I would love to welcome Gigi to our Regionz Kidz blog! She is going to be putting up some great posts about Peru & its culture and traditions. Please welcome her to our wonderful community

Gilda (Gigi) Pedraza, a Social Entrepreneur and Former Director of Resource Development at the Latin American Association; graduated with honors from the bachelors degree program in Hospitality from the Center in Tourism Development in Lima, Peru. In 2000, on a scholarship from the Spanish government, Gilda received a Masters in Tourism with a focus in planning from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Univeristy.

Before leading the Resource Development Department at the Latin American Association, where she responsible for the fundraising activities as well as special events and public relations strategy; she worked as an events planner and coordinator of the “Guest Recognition” program at the Ritz-Carlton in Buckhead; training staff on quality management processes and increasing efficiencies in the hotel.

Gilda has also led several initiatives aiming to facilitate the traffic and delivery of service at the Peruvian Corporation of Civil Aviation, which included integrating suppliers, government representatives, corporations and the media in the projects at the Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima.

Currently, she runs the Inca Kids project, a fair trade initiative supporting skilled but unprivileged Peruvian artisans through the sales of their handcrafted items in developing countries.

Gilda is married to Omar Rodriguez, she is mother of a busy toddler and is expecting her second baby in July.

The Qoyllur Rit’i Festival…At 15,500 feet!

One of the things that I miss the most while living here in the US; is the number of festivals Peruvians enjoy during the year, and I am not talking about artist markets, I am talking about festivals that go back hundreds of years as traditions.

The Qoyllur Rit’i (pronounced “kouyuriti” in English means “Snow Star”) is a festival celebrated at the end of May that unites both the Andean and Catholic traditions of the country. It is basically a long pilgrimage that starts at the bottom of Mount Sinaqara (believed in the Andean tradition to be a god –Apu Ausangate) all the way up 15,500 feet! Thousands of people walk, dance and sing their way up the mountain while enjoying traditional food from vendors or other pilgrims. The story of the tradition says that an image of God appeared on top of the mountain and if you do a pilgrimage for 5 years in a row, God will grant you a special wish or miracle. Believers then plan their whole year around this festivity and bring their best and colorful clothes, food from their towns (because of the altitude is very difficult to cook up there) and dance and pray for God to give them strength to reach the summit.

After they reach the summit, some pilgrims bring pieces of glacier to their communities (they carry them on their back!) because they are believed to have medicinal properties.

If you think this sounds interesting, remember that you would be climbing a mountain so there is no hotel, you would have to carry a tent to sleep inside, and temperatures often reach 0 Fahrenheit degrees!!

Gigi Pedraza
Inca Kids, Fair Trade Artisan Toys and Accessories by Peruvian artisans.
www.incakids.org

Whole World
Illustrated by Christopher Corr
Sung by Fred Penner

“She’s got the fish of the sea
In her hands
She’s got the Whole World in her hands!”

Oprah loves us, and you will too! Oprah selected our Whole World book to be on her O magazine February “O List” of things she loves. This is a beautifully illustrated version of the song we all loved as children. Fred Penner, a famous children’s musician, contributed his talents to this catchy sing-along CD. The book also includes information about different ecosystems and has eco-tips on how to live green and respect our planet! The pronouns are mixed throughout the book, giving us all a better sense of how we are responsible for our own world.

“…this bright, lively interactive picture book makes a strong call for conservation. Each clear, spacious, double-page spread shows boys and girls of all races and places holding hands around the globe, playing together from the plains and deserts to the lakes and rivers and towns and cities … The chanting repetition with the colorful pictures of children everywhere will have even young preschoolers joining in the playful celebration of diversity and connection and saving the world.”
— Booklist

You can find out more about this book on my barefoot website, where the press release is listed as well as a few online activity sheets about our environment. This book is recommended for ages 0-9, but has a message we can all appreciate at any age! Along with spreading a message of global responsibility, Barefoot Books is donating 10% of Whole World sales to global conservation efforts. To find out more about this book, as well as find a list of our environmental partners, please visit my website at http://barefootfamily.mybarefootbooks.com

Jenn Aaron
US Stallholder US-1014367
Barefoot Books
http://barefootfamily.mybarefootbooks.com/

What is short, loud, messy, comes in many varieties and contrary to popular belief actually doesn’t sweat? If your answer is “a pig” you’re correct! However that is not the answer I am looking for. Children would be the appropriate response.

Yes it’s true, children do not sweat and therefore are at greater risk for dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Their temperature regulation systems are still immature and that can be dangerous when playing or exercising outdoors. Whether we are looking forward to it or not, Summer is on its way which means increased temperatures (outside and body), no school and a lot more free time to spend outdoors. Here are a few tips to help you keep your children safe from heat related ailments.

1) Instill the importance of drinking plenty of water in your children. Cold water is the best thing to give a child who has been playing outdoors since it will help bring down their increased body temperature. The longer and harder they play, the higher their core temperature will be thus increasing the need for more water. Schedule water breaks for your kids so it becomes a healthy habit over time.

2) Make sure your children wear appropriate hot weather clothing. Pick clothes that are light in color. Darker fabrics attract more heat and should be avoided during this time of year if at all possible. Loose clothing is better than tight. The tighter the clothing, the more heat their bodies will hold in. Hats are great for keeping your kids’ faces from getting too much sun, but they also hold in more body heat. Heat escapes from the tops of our heads and by wearing a hat you are making it harder for your body to cool itself down.

