Take a tour of patriotic sites in Missouri and Kansas, and enjoy the iconic 4th of July treat from Kansas City… the Bomb Pop!
KC Parent July 2024
Dear Teachers Q & A
What Parents Can Do to Keep Their Schoolchildren Safe
Parents: Next month, many children will be returning to school. You can ensure that it is a safe experience for them by making sure they know basic safety rules for walking to school, taking the school bus and avoiding the use of drugs and contact with children with weapons. The safety precaution steps you talk about with your children will naturally depend on their age. While your aim is to help them avoid danger, you certainly don’t want to overemphasize any dangers they might face, as doing so could actually make them afraid of going to school.
Safety Tips for Walking to School
Parents or other adults simply need to walk young children in the early grades to school. Most children under the age of 8 cannot be trusted to be cautious around traffic. It is helpful to have a group of adult neighbors form a walking group. The adults need to follow all traffic safety laws and teach about traffic signs and signals and how to cross a street, so the children will absorb the correct behaviors.
Around the age of 10, most children are ready to walk to school without adult supervision. You should review the following precautions about walking to school without adults, whether the children are first-timers or have been doing it for several years:
- It is best for all children, no matter their ages, to walk to school with at least one other child.
- Make sure they know the safe route to schools that have crossing guards at intersections and will avoid taking any shortcuts. It is smart to practice this safe route with them several times before they tackle it alone.
- Very importantly, impress upon them the need to say no to anyone offering a ride or asking for directions. And if necessary, they should yell and run for help.
- As an added precaution, have students wear brightly colored clothing and backpacks when it is dark in the morning or afternoon.
School Bus Safety Tips
School buses are among the safest modes of transportation. The time when children are at risk is when approaching or leaving a school bus. When a large group of children or younger children are at a bus stop, it is wise for an adult to be present to avoid dangerous behaviors like pushing or shoving to line up for the bus or other high jinks. No matter their age, make sure your children understand these precautions to keep them safe:
- Before the school year starts, show younger children where they should stand to wait for the bus. They should be at least 6 feet (three giant steps) away from the curb until the bus has stopped and the door opened.
- Arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
- Never walk behind a school bus.
- If it is necessary to cross the street in front of the bus, children should be at least 10 feet (five giant steps) in front of the bus. And they need to make sure the bus driver can see them. Bus drivers may walk younger children across the street.
- Emphasize they must never try to pick up an object that they have dropped by the bus. Instead, they must tell the bus driver.
Educating Your Children About Avoiding Drugs at School
Unfortunately, in this day and age, some children may be bringing drugs to your children’s school as early as the elementary years and trying to entice them to take drugs. Before they start school and in an age-appropriate way, talk to them about why drugs are bad. And it is very important that children of all ages know how to turn down drugs that may be offered to them. Teach them that just saying no is a good answer. Also, make sure they know not to consume unfamiliar items.
Children, especially younger ones, need to know that inhaling substances is another form of drug abuse. Because inhalants are common products, like cooking spray, aerosol whipping cream, felt tip markers, glues and rubber cement, they are easy to obtain. You need to stress how dangerous inhalants can be-sometimes killing individuals the first time they are used. Again, other children may try to entice your children into using them by telling them they are safe.
Handling the Seeing of Weapons at School
Some students may bring a gun, knife or other weapons to school for attention, protection or harming others. The fact that this issue even has to be address is distressing, but parents have to have a discussion with their children about how to handle a situation in which a student has one of these objects. Here is an approach to telling your children what to do if they see or are told about a weapon.
1. They need to get away from that person quickly and non-confrontationally.
2. They need to tell a teacher, coach or administrator immediately what they have seen or been told. If no adult is available, they need to call 911. Students need not be afraid of telling about what they have heard or seen because schools will be able to handle the situation without revealing their names. Most schools will also have told their students about the way to handle this situation.
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Parents should send questions and comments to DearTeacher@DearTeacher.com and visit the DearTeacher.com website to learn more about helping their children succeed in school. ©Compass Syndicate Corporation, 2023
As always, please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns.
Vive la France! Kansas City Style
This year, the Summer Olympics will be hosted in Paris from July 26 through Aug. 11. If a trip to this storied city is not in the family budget, you can still experience a taste of France in Kansas City.
Kansas City: Paris of the Plains
One of Kansas City’s nicknames is Paris of the Plains. The city’s trademark boulevards, fountains and beautiful art inspired the moniker. Take a tour of the city’s fountains and boulevards this summer with maps and information available at CityOfFountains.org.
Kansas City’s Own Arc de Triomphe
One of the most recognized landmarks in Kansas City, Kansas, the Rosedale Memorial Arch (3602 Springfield St) was built, and dedicated to the city in 1923, as a tribute to World War I soldiers. A monument under the arch honors soldiers of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Rosedale resident, John LeRoy Marshall designed the arch based on inspiration from Paris’ famed Arc de Triomphe in Paris. This is a great spot to enjoy views of the city and a picnic lunch. Tip: To continue with the French-inspired theme, pack a charcuterie lunch.
