Fort Lee
Kids Edition Commentary: Life as a Military Kid..........Page 2 Whats great about being a Military Kid....Page 3 Kid Grid: What’s on your mind?...............Page 6 Protect yourself Online...........................Page 8
2 • KID’S EDITION • April 28, 2011
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Been There, Done That Military Children Learn Life’s Lessons Early by Morgan F. Fritz Military Child I consider myself to be lucky - lucky that I was born into a military family and a lucky military dependent as well. I am fortunate to be a military child because I have seen places and done things my civilian peers haven’t. I was born in North Carolina, and I’ve lived in Germany, Colorado, Missouri and Pennsylvania. Now I am living in my parent’s hometown, attending the high school they attended and still benefiting from my Army upbringing. I am lucky because during my Dad’s 20 years of service, he deployed only three times and I changed schools only three times. In comparison to other military children, that’s a light load of sacrifices and hardships. Still I’ve suffered my heartaches of separation and feelings of not belonging during transitions. I am confident and able to face my fears
and obstacles. Why? Because I was raised to be resilient. I didn’t know when I was younger that I was different from other kids. I see the differences now. My problems do not cripple me. My mom tells a story about how I helped her during a domestic crisis. At the time, I didn’t realize what I said made a difference. We were living at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and my dad was deployed to Iraq. Early one morning my mom was sitting at the computer when the living room began to flood with water. My mom ran into the kitchen to find water coming from the washing machine. A hose had burst and was spraying the room with hot, soapy water. When my mom was finally able to stop the water, she was soaking wet from head to toe and began to cry. I just looked at her and said something I had heard my dad say a million times, “We’ll just suck it up and drive on, Mommy.� My mom stopped crying looked up at me and began to laugh. We cleaned up the flood with a
Shop-Vac, laughing about how true my statement had been. I don’t remember much about the day but I know that I helped my mom when she felt like the day’s events were more than she could deal with. Which is what life is about – helping each other when we feel overwhelmed. A mess isn’t going to clean itself, a wrong isn’t going to right itself so we just have to take it on and get through it – whatever it is. I am not going to paint a picture of a perfect life as a military child. I’ve had my fits, been angry about the hardships and hurt when I’ve left friends and places I loved. I’ve been disappointed by the separations and the sacrifices I’ve had to make because my mother couldn’t do it all, all the time. I’ve learned to work my problems and not let my problems work me. My dad retired last year so my life has changed. We don’t have to move again – no more begin-agains, for now. I’m ready for whatever life throws my way because I’ve already been there and done that.
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April 28, 2011 • KID’S EDITION • 3
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What the Kids Said! In an informal poll conducted on the Fort Lee Traveller website and the Fort Lee Traveller Facebook page, we asked for reasons it is great to be a military kid. After a lot of posts from moms of military kids we expanded the question to include the reasons it is great to be a military family. Check out what other military kids and parents are thinking: Cole, 16: “No prejudice or racism in Department of Defense Schools. We’ve all be in the same situation, moving around a lot.” Caryn (Army spouse and mom to three Army kids): “A new adventure with every move and a chance to make new friends.” Jennifer (Army spouse and mom to two Army kids): “Having friends all around the world.” Marcie (Army widow and mom to an Army kid): “How well-rounded our kids are growing up with diversity in population, cultures, holidays and religions. They get the opportunity to experience things most people don’t get a chance to.” Lisa (Army spouse and mom to five Army kids): “The pride they have for their parent serving.” Lori, 15: “Traveling and seeing different places.” Josie (mom of three Army kids): “Military kids have a great go-getter spirit about trying new activities. They see how their military families take on change as a challenge or opportunity instead of an obstacle and mirror this attitude at a younger age, giving them an edge as an adult. Military kids have cool volunteer opportunities, get to see military training up close. A helicopter hovered next to our car when Lori was younger and the man in the door waved to her – it’s like something out of a television show or movie!” Allison (Army spouse and mom to two Army kids): “They are resilient to change!” Janina, 17: “We are always connected to someone, somehow (to other military children) so you will never be left out when you move. All military kids know what it is like to move from base to base. Knowing that you will always have a place where someone will openly share an experience with you is the best reason to be a military kid. And getting to say that your mom or dad is a hero.” Bekah, 14: “The best part of being a military kid is when Dad gets back from over-
