Policy Council Meeting

The next Policy Council meeting will be February  18 ^th at the Dunlap City Hall training room downstairs.  The meeting will begin at 10:00 central time.  Everyone is welcome to attend.

 

Earned Income Tax Credit

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax credit for certain people who work and have low wages.  A tax credit usually means more money in your pocket.  It reduces the amount of tax you owe.  The EITC may also give you a refund.

                Who can claim the credit?

l           Must have a valid Social Security Number

l           You must have earned income from employment or from self-employment.

l           Your filing status cannot be married, filing separately.

l           You must be a U.S. Citizen or resident alien all year, or a nonresident alien married to a U.S. Citizen or resident alien and filing a joint return.

l           You cannot be a qualifying child of another person

l           If you do not have a qualifying child, you must:

- be age 25 but under 65 at the end of the year,

                                         - live in the United States for more that half the year, and
                                         - not qualify as a dependent of another person

l           Cannot file Form 2555 or 2555-EZ (related to foreign earn income)

l           You must meet these   EITC Thresholds and Limitations

 

For more information about EITC, please visit the following website: http://www.irs-eitc.info .

 

Hearts and Floweres

Get a piece of paper and crayons, and let your child create a flower picture to send to someone special.  Or, you could help your child cut flower pictures from magazines and paste them to the paper.  Let your child dictate a message to the special person.  Write the word while your child watches.  Mail or deliver the flower message together.

 

Children Need Sleep

Did you know that children who lack enough sleep have trouble concentrating, misbehave and more.  The average amount of shut-eye (naps included) the National Sleep Foundation says is best for most kids each day :

 

                                                babies 3 to 11 months old                   14 to 15 hours

                                          toddlers                                                                   12 to 14 hours

                                          preschoolers                                                     11 to 13 hours

                                          older kids, age 5 and up                        9 to 10 hours

Healthy and Yummy

Believe it or not, food that’s good for you can also taste good!  Here’s a list of healthy snacks that parents can stock their cupboards with.

l           Low sodium vegetable juice.

l           Raw vegetables with low fat dressing for dipping.

l           Unsalted pretzels, rice cakes, and whole wheat English muffins topped with apple butter.

l           Homemade frozen pops.  Use blended fruit and yogurt.

l           String cheese

l           Fresh fruit slices dipped in yogurt

 

February is Black History Month

In the late 19th century, colleges for black students were started in box cars (Atlanta University) and church basements (Spelman College). Mary McLeod Bethune, one of the nation's foremost black educators, opened a college in 1904 with $1.50 and 5 students. Today, there are 106 historically black colleges and universities in the United States, who can count among their graduates such luminaries as W. E. B. Du Bois (Fisk University), Thurgood Marshall (Lincoln University and Howard University), Toni Morrison (Howard University), and Martin Luther King, Jr. (Morehouse College).

Toothy Toothbrush

One of the things children should not be allowed to choose is whether to brush their teeth.  To have healthy, strong teeth and gums, children should brush at least twice a day.  After breakfast and just before going to bed are good times.

 

It is important to take care of the baby teeth, even if children don't keep them long.  A visit to the dentist during early childhood is a good way for your child to learn how to brush correctly.

 

Make tooth brushing a game:  “Let's go visit Toothy Toothbrush.  He can ticle your mouth and make you smile”.   Let your child choose what color toothbrush to get.  Brush your teeth together.  Give hugs for a good job of brushing.