Boys Groups through 3C Counseling & Wellness Center
Parents Guide to Teen Depression
Recognizing the Signs
and
Symptoms
and
Helping Your Child
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/parents-guide-to-teen-depression.htm
and
Symptoms
and
Helping Your Child
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/parents-guide-to-teen-depression.htm
2019-2020 Community Learning Series on Sept. 19 with the presentation "Vaping and Juuling: What Do We Know?".
PARENTS AND STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND!!
What: Vaping and Juuling: What Do We Know?
When:
Sept. 19th, 2019 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Where: Kings Junior High School Multipurpose Room
Who:
Amy Ferenbach-Warren County Combined Health District
Description:E-cigarette use (also known as vaping or JUULing) among young people has hit epidemic proportions, and while public health officials have been warning the public about the potential danger from using these devices, teens are still vaping. This presentation will provide an overview of the emerging vaping trends among teens, why e-cigarette use among young people is worrisome, and what strategies can be implemented by parents and community members to address youth e-cigarette use. Parents AND students are encouraged to attend to learn more about this popular, yet dangerous epidemic!!
The presentation will begin at 6:30 pm at the Kings Junior High School Multipurpose Room (enter door D-5 from the parking lot located between the Kings Junior High School and the football stadium).
The presenter of this presentation is Amy Fehrenbach who is a Tobacco Prevention Health Educator with the Warren County Health District. She received her bachelor’s degree from Miami University in health promotion and her master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati in health education, concentrating on community-based health education strategies. For the past 3 years she has focused on tobacco prevention among youth and tobacco cessation support for adults. Much of her work focuses on the issue of e-cigarette use among youth and building community strategies to prevent youth substance youth and promoting mental health support. She enjoys providing education to the public and empowering youth to make positive changes.
15 apps every parent should know that could be potentially dangerous
- Click here for a full list of the apps and what dangers you may need to know about.
Anxiety and How it relates to Fear!
Currently the established treatment for childhood anxiety is cognitive behavioral therapy delivered directly to the child.
When researchers have tried to involve parents in their child's therapy in the past, the outcomes from studies suggested that training parents in cognitive behavioral therapy didn't make much of a difference for the child's recovery. Lebowitz says that this might be because cognitive behavioral therapy asks the child to change their behavior. "When you ask the parents to change their child's behavior, you are setting them up for a very difficult interaction," he says.
Please continue reading by clicking here.
When researchers have tried to involve parents in their child's therapy in the past, the outcomes from studies suggested that training parents in cognitive behavioral therapy didn't make much of a difference for the child's recovery. Lebowitz says that this might be because cognitive behavioral therapy asks the child to change their behavior. "When you ask the parents to change their child's behavior, you are setting them up for a very difficult interaction," he says.
Please continue reading by clicking here.
Testing SCHEDULE
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Please click the pdf to view testing schedule for our first session of AIR testing.
testing_schedule.pdf |
KNOW! What's new with 420
As parents and educators, when it comes to drug and alcohol messaging, it is important to take advantage of teachable moments with our youth. One of those ideal moments to strike up a conversation is just around the corner—April 20th. You’re more than likely aware that 420 is slang for marijuana. You may also know that April 20th (4/20) is considered Worldwide Weed Day, where smokers light up around the globe respectively at 4:20 p.m.
Please continue reading here |
Angst: Anxiety is treatable// It's OKAY to SAY
Angst is an IndieFlix Original, documentary designed to raise awareness around anxiety. The film includes interviews with kids, teens, educators, experts, parents and a very special interview with Michael Phelps. Our goal specifically is to help people identify and understand the symptoms of anxiety and encourage them to reach out for help.
Continue learning about the film by clicking here.
Continue learning about the film by clicking here.
MOMO CHALLENGE
Another similar game is now trending throughout social media and is said to be impacting lives in multiple countries around the world – it is called the Momo Challenge. Just like the Blue Whale Challenge, there is a game administrator that lures a victim into participating in challenges that include self-harm, with the endgame being suicide. In this challenge, the leader’s name is Momo and her avatar is a scarylooking woman with dark, scraggly hair, bulging eyes and a giant, creepy smile. Momo is known to hack into users’ cell phones. Those who engage with her are then sent disturbing and graphic photos, and are made to perform acts of self-harm, including suicide, or face the consequences of having their secrets and private information shared online. Some are calling it an internet hoax, while others claim it is linked to teen deaths in their perspective countries. Currently, no teen deaths have been officially connected to this so-called “game” in the U.S. However, there is apparently enough merit to it that U.S. law enforcement agencies have begun issuing warnings for parents to talk with their children about the deadly risks of partaking in this challenge – should they be contacted by “Momo.”
