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“One night, my 3-year-old asked me if she could sleep in my bed. I told her no. She said, “That’s not fair! Why does Daddy get to sleep in your bed?” READ MORE
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$’s and sense
Kids and parents should do the math Dollars add up fast. As children grow older, the “please can we buy this” items get more and more expensive. The JumpStart Coalition 2004 report of the state of financial literacy projected that kids 4 to 12 will spend $51.8 billion in 2006. A report by Teenage Research Unlimited shows that, during 2005, teens between the ages of 12 and 19 spent more than three times as much – $159 billion. That’s billion, with a “b.” Most parents know how important it is to teach their children how to manage money. That’s good, because a 2003 survey commissioned by Northwestern Mutual found that 90% of young people in the U.S. learn everything they know about money management at home. Nearly half of the parents surveyed, however, admitted that they did not believe they were good financial role models for their children. But it’s never too late to learn about managing money. Parents already know that smart choices aren’t located right beside the supermarket checkout counter. But they may not know about excellent resources like www.themint.org, a site where children and teens can learn the basics of wise money management and parents and teachers can find tools to teach children how to establish sound financial habits. The Jumpstart Coalition site, www.jumpstart.org, also offers valuable money management resources. Bob Waltos is a managing partner with the The Waltos Group of the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, based in Newport Beach. Information: 949.863.5800. Voters and preschool: June measure would tax the rich More than $2 billion would be raised annually for preschool tuition that would guarantee that 4-year-olds receive a half-day of free instruction should their parents just say yes. How? Actor and child advocate Rob Reiner has helped qualify a ballot measure for June that would create a 1.7% tax on high-income couples and individuals to provide this voluntary program for hundreds of thousands of pre-kindergartners. Most state preschools charge a fee, and state-supported ones often have long waiting lists. “ Preschool will help us raise achievement levels for all children in California, and it offers real hope for closing the achievement gap,” says state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell. “Preschool for all just makes sense.” The California Department of Education notes that last year the Rand Corp. reported that every dollar spent on quality preschool is worth $2.62 because better-educated students become more productive workers who tend to stay out of trouble as youth and contribute to the economy as adults. The tax increase would affect married couples making more than $800,000 a year and individuals making more than $400,000 a year. If approved, the money would flow through the offices of county superintendents of schools, which would contract with school districts, charter schools and nonprofit and for-profit programs. Georgia and Oklahoma have state-subsidized preschool programs for 4-year-olds. Take your medicine: 10 substitutes for a spoonful of sugar They say that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, but sugar may not help your child feel any better. “One of the hardest things about giving medicine to babies and small children is getting it all down,” says Vicki Lansky, parenting expert and author of “Practical Parenting Tips” (Meadowbrook Press). The trick is finding fun, creative ways to ease the process. Here are Lansky’s 10 tips for getting your child’s medicine down the hatch: 1. Give bad-tasting medicine by holding your child’s nose until the medicine is swallowed. Follow with a quick drink of juice. 2. Many medications can be frozen as Popsicles, but check with your pharmacist first. 3. Chilling liquid medicines can improve flavor. 4. Hold a paper cup under your child’s chin when giving liquid medicine. Spills can then be mixed with water or fruit juice and drunk from the cup. 5. Rub an ice cube over your child’s tongue to numb the taste buds. 6. Bury a pill in a spoonful of applesauce, yogurt, ice cream or whipped cream. 7. Crush the pill and mix the powder into applesauce and jam. Serve with a spoon and follow with juice or water. 8. “Give” the pill to your child’s favorite doll first. 9. For kids in daycare, ask your pharmacist for an empty bottle with the proper label and instructions. Put daytime pills in this bottle and give to your childcare provider. 