The Children's Hour Folgen

In this episode of The Children’s Hour, we dive deep into how elections work in the United States, and especially focus on the big one: the Presidential election! With a Presidential election coming up, we wanted to make sure everyone understands how voting really works and what makes it so important. Find the full episode page at https://childrenshour.org/presidential-elections We had the honor of speaking with New Mexico's Secretary of State, Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who gave us an inside look at how elections are managed. Did you know her job is to make sure every vote in New Mexico is counted and that voting is safe and fair? Secretary Toulouse Oliver explained how voting works, what a ballot is, and even answered the Kids Crew’s questions about absentee ballots and how votes are counted. We also learned about something called the Electoral College, which is how the President of the United States is actually chosen. New Mexico State Representative Pamela Herndon, who was once an elector in the Electoral College, explained this very confusing system and why it’s still used today. The Kids Crew had a lot of questions, like why isn’t the President chosen by just counting the votes of the people? It turns out, the Electoral College has been around since the Constitution was written, and it’s a big topic of discussion today. Find information to help you understand how the leaders of our country are chosen and why voting matters. Even though kids can’t vote, you can learn so much and help the adults in your life make good decisions! This episode of The Children’s Hour was written and produced by Katie Stone with help from Thaniel Lentz. Our theme music is by C.K. Barlow. The Children’s Hour is distributed by Native Voice One, the Native American Radio Network. © 2024 The Children’s Hour Inc. All rights reserved.

In this episode of The Children's Hour, we talk about something really hard: death and grief. Hosted by Katie Stone, the Kids Crew helps us understand how kids feel when they lose someone special. This could be a person or even a pet. With holidays like Halloween and Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) happening around this time, we often think about people we’ve loved and lost. In this show, we learn how to cope with those feelings and how to support each other when we feel sad. Find the full episode post at https://www.childrenshour.org/death-grief/ Death is a part of life, but talking about it can feel strange or even scary. On this show, we explore why it's important to talk about grief, how kids experience it, and what we can do to feel better. With the help of special guests and stories from our Kids Crew, we learn that even though grief can be really tough, we can get through it together. There are ways to remember the people and pets we love, and it’s okay to feel sad, mad, or even confused. This episode helps kids understand that they’re not alone in feeling these big emotions. Two of our Kids Crew members, Sage and Skye, share a touching story about their dog, Sumi, who passed away recently. Skye talks about how much she misses Sumi, and Sage shares a memory about how Sumi once saved her from falling and getting hurt. They describe how, after Sumi passed away, it felt like her spirit stayed with them, finding a special resting place in their family’s garden. By having this memory, Sage and Skye can remember Sumi and feel close to her even though she’s no longer here. This story shows how kids can find comfort and peace through memories of their loved ones. We also talk with Kelly Geib-Eckenroth from the Children’s Grief Center of New Mexico. Kelly explains how grief can look different for kids than it does for grown-ups. At the Grief Center, kids who have lost someone close to them can talk about their feelings and meet other kids who are going through the same thing. Kelly shares how activities like crafts and games help kids express their emotions and feel supported in a safe space. This support helps them understand that it’s okay to feel all kinds of emotions when grieving, and that they don’t have to go through it alone. Vanessa Vassar, another guest on the show, shares her experience of grief through a special children’s book she wrote called Evan and the Sky Goats. Her book is about a little boy who loses his sister and finds joy again by making friends with magical goats. Vanessa tells us how stories like this can help kids deal with their own sadness and learn to find happiness again, even after a loss. We also learn about Día de los Muertos, a holiday celebrated in Mexico and other parts of Latin America, including New Mexico. It’s a joyful holiday where families honor the spirits of loved ones who have passed away. Families create ofrendas (altars) with photos, favorite foods, and marigold flowers to invite the spirits of their loved ones to visit. Día de los Muertos teaches us that remembering those who have died doesn’t have to be sad—it can be a celebration of their lives and a time to feel connected to them again. Finally, we talk with Gail Rubin, a death educator, who helps people understand death in a way that feels less scary. She even uses humor to explain why it’s important to plan for things like funerals and wills. Gail reminds us that although talking about death can be difficult, it’s something that everyone will go through, and being prepared can make it easier for families when the time comes. This episode of The Children’s Hour helps kids understand that it’s okay to feel sad or confused about death, and that talking about grief with others can help us heal. Whether it's remembering a pet like Sumi, or learning about ways to celebrate life through Día de los Muertos, this episode shows that even though grief is hard, it’s something we can all get through together. Tune in to The Children’s Hour for this thoughtful and comforting conversation about life, death, and how kids can cope with big emotions. This episode of The Children's Hour is produced by Katie Stone and The Children’s Hour Inc. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to producing high-quality kids' public radio. Thaniel the Intern helps with our playlists and transcripts.  © 2024 The Children’s Hour Inc. All rights reserved. Listen to The Children’s Hour anytime at ChildrensHour.org.

In this episode of The Children’s Hour, we explore the fascinating world of archaeology. The show was recorded live at the New Mexico Office of Archaeological Studies during International Archaeology Day. We meet three amazing guests: Dr. Eric Blinman, Mary Weahkee, and Marlon Magdalena, who each help us understand how archaeology uncovers the past. Dr. Blinman talks about how archaeologists carefully collect and study artifacts to learn about history. Mary Weahkee shares her knowledge of stone tools and ancient arrowheads, and Marlon Magdalena introduces us to traditional Native American instruments and their cultural importance. We even hear some of these instruments being played! Find the full episode page at https://childrenshour.org/archaeology Our Kids Crew recorded this episode as a live broadcast inside the laboratory at the New Mexico Office of Archaeological Studies. The interviews with these archaeologists take us deep into their work. Dr. Blinman explains how archaeology is like solving a puzzle, where the clues come from things people left behind, like broken pots or ancient tools. Mary Weahkee talks about how even tiny pieces of stone can tell a story about what life was like long ago. She describes how arrowheads were made and used, and why studying them helps us understand ancient people. Marlon Magdalena shares how the Jemez people still use many of the same instruments and traditions that their ancestors did, showing us how the past is connected to the present. The Kids Crew asks great questions about how archaeologists know how old things are, what kinds of artifacts they find, and why it’s so important to leave ancient items in place. We also learn about the importance of context in archaeology—where an artifact is found can tell us a lot about its history. Marlon shows us how traditional instruments like turtle shell rattles and flutes are made and used today, helping to keep cultural traditions alive. Join us as we dig into the past and discover how archaeology helps us understand history. You can find more information and links about this episode at childrenshour.org. This episode of The Children’s Hour was produced by Katie Stone with help from the Kids Crew. Engineering was provided by Andres Martinez with post production support from Marty Adam Smith. Special thanks to our guests: Dr. Eric Blinman, Mary Weahkee, and Marlon Magdalena. The Children’s Hour is distributed by Native Voice One: The Native American Radio Network. © 2024 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.