know-pt-feb-1-momo-challenge-pt__1_.pdf
know-pt-feb-1-momo-challenge-pt__1_.pdf
NICOTINE TOOTHPICKS
Do you KNOW! what an electronic cigarette and a toothpick have in common? They’re both nicotine products promoted as “helping adults to quit smoking,” yet they’re both haphazardly finding their way into the hands (and mouths) of our youth nationwide. Yes, a toothpick. Standard toothpicks are now being infused or coated with nicotine, so you can get your nicotine fix in a discrete manner virtually anywhere. Here’s how it works: You place it in your mouth like you would a normal toothpick. The saliva in the mouth draws out the nicotine which is then absorbed into your bloodstream. The effects are felt within 1-15 minutes and is said to last for up to an hour. Chewing on the toothpick increases the speed at which nicotine is released....Continue reading at the link below. nicotine_toothpicks.pdf
Know! To Give and Receive the Gift of Kindness
Tis the season for giving; and among the greatest gifts one can give to another is kindness. It need not cost a thing. One single act of kindness has the potential of inspiring others and creating a rippling effect that keeps on giving. Research shows that we as human beings are hardwired to be kind, some people more than others. But even for those students who are not the most loving or kindest of creatures at this stage in development, there is hope. Research shows that this character trait— which many believe is the key to happiness and success—can be taught and nurtured as well. It’s critical to role model kindness in the classroom daily and teach your students how to be the best versions of themselves that they can be. The bonus of kindness is that the receiver is not the only one to reap the benefits. The giver stands to benefit in a number of ways, including: • Increased feelings of happiness and satisfaction. • Decreased feelings of stress and depression. • Increased acceptance among peers and a greater sense of belonging. • Improved self-esteem and self-worth. • Enhanced immune system and ability to concentrate. • Greater sense of gratitude. Some of these positive effects stem from the release of endorphins (feel-good hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system) and the increased production of serotonin (a naturally occurring chemical in the brain that has a calming, mood regulating, and anti-anxiety effect). These chemical releases may occur when a gift of kindness is given or received. But even observing an act of kindness may benefit with a rise in serotonin levels—and therefore experience feelings of increased energy, followed by calmness and serenity. Whether you’re a giver, receiver, or witness—kindness becomes a win-win-win situation. Furthermore, when youth experience greater feelings of self-worth, self-esteem, belonging, connectedness, and an overall increased sense of well-being, they are at reduced risk for engaging in risky behaviors, like drinking, smoking, and using other drugs.
Please continue following at kindness.pdf
Please continue following at kindness.pdf
9 Ways to Get through to Your Underachieving Child or Teen
Look at What Your Child Likes: Look for things that can be used as rewards for your child. Make a point of observing what your child likes and enjoys now. And don’t take his word for it; he’ll tell you he doesn’t care about anything; that “nothing matters.” But look at his actions—if he watches a lot of TV, plays on the computer, if he likes video games or texting, you know what he likes. Ask yourself: does he like going to the movies? Does he like going fishing? Does he like taking walks? Take an inventory of the things he enjoys and write it all down on a piece of paper. (While I usually recommend that parents sit down with their kids and draw up this list together, in the case of kids who tend to withhold, I don’t think it’s a good idea. Don’t ask a child who uses passive-aggressive behavior; because he won’t tell you—remember, withholding is his way of maintaining control.) Later, you can use these things as incentives.Take the Goodies out of His Room: I think underachieving kids should not have a lot of goodies in their rooms. Look at it this way: their room is just a place for them to withdraw. If you have a child who holes up in his bedroom, the computer should be in the living area—and if he’s going to use it, he should be out there with other people. He also shouldn’t have a TV or video games in his room, and if he’s not performing, don’t let him have his cell phone, either.
I also want to be clear and state that it’s important to realize that there’s a difference between being motivated to do nothing and being completely withdrawn. A child who won’t attend to his work or do his chores is different from someone who’s depressed. If your child won’t come out of his room, doesn’t seem to care no matter what you take away, and is often isolated and withdrawn, you have to take that seriously and seek professional help.
Make Sure everything is Earned Each Day: I think that you have to hold unmotivated kids accountable. Make sure everything is earned. Life for these guys should be one day at a time. They should have to earn video games every day. And how do they earn them? By doing their homework and chores. They earn their cell phone today and then start over tomorrow. Let me be clear: for these kids, Mom should hold the phone.
Have Conversations about What Your Child Wants: When times are good, I think you should talk to your child about what he would like to have some day. Try to sneak in different ideas to get your child to think about how he will achieve what he wants in life. Sit down with your child and say “So what kind of car would you like to have? Do you like Jeeps?” Try to get him to talk about what he’d like. Because later on you can say, “Look, I care about you and I want you to get that Jeep—and you’re not going to get it by not doing your homework.”
As a parent, I’d be talking this way to your child from pre-adolescence. You can say things like, “Just think, some day you’re going to have your own place. What kind of place would you like?” That’s the type of thing you use to motivate adolescents because that’s what is real to them: they want to get an apartment, they want to have a girlfriend or boyfriend, they want to get a car. So have conversations about what it takes to attain those things. And don’t forget, it’s a mistake to give your teen or pre-teen lectures when you want them to do something—instead, make them see that completing their responsibilities is in their best interests, because it leads to the life they’d like to have in the future.
Don’t Shout, Argue, Beg or Plead: Personally, I think if you’re shouting, you’re just showing your frustration—and letting your child know that he’s in control. Here’s the truth: when people start shouting, it means they’ve run out of solutions. With kids who are under performing, I think you have to be very cool. Arguing, pleading, and trying to get your teen to talk about how they feel is not very effective when they’re using withholding as a relationship strategy.
In my opinion, you can try almost anything within reason for five minutes. So you can negotiate, you can reason, you can ask your child about their feelings. It’s fine to say, “Is something wrong?” Just be aware that a chronic with holder will be motivated not to answer you.
“It Matters to Me.” I think parents have to be very clear and tell their children that what they do matters to them. Personalize it by saying, “It matters to me. I care about you. I want you to do well. I can’t make you do it and I won’t force you. But it matters to me and I love you.”
By the way, when I tell parents to personalize it by saying “It matters to me,” that doesn’t mean you should take it personally. Taking something personally means believing that your child’s inappropriate behavior is directed at you. It’s not—in reality, it’s their overall strategy to deal with the stresses of life. The concept of “It Matters to Me” helps because relationships can be motivating, but your child is his own person. It’s no reflection on you if he doesn’t want to perform. You just have to set up the scenario and enhance the probability that he’s going to do what he needs to do. But don’t take it personally, as if somehow you have to make him do it. The truth is, you can’t.
Stop Doing Your Child’s Tasks for Him: “Learned helplessness” is when people learn that if they don’t do something, someone will step in and do it for them—and it’s a very destructive pattern. When kids and teens use this shortcut, they don’t learn independence. In fact, in families where this occurs, many times you’ll find that the kids weren’t allowed to be independent very much. Perhaps they had to do things a certain way and all the choices were made for them. Eventually, they gave up; they surrendered.