seas (deployments). It’s not easy.” James, 17: “There are more activities available and usually at a lower cost.” Zach, 14: “All the girls I get to meet. Opportunities to ride in combat vehicles at an early age.” Morgan, 15: “Traveling!” Mason, 11: “The friends we make and experiences we have. Knowing my Dad is a real hero, not like Superman – even though he has a Superman tattoo.” Trent, 15: “Being able to appreciate when your deployed parent is finally home!” Nothing better than when he would get home and we would be able to be a family again and be OK.” Betsey (Army spouse and mom to two Army kids): We appreciate the small things in life, get to celebrate holidays and birthdays at different times of the year, get the opportunity to live all over the world, experience different cultures, learn new languages, travel and make friends that are like family. We learn to make the most out of time spent together and have a true sense of pride. We know what sacrifice is, and willing to do it everyday to support our Soldier and our country. Dudine (Army spouse, mom to Army kids): “It’s great to be a military family because we are diverse and unique. Military families are strong, resilient, and well versed in different cultures. I love the opportunities I have been afforded and I look forward to what’s to come.” Amy (Marine wife and mom to one Marine kid): “It’s great to be able to make friends wherever you go because you’ve always got common ground with others. That’s especially helpful if you are shy and tend to be anti-social.” Mandi (Marine spouse and mom to three Marine kids): “Because you meet friends you never would have met without the military. We are resistant to the small worries in life, we understand the difference between quantity of time and quality of time. We can make the most out of anything and who else can pack a house up in two days, move across country without knowing where you are going to live, find a house, unpack, get the kids in school all while your spouse is at work and still keep a positive outlook for their family. Who else can be told their spouse will be going to war and instead of saying no, saying I love you and I am proud of you? Who else asks for nothing but gives everything? Only the military family.”
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4 • KID’S EDITION • April 28, 2011
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License to Drive What’s Between You, the Car & the Open Road You’ve just gotten your license – you’ve passed the tests your parents, your driving instructor and the department of motor vehicles threw at you and that little card with the unflattering photo is your ticket to everywhere, so now what? When you were a kid and first learned to ride a bike, you probably started out with the basics. You knew your limits – you kept both hands on the handlebars, your butt firmly in the seat and you limited your trips. After some time, you gained experience and became more comfortable with your bike; you probably ventured further and took longer trips. Driving can be similar. As a new driver, the key is to make sure you are extra-careful and fully aware of all of your driving habits. You might notice older friends and relatives doing something risky – like speeding up instead of slowing down at a yellow light. But when a driver who doesn’t have a lot of experience on the road does it, that kind of behavior can be even more dangerous. Before you take a long road trip, make sure you’re completely comfortable going to and from school and work and driving at night as well as you drive in the day. Become familiar with driving laws in Virginia if you got your license while at another duty station. Some tips for developing safe driving habits are as follows: • Obey all traffic rules; this includes wearing a seat belt at all times, coming to a complete stop at all red lights and stop signs, obeying speed limits, knowing when to yield, etc. • Avoid distractions; when you first start driving, it’s a good idea to avoid taking friends along with you. Remember that passengers can be distracting even for an experienced driver. In Virginia if you are under age 18, you may carry only one passenger under age 18 during the first year that you hold your driver's license. After you have