Kids Tell Obama “Have Fun Running the Country”

Compilation of childhood wisdom shares a child's perspective with Obama

A San Francisco man has discovered that kids not only say the darndest things, they also have advise that may help President Obama with running the country.

"The first thing you need to do is put your stuff in the White House ... Be careful, Abraham Lincoln haunts one of the bedrooms," wrote 8-year-old Chicagoan Matthew Wong in a letter to Obama.

A San Francisco not-for-profit after-school program director, Jory John, decided that Wong and hundreds of other kids had enough valuable advise for the new president that it was worthy of a book. 

"They want to be heard," John told The San Francisco Chronicle.

He compiled letters from dozens of the young authors and called it "Thanks and Have Fun Running the Country," a collection of childhood wisdom that just might make a difference in the difficult times ahead.

Amy Ramirez, an 8-year-old from San Francisco, wrote, "When you are president, don't eat junk food. Junk food makes you fat. Your family shouldn't eat junk food either, because it is not healthy. Obama, you rock."

Another Chicago contributor, 12-year-old Chandler Browne, created a list of the first 10 things Obama should do upon becoming president.  They are:

1. Fly to the White House in a helicopter.
2. Walk in.
3. Wipe feet.
4. Walk to the Oval office.
5. Sit down in a chair.
6. Put hand sanitizer on hands.
7. Enjoy moment.
8. Get up.
9. Get in car.
10. Go to the dog pound.

When one of the writers asked if Obama would read the book, John said, "We'll certainly send it. I don't know if he's going to read it, but we're going to try."

Mr. Obama, if your copy hasn't arrived, you can order it at 826National.org, or watch the Chronicle's video of snippets from the kids.

 
 
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