The document discusses the psychological benefits of giving to others. It suggests that focusing on giving rather than receiving can reduce depression and anxiety. It provides suggestions for ways children and families can give back during the holidays without spending money, such as donating unused items. The newsletter also discusses healthy holiday food options and the importance of safe drinking water. It encourages readers to volunteer or perform small acts of kindness in their community.

1. December 2012
KIDS BE AWARE, INC.
Volume 1, Issue 9
The Psychological Effects of Giving
“For it is in giving you have the financial means
that we to do so but there are many
receive.” (St. ways in which one can give
Francis of Assisi). without having money.
“Happiness According to Widener (2012),
doesn't result there are seven things that one
from what we must give to others to realize
get, but from what we success. Table of Contents
give.” (Ben Carson). They are: honesty, respect, CEO’s Corner ............... 2
Of course, we all like to vulnerability, care, passion, Highlights ......................... 2
receive gifts but what are the experience and help. Grant
psychological effects of and Dutton (2012) conducted a
Featured Articles:
actually giving gifts to others? study in which they found that
those who were Healthy Recipes.............. 3
Farino (2012) suggests that in
more focused Body Wellness ................ 4
order to help ourselves, we
should first help others. In on giving were ........................................... 5
other words, we all have actually more
stressors in life to include successful than
family problems, stress at those focused
work, financial concerns, all of on receiving.
which can lead to depression You may be thinking that
or increased anxiety, but by during this current season of
helping others, we ultimately giving that you do not have
help ourselves. Those who give anything extra to give others
to others are often healthier but the truth of the matter is
and more satisfied with life in that you have plenty to give,
general (Farino). Depression regardless of your finances. Our Mission and Vision
and anxiety lead us to focus What a perfect time of the To increase disease
on ourselves but when we are year to teach your children the awareness among children
and parents; To promote
focused on giving to others, it value in giving when the focus,
healthy behaviors, reduce
changes our way of thinking for many, is on receiving this the spread of infections,
and thus reduces our month. Here are some and to reduce health-
depression and anxiety suggestions on how you and related issues in our
(Farino). your children can work nation’s children.
Of course, it is easier to give if together to give to others:

2. Page 2
KIDS BE AWARE, INC.
CEO’s Corner...
Howdy! 18 Dartmouth St, Malden,
MA.
Great News! We are looking Pictures will be uploaded on
at two different locations to our website and Facebook
house our program here in
page after December 19th
Woburn, MA. www.kidsbeaware.org or
The current need of this
simply by mailing in your
We are looking at March as organization is to open a
checks. At Kids Be Aware,
the month we will move new children wellness
Inc. PO BOX 2173 Woburn,
into our brand new center. facility among our Woburn
MA 01888
residents. Together, we can
I’m always delighted to raise disease awareness
bring more good news to I thank you in advance
among children and
you all each and every for your support and hope
parents.
month and hope that you that you find it in your
enjoy reading us as much as heart to help us decrease
we enjoy writing these On Behalf of KBA, we are health disparities among
articles for you. asking for in-kind our children.
donations. All donations
We received $1,000 from are tax deductible. We seek
Cummings propriety on “Teach me about health so
to acquire a facility with
behalf of Donna Rosa as a that I may teach others”
approximately 1200 to 1500
contribution to help us Together we can!
square footage of space to
continue our mission of house our program. To do Cheers and Peace to You!
educating children and this, we need $20,000.00 by
parents about infectious February 22nd 2013. Jeannette Bryant, CEO
and chronic diseases.
Kids Be Aware, Inc.
We are eager to partner From our humble
with organizations all beginnings, and with only a
around town whose mission little bit of help, we are
and vision is in line with growing and now we are in
ours. While we are pleased the position to make our
in the many milestones of dream a reality but to do
our organization, we are this, we need your financial
conducting our first
“We strive to partner with
support that will enable us schools, churches, and
Annual Christmas Gifts to expand our Kids Be organizations to focus on the
drive this year. Parents and Aware mission, and to health and well-being of our
Children are invited to a uphold our vision for children”
gift giving celebration on children everywhere.
December 19th, 2012 at We are seeking NEW Enrollment!
You may donate by going
3:30PM At the Salter School We are seeking Volunteers for various roles.
at our website: http://
Contact us and Volunteer!