Regardless of why your child might have an attitude of learned helplessness, as a parent, it’s important to stop doing things that he needs to do for himself. Don’t do his homework—let him do it. You can be available for help if necessary, but don’t take on his tasks. I believe one of the most important things an adolescent has to learn is independence, and if you take on his responsibilities, you’re robbing him of this chance to develop.
Learn How to Be a Coach: Let’s face it: it’s often sports coaches who get the most out of our kids. It’s their job to help kids want to improve their skills. So the coach learns a little bit about each of his players. A good coach is not constantly saying, “You’re great, you’re the best, you’re a superstar!” Rather, they always keep their athletes looking forward by complimenting them on the specifics of their progress: “Nice layup, Josh. You positioned your hands better that time. Keep it up.” I think parents need to learn more about the Coaching parenting style. Always keep your child looking forward.Comment on his or her progress instead of telling them how great they are when they haven’t put forth much of an effort. Kids see through flattery and false praise just like adults do—and it usually backfires.
Set Deadlines and Use Structure: Tell your child clearly when to do chores and schoolwork—and when you want them done by. I think it’s important to schedule these kids, to give them structure. “Do your chores from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., and then you’ll have free time until dinner. And during free time, you can do whatever you want to do.” There are other ways to motivate your child by saying, “If you can accomplish this in X amount of time, we’ll go to your cousin’s house on Saturday” or “I’ll take you to the boat show this weekend.” Remember, not everything that your child likes to do costs money, so add those activities into the equation.
I think it’s important for parents to realize that being an underachiever gives your child a sense of control and power, because then he doesn’t have to worry about the anxiety of failure or meeting challenging responsibilities. He doesn’t have to compete with other kids. He doesn’t have to deal with people’s expectations. In fact, a large part of underachieving has to do with managing other people’s expectations. That’s because once you start to achieve, people expect more of you. Kids feel this quite powerfully and they don’t have much defense against it. So you’ll often see that when people start expecting more of these kids, they fall apart.
For me, it’s not about who’s to blame; it’s about who’s going to take responsibility. A kid who’s an underachiever is motivated to do less—or to do nothing—because it gives him a sense of power and it gets him out of the stress of having to meet responsibilities. Your job as a parent is to help him by coaching him to meet those responsibilities in spite of his anxiety, fear or apathy.
Continue Reading
I also want to be clear and state that it’s important to realize that there’s a difference between being motivated to do nothing and being completely withdrawn. A child who won’t attend to his work or do his chores is different from someone who’s depressed. If your child won’t come out of his room, doesn’t seem to care no matter what you take away, and is often isolated and withdrawn, you have to take that seriously and seek professional help.
Make Sure everything is Earned Each Day: I think that you have to hold unmotivated kids accountable. Make sure everything is earned. Life for these guys should be one day at a time. They should have to earn video games every day. And how do they earn them? By doing their homework and chores. They earn their cell phone today and then start over tomorrow. Let me be clear: for these kids, Mom should hold the phone.
Have Conversations about What Your Child Wants: When times are good, I think you should talk to your child about what he would like to have some day. Try to sneak in different ideas to get your child to think about how he will achieve what he wants in life. Sit down with your child and say “So what kind of car would you like to have? Do you like Jeeps?” Try to get him to talk about what he’d like. Because later on you can say, “Look, I care about you and I want you to get that Jeep—and you’re not going to get it by not doing your homework.”
As a parent, I’d be talking this way to your child from pre-adolescence. You can say things like, “Just think, some day you’re going to have your own place. What kind of place would you like?” That’s the type of thing you use to motivate adolescents because that’s what is real to them: they want to get an apartment, they want to have a girlfriend or boyfriend, they want to get a car. So have conversations about what it takes to attain those things. And don’t forget, it’s a mistake to give your teen or pre-teen lectures when you want them to do something—instead, make them see that completing their responsibilities is in their best interests, because it leads to the life they’d like to have in the future.
Don’t Shout, Argue, Beg or Plead: Personally, I think if you’re shouting, you’re just showing your frustration—and letting your child know that he’s in control. Here’s the truth: when people start shouting, it means they’ve run out of solutions. With kids who are under performing, I think you have to be very cool. Arguing, pleading, and trying to get your teen to talk about how they feel is not very effective when they’re using withholding as a relationship strategy.
In my opinion, you can try almost anything within reason for five minutes. So you can negotiate, you can reason, you can ask your child about their feelings. It’s fine to say, “Is something wrong?” Just be aware that a chronic with holder will be motivated not to answer you.
“It Matters to Me.” I think parents have to be very clear and tell their children that what they do matters to them. Personalize it by saying, “It matters to me. I care about you. I want you to do well. I can’t make you do it and I won’t force you. But it matters to me and I love you.”
By the way, when I tell parents to personalize it by saying “It matters to me,” that doesn’t mean you should take it personally. Taking something personally means believing that your child’s inappropriate behavior is directed at you. It’s not—in reality, it’s their overall strategy to deal with the stresses of life. The concept of “It Matters to Me” helps because relationships can be motivating, but your child is his own person. It’s no reflection on you if he doesn’t want to perform. You just have to set up the scenario and enhance the probability that he’s going to do what he needs to do. But don’t take it personally, as if somehow you have to make him do it. The truth is, you can’t.
Stop Doing Your Child’s Tasks for Him: “Learned helplessness” is when people learn that if they don’t do something, someone will step in and do it for them—and it’s a very destructive pattern. When kids and teens use this shortcut, they don’t learn independence. In fact, in families where this occurs, many times you’ll find that the kids weren’t allowed to be independent very much. Perhaps they had to do things a certain way and all the choices were made for them. Eventually, they gave up; they surrendered.