10. Keep track of medicine dosage on your calendar; busy parents need help staying organized. Remember, always give all the medicine that is prescribed.m From FeatureSource California health divide Diabetes among California adults is increasing, and Latinos, African-Americans and American Indians who are older as well as those who are poor, are more likely to suffer from the disease. A study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research compared data from the 2001 and 2003 California Health Interview Surveys and found that nearly 1.7 million Californians ages 18 and older have diabetes, an increase from 1.5 million in 2001. American Indians (9.9%) and African-Americans (9.3%) have the highest incidence of diabetes, and whites have the lowest (5.6%). But Latinos ages 50-64 are particularly likely to have the disease – 22.2% compared with 16.2% for African-Americans and 8.1% for whites in the same age range. Diabetes is also more likely to afflict those living below 200% of the federal poverty level. People who did not attend or graduate from high school are twice as likely to have diabetes than college graduates. “This report clearly illustrates the growing health divide between the socioeconomically advantaged and disadvantaged,” said Robert K. Ross, president of The California Endowment, which funded the study. “We must boost prevention efforts in these communities and improve access to primary healthcare services for the uninsured so they can effectively manage their diabetes.” Summer trip: About those vacation rentals… Going somewhere this summer? Here are tips on how to do it best with your family: Do’s • Do search for a rental that meets your needs. For instance, do you need a rental that is pet friendly, handicapped accessible, close to area activities, or a nonsmoking unit? • Book far in advance. To secure the vacation rental of your choice, particularly during peak season, you may need to make your reservation up to one year ahead. • Set a budget before starting your search and then compare the payment terms of a few similar properties. • Know who you’re dealing with. Call the owner and ask for referrals, and try to rent from companies that have been in business for several years or more. Visit the website. • Research your options. The Internet is a valuable and efficient way to find a vacation rental. Websites such as www.vacationhomes.com and www.vamoose.com specialize in vacation rentals and provide ample listings in a destination of choice. Also, choose a website that offers the opportunity to select only properties with particular amenities, such as a full kitchen or covered parking. • Know the cancellation policy before booking a reservation. Don’ts • Don’t book a vacation rental without referrals. While a property may look good on paper or on a website, you should always ask for at least one or two referrals. • Don’t book a rental without obtaining something in writing. An agreement between you and the owner must include dates of arrival and departure, cancellation and refund policies and maintenance and cleaning policies. • Don’t forget to negotiate, especially during the off-season. • Never pay a fee or membership to use a directory service. • Never rent a property without seeing an ample selection of photos of it. FAMILY NEWS BITES RIVERSIDE HOUSING The city of Riverside has help available for low- and moderate-income households for the rehabilitation of their homes in the form of grants and low-interest loans funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These funds are available through the Riverside Housing Development Corporation (RHDC). Information and eligibility: 951.341.6511 or visit the city’s website, www.riversideca.gov. TEXT PHONE THE MUSUEM People with speech or hearing losses can now telephone the San Bernardino County Museum. The museum has a text telephone, or TTY, purchased with funds provided by the Redlands Rotary and Sunrise Rotary clubs. The new device, an Ultratec Supersprint 4425, was selected upon the recommendation of the California School for the Deaf in Riverside. The number for the new telephone is 909.792.1462. The museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane in Redlands. DIAMOND VALLEY LAKE Diamond Valley Lake, located just south of Hemet, was recently recognized by the fishing magazine FLW Outdoors as one of the top five destinations in the country for largemouth bass fishing. The magazine wrote, “Traveling to this lake will soon become one of those pilgrimages all serious bass anglers must take.” Informtion: www.dvlake.com OPENINGS AT VICTORIA GARDENS Visitors to Victoria Gardens have some new shopping options to look forward to. The Levi’s Store, Helzberg Diamonds, Jaloux/Zalu and Currant, and Illuminations are expected to join the roster of merchants this spring. The open-air retail and entertainment center is located at the northwest corner of I-15 and Foothill Boulevard in Rancho Cucamonga. Information: 909.463.2828. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS RAISE FUNDS The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest County recently received more than $2,300 from Mike and Yvonne Glover of Murrieta. The Glovers’ home Christmas light display was so impressive, many families who saw it wanted to donate something toward the expense. The Glovers refused any donations for themselves, but set up a donation box for the local youth organization. ENGLISH LEARNERS BEAT STATE AVERAGE English Learner students in San Bernardino County who reached proficiency levels on the California English Language Development Test (CELDT) exceeded state averages for the third time in five years, according to data from the California Department of Education. The number of English Learners in the county reaching proficiency improved to 48% for 2005-06. The proficiency level was 26% in 2001-02, the first year of state reporting. – Reported and compiled by Inland Empire Family Magazine staff |
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