Up To Success (NAPSA)—Apest-prevention strategy is all the more important when you consider the problems caused by fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Besides the obviousirritation of itching, fleas can causeflea-bite anemia and tapeworm infestation. Ticks can spread Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever to pets and people, and mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus and heartworm disease. Fortunately, the less habitable you make the environment, the fewer fleas you'll have on your pet and in your home. A successful flea-control program targets all stages of the flea life cycle—from eggs to larvae to pupae and adult fleas—to prevent infestations. Indoors: Vacuum floors and furniture frequently. After vacuuming, place the vacuum bag in a large plastic garbage bag anddiscard outdoors. Wash pet bedding and furniture coverings every week. Consider powders and sprays such as Hartz Advanced Care™ 3 in 1” Carpet Powder that kills fleas, ticks and other pests that live and breed in carpets, and Hartz Advanced Care” 3 in 1™ Home Spray for carpets, rugs, upholstery and pet bedding. Outdoors: * Mowyourgrass frequently. Remove weeds, brush and other groundcover. Remove piles of leaves, sand or gravel. Makesure there are no pools of stagnant water in buckets, wheelbarrowsor other containers. Keep your dog out of tick areas as much as possible and check daily for ticks. (NAPSA)—The move toward pre-kindergarten schooling for every child is gaining momentum. Universal pre-kindergarten (statefunded education for three- and four-year-olds) is a reality in some states, with others starting programs soon. Georgia and Oklahoma have already implemented universal pre-k and 36 other states have pre-k programs—usually targeted at groups such as low-income families or families where English is a second language. _ | we Fleas and ticks don’t give advance warning before infesting your cat or dog, so you should start protecting your pet before they become a problem. Consider outdoorflea and tick repellents or residual insecticides. One of the most effective ways month. For the maximum benefit, it is important to begin using them at the beginning of flea and tick season—hbefore your pet shows any signs of infestation. Whenchoosing a topical product, look for one that provides complete protection, such as Hartz Advanced Care 4 in 1 Flea & Tick Drops Plus+, which kills fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and flea eggs. Killing flea eggsis criti- cal to breakingtheflea lifecycle. Before applying any flea and tick medication on your pet, be sure to read all label instructions and follow them exactly. Consult your veterinarian before using the medication on sick, aged or debilitated animals and before using flea and tick treatments in combination with other medications. LA What To Watch New TV Show Focuses On Growing Diabetes Epidemic (NAPSA)—Howard Steinberg, a successful marketing entrepreneur diagnosed with diabetes at age 10, wants to makelife easier for Americans with diabetes. That’s particularly good news considering that according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three Americans born in 2000 will develop diabetes. Of the over 18 million Americans with the disease, 88 percent are not manag- ing it to minimal standards and over five million don’t even know they haveit. Steinberg is the creator of “dLifeTV,” an entertaining new diabetes lifestyle show—with a serious mission. Diabetes is a leading cause of heart and kidney disease, blindness, amputation and even death. Awareness, education and motiva- tion to manage the condition can help many avoid these catastrophic consequences. “A TV show about diabetes is not only a breakthrough; more importantly...it will save lives,” said Steinberg, who has successfully managed his diabetes for 36 years and knows how much work and support it takes. “The time has come to wake up America.” Nicole Johnson Baker, Miss America 1999 and author, who is also living with diabetes, is one of dLifeTV’s co-hosts. She agrees that the show will help people with diabetes and those around them understand and better manage the illness. “Diabetes is not easy,” said to ae %, : Pt Photocredit: KinderCare Learning Centers “For years, educators have seen the benefits of quality early education for children at risk of school failure. Universal pre-k opens that door to all three- and fouryear-olds,” said Jim Loving, president of the National Child Care Association, which represents nearly 113,000 licensed private care and education providers. Although cost is a barrier for states considering pre-k programs, states could actually save money, since such programs often reduce a child’s need for special education classes or grade retention after they enter school. The cost of additional early childhood education can be mitigated by utilizing the existing early childhood education delivery system, much of which is offered in licensed private centers. Private preschools are a great programs, facilities and trained experienced staff. The Committee for Economic Development stresses that the nation’s economic future increasingly depends on giving children a strong early start. “Early education offers long-term benefits for both children and society, benefits that can substantially offset the costs involved,” said Roy Bostock of CED. For information on universal ie bf a dLife hosts on the set of their ing tips. Produced by dLife—For Your Diabetes Life, dLifeTV airs every Sunday on CNBC starting March 20 at 7 PM Eastern, 