Regardless of why your child might have an attitude of learned helplessness, as a parent, it’s important to stop doing things that he needs to do for himself. Don’t do his homework—let him do it. You can be available for help if necessary, but don’t take on his tasks. I believe one of the most important things an adolescent has to learn is independence, and if you take on his responsibilities, you’re robbing him of this chance to develop.
Learn How to Be a Coach: Let’s face it: it’s often sports coaches who get the most out of our kids. It’s their job to help kids want to improve their skills. So the coach learns a little bit about each of his players. A good coach is not constantly saying, “You’re great, you’re the best, you’re a superstar!” Rather, they always keep their athletes looking forward by complimenting them on the specifics of their progress: “Nice layup, Josh. You positioned your hands better that time. Keep it up.” I think parents need to learn more about the Coaching parenting style. Always keep your child looking forward.Comment on his or her progress instead of telling them how great they are when they haven’t put forth much of an effort. Kids see through flattery and false praise just like adults do—and it usually backfires.
Set Deadlines and Use Structure: Tell your child clearly when to do chores and schoolwork—and when you want them done by. I think it’s important to schedule these kids, to give them structure. “Do your chores from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., and then you’ll have free time until dinner. And during free time, you can do whatever you want to do.” There are other ways to motivate your child by saying, “If you can accomplish this in X amount of time, we’ll go to your cousin’s house on Saturday” or “I’ll take you to the boat show this weekend.” Remember, not everything that your child likes to do costs money, so add those activities into the equation.
I think it’s important for parents to realize that being an underachiever gives your child a sense of control and power, because then he doesn’t have to worry about the anxiety of failure or meeting challenging responsibilities. He doesn’t have to compete with other kids. He doesn’t have to deal with people’s expectations. In fact, a large part of underachieving has to do with managing other people’s expectations. That’s because once you start to achieve, people expect more of you. Kids feel this quite powerfully and they don’t have much defense against it. So you’ll often see that when people start expecting more of these kids, they fall apart.
For me, it’s not about who’s to blame; it’s about who’s going to take responsibility. A kid who’s an underachiever is motivated to do less—or to do nothing—because it gives him a sense of power and it gets him out of the stress of having to meet responsibilities. Your job as a parent is to help him by coaching him to meet those responsibilities in spite of his anxiety, fear or apathy.
Continue Reading
Know! Not to be a Lawnmower Parent.
By this point, we’re likely all familiar with the term Helicopter Parenting, where parents keep an overly watchful eye on their child’s every move and then swoop in to save the day at the first sign of trouble. But have you heard of Lawnmower Parenting? And are you possibly guilty of it?
While the helicopter parent hovers and worries, the lawnmower parent takes it even further, stepping in to clear their child’s path of potential obstacles and challenges. This prevents their child from having to experience any feelings of pain, sadness, discomfort or disappointment.
If any of these scenarios sound familiar, you might be a Lawnmower Parent. (Keep in mind these examples refer to middle and high school parents.)
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While the helicopter parent hovers and worries, the lawnmower parent takes it even further, stepping in to clear their child’s path of potential obstacles and challenges. This prevents their child from having to experience any feelings of pain, sadness, discomfort or disappointment.
If any of these scenarios sound familiar, you might be a Lawnmower Parent. (Keep in mind these examples refer to middle and high school parents.)
- You panic when you realize your child forgot his math homework on the kitchen table, so you run it right over to the school in time for class.
- Your daughter misses a day of school from illness, but instead of having your child follow up with her teachers, you reach out to the school to collect her makeup work.
- Your son has a dentist appointment that conflicts with next week’s baseball practice, but instead of having him communicate it to his coach, you reach out to the coach to explain.
- Your child is feeling really anxious about having to make a presentation in class, so you contact the teacher and push for an alternate arrangement.
Continue Reading
Screen Addiction Among Teens: Is There Such A Thing?
Look up from this screen right now. Take a look around. On a bus. In a cafe. Even at a stoplight. Chances are, most of the other people in your line of sight are staring at their phones or other devices. And if they don't happen to have one out, it is certainly tucked away in a pocket or bag.
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Can Kindness Be Taught
Is kindness natural? A few minutes on social media will make you think not! But as you know, kindness is essential not only for a healthy classroom environment, but also for your students’ future success.
In this course, you will learn the biological roots of kindness that are present in all people at birth. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be able to create concrete strategies for helping students build key components of kindness: empathy, perspective-taking, honesty, and trustworthiness. You’ll also learn about the personal and social benefits of practicing random acts of kindness and how to teach students to perform their own random acts.
Some students may struggle with understanding how to read facial expressions and social cues, or how to be kind to their peers who have emotional, physical, or behavioral disabilities. This course will help you develop exercises that can help students interpret and have compassion for others’ behavior even if it’s very different from theirs.
Regardless of what grade or subject you teach, this course gives you the tools you need to support all students in developing kindness toward themselves and others.
In this course, you will learn the biological roots of kindness that are present in all people at birth. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be able to create concrete strategies for helping students build key components of kindness: empathy, perspective-taking, honesty, and trustworthiness. You’ll also learn about the personal and social benefits of practicing random acts of kindness and how to teach students to perform their own random acts.
Some students may struggle with understanding how to read facial expressions and social cues, or how to be kind to their peers who have emotional, physical, or behavioral disabilities. This course will help you develop exercises that can help students interpret and have compassion for others’ behavior even if it’s very different from theirs.
Regardless of what grade or subject you teach, this course gives you the tools you need to support all students in developing kindness toward themselves and others.
PARENTING IS HARD
Parenting is the most challenging and most important job there is.
But positive parenting skills don't always come naturally.
4C for Children presents Parenting with Confidence an experience for parents and caregivers.
Join Us on Thursdays from Sept. 27-Nov. 8 from 10am-12pm in the Franklin Public Library.
parenting_is_hard.pdf
But positive parenting skills don't always come naturally.
4C for Children presents Parenting with Confidence an experience for parents and caregivers.
Join Us on Thursdays from Sept. 27-Nov. 8 from 10am-12pm in the Franklin Public Library.
parenting_is_hard.pdf
RE:CO --- What is RE:CO?
RE:CO Student Kickoff Video
www.youtube.com/watch?v=87ewlEGWZcQ
Character Education Program
During the month of September students, staff, and community will be encouraged to follow the value of INITIATIVE. The challenge will be for all students to take INITIATIVE during this month. INITIATIVE is seeing what needs to be done and doing it.
WHAT MIGHT BE HIDDEN...
A realistic exhibit designed to resemble a teenager’s bedroom.
“Right Under Your Nose” is designed to help educate adults of the unseen hazards our children are facing.
Contains several items indicative of potential dangerous risky behaviors.
Topics include substance use, violence, juvenile crime, technology, risky games/challenges and more.
Exhibit is accompanied by a presentation, discussion, and a local mother will share her story of heartbreak and loss.
This event is open and highly encouraged for ALL ADULTS that have or work with children of all ages (parents, coaches, teachers, and others).
THIS IS AN ADULTS ONLY EVENT!!!!!
DATE: Thursday, November 1, 2018
TIME: 6:00-6:45 p.m. – Touring the Room Program begins at 6:45-8:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Little Miami Intermediate School Cafeteria
A realistic exhibit designed to resemble a teenager’s bedroom.
“Right Under Your Nose” is designed to help educate adults of the unseen hazards our children are facing.
Contains several items indicative of potential dangerous risky behaviors.
Topics include substance use, violence, juvenile crime, technology, risky games/challenges and more.
Exhibit is accompanied by a presentation, discussion, and a local mother will share her story of heartbreak and loss.
This event is open and highly encouraged for ALL ADULTS that have or work with children of all ages (parents, coaches, teachers, and others).
THIS IS AN ADULTS ONLY EVENT!!!!!
DATE: Thursday, November 1, 2018
TIME: 6:00-6:45 p.m. – Touring the Room Program begins at 6:45-8:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Little Miami Intermediate School Cafeteria
Hospitals See Growing Numbers Of Kids And Teens At Risk For Suicide
The number of kids who struggle with thoughts of suicide or who attempt to kill themselves is rising. New research, published Wednesday in Pediatrics, finds children ages 5 to 17 visited children's hospitals for suicidal thoughts or attempts about twice as often in 2015 as in 2008.
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How Empowering Girls to Confront Conflict and Buck Perfection Helps Their Well-Being
Girls and boys have always grown up with cultural and societal stereotypes swirling around them. Despite the unparalleled access to opportunities that young women have today compared with the past, many are still absorbing strong messages about how they should look, act and be. For girls, many of the most powerful influences come from the media, but young girls could find relief among the real people in their lives. Social media has changed the game, requiring educators and parents to also change strategies to help girls navigate complicated waters....
Please continue reading at CLICK HERE.
Please continue reading at CLICK HERE.
"That's a JUUL"
What is a JUUL?
Would you recognize a JUUL if you saw one?
Take a look at the picture on the left... does this resemble anything familiar...
Continue Reading HERE
Not only is the JUUL easy to hide in your hand, or disguised as a flash drive on your laptop, the high is impossible to spot. We don’t know all of the ingredients in a JUUL, or what the health effects of inhaling the vapors are because it isn’t regulated by the government yet. We do know, the nicotine in one JUUL pod is the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes. The kids have a name for the quick, sometimes too powerful buzz: nic sick.
Tide Pod Challenge
If you are raising teenagers, you have no doubt heard of some of the ridiculous internet challenges that exist among this age group. While some of these new-age “dares” are silly and harmless, many more are dangerous and even deadly, like the one currently trending – the ‘Tide Pod Challenge.’
It has nothing to do with laundry and everything to do with getting internet “famous.” The videos that have spread like wildfire across social media look something like this – laughing, joking teens sink their teeth into one of the colorful, dessert-like looking laundry pods, then cough and gag while toxic, stain-fighting chemicals ooze from their mouths.
The purpose? A few laughs from their friends and as many social media “views” as possible.
The American Association of Poison Control Centers, however, says the ‘Tide Pod Challenge’ is no joke. These pods have caused children to be hospitalized with difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, and temporary vision loss due to chemical burns to the eye. Additionally, Consumer Reports say the ingredients in these pods can burn the mouth, digestive system, and stomach, cause gastrointestinal distress and respiratory arrest, and if they make their way into the bloodstream or organs, they can be fatal.
While concerns surrounding these types of detergent pods are not new, we used to worry that children under the age of five would unintentionally ingest them. Who would have guessed that our 13 to 19-year-olds would be intentionally biting into them?
What is a parent to do? By reading this tip, you are already taking a step in the right direction by becoming AWARE. But you must also be aware that as this Internet challenge fades out, another is sure to follow, which is why it is so important to talk with our teens about the health and safety dangers of this and other online challenges.
So... what can a parent do...
Continue reading by clicking HERE.
It has nothing to do with laundry and everything to do with getting internet “famous.” The videos that have spread like wildfire across social media look something like this – laughing, joking teens sink their teeth into one of the colorful, dessert-like looking laundry pods, then cough and gag while toxic, stain-fighting chemicals ooze from their mouths.
The purpose? A few laughs from their friends and as many social media “views” as possible.
The American Association of Poison Control Centers, however, says the ‘Tide Pod Challenge’ is no joke. These pods have caused children to be hospitalized with difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, and temporary vision loss due to chemical burns to the eye. Additionally, Consumer Reports say the ingredients in these pods can burn the mouth, digestive system, and stomach, cause gastrointestinal distress and respiratory arrest, and if they make their way into the bloodstream or organs, they can be fatal.
