Giving Children a Sense of Geography

Get a Glimpse of the Big Picture

   “Where do I live? Can you show me?”  

Map activities give young children a glimpse into the big picture of the world and where they live. It introduces maps and how to use them to find areas we find interesting or want to visit. 
You’ll need Google Maps Apps or paper maps from the local Chamber of Commerce or tourist center.

   Using maps of your local area locate children’s streets and some familiar sites like the library, grocery stores, parks, and museums. 

   Explain to children that that they live on this street, in their city. The next time they travel by car or walk to the park, show them their address number on their house, follow the map and route. You can program Google Maps to help you walk the route. Just follow the dots.  You can also compare the paper map with the Google Maps App. 

Google Maps or Any Maps Show WHERE

Another day bring out the state map or App and show children their area on that map. Using the state map, look for some sites they may have visited like lakes, rivers, and homes of relatives.  Children can help follow the paper map or App travel route on the next trip. They’ll have fun listening to the phone voice giving directions.

  Families can practice memorizing their street address, city, and state and talk about using Google Maps and finding different views.  The bird’s eye view is really fun for kids.  They can zoom in closer and closer on

 the App until they can see their roof top and even cars in the driveway.

   What does their favorite park look like from high above the trees? How does Google make these maps? Ask Google or You Tube the question.  There are great map explanations on line.

  Using a US map or Google Earth App point out a few places children may be curious about like Disney World, Washington D.C., mountain areas, rivers, and Great Lakes.  They can go to these sites and zoom in.

Get a Bird's Eye View

  Libraries have globes to show children that the earth is not flat like a map. Cheap blow up beach ball globes are also available on-line.

  Show children where Santa lives and the route he must take to their house. The North Pole can help children hold the globe correctly to find and name continents and countries.

  Interesting geography reading books for young children include David Scillian’s books, “P is for Passport: A World Alphabet” and “A is for America: An American Alphabet”; alphabet books for every state and for some countries. 

  The next time you’re playing in the sandbox with the kids  make a map of geographic features like mountains, rivers. islands, and peninsulas. For more see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com and wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons live and pod casts, Facebook, and You Tube.
Photo: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos
Maps: Google

Keeping Children Safe in Summer

Summer Opportunities for Play

Summer has arrived!  Now there are many new opportunities for kids to enjoy outdoor play.  In your backyard, at the playground, or on walks in the woods, there are things to explore and challenges to meet. Although families can’t wrap children in giant protective cotton balls, there are some tips that will help keep young children safe and ease your mind.

1.Most importantly, toddlers and other young children need to be supervised at all times.

2.Be sure to dress for the weather and conditions.  Boots and umbrellas can be a lot of fun.

3.As the weather gets hotter, keep kids hydrated with handy water bottles for frequent drinks. 

4.In any type of weather, children should not be left alone in a vehicle.  Dangerous overheating can happen very quickly.

5.Talk with your pediatrician about the safe use of sunscreen and insect repellant for your child and allergies to insect bites.

6.Check your backyard and other play areas for trash, glass, sharp objects and animal waste.

7.Set up safety expectations with

Setup Your Safety Expectations

 your children and be consistent.  Example: “We always wear our helmets when we ride bikes.  We never play in or near the street.   We always hold a hand when we are in a parking lot or crossing the street. Stop. Look and Listen.”

8.In the car:  Establish safe routines which includes always using approved car seats and seat buckles.  Keep windows partially closed and doors locked in the backseat.

9.Near the water:  Never let young children play without supervision near pools, tubs or bodies of water.  Pool areas near the house should always be fenced and properly closed.

10.  At the playground: Be sure swings are made of soft material and that flooring is a cushioned surface.  Experts advise that preschool age children never climb on or use equipment that is more than four feet off the ground.  Teach children to play away from swings and from the bottom of slides.  Wash hands after playing in open sandbox areas because of possible animal waste.

 11. At parties:  Even simple fireworks such as sparklers can be dangerous for children. The tip can be as high as 2,000 degrees. While they look like fun, trampolines and inflatable bouncing play areas are often a source of injury.  

Supervision - Especially by the Water

12.  Be sure that children are not playing in driveways where they may not be seen if cars back up, or in areas where lawnmowers or weed whackers are being used. When cars back up hold their hands at a designated safe place at home. Thousands of young children are killed each year by family members backing up.

13. Children are supervised in public bathrooms and other public places.

 For family activities see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com or wnmufm.org/Learning through the Seasons, also Facebook, Pinterest, and You Tube.

Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

Helping to Prevent Dog Bites to Children

78 Million Dogs in the US - Stay Safe!

There are about 78 million dogs in the United States. Chances are children either have dogs or will meet them often. The CDC records 4.5 million bites each year and sixty percent are to children under the age of 15 months. Each day about 1,000 people require ER care.

  Pet experts have recommendations to help keep children
and animals safe. Young children should never be left alone with any dog, even the most trusted pet. Children are scary. They have jerky threatening movements, little fists, and shrill sudden squeals. Older children can be trained and demonstrate competent dog handling skills, knowledge of canine communication, and share a long established relationship based on mutual understanding, love, and respect. 

Teach the Kids

  Families can educate children about how to behave and recognize bite risk situations. First, avoid any animals with no owner present. If a dog is tied up outside a door, keep walking no matter how cute, whether a stranger’s, a relative’s or friend’s dog.

  If the owner is around always ask, “Is the dog friendly? Does he like children? May my children pet him? How?”  Approach calmly with a flat hand only if his tail is wagging and he has a slightly open mouth, has a soft, relaxed, happy face, and a wiggly body.

Learn About Dog Behaviors

  If the tail is between his legs or standing straight up and mouth is closed with tight lips, ears forward, intense look, hard body or seems unenthusiastic, say thank you and walk on. If everything is ok, pet gently on the side of the neck.

 Avoid Risky Acts

When children visit a house with a dog, ensure that the dog will be supervised. If walking and encounter a dog that is loose, seems excited or aggressive, teach children to be a little tree with no branches. Stop. Fold your branches (hands) and watch your roots grow (look at your feet) and count in your head until the dog goes away or help comes, experts advise.

Avoid Rough Play with Dogs

  Never pet a dog behind a fence, in a car, or crate. Never bother a sleeping, sick, old dog, or one with puppies, one that is eating, drinking, or chewing. Never approach a dog on furniture or a bed. Dogs are very choosey who hugs and kisses them, a major cause of facial bites.

   Do not break up dogs fighting. Never pet a service dog. Never take something away from a dog or put your face in his face. Avoid rough play with a dog. He may decide “Enough!” Teach children to "be a rock" if the dog actually jumps on them or knocks them down. Curl up and protect face and neck with hands and arms.

If a bite occurs, seek medical care.  For more see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com or wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons podcasts and live. 

Special Gardening Teaches Responsibility

Responsibility Grounds Kids

If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders.

-   Abigail Van Buren

One way to teach age appropriate responsibility is to grow some tolerant plants that require little care for little children.

Outdoor Garden

  If you are planting a summer family garden select plants that germinate quickly, produce a crop quickly, and require minimum maintenance other than watering and feeding. There are a few plants that follow those criteria: snap peas, sun flowers, radishes, marigolds, 

Select Plants 

cherry tomatoes, pumpkins, carrots, and potatoes. Read and follow the directions on the package together. Examine the seeds and explain that there is a plant inside. Set plants are also available.

   In the case of potatoes explain that they are tubers, the swollen parts of underground stems. When you plant these tubers, the eyes (stems)will grow to create a new plant. Petunias, pansies, and fragrant herbs are also good choices for young children.

   Families can teach care based on needs like appropriate soil, sunlight, nutrients, enough water on a consistent basis, feeding, and protection from animals, insects, and weeds.

Planting Succulents

  Succulents can be enjoyed year around indoors and are very tolerant. There are 6000 varieties in 25 families. Some of them have flowers. They are beautiful, interesting, and sometimes strange looking arid plants so let the soil completely dry out like a dessert. Then water them like a sudden rain storm one evening and let them totally dry out again for weeks or months.

  To plant, find a large wide bowl or pot preferably with a few holes in the bottom for drainage. Mix a little sand in the potting soil to make it more porous and choose from a large variety of succulents. Children can plant a number of small ones and add tiny natural gravel or stones on top of the soil. They can add a few Lego people, too.

 Avoid high temperatures though.

Enjoy Succulents Year Round

Some of the most popular are hens and chicks, the multi colored rose shaped echeveria, burro’s tail, panda plant, spikey aloe, kalanchoe that has babies on the end of its leaves, curly succulents, rows of beads, baby toes, and many color choices. Succulent cacti should probably be avoided until children are much older.

  The most enjoyable part of succulents may be visiting stores with children and adding to the garden. Tiny ones are usually inexpensive and make great gifts.

 However, if your children like to water, try another child friendly plant like bamboo, not succulents. They come in many varieties and shapes and are fast growing. Whatever the choice, young children will be able to watch over and care for their plants with probable success.

  For more ideas to nurture responsibility see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com and wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons pod casts and live, Pinterest, and Facebook.
Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos