This Issue:

Table of Contents

Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

All Work And No Play? No Way!

School, sports, music lessons, dinner, homework, then bed. Sound familiar? If your schedule is this tightly packed, you're not alone. Last week researchers announced that today's kids are the busiest ever.

Kids used to have much more free time to play tag or build a snowman. In 1981 playtime made up 40% of a child's day. That figure has dropped to 30%, according to researchers at the University of Michigan. They conducted a study of more than 3,500 kids under age 13.

Now kids spend more time at school and on homework. Out of school, more kids take part in organized activities, such as ballet or soccer. One finding that parents will surely love: kids are too busy to watch as much TV as they did in 1981!

Next: An Even Grander Old Flag