By Sandy Boda
Special to The Citizen

Brightly colored blocks, Lincoln Logs and LEGOs -- something about building has fascinated children for generations. And according to a recent report, 23 million kids ages two to 17 -- or almost 40 percent of American children -- currently have Internet access from home. Now, thanks to a new initiative by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Women’s Council, kids across the country can combine home building education and virtual fun with the Homes of Our Own online coloring book.

Located at www.nahb.org/coloringbook, the online coloring book is the interactive new home of NAHB’s traditional Homes of Our Own program. Since the program launched in 1996, builders have helped teach children across America about home building and tree preservation through this inventive, informative environmental education program. Now that the program has debuted online, all children with Web access in school, at home or at the library, can learn the process of building homes, discover how builders protect the environment and even draw and color pictures of their own homes in a virtual environment.
The online coloring book features the classic drawings of the original Homes of Our Own book, which children can color using a palette of 27 shades and three brushes.

Innovative new site features allow children to share their drawings with friends and family via e-mail, print their masterpieces and receive an official, personalized “Junior Home Builder” certificate online.

Both the online coloring book and the original printed program materials can be used to support school curricula, library programs and community events; NAHB members and affiliated associations across the country have featured Homes of Our Own as part of overall community and education outreach programs. Since the Homes of Our Own program launched, hundreds of thousands of children have participated in the program.
For more information about the Homes of Our Own online coloring book and educational program, please contact your local Home Builders Association or visit the NAHB Web site at www.nahb.org.

Sandy Boda is executive officer of the Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia, which serves a membership of approximately 650 builders and associate members in Fayette, Coweta, Spalding, Meriwether, Heard, Pike, Upson, Lamar, Butts and Jasper Counties. The Midwest Georgia association can be contacted at 770-716-7109 or at hbamwg@bellsouth.net.

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