held your license for one year, you may carry only three passengers under age 18 until you reach age 18. Learner's permit holders may not carry more than one passenger under age 18. Passenger restrictions do not apply to family members. With more experience, driving with friends can become less stressful. Other things that can distract any driver and are unlawful are talking on the phone. Virginia's cellular telephone law restricts a driver under age 18 who holds a learner's permit or driver's license from using any cellular telephone or any other wireless telecommunications device, regardless of whether such device is or is not hand-held. If you are under age 18, you can use a cell phone or any other telecommunications device only for a driver emergency or when the vehicle is lawfully parked or stopped. You aren’t the only person you have to be responsible for on the road – there are aggressive and inattentive drivers of all ages and driving experiences. Their presence on
the roads means it’s not enough to make sure that you follow all the rules of the road – you also have to watch out for people who don’t. It’s important to be aware of your surroundings. For instance, when a light turns green, make sure the intersection is clear before you go; someone may run a red light and be headed for you. Other ways to be better aware of your surroundings include these: • Maintain a safe following distance. If you are too close to someone else, you won’t be able to react in time if they lose control in front of you or slam on the brakes. If someone is tailgating you, don’t freak out – just get out of the way and let them pass. If they’re making obscene or threatening gestures, don’t respond with the same kind of behavior and try to avoid eye contact. • See the future. Driving isn’t just reactionary. A lot of it is recognizing and anticipating potential hazards before they develop. If someone three cars ahead of you brakes, know that you’ll probably also have to stop and start slowing down. Don’t simply wait for the driver in front of you to slam on the brakes – that car’s brake lights may not be working properly. • Check those mirrors. Make sure your mirrors are in position to give you the best view possible – be aware of your surroundings and check your rearview mirror every five to seven seconds. Driver training shouldn’t end with driver’s education. So consider taking a defensive driving course every few years to keep your knowledge and skills fresh. Not only will this help you sharpen your driving skills, it may save you some money on car insurance. It could also show your parents you’re serious about being a good, safe driver. Another responsibility of the driver is to know the car. Take care of your car ensures that it’s in good condition and functioning properly. Many breakdowns occur because drivers neglect routine maintenance. To avoid being stuck in one of those situations, try getting familiar with the following: • Pumping gas • Keeping track of maintenance schedules • Checking and changing oil • Checking the car’s coolant and brake fluid • Learning how to check tire pressure and adding air when it is low • Jump-starting the car • Adding windshield washer fluid • Knowing where the jack, lug wrench and spare tire are and how to use them • Knowing your car means that you won’t be that person who runs out of gas in the middle of nowhere because he drove around with an almost-empty tank, or the one whose tire blew out because she forgot to check the air. Sometimes vehicle crashes and breakdowns are un-
PHOTO BY ADAM C. FRITZ
Teen drivers should learn the maintenance aspects of driving, including how to pump gas, check tire pressure and other important functions of their vehicles. avoidable, no matter how responsible you are. You should keep some of the following emergency items in your car at all times for us in such situations: • Insurance and registration cards • Tools (wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, socket wrenches, etc and the know-how to use them) • Self-igniting flares • First-aid kit • Bottled water and nonperishable food • Flashlight and extra batteries • Jumper cables • Blankets, white rags. Virginia imposes a curfew restriction for drivers under the age of 18. Virginia's curfew laws prohibit a driver under age 18 who holds a learner's permit or driver's license from driving midnight to 4 a.m. If you hold a driver's license you may drive during these hours: • In case of an emergency • When traveling to and from work or a school-sponsored event • When accompanied by a parent or other adult acting in place of a parent • When responding to an emergency call as a volunteer firefighter or rescue squad personnel Remember the laws and the rules of the road and get out there and drive, keeping safety first. © 1995- 2011. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission.