The French Collection at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is beloved for its vast collection of art from around the world-including its European collections. Within that collection, the museum holds a total of 110 French paintings and pastels dating from between 1600 and 1945. Among the masterpieces in the collection, you will find art by Nicolas Poussin, François Boucher, Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Paul Gauguin, among others.
Children’s Books Set in Paris Celebrated at The Rabbit hOle
The Rabbit hOle, the whimsical new museum celebrating our favorite children’s books, is one of the most delightful attractions in Kansas City. Our childhood memories come to life through immersive exhibits that are so charming adults will wish you could go back in time and visit as your childhood self. Some of the most beloved exhibits are set in Paris, including Madeline and Anatole. RabbithOleKC.org
The Art of French Cooking
The Culinary Center of Kansas City offers cooking classes year-round, teaching techniques focused on a variety of cuisines and countries. Their catalog includes courses in French cooking and baking. The Culinary Center Teaching Kitchen at Mid-Continent Public Library also offers cooking classes throughout the year, and their courses have included French cuisine. Registration is required for classes, and programs fill quickly.
Chez Elle Crêperie and Coffeehouse
Chez Elle Crêperie (1713 Summit St, Kansas City, MO), a Parisian cafe in the heart of downtown (just a few blocks from the Kauffman Center), is one of our favorite local restaurants. They offer a wide range of crepes, from sweet to savory. The banana, Nutella, and whipped cream crepe, named The Paris, is my daughter’s favorite. I’m partial to Citron, filled with lemon curd and strawberries. Their savory crepes are wonderful too. Inspired by Parisian cafes, the charming atmosphere and delicious menu featuring crepes, coffees, teas, pastries, and salads offers something for everyone.
The French Market
The French Market (6943 Tomahawk Rd., Prairie Village, KS) located next to Cafe Provence, is a country-chic restaurant with a quaint atmosphere serving authentic French cuisine. The French Market offers prepared grab-and-go entrees and sides, freshly baked French bread, pastries and desserts and a wide selection of artisanal cheese and charcuterie. Additionally, the shop sells imported specialty foods and gifts.
A French Tea Room
Emilie’s French Teas (8131 Wornall, Kansas City, MO), was designed by Emilie with the goal of recreating the atmosphere of French tea rooms she knew. The quiet ambiance and delicate menu offer the perfect place to relax and reconnect with friends. Emilie’s offers a charming tea room and tea shop with an impressive variety of loose leaf tea brands from France. You may shop the store and take tea home to enjoy, or enjoy tea and refreshments in the walk-in tea room serving an array of French teas and European pastries. EmiliesFrenchTeas.com
More French Cuisine
Across the metro, you can indulge your taste buds at one of the city’s local bistros or cafes. Favorites include Le Fou Frog in the River Market, Aixois in Brookside, Charisse KC and Tailleur Restaurant in Downtown KCMO, Cafe Provence in Prairie Village, and Cafe des Amis in Parkville. For breakfast or brunch, try one of downtown’s creperies: Chez Elle or Seven Swans. Satisfy your sweet tooth with macarons from Andre’s Confiserie on the Plaza or in Overland Park, Bloom Baking in the River Market or Annedore’s Chocolates in Westwood Hills. Enjoy the sweet goodness of French Custard in Brookside.
What is ozone pollution?
What is ozone pollution?
Even though you can’t always see it, ozone pollution can still make the air in Greater Kansas City unhealthy to breathe. There are two types of ozone. The ozone layer high above the earth protects us from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. The second type of ozone – ground-level ozone – can be harmful to your health. Ground-level ozone forms when emissions from sources including cars or lawn and garden equipment react in heat and sunlight.
What are the health risks?
Ozone pollution can cause wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing even in healthy adults. Seniors, children, and people with asthma or COPD may be especially sensitive to ozone pollution.
How can you keep your kids healthy this summer?
- Follow the SkyCast at AirQKC.org for the daily ozone pollution forecast.
- When elevated pollution levels are predicted, limit the time children spend outdoors.
- Tell your child’s caregivers about the SkyCast and the health risks of air pollution.
- Help keep our air clean. Walk, bike, carpool or ride the bus to reduce emissions.
What are some other steps to reduce ozone pollution?
- Carpooling is a great way to save money, keep the air clean and keep miles off your car. Talk to friends or coworkers and visit WAYTOGOKC.org to find a carpool partner.
- Postpone refueling your vehicle. Refueling vehicles can release harmful fumes into the air. If you must fill up, do so after 7 p.m. and stop when the pump clicks. Over-filling the tank releases more harmful gases into the air and can damage your car.
- Consider mowing after 7 p.m. Lawn and garden equipment – including mowers – lack efficient emissions controls resulting in more pollution per hour of use than most cars. Consider mowing after 7 p.m. so emissions can dissipate overnight.
Super-Size Me!
