March 2018 by Greg Gardner

Also available ONLINE at www.jabberblabber.com MEMPHIS, TN

VOLUME 18, ISSUE 1 March 2018

This Jabberblabber belongs to:

Happy March, Friends!

The weather has been crazy lately, warmer than "normal" in Memphis with many trees, bushes and flowers beginning to bloom! Spring is upon us, so get ready for allergy season now by adding some local honey to your diet as a preventative. Just pour a tablespoon and eat it out of the spoon every day with breakfast... you'll be surprised how little you are affected by the pollen this year. This month, we're talking about the importance of WATER in our environment and our daily diets. Our bodies are mostly made of water and we need it to survive and feel healthy. In Memphis, we are fortunate to have some of the most pure drinking water on the planet. It's important we conserve as much precious water as we can as many cities and countries face water shortages to the detriment of millions of people's lives. Enjoy this month's selection of games, puzzles and educational content we've chosen for your reading pleasure. Did you know that each issue of Jabberblabber has a "shelf life" (that means how long it stays around before you recycle it) of over 30 days? That's because there's so much to do in each issue with hours of thoughtful content for the whole family. This is all made possible by the publishers and sponsors you see throughout the magazine. Please consider supporting these local companies who have committed to sharing our mission of "feeding the minds and spirits of children everywhere with educational FUN"!

BE GREEN LIKE ME! Peace and Love, Jabberblabber

Editor's note: For over 8 years, "Be My Pen Pal" has been a popular and regular feature in Jabberblabber Magazine. Children from all over the Mid-South write letters to Jabberblabber on a regular basis. Our purpose is to improve letter-writing skills as well as promote the use of language, sentence structure, penmanship and postal practices of the US Mail. The format we provide begins with "Dear Jabberblabber" and ends with "Sincerely" with space in between for children to write a letter. Children also send letters written on their own paper. When Jabberblabber receives mail, he reads each one aloud to his team. Then, they handwrite letters back to each child and include a nice shiny sticker! Here are just a few of the many letters he receives on a daily basis:

Dear Jabberblabber, I have to write a January note in a December Jabberblabber. And the only place I can get Jabberblabbers is at Vanelli's Deli 'cause I don't live in Memphis. Please start bringing Jabberblabbers out to Arlington or deliver Vanelli's Deli more often:-( !!!!!! Sincerely, Sophie Anthony, age 9, Arlington TN Dear Jabberblabber, "I'm grateful for" YOU as a friend. [drawing of Jabberblabber] Sincerely, Aidan, age 6, Millington TN

Dear Jabberblabber, My name is Muaz Nur Abid (I am 5 so I can write, but my sister is writing this for me her name is Anila and she has written to you before) I like the library to learn. I also like to go to the Pink Palace. Do you like to eat green things? I love science. Do you like science? I also like math. My favorite food is pizza What is your favorite food. My favorite super hero is Green Arrow. Who is your favorite super hero. I love plants becasue they give us oxygen. I go to Grahamhwood Elementary School and I am in kindergarten. Do you have a pet? I do not have a pet. My favorite book is “Go Dogs Go” by Dr. Suess and I can read it mostly by myself. What's your favorite book? My favorite color is blue. What's yours? One more question: How old are you? Sincerely, Muaz (Nur Abid) Memphis, TN (P.S. please write a letter back!)

Dear Jabberblabber, My name is Ellie and I am six years old. I am in kindergarten. Something special about me is that I have a big sister and a little sister. Do you have any siblings? Peace and love, Ellie (Futrell), Memphis TN

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Inspiring Children & Families to Respect the Earth & ALL of its Creatures

Jabberblabber can’t wait to eat a cupcake on his birthday! There’s one hidden in this magazine. See if you can help him find it!

pg 4 pg 5 pg 6 pg 8 pg 10 pg 12 pg 14 pg 16 pg 19 pg 20 pg 22 pg 22 pg 23

Activity Coloring Contest Dental Puzzle PARENTS PAGES! Edible Art News Channel 3 Weather Calendar Comic Page Find It GRANDPARENTS PAGE! JabberGenius Jabberblabber Spotted U! Answers Golf Maze

Jabberblabber is published monthly by Jabberblabber, Inc. 415 South Front, # 114 • Memphis, TN 38103 • 901.278.5002 www.jabberblabber.com • jabberblabber@aol.com facebook: jabberblabber family magazine twitter: @jabberblabber

instagram: @jabberblabbermagazine

Editor: Theresa Andreuccetti

Art Director: Nikki Schroeder

Contributing Writers: Gerard J. Billmeier, Jr., M.D. & Uele Siebert Sponsorship Sales: Theresa Andreuccetti Volunteers: Angela Andreuccetti and Donna Gafford Jabberblabber Interns and Contributing Artists: Kaelen Felix, Corey Keeling, Andrew Mckeever and Beverly Love

Facts about RAIN!

Rain falls from clouds in the sky in the form of water droplets, this is called precipitation. Water can also fall from the sky in the form of hail, sleet or snow. Rain occurs on other planets in our Solar System but it is different to the rain we experience here on Earth. For example, rain on Venus is made of sulfuric acid and due to the intense heat it evaporates before it even reaches the surface! Weather radar is used to detect and monitor rain. Rain gauges are use to measure the amount of rain over a certain period of time. Try making your own rain gauge. The highest amount of rainfall ever recorded in 24 hours is 182.5 centimetres (71.9 inches) in Foc-Foc, La RĂŠunion Island. This occurred during tropical cyclone Denise on January 8, 1966. The highest amount of rainfall ever recorded in one year is 25.4 meters (1000 inches) in Cherrapunji, India. Antarctica is the driest continent on Earth. Heavy rain can cause flooding and landslides. Rain allows us to create electricity through hydropower. Plants need water in order to survive, they receive much of this water from rain. Forests that experience high levels of rainfall are called rainforests. Rain with high levels of acid (a low pH) is called acid rain. Caused by the release of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the air (often from factories and power stations), it can be harmful to plants and animals.

Color the drawing below. Use lots of creativity while choosing your colors.

UCOLORIT CONTEST March 2018

SEND in your masterpiece for the

UCOLORIT random drawing!

Make sure to follow all directions! The winner will receive a Jabberblabber bookmark, folder and sticker. The winner will be announced in June 2018!

Name ______________________ Address ____________________

City _______________________ State__________Zip__________ Age________

Complete the form and mail to: Jabberblabber 415 South Front, #114 Memphis, TN 38103

Congratulations to the December winner: Jordain Davis, Memphis, TN, age 7

A DAY IN THE LIFE!

by Uele Siebert

Water is essential to life, and yet most of us don’t give much thought to its vital functions. Think for a moment of all of the ways that you use water, and ask yourself how your life would be impacted without it. We use water to brush our teeth, bathe, clean our work and living spaces, drink, cook, do laundry, clean our vehicles, water our gardens, and much more. If any of these uses seem optional, could you find a suitable and abundant alternative that has all of the benefits of water? Beyond the multitude of functions that it serves in maintaining our lifestyles, what’s most important is that water is critical in the survival of living things, from the smallest of organisms to the largest. In fact, life on our planet would not have occurred without water, so critical is it to our existence! To illustrate what a fundamental component water is in daily life around the globe, let’s take a quick journey through an average day anywhere in our world. Upon rising each day, what is the first thing that one might do before anything else? Most people immediately reach for a glass of water, or a cup of tea or coffee -- both of which require water to prepare. Water is needed to clean our cups and saucers before we head to the bathroom to clean our bodies. Think of how many gallons of water are used around the world each day just for showers and baths! Furthermore, one thing we are all taught to do throughout the day for good health and hygiene is wash our hands. While hand sanitizer is handy substitute for its germ killing properties, it is not meant to replace simple soap and water. With clean hands we can safely handle all of the fresh produce that will be rinsed in water before preparing meals. Water will be used to cook the rice, porridge, noodles, potatoes, soups, stews, and beans that will be served around the world. The dairy livestock will need water to produce the milk that will make the non-vegan cheese, yogurt, and cream, and the fruits used to make delectable desserts will have required plenty of rich sun, soil, and water to grow to the ripe sweetness that we all enjoy. Finally, we brush the sugars and food particles off our teeth before bed, and rinse away the day with clean water before heading to bed. When we take time to consider all of the ways we use and consume water every day, we realize it is a vital resource that makes life as we know it on our planet possible. The quality of our water is something that we can ensure by keeping pollutants and litter out of our waterways and ground soil. Water sustains life on our planet, so let’s show our love for Mother Earth by respecting its resources

BEING GREEN LIKE ME in Memphis -

Uele Siebert is the mother of one and an advocate for attachment parenting. Raised on Big Blue Marble, she has a Bachelor’s Degree in Multicultural Studies from the University of Memphis, and is passionate about cultural relevance and representations in education and media. Uele honed her love of the homegrown as former co-owner of Mothersville, and owner of Groovy Foods. She is now an advisory board member of Jabberblabber Magazine.

