Patty the Prairie Dog

Patty the Prairie Dog lived underground.

She lived in a most communal small town.
She knew all her neighbors, her friends and her kin.
They often would tunnel and come right on in!


Patty would watch for hawks and other big foe,
When she saw them- down her tunnel she’d go.
Patty ate grass and sometimes small seeds,
Or on occasion even some weeds!


Patty’s six pups would often pop up,
She’d push them down, every last pup!
Patty liked her prairie dog town,
Whether looking up, or staying down.
Copyright Traci Schauf, 2003



HURRY HURRY!  School is almost here!  Get those kids outside!  It's your duty as parent!  (No guilt, right?). Here's today's assignment:  find a map and gather the children around.  Lure them in with cookies if you have to.

Draw a circle indicating a ten-mile radius around your house. Using the map, let the munchkins find all the outdoor sites around your home, and what each offers.  Is it a recreation area with water-skiing?  A fishing-only lake?  How about an historic site or national park?

Now, pull yourself away from the AC, pick one of the places, pack a picnic and take off.  If for some reason, God forbid, it's not possible, then take the kids out in the backyard.  Have a contest to see who can find the most leaves of different types, or spot the most birds.  Dig around in moist dirt in search of toads.  Toads are nice. Make it fun, make it a learning experience. Ask them to show you their favorite outdoor spot.

Take a deep breath and unplug the TV, the computer, the Playstation, turn off the cell phones, dsi's and Ipods. Imagination should not have to fight for space in your kid's brains.  Hand them each a stick and give them 30 seconds to come up with five uses for that stick.  Conductor's baton?  Bravo.  Rifle?  Dead on.  A magic wand?  I like your thinking. A light saber?  May the Force be with you.  Winner with the most ideas gets to squirt you with a water hose.

Do whatever you gotta do, but whatever you do, do it outside while you can!