The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 54

2E THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Friday April 26 1991 Reagan Why do children love dinosaurs so much? 4 ''1 'i SIS444tik fit i a' 1 '( iti'-tif 1 1 71 1- 1:: -t II toltil i0 P' VII it 40-1 i 411 iiilikii Nifes1 4 41k 4s4colffile) 0: Ill i' 1 41 d' 4 1 4 '0 Ct A ILI: Ilk vas Big blustery megalosaurus Earl Sinclair plays with the newest member of the family in the premiere episode of "Dinosaurs" tonight at 8:30 on ABC The mystery surrounding dinosaurs is another lure for children says Ruth Ault a psychology professor at Davidson College She says kids may be intrigued by an animal that seems to be everywhere in the popular culture on TV in toy stores but isn't real like their pet doggies at home Tom Horner media director for Tyco the toy company that makes "Dino-Riders" has seen dinosaur crazes come and go The latest boom in dinosaur toys began three or four years ago and has almost played itself out in American stores Homer and others in the industry say But that could all change if ABC's "Dinosaurs" catches on "If this TV show is even a halfway hit there will be a lot of new dinosaur toys out there" says Jody Levin spokeswoman for Toy Manufacturers of America That scenario prompts a word of caution from Seefeldt the Maryland-based professor She says too much commercial exploitation could backfire "I just think of it as stealing from the children their childlike need of control" she says "I think the kids would be happy playing with their plastic dinosaur figures in the sandbox" off the best "The Honeymooners" "All in the Family" "The Muppets" But it does take something away from ABC's claim that the sitcom is ground-breaking (no pun intended Earl) The show set in 60000000 BC was based on an idea by the late Jim Henson His 27-year-old son Brian took over the project and has delivered some superb creatures Several people are responsible for the "performance" of each dinosaur One puppeteer stands inside the reptile moving its limbs Another electronically manipulates its expressions Then there's the actor who provides the voice All of this artistry hasn't come cheap: ABC won't say but the price tag for the first show alone is estimated at a record-breaking $5 million after another day as a tree crusher at the Wesayso Development Corp "Why is the dinner not here Fran?" Wife Fran is an allosaurus who will remind you of Alice Kramden and Wilma Flintstone And Earl's ornery boss BP Richfield he's a three-horned triceratops acts like Jabba the Hutt and sounds a bit like George Jefferson Maybe that's because Sherman Hems ley who starred in "The Jeffersons" appears to provide his voice (The show's producers won't match voices to characters though they will acknowledge that Hems ley Sally Struthers and Stuart Pankin are among the celebrities you'll hear on the show) The fact that "Dinosaurs" is awfully derivative doesn't make it a bad show The producers and writers at least had the sense to rip MISSED OUT ON ADVENTURES dak BIDDLITG BUYING VENTURES DAG BUYING Nocotl calls checks up on kids elderly STOP 'Nancy' author steps in her Kitty litter From preceding page SORRY for her You start looking at the book jacket at the picture of the woman who is THROWING all these pies Kitty Kelley with HER forced smile and perfect hair and you think hey I wouldn't mind seeing a wad of coconut cream slamming into THAT kisser either And of course this is exactly what has happened Old Kitty has been getting a lot of unfriendly ink and she doesn't seem to like it any more than Nancy does So if you want my advice you should save yourself the $2195 they're asking for this hook and just follt)w the story in the newspapers The only really interesting anecdote you'll he missing is the One about the strict security measures taken when Air Force One was about to land at an airpc)rt in Topeka Kan where two unfortunate dogs were copulating on the runway But you can fill this void in your life merely by picking up Kelley's book at a bookstore and turning to page 350 Then you can put this book back down and buy one that w( nil make you feel like an accessory to a mugging BY THE Only) 79 It's Ralph Kramden dinosaur By TIM FUNK TVRadio Writer First things first: ABC's "Dinosaurs" the puppet sitcom debuting tonight at 8:30 on WSOC (channel 9) is clever frequently funny and always technically impressive Kids will enjoy the lifelike dinosaurs created by the folks at Jim Henson Productions and adults should like the show's satiric I 7 jabs at the 4 iAlymerican lam- That said I A couldn't help thinking as I bi watched the of pilot episode