Aromatherapy and non-toxic cleaning products

Aromatherapy, (the use of essential oils and plant extracts), has been a subject of interest for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Indians used essential oils for rituals and religious practices, recognizing the oils’ ability to influence human feelings. Even with this rich history of aromatherapy, the term wasn’t officially coined until the 20th century, and it took many years for the scientific community to recognize the emotional benefits of aromatherapy. In most cases, essential oils can be classified as having either uplifting or calming effects in children and adults.

If you're interested in trying some pure, effective and safe essential oils, we recommend dōTERRA, an essential oil company which relies on the knowledge and expertise of native farmers from over 40 countries. dōTERRA also carries a line of healthy cleaning products made with essential oils which have powerful cleansing properties to help purify your environment.

Mercy Hentrel is a single mother of two from Memphis, and an independent wellness advocate for dōTERRA in this region. If you have questions about benefits of essential oils, give her a call at 901-830-6047 and learn more at mydoterra.com

Parents and Kids

DR. B

MARCH TOPIC: By Gerard J. Billmeier, Jr., M.D.

Our drinking water has been much in the news lately, and parents have many questions about drinking water safety as well as how much water children really need in their everyday lives.

Children drink much more water for their size than adults and most of this water comes from the tap. The quality of this water is regulated by standards emanating from Congress, which are included in the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974. As a result, drinking water in the United States is among the safest in the world.

Although bottled water can be purchased in many stores, many brands are simply tap water in plastic bottles. Bottled water is much more expensive than tap water and may even contain undesirable chemicals that are extracted from the plastic and into the water. Unless there are known contamination problems in your community’s water supply, it is not necessary to drink bottled water.

Many of you already live in a community like Memphis, Tennessee where water quality and purity are of the highest order. Memphians enjoy pure artesian water derived from a natural reservoir hundreds of feet below the surface in a sand aquifer. More than eighty such artesian wells are operated by Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLG&W) and all water pumped from this aquifer is aerated, filtered and disinfected for safety and purity.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation have set the standards for contaminants in drinking water. Such contaminants include nitrate, chlorine, lead and copper plus a variety of bacteria. Tests of Memphis water consistently show contaminant levels far below the allowed maximum.

How do I know if my tap water is contaminated with lead? One cannot see, taste or smell lead in drinking water. Your local water authority can always inform you of current water quality.

When should you be suspicious? • If your home has lead pipes. • If you see signs of decay (frequent leaks, rust-colored water, stained dishes or laundry) or if your non-plastic plumbing is more than five years old. Where can I turn to if I am concerned about lead in drinking water? Your pediatrician, family physician or local health department can advise on proper testing for a child suspected of lead intoxication. How much water do children really need? Water is the cornerstone for all bodily functions. It is the most abundant substance in our bodies comprising 60% of body weight. Water serves to help maintain our body temperatures at about 98.6 degrees, transports nutrients and oxygen, maintains blood volume and carries waste products away.

The daily amount of water needed by a child depends on several factors including age, weight, gender, ambient temperature and humidity plus one’s degree of physical activity. The total amount of water your child needs may seem like a lot, but keep in mind these recommendations are for total water which includes water from all sources: drinking water, other beverages and solid food. Many fruits and vegetables have a high water content compared to other solid foods.

As a rule of thumb, your child or teen should drink 6-8 cups of water per day (boys slightly more than girls) plus eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Be especially mindful of extra water needs during hot weather or during exercise. The goal should be to drink ½ to 2 cups of water every 15-20 minutes while exercising. Does my baby need extra water? Healthy babies do not need extra water. Breast milk or formula provide all the fluids they need. However, upon introducing solid foods, water may be added to your baby’s diet. Also, a small amount of extra water may be needed in very warm weather. Additional Resources: Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1.800.426.4791 www.mlgw.com/waterquality Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC Atlanta

Parents

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There is a container of Pancho’s Cheese Dip hidden somewhere in this magazine. See if you can find it.

Here are some ways that I conserve water . . .