While concerns surrounding these types of detergent pods are not new, we used to worry that children under the age of five would unintentionally ingest them. Who would have guessed that our 13 to 19-year-olds would be intentionally biting into them?
What is a parent to do? By reading this tip, you are already taking a step in the right direction by becoming AWARE. But you must also be aware that as this Internet challenge fades out, another is sure to follow, which is why it is so important to talk with our teens about the health and safety dangers of this and other online challenges.
So... what can a parent do...
Continue reading by clicking HERE.
Knowing Our Teens... Social Media's affects on them
1. Cyberbullying: We’ve heard a lot on this topic: new-age, adolescent bullying that takes place on digital devices, mainly on cell phones, with the intent to embarrass, hurt, or humiliate another. It has become a common occurrence with nearly 43% of teens reporting having been bullied online at least once, according to DoSomething.org.
2. Picture-Perfect Lives: Teens spend hours upon hours scrolling through Instagram, Snapchat, and other social media feeds that feature images of their peers hanging out together and having the time of their lives, BFFs smiling and posing for the camera, and pictures from epic parties where only a select group was invited. It is no surprise that such images cause others to feel left out, disconnected, and ultimately unworthy.
3. Social Isolation: Social isolation is a major risk factor for depression and suicide. More time spent online means less time spent face-to-face with others, and less time spent doing activities that promote mental health, like getting exercise, volunteering, meeting new friends, and participating in group activities.
4. Sleep Deficit: Inadequate sleep is another major risk factor for depression and suicide. Youth who spend a great deal of time on their phones are more likely than others not to be getting the sleep they need. Texts, instant messages, and other signals to pick up that phone come in all hours of the night and may be too tempting to avoid.
2. Picture-Perfect Lives: Teens spend hours upon hours scrolling through Instagram, Snapchat, and other social media feeds that feature images of their peers hanging out together and having the time of their lives, BFFs smiling and posing for the camera, and pictures from epic parties where only a select group was invited. It is no surprise that such images cause others to feel left out, disconnected, and ultimately unworthy.
3. Social Isolation: Social isolation is a major risk factor for depression and suicide. More time spent online means less time spent face-to-face with others, and less time spent doing activities that promote mental health, like getting exercise, volunteering, meeting new friends, and participating in group activities.
4. Sleep Deficit: Inadequate sleep is another major risk factor for depression and suicide. Youth who spend a great deal of time on their phones are more likely than others not to be getting the sleep they need. Texts, instant messages, and other signals to pick up that phone come in all hours of the night and may be too tempting to avoid.
Know! What You Can Do To Improve Your Mental Health
With the start of each New Year, people commonly vow to improve their physical health, including diet, nutrition, and exercise. While this is a vital measure to take, it is equally important to resolve to improve one’s mental and emotional heath as well.
A healthy mind is fundamental to a person’s overall well-being, regardless of age. Our mental state affects how we think, feel, and act. Mentally healthy people are better positioned to:
• Realize their full potential
• Cope with the stresses of life
• Work productively at school or on the job
• Relate positively to others
• Make good decisions
• Make meaningful contributions to their communities
In this New Year, here are 10 Things You (teens and adults) Can Do for Your Mental Health (shared by The University of Michigan – Student Life University Health Service, adapted from the National Mental Health Association/National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare):
1. Value Yourself: Treat yourself with kindness and respect and avoid self-criticism. Make time for things you enjoy.
2. Take Care of Your Body: Eat more nutritiously, drink more water, exercise, get plenty of sleep, and avoid tobacco.
3. Surround Yourself with Positive People: Happiness is contagious, so is negativity – which will only bring you down. Keep company with people who choose to laugh more than they complain and focus on the positives in life.
4. Give of Yourself: Seek out volunteer opportunities at churches and/or organizations that interest you, or simply take advantage of the endless opportunities to help family, friends, and neighbors. It is uplifting to help others.
5. Learn How to Deal with Stress: Stress is a normal part of life and the sooner one learns how to cope with it in a positive way, the better. Different things work for different people, but in general some common stress reducers include physical exercise, deep breathing exercises, visualization, journaling, playing with a pet, or taking a good old-fashioned walk outside.
6. Quiet Your Mind: Meditation, prayer, and mindfulness are known to help people feel calm and relaxed, and can improve one’s outlook on life.
7. Set Realistic Goals: Decide what you want to achieve in school, work, or personal life and write it down. Then, plan out the steps needed to make those goals a reality. Aim high, but be realistic and don’t over schedule yourself.
8. Break Up the Monotony: Routines are good, but a change of pace now and then is even better. Take a walk in a different park, shoot some hoops instead of doing your daily run, come up with a different spot to hang with friends, try a new food or restaurant, etc.
9. Avoid Alcohol and Other Drugs: For youth, this is a given. Alcohol is illegal for those under 21 and a danger in many ways. For some adults, alcohol in moderation is okay. While some people turn to alcohol and other drugs to self-medicate, the opposite is likely to occur as self-medicating will only make the situation worse.
10. Get Help When Needed: Seeking help is a sign of strength – not weakness. People who get appropriate care can and do recover from mental illness and addiction and lead happy, healthy, productive, and rewarding lives.
It’s a new year—a clean slate, a chance for new beginnings, and a time to push away the negatives, focus your energy on the positives, improve your mental and emotional health, and find balance in life.
Sources: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - MentalHealth.gov: What is Mental Health? Aug. 29, 2017. The University of Michigan – Student Life University Health Service, adapted from the National Mental Health Association/National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare: Ten Things You Can Do for Your Mental Health.