April 28, 2011 • KID’S EDITION • 5
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Staying Home Alone? Are You Ready? According to Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee Regulation 608-1, the Home Alone Policy, youth must meet criteria set forth by Army Regulations, the Exceptional Family Member Program and the Army Family Advocacy Program before they are permitted to stay home alone for any period of time. These four steps will help youth and their parents determine if the youth is able to provide self-care or care for others. Step 1: The youth must know identifying information: The youth must know this information if he/she is lost, in danger or trying to get the police or fire department to the home: • Full name, complete address and directions to the home, and phone number. • Important phone numbers. These numbers will be posted directly by the telephone. The youth must always have someone to call in an emergency situation. Military Police, Fire Department, Poison Control Center, parent’s work and cell phone numbers. Back-up person to call in case of emergency (neighbor, etc). • Use of the telephone. The youth must be able to properly use the telephone, should know how and when to call the operator, know what to say when someone asks if his/ her parents are home. • Locks and key. Youths should be able to lock and unlock the door to their home. Youths should be able to gain entry into their home. Step 2: The youth must be able to respond to the following: • What to do in case of fire. • What to do if injured. • If cooking on the stove is permitted, what to do in case of a cooking accident.
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• Must know the perimeters of outside play in the housing area. • What to do/say if a stranger approaches. • What to do if the electricity goes off in the home. • Must call you at once after arriving at home from school. • Follow guidelines if he or she is allowed to leave the home and visit friends or have friends over. Step 3: If your teen is caring for younger children, guidelines should be established and enforced. Authority must be given to the teen to act as the leader. The children for whom care is provided must accept the teen caregiver as a leader and obey accordingly. A form of guidance will be used to maintain order. The form of guidance will be safe. Step 4: The following must be addressed, if applicable. • Is your youth/teen afraid to stay home alone? • Has your youth/teen played with fire or dangerous objects? • Does your youth/teen have a history of uncontrolled seizures, blackouts or violent, aggressive behavior? • Does your youth/teen have a handicap that requires special care and supervision? • Are you inaccessible by phone? • Does your youth/teen go easily to strangers? Children age 16-17 may be under self-care overnight in their assigned quarters. “Overnightâ€? is defined as 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., Friday through Saturday. A violation of this policy will be referred to the Case Review Committee for a determination as to whether the circumstances constitute child neglect. In addition, parents may face administrative and/or punitive action for child neglect.
• Youth aged 0 to 4th grade will have direct supervision at all times on a regular basis during out-of-school hours during parental duty days. • Youth at least 10 years old and in 5th-6th grade shall be monitored at all times. An adult will be aware of the child’s location and activities during out-of-school hours. An emergency contact is available at all times, and the youth will not be in self-care longer than two consecutive hours. • Youth in grades 7th-8th are permitted to be in selfcare for four consecutive hours if parents assess the child’s ability. • Youth in grades 9th-10th are permitted to be in selfcare for six consecutive hours if parents assess the child’s ability. • Youth in grades 11th-12th or ages 16-17 are permitted to be in self-care for 10 consecutive hours if parents assess the child’s ability. – Staff Reports Police: 734-7400 Fire and Emergency Services: 734-7097; Emergency: 911 Virginia Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 Mom or Dad’s Work: ________________ Mom or Dad’s Cell: _________________ In Case of Emergency: _____________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________
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Kid Grid
www.army.mil/bestwarrior/2010
6 • KIDS EDITION • April 2011
What’s on your mind? Fort Lee youth tells us what’s on their minds – Video Games, Summer Vacation, Friends, Family, moving, food, fun, dreams, hopes, fears ...
Gabriel Montenegro, 16
Brandon Johnson, 15
Jeremy Loucks, 11
Adriana Williams, 7
favorite Activity: playing football with dad Favorite Fort Lee Place: Youth Center Best Part of Summer; The Pool Worst Part of Summer: The Heat Surprising fact About me: Born at Fort Wainwright, Ala.
