Parents & Teachers

According to the latest nationwide statistics, studies show that there is an epidemic of childhood obesity in this country, and it is just as severe as in our adults. While there are ongoing efforts to reduce adult obesity, heart disease, and diabetes, we must find a way of educating our children so that we can prevent these diseases from occurring as they reach adulthood. Therefore, it is essential that we focus on health and nutritional education in the formative years.

Although there has been a lot of discussion about this subject, it has been difficult to create a program that will work to reduce this nationwide crisis. We believe that the Abracadabra Series is a way of introducing health and nutrition, as well as safety and science to our young children, and that it will be an effective platform for educating our children in a fun and entertaining way—providing, healthy messages, educational materials, and role models from whom our children can learn.

Abracadabra is endorsed by the West Virginia Department of Education.

Goals of the Program

While every episode will focus on a specific theme, the educational goals of Abracadabra are to: 

• Provide information in a fun format about good nutrition and safety issues.
• Help children develop skills to cope with and resolve problems and issues commonly experienced by today’s kids.
• Heighten children’s curiosity and desire to explore through the use of magic and science segments, and provide simple examples to do at home.
• Introduce characters that children can identify with and feature these characters working through and resolving issues.
• Enhance children’s sensitivity to others through the interaction of a diverse group of characters from all walks of life.
• Utilize music and magic to introduce children to the arts.
• Encourage interaction and participation with activities children and their parents or siblings can do at home. This hands-on learning will reinforce the message of the show.
• As children watch the program, they will follow through a problem-solving process along with the characters. Through science, magic, nutrition, humor and music, Abracadabra will stimulate children’s creative thoughts

Instructional Guidance

 We put together a consulting team of educators, health educators, physicians, nutritionists, and an exercise physiologist to help develop the appropriate content for the series.  These include:

• Specific components of the Abracadabra show designed to address health and nutrition
• Every episode has a minute of exercise where one of the characters turns to the camera and asks the viewers to get out of their chairs and exercise along with the kids on the show as they work out to an original song, which talks about the importance of exercising. This interaction gets our children up and moving making exercise fun!
• Episodes show how to make healthy snacks that are easy to put together, fun to eat, and nutritious.
• Through multiple games, such as: the Make A Healthy Choice Game, Grocery Shelf Game, the My Plate Game, and the More Or Less Game viewers will see how much sugar, salt and fat there is in various foods, and learn to make healthy choices.
• Every episode has a “commercial” that focuses on a fruit or vegetable, exploring their nutrition and some fun facts about them.
• Every episode has a simple, safe science experiment that kids can do at home or at school with a little supervision. Through these experiments, children can explore the world of science in a fun and interesting manner. This helps develop analytic skills and increases curiosity.
• Learning about friends, family, communication, safety, and other social/emotional concepts important to the intellectual growth and development of our children ages 4 to 10.  
• Each episode has an underlying theme. Through the interactions with the characters and the events that occur during the show, children learn valuable lessons such as: “the best person they can be is themselves!”, or that “the best treasure they can have is their family and friends”, and that, “in order to make a friend, you have to be a friend.” Viewers also learn about how to handle bullies, and how to protect against cyber bullying.
• At the end of every episode, Joey talks to Mike about what he learned that day. This reinforces the important lessons and messages that were delivered during the episode.
• As the episode closes, Mike reminds everyone that the “Real magic is in you!” This gives children the message that they become whatever they want. The ability is there, they just have to recognize it and use it!

• Encourage them to get up and exercise when one of the cast tells them to do so and join in with your child!
• During the Professor Science experiments ask your child about what Professor Science is doing and, after the show, talk to them about helping them to try the experiments.
• Each episode has a Quick Trick – a magic trick that Mike shows viewers how to make and perform at home. Encourage them to make the trick and show it to the family and their friends.
• During the Quick Trick segment, there is a “commercial” for a fruit or vegetable. Talk about the item and offer to use the fruit or vegetable with a meal.
• Play the Nutrition Games along with your child. Talk to your child about making healthy food choices.
• Talk about the healthy snacks that are shown on the series and plan on trying the snacks as after school treats!
• Finally, spend some time after the show talking about what Joey learned on that episode and review the positive messages that were presented. In the long run, you and your child will get more out of the show and have fun together!

• Turn the lights out when you leave the room.
• Install weather-stripping around windows and doors to prevent drafts. Many experts agree that caulking and weather-stripping gaps can pay for itself within one year with energy savings!
• For errands close to home, walk or ride a bike instead of driving.
• Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs.
• Shut down your computer when not in use.
• Unplug electronics such as cell phone chargers, video games and appliances when not in use. If a plug is in an outlet, electricity is being consumed.
• Do not hold the refrigerator open for long periods of time.
• When it is sunny outside, open the curtains and use sunlight to brighten a room instead of turning on the lights.