Television of "Dino- Radio saurs" that I'd seen it all before Many Tim Funk times Take Earl MEMEMEMISSIIMIIMMII Sinclair the show's blue-collar patriarch He looks like he might be ALF's fat cousin He appears to live in Fred Flintstone's neighborhood And in a case of evolution in reverse this blustery male chauvinist hard-hat seems to have descended directly from Ralph Kramden Archie Bunker Al Bundy and Homer Simpson "I'm home and I'm hungry" Earl a big-necked megalosaurus announces as he bounces home New firm Financial consultant Tim Lewis is 29 single arid never gave kids a second thought But when moving his 94-yearold grandmother into a nursing home recently he hit on a business idea to help the elderly and the parents of latchkey children The business called How Are You Today is a computerized telephone calling service that calls a child or feeble person at a set time each day If no one answers the service calls up to three numbers for help Lewis starts operation Wednesday "I wish I'd had this service before I put my grandmother in a nursing home" Lewis said It would have helped her out" Lewis says the service is especially helpful to parents who want to check On their children by phone but whose jobs or employers make that difficult Here's how it works: Suzie Smith arrives home from school at 3 pm and locks the doors At :3:15 the phone rings When Suzie answers she hears: "Hello this is How Are You Today? computer monitoring service We are calling to check on Suzie Smith at 100 Main St If you are OK press I on your touch tone phone now If you need help press 0 and we will alert the proper people Thank you and have a nice day" If the telephone is picked up but no number is pushed help is called Also if no one answers help is called Lewis believes his service is the first of its kind in Charlotte Cost is a day 11 Can you help? Child Life is designed as a forum for parents of children from birth to about age 12 Syndicated columnist Beverly Mills seeks the advice of experts but also will tell you how other parents have tackled the problem Here's how it works: You call the toll-free Child Life number or write in with questions We'll put them in the newspaper for other readers to respond to them If you have any tips or questions of your own please call our toll-free hot line anytime at (800) 827-1092 Or write to Child Life 1437 Madison St IIITIV142 AFTER AUCTION SALE SATURDAY APRIL 27 9 AM 12 NOON ALL MERCHANDISE WILL BE SOLD 50 OF RETAIL Reptiles From preceding page Study says playing with controlling tl-ese monsters gives children a rare sebse of power "Children 'are so vulnerable and so weak that to be able to manipulate these large monsters and play with them gives them a sense of mastery" she says "Even saying the words like brontosaurus gives them reinforcement Adults say 'Isn't she smart? She knows brontosaurus and tyrannosaurus' Psychoanalyst Nancy Curry who serves as a consultant on PBS' "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" says dinosaurs represent a bigness that doesn't have to be threatening "Dinosaurs are so big and some of them were even meat eaters" she says "But it's safe to be interested in them because they no longer exist" Curry said children who become obsessed with dinosaurs she's seen them in her practice tend to be bright and may "latch on" to the creatures to help them master their own impulses "Dinosaurs may become representatives of those feelings that seem unmanageable" she says "Children work to manage them" raised from last year's I9340 Even though the tax deadline has passed it's not too late to get the money If you've already filed a tax return chances are the IRS will automatically catch the error and send you a check If not you can file a form 100X amendment claimidg the credit nr if you didn't earn enough money to ()we any taxes and did not file a return you can file anytime this year to claim your money You must file a 1010 or It MA tax form as a "married couple filing a joint return" a "head of household" or a "qualifying widow with dependent child" Don't file "single" Don't file a 1010EZ For help call toll free WO 829-1040 8:30 ani to 5:30 pm weekdays I Intermetioate marittinwris i may haw Wet S4ongs MI! on 4 ftqwa prtCeS elsewOpfe Own weni Clay 110Wng Sonadv ENEO I 0) Ape-4 1 i -rik--cP'' 1-----' vttwe ti "A' -N :44 4" ii 3 1 0 bring up the idea Better to start too old I han too young It's nearly impossible to reimpose supervision Leaving your child home alone should be done gradually Start with a 10-minute errand Then 20 minutes Then 30 Tax bonus for parents Many working parents have up to $953 corning to them and don't know it If you earned less than $20264 in MO and have one child living at home you rnight be one of them That's the Earned Income Credit passed by the federal government last year to help low-income working poor parents But many parents are missing it say Internal Revenue Service staffers Either they don't know it exists or they don't know the eligibility ceding has been Sat(( 60 XX JACK MULQUEEN Knit Career Dresses 1 990 omx coTpart at 11 Central Avenue 4141 ao4 N- Off comonoonanAmmt 4IP Conunonweelth Avenue Independence Blvd A Munroe Rd All proceeds go to support WWI public television the only community-owned public television station in the Carolinas! 