favorite activity: Bowling - Is a member of the Fort Lee Youth Bowling League. Favorite Video Game: Call of Duty 5 for x-box. Best Part of Summer: The middle, when schools been out and we are relaxed Worst Part of Summer: The End
Favorite Fort Lee Place: The playground behind my house if you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?: Hollywood, Calif. What would you feed a Dog under the table?: vegetable noodles
David Waits, 8
John Waits, 9
Sean Loucks, 16
Favorite activity: Playing outside Favorite Fort Lee Place: the park favorite vegetable: Potatoes Worst Food: Vegetables (Except potatoes) If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?: London, England
Fort Lee Celebrates Month of the Military Child
Favorite Activity: hanging out with friends Favorite Fort Lee Place: Where we can have fun and stay out of trouble or the playgrounds near our houses. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?: Bahamas
Jessica Costley, 13
What’s your sport?: Soccer favorite fort lee place: my house surprising fact about you: my dad isn’t my real dad but he’s my dad. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?: California to see my grandma
April 2011 • KIDS EDITION • 7
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Toddlers at the Battle Drive Child Development Center enjoy Snoopy’s company during a visit celebrating MoMC.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Children enrolled in the Army Strong Beginnings and Pre-school program at the Battle Drive Child Development Center started a Garden Club.
How military installations have you lived On?: two Favorite things to do: Play outside on the playground, play with friends, play video games. Looking Forward to Summer to do: EVerything
Toughest pArt about moving: Making new friends and staying out of trouble Short-Term Goals: Getting Driver’s license Favorite Fort Lee Place: Fields behind the Youth Center, Playing football – Plays for Prince George High School.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Ms. April’s Little Friends Family Child Care celebrated with Clifford the Big Red Dog during a CYSS- and PBS-hosted Month of the Military Child event April 15 at the Youth Center.
PHOTO BY KAITLYN SNOVER
Justin, Emily and Savanah Dormuth take a moment to play with the family’s dog, Jessy near their home in the Villages at Fort Lee during spring break. The family, who are moving to Hawaii this summer, hope to find more inexpensive outings near their next installation.
8 • KID’S EDITION • April 28, 2011
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Protecting Online Identities and Real-World Reputations Ashley is a high school junior in Illinois. She and her friends use MySpace to communicate, but she’s careful about the information, pictures and comments she sends and posts – even though her profile is set to private. She knows that nothing is ever really private online. “I know teens who have gotten kicked off their sports teams because of pictures and inappropriate material they have on their profiles,” she said. Her advice is simple: “Be smart about what you put on the Internet, because you never know who is looking at what you have on there.” From the first time you log on to a social networking site like Facebook or MySpace, pick a screen name for instant messaging or post a blog to your favorite band, you’re creating an online identity. Your online identity may be different from your realworld identity – the way your friends, parents and teachers think of you – and some parts of it may be entirely made up. Maybe you’re a little shy in real life, but online you’re a jokester and your avatar is a famous comedian. Maybe your classmates think of you as a soccer star, but online you indulge your passion for chess and environmentalism. Playing around and trying on different characteristics are part of the fun of an online life. You can change your look or the way you act and present yourself to others, and you can learn more about things that interest you. And, just as in real life, you can take steps to help make sure you stay in control. Here are some things to consider to safeguard your online identity and reputation: Remember nothing is temporary online. The virtual world is full of opportunities to interact and share with people around the world. It’s also a place where nothing is temporary and there are no “take-backs.” A lot of what you do and say online can be retrieved online even if you delete it – and it’s a breeze for others to copy, save and forward your information. Mark your profiles as private. Anyone who accesses your profile on a social networking site can copy or screen-capture information and photos that you may not want the world to see. Don’t rely on the site’s default settings. Read each site’s instructions or guidelines to make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep your material private. Safeguard your passwords and change them frequently. If someone logs on to a site and pretends to be you, he or she can trash your identity. Pick passwords that no one will guess (don’t use your favorite band or your dog’s birthday; try to think of two utterly random nouns and mix in a random number), and change them often. Never share them with anyone other than your parents or a trusted adult. Not even your best friend, boyfriend or girlfriend should know your private passwords.
