“Helping kids turn the page on hardship - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel” plus 1 more |
| Helping kids turn the page on hardship - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Posted: 03 Sep 2010 09:09 PM PDT | Food, clothing and shelter may be the necessities of life, but books? Yes. Those, too. A growing number of children whose families have been turning to Waukesha's Hope Center for help are getting free books, thanks to good hearts, a great project and - soon, perhaps - a broader community contribution. Books can be an escape, an education, a lifeline, a joy. Maybe even more so for children whose families struggle to give them three squares a day or a decent set of school clothes, but no chance of a bright new copy of Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," E.B. White's "Charlotte's Web," or like treasures. A Children's Free Library was conceived by Dave Wolken of Hartland, an early participant in Volunteers of Lake Country. The group, just by word of mouth and e-mail, has grown exponentially and does amazing things for fellow human beings month after month. Wolken started thinking about free books for kids this summer after talking to others involved with Milwaukee's well-established Next Door Foundation and its "Books for Kids" program that provides books to central city children. Even amid Waukesha County's often-highlighted relative wealth, the need and needy exist west of 124th St. Wolken said he tested the idea at Waukesha's Hope Center, 502 N. East Ave., a hub of social services provided through 17 cooperating churches in Waukesha County. It serves more than 3,000 people a month with food, clothing, shelter and much more, according to executive director Ralph Zick. Wolken said he and co-coordinator Mary Pfeiffer put out about 175 children's books at Hope Center that first time, and they were gone in a day or two. Kids swarmed around them in anticipation. In one month, he said, volunteers have given about 900 books for the free library. "They're all gone," he said. Zick said that often when parents come in to the clothing center and "shop" for the free apparel, their kids will sprawl out by the hallway bookcases, browse and start reading. "It's just wonderful to see," he said. "As fast as we put them out, they're off the shelf." Public libraries are priceless in providing access to shared books. But arriving at your very own book-lined shelf, maybe to re-read a favorite or share with your grandkids, is invaluable, too. "The kids get to keep these books," Wolken said. Maybe they've just come out of a shelter, or have nothing to call their own. Maybe this will encourage parents to read to their children, he added. Maybe just having books in their homes will help them become better readers, more curious learners. In order to keep the supply going, Wolken said, donations are needed from the rest of us. New and gently used books can be dropped off at the Hope Center or inside Wolken's front porch, 702 E. Capitol Drive, Hartland. There'll also be a one-day book drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Hartbrook Mall, Highway 16 and Merton Ave., Hartland. Anyone with questions can contact him at dwolken@wi.rr.com. About 1,000 books a month are needed to replenish shelves. "It's pretty remarkable how we can put out the books and they'll be gone in a couple of days," he said. No, not so remarkable. Not for a necessity. Call Laurel Walker at (262) 650-3183 or e-mail lwalker@journalsentinel.com This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| Well-rested kids make the best students - Times Union Posted: 03 Sep 2010 09:02 PM PDT In these last, waning moments of summer, you'll likely find parents in one of two camps: those preoccupied with getting all their supply shopping done, and those counting the minutes until that big yellow bus arrives. But parenting experts and pediatricians agree the most important thing for parents to be thinking about right now is getting students on a regular sleep schedule. If your child has been staying up later than usual during summer break, now is the time to reacquaint them with their normal school bedtime. Despite protests and claims of not being tired, to function their best, kids of all ages require plenty of uninterrupted sleep. Bob Smith, a physician's assistant with Northeast Health's Cohoes Family Care, recommends 10-12 hours for grammar school and 8-12 hours for high school students. "Lots of times, kids are actually pushing the envelope because they are playing more on the computer or watching shows, and they are not getting the adequate amount, so it can lead to other biological changes in the body that can cause disruptions in their learning pattern," Smith said. If a student is chronically fatigued, it is more difficult for them to stay focused and concentrate. And the recommended number of hours is for every night, not just school nights. This can be challenging, especially for high school students. "Most high-schoolers don't get nearly that much, and they end up staying up a lot later and then they have to get up early. With their school schedules and extracurricular activities, they are wearing the body down," Smith said. According to Smith, sleep patterns can become a vicious cycle for teenagers who tend to try to catch up on the weekends but remain exhausted during the school week. Along with potentially causing learning difficulties, fatigue can also weaken the body's immune system, making students more susceptible to illness. As any parent knows, just because you understand the importance of sleep and want your child to go to bed, that doesn't guarantee it will happen. Karen Ackerman of Schodack says she and her husband have learned to "preset" their school-age son so he knows exactly what to expect once school resumes. "We talk everything up weeks ahead of time, going over every detail, clothing, bed time, what needs to be done in the a.m. and in what order. Sometimes we feel like drill sergeants, but it does work and he never has anxiety about what will happen," Ackerman said. Martin Symansky, medical director of Capital District Physicians Health Plan and former pediatrician, says that while it might not be easy at first, there are key steps parents can take to help their child get a good night's sleep. Symansky suggests parents start with setting (and sticking with) a bedtime. Internet marketing consultant Carissa Ganelli, of Old Greenwich, Conn., mother to two boys ages 7 and 3, has found that while setting rules about bedtime is not always easy, it is a necessity. "Sleep is so important. Because of busy lifestyle, kids don't always get enough," Ganelli says. "But it's just as important as food and water. If they are sleep-deprived, behaviorally, we see a big difference." To ensure her kids get enough sleep, Ganelli has established a few policies that she sticks with. "You have to be really strong and consistent as a parent," she says. "There's just not enough time in the day to do activities, do homework and watch TV. So we just don't allow (TV). That's difficult to do as a parent. It's good to start them early as an infant and be consistent." Back to sleep Looking for more tips about how to begin a successful sleep routine? Try these suggestions offered by Martin Symansky, medical director of Capital District Physicians Health Plan: Set up a sleep-friendly environment without TV or computers, but sometimes with soft music to lull them. Avoid high-sugar and caffeine-containing foods and beverages just before bedtime. Offer quiet, calming activities at least 30 minutes before bed (i.e. bath or shower, reading, relaxation, etc.). It's best to avoid TV, computers, video games, etc. at least 1 hour before bedtime. Maintain a routine in other parts of the day (i.e. regular meal and snack times, times for free play and physical activity, etc.) Ensure your child gets a healthy dose of physical activity each day and isn't eating a diet full of sugar-laden and processed food This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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