KidsCast

Fireworks Safety

The 4th of July is one of the funnest holidays of the year. There are lots of things to do and see.  But if you plan on shooting off fireworks make sure you do it safely. Below are some safety tips to follow for Independence Day fun.

1. Never play with fireworks without an adult.
2. Read and follow all the package's instructions.
3. Keep water and sand nearby.
4. Don't attempt to make your own fireworks or combine existing ones.
5. Don't try to relight a firework that didn't work the first time. It's a dud.
6. Don't lean over the top of fireworks to light them. 
7. Even after they go out, don't touch the stems of sparklers or other handheld fireworks. They can still be very hot.

Fishing Fun

A fun activity that you can do in just about every part of Missouri is fishing. If you've never been before, there's a great site called Take Me Fishing that can help you figure out what you need to know and do before you get started.  Fishing gives kids a great opportunity to practice a sport, learn patience and spend quality time with friends or family. Suggest fishing the next time your family is trying to figure out what to do for the day. KidsCast would love to see photos of the fish you catch. Send them in. We'll display them. 

Recreation Month

July is National Recreation Month. It's easy to see why. There are so many fun activities to participate in this month. There are lots of festivities coming up on Friday for Independence Day. It's also the best weather of the year to get outside and go swimming or picnic under the shade of a tree.  We'd love to hear about the recreational activities you're participating in this summer.  Write in and tell us about it.   

A History of Treatment

A fun and very interesting place to visit in Missouri sits in St. Joseph.  It's the Glore Psychiatric Museum. Here you can see all kinds of cool displays and freaky facts about how the world of psychotherapy has progressed through the centuries.  Listen to this week's show for some specific details about what visitors get to see. 

Download/Listen to 5 min mp3

Story Telling Tips

KidsCast is always looking for stories from you. Writing one is easy.  But if you're looking for some tips to create a great story, check out the Kids Newsroom. The site has great tips for story writing and all things educational. 

Healthy Things

The final essay contest winner for the 2007/2008 year is Chayilah Broadbent from Humansville.  She will be heading into the first grade this coming school year.  I spent a little time on the phone with Chayilah talking about some of the healthy habits she has.

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Rock Out in Graniteville

This week's featured location is Elephant Rocks State Park in Graniteville. Listen to this week's show to hear about the fun things you can do there. Then tell us about the fun things visitors can see if they come to your town.  Write in.

Download/Listen to 5min mp3

Good Nutrition and the Great Outdoors

A fun way to practice good nutrition is by packing a picnic lunch. It's International Picnic Day.  What a great time to practice the food guide pyramid. Pack your picnic pouch with foods from each group. Then sit outside and eat with nature.  Read over our essays written by Missouri kids. There are a lot of helpful tips for healthy eating.

Itching for Summer

Being outdoors and playing in nature can lead to an itchy situation if you get into a batch of poison ivy.  The leaves contain a substance that, if you're allergic to, can cause a major irritating rash. It starts itching and if you start scratching, you could end up scarring yourself or spreading it to other areas of your body.  The best way to avoid getting poison ivy is to avoid coming in contact with a poison ivy plant. There's a saying that goes leaves of three, let them be.  Remember it.  And avoid contact with plants that fit that description.

Fun with Fish

On this week's show learn about the state's largest fish hatchery...a fun and inexpensive site to visit this summer. The Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery is located in Branson. Check it out, then write in and tell us about the fun places you're visiting this summer.

Download KidsCast306.mp3