Kid’s Craic: Peace begins with a smile
By Megan Lardie
“Peace begins with a smile.” –Mother Teresa
As September brings us back to school, it also brings International Day of Peace, which is recognized all over the world, including the United States and Ireland. It is always celebrated on September 21st.
Peace Day was started by the United Nations in 1981 as a day for nonviolence. The United Nations is an organization made up of several different countries from around the world. Its purpose is to maintain peace and security, have friendly relationships among countries, achieve international cooperation, and be a center for harmonizing the actions of all nations.
The United Nations was started after World War II and its goal was to prevent future wars. The United Nations also protects human rights, delivers humanitarian aid, such as food to people that are starving, promotes sustainable development, and upholds international law. When the United Nations was started it had fifty-one countries as part of its membership. South Sudan was added in 2011 and now there are one hundred ninety-three countries, which is almost all the countries in the world.
End Racism. Build Peace
The theme of International Peace Day for 2022 is, “End Racism. Build Peace.” Racism is when people are treated differently because of their skin color, or gender, or background, or what they believe. This can be things like refusing to play or sit with someone who is different or making fun of their clothes or the way they look, or the way they act.
The United Nations is inviting everyone to join their efforts to build a world of peace and a world of compassion and empathy. This means understanding what another person is struggling with and wanting to help them in some way instead of making fun of them or leaving them left out on their own. Peace begins when you make a commitment to yourself to be non-violent, to help a person in trouble, by letting others know how to feel calm, and by having faith that the world is a good place.
Inner Peace
In order to build a peaceful world around you, you need to find a way to have inner peace within you. With all that is going on in the world today, that sounds like a difficult task!
There are many ways you can learn to have inner peace. One of the easiest is to do some deep breathing. Another way is to do yoga. There are classes that you could sign up for around town or you could go to You Tube and find several yoga videos.
Taking some time to do some writing is also good for inner peace. You could keep a journal of all of your blessings, or a list of things to do that make you happy or write about how much you are loved and cherished.
Some other things to do to find inner peace could be to unplug from technology for a few hours or a few days, help a neighbor or family member without expecting anything in return, or spend some time in nature. Some of the bigger challenges of finding inner peace are to learn to be content with what you already have and stop thinking you need more, take responsibilities for your actions, and learn to accept things that you cannot control. The biggest and sometimes the hardest challenge to find inner peace is to love yourself. You are a wonderful person!
Kids in the Kitchen
Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
- 3 cups rice cereal
- 1 bars of dark chocolate
- 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
- flakey salt (sea salt or kosher salt)
Directions
- In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter and maple syrup.
- Microwave them so they soften and combine easier with the rice cereal.
- Add the salt, cinnamon, and vanilla to the peanut butter and maple syrup mixture.
- Then add 3 cups of rice cereal. Combine well and transfer to a pan. Set aside.
- In a new bowl, break apart your chocolate and add the coconut oil. Microwave until the chocolate melts.
- Then spread the chocolate over the rice crispy bar.
- Refrigerate the bars until the chocolate hardens.
- Then cut them up, sprinkle some flakey salt and enjoy!
Literature Corner
A Long Walk to Water
by Linda Sue Park
A Long Walk to Water is told as two stories about Nya, a girl growing up in Sudan in 2008 and Salva, a boy growing up in Sudan in 1985. Nya must walk every day to fetch water from a pond that is two hours away from her home. She makes two trips each day.
Salva becomes one of the “lost boys” after armed rebels attack his village. He faces several hardships as he walks the continent of Africa in search of his family and a safe place to live. Find out how these two characters’ lives intersect in a moving way. Based on a true story. For ages 10-12. 221 pages.
All People Are Beautiful – Children’s Diversity Book That Teaches Acceptance and Belonging, and How to Feel Comfortable in the Skin You Live In – A Child’s First Conversation About Race
by Vincent Kelly
Children can see differences very early. In this book, kids are introduced to multicultural differences and can see what makes each person unique. By using creative rhymes and illustrations, children will delight in the many ways they learn to honor how being human brings us all together.
Children will learn that community is what brings us all together and will have the opportunity to practice through the many activities in the book. They can try speaking a different language, design their own character, and their own flag. For ages 4-8. 36 pages.
Lardie’s Laughs
- Why did the student eat their homework?
Because the teacher said it was a piece of cake. - Why can’t a nose be 12 inches long?
Because then it would be a foot.
Gab in Gaelic
There is no strength without unity. = Ni ceart go cur le cheile. (pron: nee keart guh kurr leh kay-leh)