3. KIDS BE AWARE, INC. Page 3
Healthy Holiday Treats for children
Gingerbread People Peppermint Stick Hot
Chocolate
Nutritional Information
Nutritional Information
Amount per serving
Amount per serving
Calories: 56 Calories from
Calories: 194
fat: 14%
Calories from fat: 18% Fat:
Fat: 0.9g Saturated fat: 0.5g
3.9g Saturated fat: 2.3g
Monounsaturated fat: 0.2g Monounsaturated fat: 0.0g
Polyunsaturated fat: 0.1g Polyunsaturated fat: 0.0g Protein: 7g
Carbohydrate: 34g Fiber: 0.8g Cholesterol: 10mg
Protein: 0.6g Carbohydrate: 11.5g Fiber: 0.2g
Iron: 0.6mg Sodium: 96mg Calcium: 32mg
Cholesterol: 6mg
Iron: 0.4mg Sodium: 27mg Calcium: 10mg
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/lunch-box-
recipes-kids-00412000072333/page5.html
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/lunch-box-
recipes-kids-00412000072333/page5.html
The vegetable
group is where you Naturally sweet and
find many of na- juicy, fruits are also low
ture’s healthiest in calories, fat, sodium,
foods. Vegetables and cholesterol and are
are full of fiber, bursting with an array of
vitamins, and miner- vitamins and minerals.
als and are low in Fruit may already be a
calories, fat, so- staple in your house, so if
dium, and choles- that’s the case, keep it
terol. Vegetables are divided into five sub- up! Remember to intro-
groups based on nutrient content—dark- duce kids to all types of fruit because each offers
green vegetables, orange vegetables, beans its own assortment of nutrients. And try to choose
and peas, starchy vegetables, and a group for whole fruit or cut-up fruit over fruit juices to get
all others. Serve your child a variety of vege- more fiber and fewer calories per serving. Be sure to
tables from all the subgroups each week. cut fruit into appropriately sized pieces for younger
children.
Nutrients: Fiber and abundant vitamins and Nutrients: Carbohydrates, fiber, folate, vitamin C,
minerals, which vary by vegetable potassium
Servings: Approximately 1 1/2 to 2 cups for Servings: Approximately 1 to 1 1/2 cups for kids and 1
kids and 2 to 3 cups for adults 1/2 to 2 cups for adults
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/lunch-
box-recipes-kids-00412000072333/ http://www.cookinglight.com/food/lunch-box-
page5.html recipes-kids-00412000072333/page5.html

4. Page 4
KIDS BE AWARE, INC.
Body Wellness
“Pay it forward ”
This year, the Christmas season may be a time of continued traditions like sharing gifts
and meals with family and close friends. For others, Christmas may be spent in hospitals,
nursing facilities, or dealing with an unexpected hardship. Family illnesses and a sense
of economic despair may keep some families from being financially capable of
celebrating the holidays as they would like. For those who have not experienced such hardships this year,
we at KBA would like you to consider the concept of “paying it forward”. This concept is not a new
concept by any means; however the concept has begun to surface across the nation and we would like to
see it continue.
For parents who would like to see more children learn “sharing and caring”, the holidays affords
opportunities that parents can use to see this develop: 1) teaching children to give clean clothes to another
child in need from what your child has grown out of, 2) permitting children to take cans of food to a local
food bank or to a neighbor, 3) encourage children to sort through toys and books they no longer play with
or have outgrown, and give them to someone in need, or 4) helping your child pick out mittens and winter
hats to keep someone warm this winter.
Regardless of what the item is, parents can help children learn to share by pointing out the need of others
and by making a small effort to bless someone else in need. “Paying it forward” is all about doing something
nice for someone without expecting anything in return. In this manner, we help children refocus on the
“giving” rather than just the “getting”. If parents who are in the position to give their children an
allowance, they can help children learn how to set aside a little in order to buy something small for someone
else. No matter how you as the parent choose to start, consider this- when you teach your child to give,
you help them find satisfaction in helping another person in need.
In order to experience the satisfaction of “paying it forward”, talk to your child about
who they think has a need (a classmate, a neighbor, or a friend). One idea that parents
can consider, is having your child start a small bank (a simple old jar will do) in which
small change collected through the year would be used to help someone in need. When
the jar reaches a certain amount ($10-20.00), use the money to do something for
someone else. “Paying it forward” however, does not have to be just about money.
Random acts of kindness can be just about anything- making a card for a sick friend,
taking time to show respect, sharing a smile, donating books to hospitals for others to read while they are
hospitalized- all of these are just the beginning ideas of what we could do. Has someone ever done anything
to help you who did not expect anything in return? If the answer is yes, then can we do something for
someone just because we can? If the answer was no, now is the time to change the focus and start a
personal tradition of giving to someone in need without getting anything back. When asked why you are
doing it, or what do you want, just say nothing, and just do something nice for someone else. Pay it forward.
http://life.familyeducation.com/money-management/money-and-kids/48119.html
Merry Christmas!
By: Susan Ruiz, MS
Chair, Kids Be Aware, Inc.