A healthy mind is fundamental to a person’s overall well-being, regardless of age. Our mental state affects how we think, feel, and act. Mentally healthy people are better positioned to:
• Realize their full potential
• Cope with the stresses of life
• Work productively at school or on the job
• Relate positively to others
• Make good decisions
• Make meaningful contributions to their communities
In this New Year, here are 10 Things You (teens and adults) Can Do for Your Mental Health (shared by The University of Michigan – Student Life University Health Service, adapted from the National Mental Health Association/National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare):
1. Value Yourself: Treat yourself with kindness and respect and avoid self-criticism. Make time for things you enjoy.
2. Take Care of Your Body: Eat more nutritiously, drink more water, exercise, get plenty of sleep, and avoid tobacco.
3. Surround Yourself with Positive People: Happiness is contagious, so is negativity – which will only bring you down. Keep company with people who choose to laugh more than they complain and focus on the positives in life.
4. Give of Yourself: Seek out volunteer opportunities at churches and/or organizations that interest you, or simply take advantage of the endless opportunities to help family, friends, and neighbors. It is uplifting to help others.
5. Learn How to Deal with Stress: Stress is a normal part of life and the sooner one learns how to cope with it in a positive way, the better. Different things work for different people, but in general some common stress reducers include physical exercise, deep breathing exercises, visualization, journaling, playing with a pet, or taking a good old-fashioned walk outside.
6. Quiet Your Mind: Meditation, prayer, and mindfulness are known to help people feel calm and relaxed, and can improve one’s outlook on life.
7. Set Realistic Goals: Decide what you want to achieve in school, work, or personal life and write it down. Then, plan out the steps needed to make those goals a reality. Aim high, but be realistic and don’t over schedule yourself.
8. Break Up the Monotony: Routines are good, but a change of pace now and then is even better. Take a walk in a different park, shoot some hoops instead of doing your daily run, come up with a different spot to hang with friends, try a new food or restaurant, etc.
9. Avoid Alcohol and Other Drugs: For youth, this is a given. Alcohol is illegal for those under 21 and a danger in many ways. For some adults, alcohol in moderation is okay. While some people turn to alcohol and other drugs to self-medicate, the opposite is likely to occur as self-medicating will only make the situation worse.
10. Get Help When Needed: Seeking help is a sign of strength – not weakness. People who get appropriate care can and do recover from mental illness and addiction and lead happy, healthy, productive, and rewarding lives.
It’s a new year—a clean slate, a chance for new beginnings, and a time to push away the negatives, focus your energy on the positives, improve your mental and emotional health, and find balance in life.
Sources: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - MentalHealth.gov: What is Mental Health? Aug. 29, 2017. The University of Michigan – Student Life University Health Service, adapted from the National Mental Health Association/National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare: Ten Things You Can Do for Your Mental Health.
What are the Benefits of Having a Therapy Dog in the Classroom?
The benefits of having therapy dogs in the classroom include:
Physical benefits. Interaction with therapy dogs has been shown to reduce blood pressure, provide physical stimulation and assist with pain management.
Social benefits. A visiting therapy dog promotes greater self-esteem and focused interaction with other students and teachers.
Cognitive benefits. It has been empirically proven that therapy dogs stimulate memory and problem-solving skills.
Emotional and mental health benefits. A recent national survey of adolescent mental health found that about 8 to 10 percent of teens ages 13 to 18 have an anxiety disorder. A therapy dog can lift moods in the classroom, often provoking laughter. The therapy dog is also there to offer friendship and a shoulder to lean on for students.
Physical benefits. Interaction with therapy dogs has been shown to reduce blood pressure, provide physical stimulation and assist with pain management.
Social benefits. A visiting therapy dog promotes greater self-esteem and focused interaction with other students and teachers.
Cognitive benefits. It has been empirically proven that therapy dogs stimulate memory and problem-solving skills.
Emotional and mental health benefits. A recent national survey of adolescent mental health found that about 8 to 10 percent of teens ages 13 to 18 have an anxiety disorder. A therapy dog can lift moods in the classroom, often provoking laughter. The therapy dog is also there to offer friendship and a shoulder to lean on for students.
Counselors, Canines Helping Firefighters Battle Emotional Stress
What Parents Can Do To Help Their Child Stay Organized:
It’s not unusual for children or teens to have weak organization skills and lack an awareness of time, especially of they have AD/HD. If your child has these characteristics, try not to be critical. He or she will need your support and "coaching" in order to be successful in school. Here are ways that you can help your child.
Organizing Household Chores and Responsibilities
Parents can:
Parents can:
Parents can:
Ask the teacher for feedback on your child’s progress. Don't assume your child is working on projects at school, even if he is given some time in class to do it. Avoid procrastination and last-minute scrambling to complete projects.
If your child consistently has difficulty keeping up with assignments, turning work in on time, and following through with projects and daily homework, see the teacher! Let the teacher know that this is an area of weakness for your child, and that you want to be in a position to help. Request the teacher's help in making sure all assignments are recorded daily. Then be sure to follow through by reviewing the recorded assignments with your child.
Reinforce with your child the need to not leave school until she checks her assignment sheet/calendar. Make sure she has any necessary books and materials needed to do the homework.
Have your child take the phone numbers of a few responsible students that she can call if there is a question about schoolwork. Ask the teacher to assign a responsible buddy for this purpose. Some accommodating teachers are willing to share their own home phone number.
Be sure to ask the teacher for progress notes that keep you aware of how your child is doing. If you haven't received any communication or feedback for a while, call the teacher or write a note.
If homework assignments seem to be taking an inordinate amount of time and your child is struggling, make an appointment with the teacher. Special modifications may need to be arranged (i.e., shorter assignments; oral rather than written projects; your child dictates and you transcribe for her). Make sure the teacher understands your efforts and the extraordinary difficulty your child is having surrounding homework. If the teacher is unwilling to accept any reasonable adjustments or make modifications, see the administrator.
