have to do with anything, but just black holes and stuff like that. I find it interesting.  

(Q) If you were going to recommend three books to other kids, what would they be?

(A) The Black Pearl, all the Harry Potters, and The Hobbit. Man, those were good!  

Why exactly does Adam like The Hobbit so much? See what he had to say: We also asked Adam if he had a favorite book series from when he was younger, and he recommended Goosebumps by R. L. Stine. (Coincidentally, Adam also starred in the movie Mostly Ghostly, based on the first book in R. L. Stine’s series of the same name.)

Check out what Adam had to say about Goosebumps: Of course, Adam also loves Stephen King, who’s considered, like, THE master of horror for adults. So that clinches it – not only is Adam not the kind of confused, slightly spastic character he plays on TV, but he’s definitely a much braver soul than I am.

Source: Blog Scholastic

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

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