Don’t post inappropriate or sexually provocative photos or comments. Things that seem funny or cool to you right now might not seem so cool years from now – or when a teacher, admissions officer or potential employer sees them. A good rule of thumb is, if you’d feel weird if your grandmother, coach or best friend’s parents saw it, it’s probably not a good thing to post. Even if it’s on a private page, it could be hacked or copied and forwarded. Don’t respond to inappropriate requests. Research shows that a high percentage of teens receive inappropriate messages and solicitations when they are online. These can be scary, strange and even embarrassing. If you feel harassed by a stranger or a friend online, tell an adult you trust immediately. It is never a good idea to respond. Responding is only likely to make things worse, and you might end up saying something you wished you hadn’t. You can report inappropriate behavior or concerns at www.cybertipline.org. If you get the urge to fire off an angry IM or comment on a message board or blog, it’s a good idea to wait a few minutes, calm down and remember that the comments may stay up (with your screen name right there) long after you’ve regained your temper and maybe changed your mind. You might feel anonymous or disguised in chat rooms, social networks or other sites and this could lead to mean, insulting or abusive comments toward someone else or sharing pictures and comments you may later regret. We’ve all heard of cyberbullying, but most people think online bullying something people do intentionally. But sharing stuff or dropping random comments when we’re not face to face with someone can hurt just as much, if not more. It can damage how others see you if they find out. A good rule to remember: if you wouldn’t say it, show it or do it in person, you probably don’t want to online. Check yourself out online. Chances are you’ve already checked your “digital footprint” – nearly half of all online users do. Try typing your screen name or e-mail address into a search engine and see what comes up. That’s one way to get a sense of what others see as your online identity. In general, if you have questions about the trail you are leaving online – ask a trusted adult. Sure, you might know more about the online world than a lot of adults do, but they have life experience that can help. Your online identity and reputation are shaped in much the same way as your real-life identity, except that when you’re online you don’t always get a chance to explain your tone or what you mean. Thinking before you post and following the same rules for responsible behavior online as you do offline can help you avoid leaving an online identity trail you regret. © 1995- 2011 . The Nemours Foundation/ KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission.
April 28, 2011 • KID’S EDITION • 9
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What Others Do To Help All Military Kids Students Travel to D.C. to Advocate for Military Children by Amy Zink U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr Public Affairs
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany, – Most high school students have had to sit through a U.S. Government class. Some have even been a part of a Mock Congress. But, not many can say that they had a chance to present their own advocacy issues to a general, the Department of Defense Education Activity director, congressional staffers and the Senate and House Armed Services Committees. That’s exactly what Vilseck High School students 12th-grader Thea Dunn and 9th-grader Meraleigh Randle did in Washington, D.C., during the National Parent Teacher Association's Legislative Conference, March 9-11. Dunn and Randle attended the conference as student representatives of the European PTA, or EPTA. During the conference, each delegation
is expected to visit its state senators and Congressional representatives. EPTA is in the unique position of having all 50 states represent its membership which is comprised of military families. So, the EPTA decided to go one step further and visit, not only senators and representatives, but also the SASC and HASC staff, Marilee Fitzgerald, the DODEA acting director and Maj. Gen. Reuben Jones, the Installation Management Command Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation commander. According to EPTA President Shannon Sevier, “PTA is the largest child advocacy organization in the nation and as such the European PTA is able to plug into National PTA advocacy efforts by pushing for parity within the DoD funding structure, as well as employ the NPTA political infrastructure.” While it may seem daunting to discuss policy issues with high-ranking military
and civilian officials, Dunn and Randle met the challenge with composure usually attributed to professional advocates. Dunn and Randle had done their homework. “The EPTA team discussed policy initiatives and explained how federal legislation translated into DoD programming,” Sevier said. “Once the schedule of Hill visits was set, the girls had to research every senator, representative, the IMCOM FMWR commander and personnel from DODEA.” Dunn and Randle were asked to come up with their own policy initiatives. And, they did not disappoint. The central theme to the students’ agenda was that of increasing their viability for scholarships and opportunities for academic and sports competitions. The EPTA delegation also discussed increasing parent involvement in the DoDDS-E schools and providing training for the parents, and teachers of military children.
