Page 12 - North State Parent July 2020

Kid,s Beach Questions Answered
Is a starfish a fish?
It is actually called a sea star and is not a starfish. Sea stars do not have fins or gills found on fish. This type of creature is an Echinodermata in the same category as a sand dollar, sea urchin and sea cucumber. A fun fact about sea stars is that they can regenerate an arm.
Why do the tides change?
Tide change is caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon as well as the Earth's rotation.
How do people know the times of low and high tides?
Creating a tide chart with times of high and low tide is not an exact science. Factors such as ocean cur- rent, winds and the contour of the ocean bottom can all influence what time high and low tide will occur. The official source in the United States for predicting tides is the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS). There are 140 tide stations that mea- sure tide levels, wind speed and direction, water current speed and directions, air and water temperatures and barometric pressure. These measurements collected to- gether create the tidal chart times.
What causes ocean waves?
Waves are the result of winds moving over the ocean surface. The friction between the air and the water transfers the energy between air and water. The transfer of energy is what creates the wave.
How is sand on the beach created?
Sand is created mostly of quartz rocks. The rocks were broken down by wind and rain and then transport- ed to the beach by the water.
What causes an ocean sandbar?
An ocean sandbar is created by waves pulling the
sand further into the ocean. When there is a storm or large waves, a sandbar can form farther from the shoreline. Many large waves or storms can form a barrier island.
How to Encourage Your Future Marine Biologist
If your children are interested in marine biology and ecology, you can go to your local library and borrow books on the topic. There are also books about conduct- ing science experiments or identifying different types of ocean organisms. Our favorite books are related to beachcombing.
What questions do your kids ask you when you are at the beach? Ó
Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She is married and is the mother of twins and a daughter.
1900 Railroad Ave., Redding, CA 96001
Our team provides compassionate, quality care. We are committed to supporting you during your pregnancy and after delivery. Each pregnancy is different, and we have a wide range of services to meet your needs. We offer:
 Prenatal and postpartum care
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 Prenatal and childbirth education
 On-site ultrasound imaging and lab services  Behavioral health services
 Health insurance assistance
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Most insurance accepted, including all Medi-Cal programs.
For more information call (530) 225-7480 or visit shastahealth.org/maternity.
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