51 An ex traorthnary buy! Jack tliqueen one-piece COtton-hlend dresses in solid colors and the newest color blocks real for work or weekends! Wide sariets- of bright colors and styles to choise fr in Petite- Small Medium Large At our price you'll ant buy three! e-inece he newest hie from y(u'll I 1 urlington COAT FACTORY WAREHOUSE In AWL' Serta Mattresses V1-4-t-vnVottcrt seri Startin At ON 10 PkG 1- SP7n ItActrZfittaajezel-L311 rr7 I Li e'qull' if r-t ILmmailliIllmimml LCharlotte Midtown Square 334-0441 Matthews Windsor Square 847-6944 Not affiliated with Burlington CHILD CARE By Miriam Durkin ir- For details call Lewis at 567-9362 anytime Home-alone age guides Speaking of latchkey children Charlotte's latchkey expert Bobbie Rowland draws the line at any child 11 or younger staying alone Some kids need to be 11 she says "Children 11 or under should not be left alone for any period of time" Rowland says in a recent interview with the Boston Globe Rowland is a professor of child and family development at HNC Charlotte and co-author of "Home-Alone Kids" (Lexington Books $995) At some point though Rowland says staying alone helps the child "Having to make decisions for themselves what should I do now what should I eat? makes them feel more secure more confident more grown up" Other tips from the Globe's article: The best judge of whether a child is ready for more independence is the child Let the child We were wrong A story ill last Sunday's Living section spelled the last name of Sally and Bruce McMillen incorrectly The couple are remarrying Saturday 10 Hollywood Fla 33020 DIFFICULT SITUATION: What's the best way to help a young child deal with suicide? "I need some help for a friend of mine whose husband committed suicide" says a Miami woman who asked that her name not be used "She has a 3-year-old daughter and she doesn't know how to help her deal with it" MONEY MONEY: What do first-graders need to know about money asks Vickie Welcher of Riverside Calif and what's the best way to go about teaching them? 041 Cur I Ant Roes THE BOLD LOOK OF ECONLIEL1 terL lint '-'4 I11 4 4 -Arie475610--- :1: (Each PieceSets Stratford Hall 4-Poster $3 9 Queen Sae Dresser 389 Mirror 139 Chest 349 Nightstand 129 ril faftf9i? 1 114 The fresh graceful the lovely design the finest quality chorry wood styling of Stratford Hall reflects of the lath century Crafted from woods Stratford Hall boasts a rich finish a La ES Or If you're building remodeling or simply looking to save money then you'll want to attend Parnell Martins Spring Yard Sale Sat April 27 8 to 4 and Sunday April 28 11 to 5 GREAT PRICES KOHLER WHIRLPOOLS at or Below Cost including Polished Brass or Polished Chrome trim Unheard of savings on Kohler's Infinity Pristine and Steeping Whirlpools BATHROOM FAUCETS (Wide Variety of Colors Finishes Featuring Coralais Alterna Cignet) BATHROOM SINKS TOILETS BIDETS KITCHEN SINKS KITCHEN FAUCETS BATH TUBS (WHIRLPOOLS) COMPLETE SHOWER UNITS ACCESSORIES (Soap dispensers Towel bars etc MOVING SALE Churchill Galleries will be morina to MOVING SALE Churchill Galleries will be moving to ''11 14 4 0:: 41ttiiiistl44314 4 1 'k Lit Huntington Rose Waterbed '379 Queen Sae Dresser Mirror Chest Nightstand 299 149 299 129 The Morehead Inn 1122 i'llorchead St May 1 1991 In preparation for the more ALL merchandise at S'outhPark discounted 30-60 This sale includes all furniture lamps mirrors porcelain artwork I accessories 364-3838 Designed in a classic country style the Huntington Rose waterbed features elegant and colorful floral patterns The winged mirror has adjustable sides and features a built-in jewelry box 11111111 MANY OTHER BRANDS TO CHOOSE FROM NORTH GRAHAM ST 375-8651 non f2fRp 5PPIA 5 MINUTES 1315 NI lb igmi I Quality Furniture Mattresses Waterbeds! Charlotte: 4624 Independence Blvd Tel 568-5221 Hours: Mon Fri 10 111 9 Sat 10 'tll 7 and Sun 1 Ill 5:30 All Nil I nJ reda (Ards hn RrAtuttd SIM Nirt tAt 10dr onscoments FROM SPRINGFEST Antiques I it 4 i.