COURTESY PHOTO
Thea Dunn, Shannon Sevier and Meraleigh Randle spent March 10, 2011, navigating Capitol Hill.
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10 • KID’S EDITION • April 28, 2011
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Blue Star Families Wants to Know! In celebration of April’s Month of the Military Child, Blue Star Families wants to know what being a military child means to America’s youngest heroes. Every military child has different experiences that help them grow into rounded young adults, ready to excel under any circumstances. This is their opportunity to let America know what it means to be a military child. Throughout the month of April, Blue Star Families will be holding an essay contest for children kindergarten through fifth grade, posing the question “What does it mean to you to be a military child?� The contest is open to military children kindergarten through fifth grade. Who qualifies as a military child? Any child who has a parent or sibling (including step-parents and siblings) serving on Active Duty, in the Reserves or in the National Guard. Prizes will be given to the top two entries in each age category. The deadline is April 30. For contest rules and guidelines, visit www.bluestarfam.org/blog/ view/militarychildessaycontest.
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Kids Kitchen Patrol by Logan N. Fritz Youth Reporter
Who doesn’t come home from school and instantly want a snack? Snacks in our pantry go quickly – too quickly. Often after a long day of school, one is never enough. My sister and I have been known to fight over the last of any delicious item Mom picked up at the commissary. What do you do when you open the pantry and find nothing but the empty boxes? Instead of finding cheese and crackers, Pop-Tarts and baked chips, I find crumbs rolling along the pantry shelves like little pieces of tumbleweed blowing across a Kansas highway – the only thing left standing are the cans of green beans, corn, peas and carrots – nothing suitable for an after school snack. The refrigerator is a letdown, too. It’s a wasteland of leftover macaroni and cheese, condiments and other unidentifiable items. I made a deal with my mom. If she started buying the ingredients I needed for parent-approved healthy snacks, I would start making them for my sister, my brother and me. So each time she heads to the commissary, I give her a list of items I need for my super-smart after school snacks that don’t leave Dad threatening to cancel snacks forever. Finding kid friendly recipes can sometimes be challenging, especially since I am not allowed to use the stove yet, but I do OK surfing the Internet and kid sites that have lots of recipes. There are a few drawbacks to creating in the kitchen – the mess afterward and now my mom is trying to convince me to do the grocery shopping and cooking with her all the time. Here’s a few of my favorite recipes: Chocolate Parfait Note: Can be made up to two days in advance. Prep time: 5 minutes
What you need: 1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 teaspoons honey 1 1/2 cups low-fat or fatfree Greek yogurt 2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries 1/2 cup shaved dark chocolate or chocolate chips Measuring cups and spoons Medium mixing bowl Whisk or fork 4 Tall glasses (clear so you can see what you are doing) What to do: In medium bowl, whisk together cocoa powder and vanilla Add honey and yogurt and stir until they are well combined with cocoa mixture. It will turn light brown. Spoon 2 tablespoons of yogurt mixture into the bottom of the glasses. Top with some raspberries and repeat until all of the yogurt and raspberries are used up. Sprinkle each parfait with chocolate shavings. Serve or refrigerate until ready to serve. Strawberry Smoothie Prep time: 5 minutes What you need: 2 ice cubes 1 cup milk 1/3 cup cottage cheese 2/3 cup frozen strawberries 1 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Blender (you may need help from an adult assistant) 1 Serving glass Measuring cups and spoons What to do: Pour all of the ingredients into the blender. Put the lid on the blender and blend for 45 to 60 seconds until smooth. Pour your smoothie into a glass and enjoy. – Recipe courtesy of: Š 19952011. The Nemours Foundation/ KidsHealthŽReprinted with permission.
