Keep Your Eyes Open

Kein v' Lo: Snack Attack

YeLAdim talked to the LAPD and got these tips on what kids can do to stay safe -- and maybe to help catch a bad guy:

• Be aware of your surroundings on the way to and from school, at your synagogue and while hanging out with your friends.
• If you find a note about someone wanting to hurt someone -- or use a gun or knife -- tell an adult immediately. If any of your friends wants to write notes like that, let them know that they could get in big-time trouble because threatening notes are no joke to the police.
• If you see packages, boxes or bags with bottles sitting near the street or in a hallway don't touch them.
• If you see anything or anyone in a public place that looks like they don't belong or is acting strangely, tell a parent, a teacher or another adult you trust.
• When it comes to safety, there's no such thing as a tattletale.

This section of the page is a way for you as kids to sound off about an issue.

This month's Kein v' Lo (yes and no) is about snacks at school. Many schools have removed candy, chips and sodas from campus vending machines and replaced them with what they consider healthier snacks and drinks. Also, many schools are telling parents that when they bring a treat for a child's birthday, it should include a healthy snack, as well.

Should schools be able to say what kids can and cannot eat?

The Kein Side:

• Many kids are gaining weight much faster than ever before, because of how easy it has been to get sugary-, fat- and salt-filled snacks during and after school. Eliminating those kinds of foods could cut down on kids' health problems.
• Most kids left to their own choices probably won't pick veggies over cookies or bottled water over soda. Cutting out unhealthy snacks at school makes sure that at least during school hours, kids will be exposed to more nutritious foods.

The Zimms Can't Wait To Go Back To School!

The Lo Side:

• Removing sugary snacks won't really improve health if, at the same time, schools are cutting back on time to get exercise during recess or cutting back on physical education. Offering nutrition classes would be a better idea, allowing kids to feel they have a little say in what happens to their snacks.
• A birthday is a celebration -- if a child wants to have cupcakes, they should be able to -- parents shouldn't have to spend additional money on granola bars or fruit.

Discuss your opinions in your classroom or around your dining table with your family. We aren't saying which is right and which is wrong. We want to know what you think. Send your thoughts to kids@jewishjournal.com with Kein v'Lo in the subject line.

Back to School Shout-Outs

Get a head start on making new friends this year by sending a shout-out to your classmates, and we will print it here! Example: Sending a "Have a great year" to Mrs. Friedman's sixth-grade class at Siman Tov Academy

-- Josh A. & Laurie H. (names are optional).

E-mail us at kids@jewishjournal.com by Sept. 15, and we'll try to post your class and school on the next YeLAdim page.

Visit the Zimmer Children's Museum online at www.zimmermuseum.org.