3) Avoid beverages loaded with sugar and caffeine. Not only are they bad for kids nutritionally, but the caffeine will also increase dehydration. If your child drinks a 12-ounce can of a caffeinated soda, they will have to drink 24 ounces of water just to re-hydrate themselves. If they don’t want to drink water all the time, offer them a beverage that contains electrolytes. G2 is the newest sports drink from the Gatorade Company and contains 50% less sugar and calories than traditional Gatorade. They are also the makers of Propel Fitness Water, which also has far fewer calories than other sports drinks and still contains electrolytes/vitamins and flavoring.

4) Be aware of the amount of time children play during the hottest hours of the day. If they play organized sports, encourage the coach to start practices and games earlier or later in the day. You want to encourage them to play outside, but be mindful if you notice your child’s cheeks getting very red. More often than not, children won’t notice that they are overheating. By the time they realize they aren’t feeling well the damage has already been done.

5) Weigh your children before and after they participate in an outdoor activity. Although this may seem a little strange for your child, it is a good habit to get into. It is a way for your child to see how much fluid weight they lose during activities and will hopefully encourage them to drink adequate amounts of water.

Follow these tips this summer to ensure your child’s health and safety. In addition to these great tips, you can also put a mud pit in your yard and encourage your children to roll around in it when they get too hot. Just don’t send me the housecleaning bill!

Christopher Hillery has been a Certified Personal Trainer for 9 years and is the owner of Transformer Fitness in Phoenix, Arizona. He was once an overweight child and knows first-hand how the effects of being overweight can be damaging. It is his goal to help overweight children and adults develop lasting healthy habits and a positive body image. Chris can design a full workout program for parents and children which can include a nutrition program, along with equipment to use at home. He can be reached via email at: chris_hillery80@cox.net

We All Went on Safari- A Counting Journey Through Tanzania
written by Laurie Krebs and illustrated by Julia Cairns

“We all went on safari,
Over grasslands damp with dew.
We came across some ostriches,
And Mosi counted two.”

 This book is great for toddlers beginning to count, as well as older children who are ready to learn about the world. The book follows a group of Maasai people as they explore their world, counting animals in English and Swahili. Each phrase and number get a beautiful two page illustration from Ms. Cairns. The counting poem is followed by a number of pages with information about the Maasai people, the country of Tanzania, the native animals and Swahili names. There are a number of pronunciation guides to assist in reading the story.

This book was winner of a Starred Review by the Kirkus Reviews, and recently School Library Journal said, “Youngsters will learn numbers from one to ten in English and Swahili as Mosi, Tumpe, Arusha, and other friends count African wildlife. Attractive borders frame vibrant watercolor spreads of different types of animals, including giraffes, elephants, zebras, and lions. The rhyming singsong verse, beginning with the refrain “We all went on a safari,” lends itself to a fun read-aloud.”

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each book will be donated to the African Wildlife Foundation, to aid their wildlife conservation and community building efforts in Tanzania. This is a fun book to read aloud or alone, and is a great way to introduce children of all ages to the country of Tanzania.

To find out more about this book and print an activity sheet, please visit my website at http://barefootfamily.mybarefootbooks.com

Thanks again to Jenn for the great write-up! Please take a look at what Barefoot Books has to offer - they truly are a unique and wonderful company.

I would like to thank Sheena for this great review as well as her unique perspective on race and diversity! You can view her blog at: http://www.mommydaddyblog.com

Growing up I went to predominantly African American schools. I wasn’t taught much about diversity and different cultures, just racism and segregation year after year. Of course this had some effect on how I perceived other races. I developed schemas based on textbooks, television, and my surroundings. Although we were taught Martin Luther King’s dream multiple times in school, it didn’t have much affect on me because there was no uniting races when the school made up one race. I wasn’t exposed to diversity early on so I didn’t know how to interact once exposed later in life. Of course I was always taught to treat others with respect but the subject of diversity never really popped up.

I remember entering high school, it was a predominantly African American high school but there was a noticeable percentage of Caucasian students as well. At first interacting with each other was a little awkward, making sure we didn’t say anything to offend each other. I remember at a band gathering having a conversation with a group of people of different races; “no offense” was used quite a few times. Nothing said was offensive, “no offense” was just said to be courteous just in case someone did take offense, I suppose. It just tickles me now thinking about it because we didn’t know how to act around each other. This was due to the lack of exposure and proper knowledge of other races and cultures.

It is important to start teaching children early about diversity. While it is important to teach your children to embrace their culture it is also important to teach them about the cultures of other people. It will help them better understand why some people do the things that he or she may not do, why, and to certainly not be afraid of them because of it. The key is to help your children become well rounded individuals because the real world is one gigantic melting pot.

There are a handful of stores that are devoted to promoting multicultural products for children. Regionz Kidz is a great place to pick up products to help teach your children diversity and unity. At Regionz Kidz you can find SUPER CUTE culturally diverse t-shirts for infants, toddlers, and mommies! Regionz Kidz’s t-shirts feature amazing sketches of babies in different regions all over the world. There are over 104 designs to choose from. You can even have a custom sketch of your child designed! In addition to t-shirts, Regionz Kidz offers books and games as well! Some useful articles and resources can be found on the Regionz Kidz blog and free coloring sheets can be found here! Regionz Kidz was founded last year and has gotten off to a great start! I look forward to seeing what the future brings!