"If a child is to
keep his inborn
sense of won-
Healthy Kansas Kids
der, he needs Volume 2 Issue 6
the compan-
ionship of at
least one adult
Warm Weather Fun
who can share Long, sunny days and
it, rediscovering warm temperatures in-
vite us all to enjoy more
with him the
time outdoors. Whether
joy, excite- you love to garden, swim
ment, and in the local pool, or get
mystery of the out into nature, Summer
is a great time to get ac-
world we live
tive with your children.
in." We’ve selected some
Rachel Carson family activities that are
low on cost and high on
fun. Which one are you
going to do first?
Take a hike.
Plan a long walk to-
gether. Practice using
binoculars with your child
(if possible). Allow plenty
of time for observations
and conversations about
your child’s discoveries.
Animals such as birds
This Issue:
and bunnies interest chil-
Warm 1 dren, but emphasize ani-
Weather Fun mals and plants equally.
Plants are easy for chil-
Boogie with 2 dren to observe, and
Books they stay still!
Fun and 2 Get down and dirty.
Healthy Dress children in casual
Finger clothes so they can en-
Foods gage in messy, hands-on
outdoor play. Light-
“I Love 2 from leaves, flowers and
weight fabrics and com-
Veggies!”
fortable close-toed shoes
will keep children comfort-
able. Don’t forget to apply
sunscreen and bug spray
before heading outdoors.
Pitch a tent.
Go camping in a state park
or in your backyard. Get
ready before sundown.
Eat dinner outside. Don’t
turn on any lights. Sing
songs or tell stories while
you enjoy fireflies and
shooting stars.
Cool off.
Getting wet is a great way
to cool off and have fun.
Whether it’s splashing in
the pool, playing with the
hose, or making mud pies,
children love to get wet.
Let your child create side-
walk art with chalk, then
use an old paint brush,
watering can or hose to
“erase”. Make popsicles
from yogurt or 100% juice.
Take art outdoors.
Art is cheap when you use
natural ingredients. Let
children make thumbprint
pictures with mud as their
medium. Create a collage
other nature walk findings.
Encourage your child to
June 2010
make rubbings of inter-
esting textures they find
such as bark, leaves and
rocks. Collect unusual
items and arrange them
on a sheet of dark col-
ored paper. Leave out-
side in a sunny spot,
then come back in a few
hours to find a unique
sun print.
Play catch.
Make physical activity a
fun family activity. A
game of toss and catch is
a great way to help your
toddlers practice new
skills. Preschoolers love
to imitate the move-
ments of animals, pre-
tending to hop like grass-
hoppers, fly like birds or
slither like snakes.
School age children, with
a few friends, can play
games like Monkey in the
Middle or Catch the tail
of the dragon.
Page 2
Boogie with Books
Young children love to
move, and they learn
most effectively
through movement.
That’s why so many
new books encourage
children to move.
Books like “The Animal
Boogie” help children
learn rhythm, sequenc-
ing, coordination of
movement, memory,
and when to start and
stop. To have your
children begging for
more book and boogie
time, grab a few of
these titles the next
time you’re at the li-
brary or bookstore:
Bounce by Doreen Cro-
nin
Who Hops? by Katie
Davis
Wiggle! by Doreen Cro-
nin
The Animal Boogie by
Debbie Harter
From Head to Toe by
Eric Carl
Barn Dance! by Bill
Martin Jr. and John Ar-
chambault

Fun and Healthy Finger Foods

Is your baby ready for  small peeled peach  banana slices
finger foods? Just chunks  avocado slices
about anything can be  cooked peas  cheese slices
 Cheerios  cooked lentils
a finger food as long as
 macaroni or cut-up  small tofu cubes
you cut it into tiny cooked pasta  small peeled pear
pieces and cook it until  soft tortilla pieces chunks
it’s soft. Why not try:  French cut green  cooked sweet po-
beans tato chunks
 cooked carrot slices

“I Love Veggies!”
Do you feel like you are
always begging your
child to try their vegeta-
bles? You may be en-
couraged to learn that a
recent study conducted
by Saint Louis Univer-
sity found that pre-
schoolers who eat pro-
duce from home gar-
dens are twice as likely
to get five servings daily
(the recommended
amount). While it’s not
an overnight cure-all,
gardening is a great
way to help children
learn where their food
comes from.
If you have a garden…
Get your child to help
you. Kid-sized gardening
tools fit well in little hands
and encourage large mus-
cle movements. Always
supervise children in the
garden.
Choose fast-growing
plants. Since children are
eager to see results, start
by planting quick-to–
sprout vegetables like
beans, radishes and spin-
ach. Then, try growing
your child’s favorites and
involve your child in prepar‐
ing and cooking the food.  mashed potatoes.
If you don’t have a
garden…
Visit a local farmers
market. Ask the grow-
ers about where and
how the food is grown.
Encourage your child to
ask her own questions.
Then, pick out produce
to buy together.
Plant a pot full of
herbs. Let your child
help plant the seeds,
then add the herbs to
favorite dishes. Try add-
ing fresh oregano to
pizza sauce or chives to