4 Friday, March 3, 2017 brooklintowncrier.com Our Brooklin Kids By Leanne Brown Is news exposure good for our kids? In a recent press conference, U.S. President Donald Trump, complaining that certain media outlets lie, blasted them for "fake news." This had my daughter asking, "but I thought the news was real." I love to watch the news but sometimes my daughter's exposure to it has me scrambling to ask myself difficult questions, like if it's even good for her. People get their news from multiple sources these days. So it's hard for children not to be exposed to it. There is evidence suggesting that watching news can be disturbing to children who may have difficulty determining what is real or not. However, keeping an eye on kids' TV news habits can go a long way toward monitoring the worth of what they hear and see. Many experts agree that kids younger than six should not see the news. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting until kids are between 8 and 10 before allowing them to watch news programs as older school-aged children are more comfortable with difficult topics. At those ages, kids can benefit when exposed to subjects with a guided hand to help them better understand them. The news doesn't have to be sensationalized with disturbing pictures. Public TV programs, newspapers, books, magazines and websites are great ways of getting information to children. When my daughter asks about something she's heard or seen, I ask questions, too. This goes a long way to finding out what she already knows and how she feels. Try asking, "What do you think about these events? How do you think these things happen?" I often find that her inquiry is in fact about something she doesn't understand or relates to, something taking place in her little world rather than in the news. In our home, we tend to stick to political analysis news. As a result, our daughter gets exposed to issues that raise questions rather than seeing images of war and tragedy. With a new American president striving to make his mark, lately we've been answering lots of questions about human rights, diversity, and what's fair. Dinner table conversations are fueled by her curiosity and she needs to understand what is right and why some people feel the way they do. These provide wonderful teaching opportunities that make her think about her world and the people around her. It's important to put news stories in proper context. When her school reacted with "stranger danger" education after the local incident of child luring, we explained that these events are isolated but that it is still good to review how to keep safe. Explaining how one event relates to another helps kids make better sense of what they see or hear. You can use a story of someone getting hurt or in need as a chance to talk about helping others and how people cope with hardships. Talking about what you can do to help gives kids a sense of control. So yes, it's okay to expose kids to the news - in moderation. How much they see depends on how we as adults filter it for our children's ability to handle it. News makes our kids informed citizens, broadens their worldview, makes them critical thinkers, teaches leadership lessons (good and bad), and, best of all, gives them a front row seat to history. Community Calendar If you have a community not-for-profit event you would like included in the calendar, please email it to editorofBTC@gmail.com with the subject line "calendar."Priority will be given to Brooklin events. Some editing may occur. Wed., March 15: 7:30pm Bid Euchre. All welcome-no partner or ticket required-just appear. Ashburn Community Centre, 780 Myrtle Rd W. $2 Prizes. 905-655-4652 Sat., March 18: 10:00 am - 4 pm Brooklin Woodcarvers 27th Annual Woodcarving Show and Competition Heydenshore Pavilion 589 Water St, Whitby. Free admission and parking. Refreshments. Door prizes and raf- fles. Vendors. Contact: Rob Woodill at 905-728-7764 or email: robw1965@outlook.com Sat., March 18: 9:00 am Landmark Cinemas 24 Whitby The Optimist Club of Brooklin Proudly Presents: A Morning at the Movies with Beauty and the Beast (Movie will start at 10:00 am) ADVANCE TICKETS ONLY - $10.00 per child (3-13 years old) and $10.00 per adult. Babes in arms are free. Calling all princes and princesses of Brooklin. Princess Belle requests the honour of your presence at a private screening of Beauty and the Beast. Wear your favourite costume or gown You will have an opportunity to meet Princess Belle and other surprise guests and enjoy other special surprises. Contact gracebrooklinoptimistclub@gmail. com or purchase tickets at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/ optimist-club-of-brooklin- morning-at-the-movies-beauty- and-the-beast-tickets-31176681293 Sat., April 1: 11:00 am Big Bucks Euchre. Regular progressive euchre. No partner required. Odd Fellows Hall, 42 Bagot St., Brooklin. $10 includes lunch and excellent prizes. Advance tickets only. Proceeds to Camp Trillium Capital fund - camps for kids with cancer and their families. 905-655-4652. Wed., April 5: 4:30 - 8:30 pm Durham Farm Connections at Luther Vipond Memorial Arena, 67 Winchester Road East in Brooklin. Free Admission. Food Bank donations accepted. Activities for kids, farm animals and tractors on display. Demos every 15 minutes; sheep shearing, cow milking, cheese making. Meet a large animal veterinarian. For more information visit www.durhamfarmconnections.ca Sat., April 29: Beef dinner: Beethoven Odd Fellows and Kinoven Rebekahs lodge hall at 42 Bagot St., Brooklin (east of Cassels St. bridge). Lots of beef & potatoes, lots of pies! Tickets: $17.50 Adults, $7.00 Children 5:00 & 6:30 sittings. Advance tickets only please. Call Harry 905-666-0814 or email: h.agar@sympatico.ca or Ray 905-655-8025 Mondays 6:30-7 pm: French Family Storytime: Children of all ages and their caregivers are invited to join Madame Sue for our weekly French Family Storytime! Enjoy a half hour of stories and songs in French, with a dash of English too! Registration is not required. Just drop in! LOCATION: Central Library - Children's Program Room Tuesdays: Brooklin Toastmasters, 7:15 pm for Meet & Greet, Meeting from 7:20 to 9:14 pm at the Brooklin Community Centre & Library, 8 Vipond Road, 2nd floor Boardroom. For more information, contact John at 905-683-4439 or jajhj@sympatico.ca or Loran Weston-Smyth at lorn@lornawestonsmyth.com or 416-910-4109. Brooklin Toastmasters provides a supportive and positive environment where members have the opportunity to develop their communication and leadership skills. Basic Foot Care: Community Care Durham provides basic foot care services by registered foot care nurses on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month at St. Thomas' Anglican Church. Please call 905-668-6223 for more information. Thursday evenings: Love to sing! The Brooklin United Church adult choir welcomes new voices to join us. Practices are Thursday evenings 7:30 - 9:00 pm. You do not need to read music to be part of the choir. Practice CD's are made available. For more information, please call the church office at 905-655-4141 or by email at office@brooklinunited.ca Brooklin's Guide to Home Based Businesses DIRECTORY WORSHIP DIRECTORY Burns Presbyterian Church 765 Myrtle Rd West (just 4 minutes north of Brooklin) 10am Worship, Kids Zone Fun & Nursery Care "Discovering God, Sharing God's Love" 905.655.8509 www.Burnschurch.org St. Thomas' Anglican Church 101 Winchester Road East Sunday Services: 8:30 and 10:30 am Sunday School & Nursery Program (10:30am) Wednesday 10:00 a.m. Communion and Healing Service 905-655-3883 www.stthomasbrooklin.ca Brooklin United Church 19 Cassels Rd. E. Sunday Services at 10:30 am Sunday School & Nursery Care www.brooklinunited.ca 905-655-4141 Come catch the Spirit! Renaissance Baptist Church of Brooklin 40 Vipond Road (Just West Of Library) Sunday Worship & Kids Program 10:30 a.m. 905-655-4554 www.brooklinrbc.ca We're here for Brooklin!