TEACHING KIDS TO STAY SAFE BEYOND STRANGER DANGER
One of the most winning qualities of little kids is their curiosity about the world and the people around them. A recent video of a winsome toddler starting conversations with adult shoppers at the grocery store drew more than 20 million views on TikTok. But if that curiosity leads a child to engage with strangers in public, is that still a good thing? The dire parental warnings against “stranger danger” of the 1980s and 1990s seem a little extreme today. Teaching kids to fear anyone they haven’t met isn’t healthy. Children need to develop social skills to talk with a doctor or a new teacher, order a meal, make new friends, or ask for help. Recently, parenting experts have begun promoting a more nuanced view of stranger danger. They encourage parents to teach children to recognize suspicious behavior and identify adults they can trust.
“Rather than issuing a blanket warning about stranger danger, allow children to talk with other adults in safe situations in public and observe them and provide real-life examples of what they need to know,” Reena Patel, a parenting expert, told Parents magazine. Patel urges parents to teach their children ground rules: Adults don’t ask children for help, so don’t respond to an adult stranger who does so, and trustworthy adults will not invite a child to leave a safe place to show them something or give them a gift. If your child is uncomfortable talking with a stranger, don’t require them to do so just for the sake of politeness. Patel says, “Some children are simply a little slower to open up to others, and they shouldn’t be labeled ‘shy’ just because of that temperamental trait. Support them in cutting off any conversation that makes them uncomfortable.”
Vegan Greek Sheet Pan Dinner
YOUR MONTHLY NEED-TO-KNOWS
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
WHO CREATED THE PERIODIC TABLE? Though some had tried to organize the elements before, Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev created what would later become the modern periodic table in 1869. Mendeleev arranged the elements based on their atomic weight and even left gaps for elements that had yet to be discovered. Even more impressive, he accurately predicted some of the properties of these unknown elements! CAN A SHARK SWIM BACKWARD? No, sharks cannot abruptly stop swimming or swim backward! This is because sharks’ pectoral fins cannot bend upward like other fish, forcing them to move only forward. If a shark needs to move backward, it will rely on gravity to fall back. WHICH PRESIDENT SERVED MORE THAN 2 CONSECUTIVE TERMS? President Franklin D. Roosevelt is the first and only president to have been elected for more than two consecutive terms, at a whopping four successive presidential terms! This was before the 22nd Amendment, which limits any president to just two terms in office.
1. Preheat oven to 400 F. In a small bowl, combine all seasoning ingredients, stir, and set aside. 2. Spread tofu, zucchini, pepper, onion, and tomatoes on a large, rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle seasoning over top and mix with your hands until everything is well coated. 3. Bake for 35–40 minutes, stirring halfway through, until everything is golden brown. Remove from the oven, then sprinkle with olives and vegan feta. 4. Serve with cooked rice, warm pita bread, vegan tzatziki, hummus, or chopped parsley.
Seasoning: •
3 tbsp olive oil
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1 lemon, juiced (about 3 tbsp) 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 1/2 tbsp dried oregano
1 tbsp dried basil
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp black pepper
Veggies and Tofu: •
1 block extra-firm tofu, drained and diced
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1 medium zucchini, sliced
1 bell pepper (any color), sliced 1 medium red onion, sliced 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives 1/4 cup vegan feta, crumbled
Inspired by ItDoesntTasteLikeChicken.com
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