Remember the classic Chevy Chase vacation films with the family piled into the station wagon embarking on a cross-country trip to see the second-largest ball on twine on earth? Maybe eight hours with anxious children crammed in the car to see the world’s wonders isn’t your idea of the perfect vacation. Still, you might like to see the strange and unusual¦ if it were easy enough. For the curious-at-heart, you don’t have to invest a fortune in gasoline or spend hours in the minivan to see the odd and peculiar! Kansas City has 11 super-sized wonders in our own backyard.
The BIG Piano. This park in front of Children’s Mercy Hospital in downtown Kansas City, is a charming and fully accessible playground perfect for children coming to the hospital. The park’s signature is the Big Walking Piano, designed by artist Remo Saraceni, who was also responsible for the piano from Tom Hanks’ film BIG. In 2019, Variety KC oversaw renovations of the park including repair to the piano so that it plays when walked, danced, or wheeled on so that even children with wheelchairs or leg braces may play it. Hospital Hill Park: Sybil Silk Wood Nutter Inclusive Playground (2401 Gillham Rd., KC, MO).
World’s biggest ball of string (not twine). In the 1950s, Finley Stephens opened a museum in Weston, Missouri. One of the many artifacts was a ball of string weighing more than 3,700 pounds and measuring 19 feet in diameter. Stephens asked local postmasters to save string for him, and he used it to create the ball. The museum no longer exists, but the ball of string does. It is now outside O’Malley’s Irish Pub in a glass display case (500 Welt St., Weston).
Giant book collection. The Central Library in Kansas City, Missouri, is in the former Federal Reserve Bank. The five-story library is breathtaking with marble fixtures, chandeliers, the old bank vault turned movie theater, the Missouri Valley Room housing historic artifacts, a rooftop view and reading area, and one of the most fantastic children’s departments in the area. However, what gives the library its oddity is the parking garage painted with gigantic books and featuring book-shaped stairs leading to the pedestrian exit. If you haven’t visited this library yet, you’re missing out on a true treasure (14 W. 10th St., Kansas City).
Giant pencil. In Liberty, Missouri, one of the city’s telecommunications towers is cleverly disguised as a giant #2 pencil. Head to 312 Preston St. to find this yellow beacon in the sky.
Not-itsy-bitsy spider. Standing guard at the Kemper Museum of Modern Art (4420 Warwick Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.) is an 11-foot-tall bronze spider created by French artist Louise Bourgeois. The gallery lawn is home to the mother spider and her baby. Families never know what they’ll discover on a trip to the Kemper, and the spiders are a favorite for kids!
22-foot needle and thread. In the 1930s, Kansas City’s garment district was known as Paris of the Plains.It was home to many of the nation’s leading clothing manufacturers and was second only to New York City. Now, that history is preserved at the Historic Garment District Museum (801 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo., 816.474.2112). Across the street at 404 Eighth St., you’ll find a statue of a gigantic needle and thread commemorating the area.
World’s largest iron. If you ever need to press gigantic wrinkles after sewing gigantic clothes, visit Kansas City, Kansas, home of the world’s largest iron, which can be found at the intersection of Wilson Boulevard & Central Avenue.
Great big chicken. The Agricultural Hall of Fame (630 Hall of Fame Dr., Bonner Springs, Kan.) is also home to the National Poultry Museum. The idea of a poultry museum may seem adequately odd, but there’s more … outside the museum, you’ll find a giant cast iron chicken welcoming you to come inside and learn the history of poultry and egg processing. While you’re there, take the kids to Farm Town USA to visit the blacksmith shop, farmhouse, barn, general store, one-room schoolhouse and train.
Smokey Bear. If you grew up with commercials reminding you that “only you can prevent forest fires, a trip to Burr Oak Woods Nature Center will bring a bit of nostalgia (1401 NW Park Rd., Blues Springs, Mo.) An animatronic Smokey Bear is on display there, and when you push a button, he cautions children to exercise fire safety. The nature center is a free field trip with wonderful hands-on activities and beautiful nature trails.
Jumbo penguin. Since 1964, children have been sliding down the gigantic penguin, climbing to the top of the elephant slide and peeking out of a kangaroo’s pocket at one of Kansas City’s most beloved parks. The whimsical characters at Penguin Park (N. Vivion Road & N. Norton Avenue, Kansas City, Mo.) create a true haven for kids!
The Shuttlecocks. An article on the big stuff in KC would not be complete without the Shuttlecocks (more than 17 feet tall and weighing more than 5,000 pounds), perhaps the most recognized outdoor sculpture in the Midwest. Most of us are familiar with the Shuttlecocks on the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, but how many of us know why Shuttlecocks? The artists imagined the museum (4525 Oak, Kansas City, Mo.) as a net and that a large game was taking place on the lawn. The feathers and shapes reminded them of teepees and the Native Americans who first lived here.
For more local oddities and curiosities, check out these books:
- Missouri Curiosities by Josh Young
- Kansas Curiosities by Pam Grout
- Off the Beaten Path: Missouri by Patti DeLano and Cathy Johnson
- Off the Beaten Path: Kansas by Patti DeLano and Cathy Johnson