Joey loves to ride his bicycle! But he knows it is important to be safe at all times. Below are important safety tips which parents, guardians and kids should know.

1. Wear a helmet – helmets are proven to be 85-88 percent effective in preventing traumatic brain injury, the primary cause of death and disabling injuries resulting from cycling crashes. Everyone takes a spill now and then, but having a properly fitted helmet could save a life.

2. Adjust the bicycle seat for each rider’s height – There should be one-to-two inches between the rider and the top bar of the bicycle on a road bike and three-to-five inches if using a mountain bike. The seat should be level front-to-back, and the height should be adjusted to allow a slight bend at the knee when the leg is fully extended on the pedal. The handlebar height should be even with the seat.
3. Check equipment before pedaling – don’t forget to check that tires are inflated properly and brakes are working correctly before you take off. Ensure handlebars are firmly attached and turn easily.
4. Be seen – no matter what time of day you are riding, it’s wise to wear neon, fluorescent or other bright colors so you can be seen by motorists. You can also have reflective tape or flashing lights on your clothing, helmet or bicycle to be more visible.

Rules of the Road

1. Go with the traffic flow – ride on the right side of the street, in the same direction as other vehicles.
2. Obey traffic laws – if you see a stop sign, stop. Cyclists need to obey the same traffic signs, signals and lane markings that an automobile would.
3. Yield to traffic – slow down to see if the way is clear before proceeding. Yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk and yield to drivers on major roads.
4. Signal – use hand signals to let others know when you are going to make a turn or cross a lane of traffic. Check behind you for a break in traffic before making a turn. Otherwise, ride in a straight line and do not zigzag.
5. Be alert – watch out for potholes, cracks, wet areas, storm grates, railroad tracks or anything that might cause you to lose control of your bike. Listen for oncoming traffic and avoid dangerous situations. Do not use phones, headsets, or other electronic devices when you ride.
6. Avoid parked cars – keep plenty of distance between you and a parked vehicle. You never know when a driver may be opening his door or pulling out into traffic.

Why it matters!

Many people grew up riding bicycles at a time when there may have been fewer vehicles on the road and less opportunity for injury. Today, more children go to hospital emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries than for any other sport injury.

1. More than one-fifth of all bicyclist deaths occur among school age youth ages 5 to 15.

2. Head injuries are the most serious type of injury and the most common cause of death for bicyclists.
3. Young people are less adept at using their peripheral vision than older children and adults. This can result in delayed responses to oncoming traffic.

They look for children who have an area of emotional vulnerability that provides an entryway for building trust. Using information like where a child attends school, what sport s/he plays or a jersey number, the predator can easily locate his or her intended victim.

If your children use the Internet to chat with friends, to play games or to social network with others who may share particular interests or hobbies, please consider the following guidelines to keep your child safe.

1. Keep channels of communication open. Talk to your kids. Let children know you can be trusted to listen to them openly and honestly.
2. Inform your children that if they encounter anything online that makes them feel uncomfortable or threatened, it is probably a red flag that something is not quite right and to talk to you about it.
3. Parents, set parental controls on your computer at the age appropriate level for your child and monitor his/her Internet activity.
4. Consider placing your family’s computer in a public, heavily trafficked area of the home.

Every child needs to know these three Cyber Safety Rules

1. Rule #1: If you do not know who someone is, do not chat with that person. Do not send them emails. If you receive emails from a stranger, tell a parent, a teacher or another adult you trust.
2. Rule #2: Never give a stranger personal information such as your name, address, the school you attend or where you and your friends play.
3. Rule #3: Never arrange to meet with a stranger alone. Make sure a parent or another trusted adult is present.

Bullying can take many forms, including:

• Physical harm – such as hitting, shoving, or tripping.
• Emotional harm – such as making fun of the way a child acts, looks, or talks. Writing mean things about someone in emails or online journals (blogs) is also bullying.

What can be done?
Be more than a bystander! That means that we all need to be involved and not just watch what happens!

Don’t give bullying an audience! That means don’t laugh when someone else is being bullied!

Help your friends stay safe! Tell the Bully to stop! Help your friend get away from the bully and tell a trusted adult right away!

Set a good example and never bully someone else!

Who are bullies?

Bullies come in all sizes and shapes, other kids, and adults. People who are bullies may lack self-confidence and want to try to shift the focus on to someone else.

And don’t forget there are cyber bullies on the internet too!

Series Cast

Mike: Mike Adelman, D.O., D.P.M., J.D.

Joey: Himself

DUK: Itself

Daisy: Desiree Christian

Salty: James Caplinger, Ph.D.