5. KIDS BE AWARE, INC. Page 5
Providing Safe Drinking Water for Your Family
The Psychological Effects of Giving (cont.)
Volunteer to pack boxes at a food KNOW YOUR WATER SOURCE
•Find out if the pipes in your home or apartment building are
shelter; read to the elderly in nursing made of lead or contain lead solder.
homes; donate toys, clothing and books to •Send tap water samples to your local EPA-certified labora-
children in homeless shelters, women’s tory for testing, or buy a water test kit.
•If your water is supplied by a public system:
shelters or even to those who are less ◦ Ask your supplier what chemicals and parasites are tested
fortunate; serve meals or engage in a for and how the water is treated.
◦ Obtain a Consumer Confidence Report on your water
conversation with those in a soup kitchen quality from your public water authority.
or homeless shelter; or do something nice •If your water supply is a private well: ◦ Test your water
for a neighbor. Regardless of what you yearly for pesticides, metals, coliform bacteria and other possi-
ble contaminants.
choose to do, remember that those who ◦ Avoid using pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals near
are focus on giving are more successful your well's supply source as they can pollute your ground-
water.
than those who are focused on receiving.
IMPROVE YOUR WATER SUPPLY
•Install water treatment filters or conditioning systems.
◦ Several types are available, depending on what contami-
Happy Holidays to all! nants are present.
•Consider buying a water distiller.
•Flush your pipes by running cold water for at least one min-
ute.
By Renee Sullivan, M.A., CCLC
•Do not use hot water from the tap for cooking or drinking,
as toxins are more likely to leach into hot water.
References •Make sure formula is prepared with safe water since boiling
increases the lead concentration. Infants are at particular risk
Farino, Lisa (2012). Do good, feel good. of lead poisoning because of the larger amount of water they
consume relative to their body size.
Retrieved on December 11, 2012 from •If necessary, install shower/faucet filters since babies can swal-
low water when bathing.
http://healthyliving.msn.com/diseases/ •Immediately dispose of household chemicals like batteries,
depression/do-good-feel-good-1. fluorescent bulbs, used motor oil, etc., at your municipal haz-
ardous waste depot. (Do not leave them around your home
where they may contaminate your water supply.)
Grant, Adam and Dutton, Jane (2012). It’s
better to give than to receive. Retrieved IMPROVE YOUR WATER SUPPLY
•Read the label of your bottled water. "Spring" water comes
on December 11, 2012 from http:// from one or more underground sources and some bottled
water may come from a "municipal source" or from a
www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/ "community water system," and may have had additional treat-
publications/journals/ ment.
•Avoid plastic bottles with the following recycling codes #1
psychological_science. PET, #3 PVC, #6 PS, and #7 Polycarbonate, which may leak
suspected carcinogens and hormone disruptors.
Widener, Chris (2012). Seven things you •Look for safer plastic bottles, such as #2 HDPE, #4 LDPE,
and #5 PP.
must give to others if you want to achieve
Read more: http://www.healthychild.org/live-healthy/checklist/
success. Retrieved on December 10, 2012 providing_safe_drinking_water_for_your_family/
from http://www.appleseeds.org/7-Things- #ixzz1sbN9gsgz
Success.htm.

6. Page 6
KIDS BE AWARE, INC.
Kids Be Aware, Inc.
PO BOX 2173
Woburn, MA 01888
Monthly Highlights
We are seeking NEW “We strive to partner with schools, churches,
Enrollment! and organizations to focus on the health and
We are seeking Volunteers for
well-being of our children”
various roles.
Contact us and Volunteer! We welcome any donations to help us with the
expansion of our program
Kids Be Aware, Inc
Wellness and Health We are on the Web!
Center coming soon
in Woburn, MA Visit us at: www.kidsbeaware.org
To donate to our organization please use this link:
http://www.kidsbeaware.org/donate
KBA Board Members
Jeannette Bryant CEO kidsbeawarenow@gmail.com 781-535-2448
Tiffany Henderson Treasurer donald_and_tiffany@yahoo.com 678-431-6543
Susan Ruiz Chair susan.ruiz@waldenu.edu 301-302-4215
Teresa Godley-Chase Co-chair teressa.godley-chase@waldenu.edu 240-515-4222
Renee Sullivan Co-Chair renee.l.sullivan@gmail.com 478-718-1306
Regina Rainey Board Member reginarainey@ymail.com 864-303-2151
Advisory Board Members
Steven Leahy, Attorney stevenleahy@yahoo.com 617-279-6899
Geoffrey N. Kacoyanis, Attorney 978-465-0111