4 PM Pacific. For more information about dLifeTV and to take a simple quiz to see if you are at risk for diabetes, go to www.dLife.com. Surf The Web Together— There are many kid-friendly sites available that can make surfing the Web with your children a fun and educational experience. For instance, KOL—America Online’s service for kids—lets children “build” a virtual clubhouse where kids can “hang out” with their friends. Kids can use the clubhouse to share photos, post polls, and exchange messages. Plus they can express their creativity by decorating their clubhouses with personalized themes and even create their own animated online personas. Parents approve all visitors to the clubhouse, and they can block their children from visiting clubhouses of which they disapprove. Start a Collection—Work with your child to start a new collection, whether its rocks, stamps, baseball cards—anything that their own online clubhouse to “hang out”with their friends. appeals to his or her interests. Encourage yourchild to sort his or her collections into categories of sizes, colors, similarities, etc.— and to learn as much aspossible about the subject. If, for example, your child collects dinosaurs, go online to find a fun dinosaur Web site. If your child’s hobby is collecting planes, arrange a trip to the airport or visit an aviation museum. If your child collects postcards, visit antique shops to add to his collection. Road Trip—Take your kids on a road trip through an area they’ve never been before. Go online before you leave home and find a specific destination you want to reach. Then, let your kids take turns reading a map and helping you navigate your way there. Pick up some sort of souvenir from your trip (it can be anything from a T-shirt to a paper menu from a restaurant) and start a Road Trip Memory Box at home. Addto it with each trip you take. To sign up for AOL’s KOL Service for kids, visit www.aol.com. newsworthy trends Consumers Drive Market (NAPSA)—Chances are the next big product you see was brought about, at least in part, by you—or the person next to you or the person next to her. American consumers help shape the marketplace. They influence price, how shelves are stocked and what they’re stocked with. a |f7 ‘s ; fe a es SVyy mi For instance, many consumers a result, businesses have created Nicole Johnson Baker, J. Anthony Brown) and nutrition, and offer motivat- spending more timein front of the TV, try these fun ideas for spending time with yourchildren. Have a Dinner Party—Help your child plan a dinner party for his or her friends (real or imaginary). Work together to create a menu from which guests can order (it can be as simple as pizza with or without mushrooms and a choice of chocolate milk or fruit juice). Let your child decide what music to play for the evening. You can even send out invitations that your child makes and ask guests to dress in line with your chosen theme (beach party, formal will tell you a top priority of theirs ia “a bigger bang for the buck.” As weekly diabetes lifestyle show. (L to R: Jim Turner, Mother Love, mation about research, fitness, (NAPSA)—Sometimes keeping kids entertained hardly seems like child’s play, but there are ways to makeit easier. Instead of resource to states, offering proven pre-k, visit www.nccanet.org. Johnson Baker.“It’s a daily balancing act of blood sugar testing, medicine, diet, exercise and lifestyle. dLife will help people live better.” Joining Nicole Johnson Baker are Mother Love, J. Anthony Brown, Jim Turner and fitness correspondent Gary Hall Jr., the Olympic gold medal swimmer,all of whom live with diabetes. Dr. Bob Arnot is medical correspondent. Celebrity guests and diabetes experts will cover the latest infor- Finding Fun Ways To Spend Time With Kids evening,etc.). to protect your pet from pests is to use a topical flea and tick medication. These products are typically applied to the animal’s skin once a /@Pointers For Parents The largest pearl in the world, the 14 Ib., 1 oz. Pearl of Lao-tze was found at Palawan, Philippines on May7, 1934. innovative ways to satisfy that demand. A complimentary cocktail or dessert is usually appreciated when dining out, and those two funky bracelets probably seem more worth the buy when a third comesfree. One of the more innovative strategies companies have adopted is combining compatible brands and selling them as one product to offer increased value at the same price. Many brands, such as Secret Platinum Antiperspirant with Olay Conditioners, and Crest with Scope Mouthwash, have already had great success. But experts say it’s not enough to just put two products together. Consumer opinion is that the brands should complement one another and offer an extra value. One example is Clairol Hydrience Haircolor, which comes with its own exclusive formula of Pantene Conditioner. This grouping seems Consumers are seeing double and loving it as many marketers now offer two compatible prod- ucts in one package. to make sense because women who use Hydrience tend to want a deep moisturizing haircolor. For the sameprice, they’re getting twice the amount of conditioner as they were before. Analysts expect there to be more pairings on the horizon. As long as consumers continue to demandthat their favorite products come with the bonus of another favorite product, companies will most likely continue to oblige them—and who knows, the next great duo may even dethrone chocolate and peanut butter as the “ultimate combination.” It may just be a matter of consumers coming up with the next big idea.