Nastini: Brook Bibb

Nastini-2: Will Davis

Professor Science: James Nemitz, Ph.D.

Mr. Oops: Robert Fisk, Ph.D.

Tim: Tim Walker

 AbraKids

 Amelia Anthony
Audrey Atkinson
Matthew Ayoob
Breanna Boggs
Jon Brennan

Adyn Daniels

Bella Davis

Emma Del Torto
Abby Dolan
Cameron Edwards

Allison England

Claire Goggins

Grace Goggins

Max Goins

Katie Haga

Claire Howard

Sheridan Hughes

Cate Kinder-Schuyler

 Hannah Kinder-Schuyler

Joe Kinder-Schuyler
Charlie Long
Grace Long

Ashley Meadows
Aedan O’Quinn

Abigail Pauley

Megan Posey
Alaina Potters

Jenna Raupp

Spencer Rheinlander

Malia Saar

Daniel Patrick Seams

Julian “Finn” Smith

Ashley VanBrocklin

Morgan Williams

The Abracadabra Production Team

 Show Created by –Mike Adelman

Executive producers:  Cheryl and Michael Adelman

Producers—Deb Warmuth, The Walkabout Company, LLC; Mike Adelman; Marilea Butcher

Associate producers—Aaron Shackelford; Rich McMahan; Marietta Harvey; Tim Walker, Amanda Hughes

Directors — Larry Dowling; Rob Hoffman; Michael Adelman; James Caplinger

Edited by – Aaron Shackelford; Rich McMahan; Mike Adelman

Cameras- Chuck Frostick, Kevin McGovern; John Hale, Caleb Zopp, Austin Harmon,

                   Sam Cutlip, Layla Gilpin, Riley Griffith, Ian Jewell     

Sound—Chuck Klein, Chip Hitchcock, Brandon Hussion

Technical Directors: Brady Meadows, Brandon Hussion

Lighting: Larry Dowling, William Bailey

Graphics: John Hale; Chuck Rosenecker

Additional production Assistants:  Bob Watson, Janet Kuniki, Mike Fizer, Cameron White; Christopher “Gabe” Dunn

Closed Captioning: Tina Ballard; Caption Labs

Writers: Mike Adelman, Desiree Christian, James Caplinger, Jon Brennan,

                Charlie Long, Arthur Frawley

Additional Material written by Deb Warmuth, Kate Argow, Marilea butcher

Musical Director – Jeff Kerscher

Musical Editor: Travis Riddle

Songs and music written and performed by Jeff Kerscher

Additional music written and performed by Travis Riddle

Illusion music by Debi Brennan

Choreography – Jim Caplinger, Amanda Hughes, Desiree Christian

Exercise choreographed by :  Jessie Messmer, and Jim Caplinger, Desiree Christian

 Puppeteers — Leslie Bicksler, Marilea Butcher, Amanda Hughes, LeeAnne Rheinlander; Spencer Rheinlander, Megan Perdue, Xander Alvarez

Illusion Assistants –Joshua Eason; Ryan Kahl; Tyler Pittman

Set design –Bob Watson, Michaela Sulka, Jason Hively

Set construction – Foggy Entertainment, Inc.,  Michaela Sulka,  Jason Hively; Larry Dowling

Set Decoration:  Michaela Sulka, Jason Hively,  Cheryl Adelman, Desiree Christian

Flower Décor provided by Gillespie’s Flowers and Productions

Kitchen Appliances provided by LOWES

Illusions built by :  Doug Sams and Jason Thomas

                             Props and signs:

 Erica Bell, Karen Ayers, Denise Getson, Desiree Christian 

Tiffany Wright, Sharon Howard, Marilea Butcher, Dru Dalton

Marietta Chaney, Jennifer Spencer, Pat Bauserman ,           

Hair/Makeup – Michaela Sulka and Jason Renner, Marilea Butcher, Desiree Christian

Costumes – Penny Fioravante and Cheryl Adelman

Talent Coordinators – Travis Riddle, Amanda Hughes

Continuity—Jason Hively, Marilea Butcher, Tim Walker, Marietta Harvey, Kate Argow

Educational Consultants

 Jamie L. Jeffrey, MD

 Peg Andrews MA, RD, CSG, LD

 Mary McMillion, RD, LD, CDE

Beverly Thornton RN, BA

 Wayne Miller, Ph.D.

Joey and DUK built by: Tim Selberg

Fruits and Veggie puppets by Jet

Magic provided by MAK Magic, Collector’s Workshop, Fairchild Magic

Ellie’s Critters  created by Ellie Gibeau 

Special Thanks to:

Kendra Boggess

Robert C. Byrd Clinic

Greg Patrick  

Will Alder        

Produced by Mike & Joey Productions, LLC

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