You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2481 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Sports Parenting: How To Win, Even If The Team Loses (NAPSA)—Why do 35 million U.S. children participate in organized youth sports each year? To start, sports give boys and girls an array of exciting “firsts”—the first game, the first big score and the first team victory. For every first win, however, there is also a child’s first big loss and the question that follows: How can I guide my child through the disappointment of defeat? While such comforts as juice boxes and granola bars provide a good start, only an adult mentor can show a young athlete how even a 1 and 10 season can be full of fun memories and positive learning experiences. “Rebounding from mistakes, overcoming disappointment, rallying oneself to prevail at next week’s game—these are the life lessons that youth sports provide,” says Jim Thompson, founder and executive director of Positive Coaching Alliance. Thompson emphasizes that to ensure boys and girls absorb these lessons, participation by parents in a constructive and encouraging manner is crucial. “Youth sports offer so many teachable moments that can enrich a child in the long run,” says Thompson. “When moms and dads successfully partner with their children’s coaches to put the game in healthy perspective, kids are more likely to view their sporting experience as positive.” Here are some pointers from www.ResponsibleSports.com on what parents can do to keep the game rewarding for their children: 1. Emphasize attributes other than winning. Children can take games very seriously, but they quickly forget their disappointments and move on, showing that winning and losing isn’t everything. Take their cue. Point out their effort. Keep Your Roof Tip-Top (NAPSA)—When it comes to curb appeal, many homeowners say it pays to start at the top. They make sure their roof is clean and attractive with no mold or mildew stains. Fortunately, that can be easier to accomplish than many realize. 2. Establish an early positive relationship with the coach. It will be much easier to communicate later should a problem arise. 3. Fill the coach’s emotional tank—and your child’s. Just about every coach and player does a lot of things well. Take the time to look for those things and when you see something you like, let him or her know about it. 4. Don’t put the player in the middle. It’s much easier for a child to put his or her best effort forward if parents show support for the coach. If you have a concern, take it up with the coach privately. 5. Don’t give instructions during a game or practice. It can be extremely confusing to your child and distracting to other parents and fans to hear someone other than the coach yelling out instructions. For more tips on mentoring, visit www.ResponsibleSports.com. While there, you can honor a youth sports coach by nominating him or her for a Liberty Mutual Responsible Coaching Award. Liberty Mutual celebrates coaches in all sports with $250 grants to help offset the costs of running a youth team. You can also take the Responsible Sport Parenting course. By completing it on behalf of your child’s youth sports organization, you’ll help that organization compete for a chance to win a $2,500 grant. Things may be looking up for homeowners who want to keep their roofs looking fresh and clean. Getting It Clean For roofs that are already stained, there’s a cleaner that’s simple to apply with just a pump-type garden sprayer. Unlike with some cleaners that contain bleach, garden plants are unharmed by this StainhandleR Roof & Deck Cleaner. Keeping It Clean Once you have a clean roof, StainhandleR Roof Protector zinc strips can prevent the return of algae, fungus or moss. They work by releasing small amounts of harmless zinc oxide whenever rainwater comes in contact with the strips. This invisible protection prevents the growth of vegetation for some 20 years. Learn More For more roof-cleaning tips and tricks, visit www.stainhandler.com or phone 1-800-942-3004. Rising Costs Eating Up Your Family’s Budget? Tips To Help Keep You On Track and On Budget by Phil Lempert (NAPSA)—If the rising cost of food is taking a big bite out of your family’s budget, you’re not alone. Although the high cost of food is not expected to come down, you shouldn’t have to give up the taste and quality you and your family are used to. Don’t worry. Making smart choices will allow you to keep your family happy. Buying frozen meals, side dishes and vegetables can provide great-tasting, high-quality foods for a fraction of the cost of dining out or fast food options. Here are some tips to help you save money at the grocery store without sacrificing taste or quality: Always shop with a list: If you don’t, it’s very likely you’ll overspend. Even if you just go to the store for milk, take a note that says, “Just buy milk.” Combine convenience and value at mealtime: According to Technomics, 35 percent of people are eating out less often. Frozen foods such as Banquet Select Recipes deliver incredible value over eating out. For around $1.50, your family can enjoy a complete meal that has been thoughtfully prepared with tender cuts of meat like white-meat chicken, rich sauces, colorful vegetables and flavorful touches like shredded cheese. Frozen fruits and vegetables are healthy alternatives to fresh: The rising cost of fresh fruits and vegetables can make it difficult to provide your family with these essentials. Buying frozen fruits and veggies will save money—sometimes more than half the price of fresh. Since frozen foods last longer, you can stock up at once and cut down on gas-guzzling trips to the grocery store. Always make a shopping list and stick to it—if you don’t, you might bust your food budget. Get the whole family involved in saving money on food: Put your kids in charge of clipping coupons and, as a reward, give them a percentage of the savings as an allowance. You’ll teach them about value and get some help with this tedious task. Account for the entire cost of a meal: Frozen foods often provide a complete balanced meal as opposed to some meal mixes that say “just add chicken,” which may be the most expensive component. Don’t overlook your savings: Pay attention at the checkout to make sure the prices and discounts from coupons and frequent-shopper programs register correctly. Working these small changes into your grocery shopping trips will not only save money and time, but they will help keep your family happy and satisfied. Phil Lempert, one of the nation’s top trackers of supermarket trends, is a regular guest on the TODAY show and has written articles on food trends in USA Today and other national publications.