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Kids Calendar MoMC Grand Finale Parade Join the children and faculty of Yorktown Drive Child Development Center, Youth Center participants and community members as they close Fort Lee’s Month of the Military Child with a parade April 29, 4:30 p.m. SAT Prep Workshops Workshops to help students in grades 9-12 prepare for the SAT will be held May 14 and 21, 3:155:15 p.m. The cost is $35 for the two sessions. At least five students are needed to hold a session. The location will be the Fort Lee Community Library, building 12420. All participants must be registered with CYSS. Money Cent$ A free workshop, Money Cent$ for Youth in grades 9-12 will be held May 26, 4:30-5:30 p.m., at the Fort Lee Credit Union (on-post location). At least five students are needed to hold a session. All participants must be registered with CYSS. Mother’s Day Buffet A Mothers’ Day Buffet will be held May 8 at the Lee Club. There will be one seating at 1 p.m. The costs are $22.95 for adults and $12 for children 2-10. Those under 2 eat free. Advance reservations and payment are required by May 5. For details, call (804) 734-7547. Grab a Paddle! A kayaking trip on the Appomattox River is open to all and set for May 11, 5:15 p.m., starting at Roslyn Landing, Colonial Heights. Register at Outdoor Recreation. The cost is $7 per session or two sessions for $11. For details, call (804) 765-2212. Bike Race CRIT “Sprint into Spring� Bike Race will be May 15, 8 a.m., starting at Army Logistic University. Cost varies by race. Open to all. Kids’ Bike Race 10:45 a.m., for ages 10 and under. Registration on race day begins at 9:30 a.m. For details, call (804) 734-6106. Bean Bag Toss A Bean Bag Toss Tournament will be at the HideAway Lounge May 20, 6 p.m. The cost is $5 per person (two-person team). The tournament is open to all. For details, call (804) 734-6106. Skateboard Competition A Skateboard Competition will be held May 14, 11:30 a.m., at the Adventure Park. The cost varies; registration begins at 10 a.m. For details, call (804) 765-2062.
April 28, 2011 • KID’S EDITION • 11
RIVER’S BEND CHILDREN’S CENTER Battle Drive Pool Battle Drive Pool opens May 31. Through June 17, the hours of operation will be MondayFriday, 3:30-8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., and Sunday, 12-8 p.m. Self-Defense Class A self-defense class for moms and daughters will be taught June 12, 3:15-5:15 p.m. The cost is $15 for one youth and one adult. The class will be at the Fort Lee Youth Center. All participants must be registered with CYSS. For details, call (804) 734-0612.
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Babysitter Training Babysitter Training for teens ages 13-17 will be held June 27, 28 and 29, 8-11 a.m. The class is free. It will be held at the Fort Lee Youth Center. All participants must be registered with CYSS. For details, call (804) 734-0612. Story Hour Story Hour is every Friday, 11 a.m. - noon, at the Fort Lee Community Library. For ages toddler-5 years, the event is free. For details, call (804) 765-8095.
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Framing Classes Every third Wednesday, 6-8 p.m., free framing classes are held at Picture Perfect Frame Shop. The class is open to all. For details, call (804) 734-6137.
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Scrapbooking Classes Scrapbooking Classes are offered every fourth Wednesday, 6-8 p.m., Picture Perfect Frame Shop, The class is free and open to all. For details, call (804) 734-6137. Skateboard Tournament A skateboarding tournament is set for June 11, 9 a.m., at the Fort Lee Adventure Park. The cost will vary depending on event. For details, call (804) 765-2212. Family Game Night The Warrior Zone is set to host a family game night June 16, 5-8 p.m. The event is free and open to all ages. For details, call (804) 734-6678/6106 Summer Reading Program The 2011 Summer Reading Program is set to kick-off June 17, 10-11 a.m., at the Child Development Center pavilion on Yorktown Drive. A magic show will be held to start the program. The event is free and open to all ages. For details, call (804) 765-8095.
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12 • KID’S EDITION • April 28, 2011
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