Final Tips
Encourage your child and emphasize effort as the most important criteria. Praise your child for being on-task, getting to work, and taking responsibility. Give extra praise for accomplishment and progress. Rewards and incentives are appropriate as well as effective.
http://www.davidsongifted.org/Search-Database/entry/A10443
Organizing Household Chores and Responsibilities
- Establish a daily routine with expectations clearly defined and discussed in the family (i.e., getting ready for school, chores, homework, and bedtime routine).
- Adhere as closely as possible to a schedule during the school week.
- When giving chores or responsibilities around the house, be sure they are reasonable, limited in number, and developmentally appropriate for your child.
- Write down and post all chores/responsibilities in a highly visible place.
- Establish a daily routine with expectations clearly defined and discussed in the family (i.e., getting ready for school, chores, homework, and bedtime routine).
- Adhere as closely as possible to a schedule during the school week.
- When giving chores or responsibilities around the house, be sure they are reasonable, limited in number, and developmentally appropriate for your child.
- Write down and post all chores/responsibilities in a highly visible place.
- Use self-stick notes to place on mirrors, doors, and other visible places for reminders.
- Consider using a timer if your child has difficulty staying on-task. Sometimes a “beat the clock system” is effective in motivating children to complete a task before the timer goes off.
Parents can:
- Provide your child with a backpack and notebook/binder, according to the teacher's specifications.
- Provide all necessary supplies for school and homework.
- Label your child's materials and possessions with her name.
- Provide your child with a corkboard and pins to hang up important papers.
- Consider hanging a dry erase board and markers in the kitchen and your child's room for important notes and messages.
- Provide a file with color-coded folders in which your child can keep papers stored categorically.
- Keep trays and bins for storing supplies/materials in order to remove some of the clutter from your child’s desktop.
- Keep a three-hole punch and electric pencil sharpener easily accessible.
- Besides posting a master calendar (in the kitchen), provide your child with a desk calendar that serves as an overview of important dates, activities, and events.
- Provide the necessary storage space (shelves, closet space, bins, trays, and drawers) for organizing your child's work area efficiently.
- Maintain a homework supply kit in addition to the supplies/materials in your child’s work area.
- Choose a workplace for your child at home that has adequate lighting, is comfortable for working, and is as free from distractions as possible.
- Carefully examine the child’s workspace. Make sure it has a large, working surface (desktop) free from clutter. If your child has a computer, don't place it on the desk, which cuts down considerably on working surface area. Instead, place the computer on a separate desk or table.
- Clear out desk drawers and shelves of work, projects, and papers from past school years. Together, decide on what you would like to keep and store out of the way (in colored boxes, or zipper portfolios) in order to make room for current papers and projects.
- Assist your child with cleaning and organizing by getting her started.
- Make the time to help your child clean and organize her backpack, notebook, desk, and room.
- Provide the necessary supplies to help your child be organized at school. (You will likely have to replace and replenish supplies often.) Have her take inventory of what needs replacement or ask the teacher.
- Encourage and help your child get in the habit of putting all books, notebooks, signed notes, and other necessary materials inside the backpack before bedtime. Place the backpack in the same spot every night.
Parents can:
- Get your child a watch to wear and an accurate clock for her room. A watch that has an alarm set is very helpful, especially if he takes medication and needs to go to the nurse's office during school.
- Give your child advance notice whenever possible.
- Expect your child to record assignments (See the teacher for help.) and monitor that this is being done. Ask to see his assignment calendars/sheets every day.
- Post a master calendar or wall chart for important events and activities. Remember to refer to it often.
- Help transfer important extracurricular activities/scheduling onto your child's personal calendar/planner.
- Pay close attention to due dates at school. Post the project requirements. With your child, record on a master calendar the due date of the final project and plan when to do the steps along the way (i.e., going to the library, getting resources and materials).
- Consider setting up “no-phone-call” times in the evening.
- Keep your child from being distracted by the TV by turning it off.
- Help your child learn how to tell time, read a non-digital clock, and understand calendars and schedules.
- Teach your child to use "things to do" lists (writing down and then crossing out accomplished tasks).
Parents can:
- Communicate your expectations that homework is a priority. In today's busy society, many families are over-extended with the number of extracurricular activities that they are involved in. If there is very little time in an evening to devote to schoolwork, perhaps you need to re-examine your commitments and activities – “something has to give.”
- If possible, be available when your child is doing homework to help as needed, but don't get in the habit of having him rely on you. However tempting it may be, don't do the work for your child.
- Ask to see how your child is recording assignments. Praise all efforts at being organized.
- Ask to see what he has accomplished after a certain amount of time, or to show you when a particular assignment is done.
- Ask to see the completed task, and reward your child if it was done with relative accuracy and neatness. Even more effective is having your child self-monitor, requiring that he take a few minutes more to check over the work and self-correct as needed.
- Set a schedule for homework. Some children like to come home and immediately get part or all of their homework done and out of the way. Others need a break before tackling any homework. Together plan a schedule or time for homework your child can follow as consistently as possible.
- Help your child to plan her time when she comes home from school – prioritizing each day’s activities and workload, estimating together how long they should take, and making a schedule.
- Break down long school assignments into smaller, manageable increments. (Note: Your assistance with time management and structuring long-term school projects such as book reports, science projects, and research projects will be critical to your child's success.)
Ask the teacher for feedback on your child’s progress. Don't assume your child is working on projects at school, even if he is given some time in class to do it. Avoid procrastination and last-minute scrambling to complete projects.
If your child consistently has difficulty keeping up with assignments, turning work in on time, and following through with projects and daily homework, see the teacher! Let the teacher know that this is an area of weakness for your child, and that you want to be in a position to help. Request the teacher's help in making sure all assignments are recorded daily. Then be sure to follow through by reviewing the recorded assignments with your child.
Reinforce with your child the need to not leave school until she checks her assignment sheet/calendar. Make sure she has any necessary books and materials needed to do the homework.
Have your child take the phone numbers of a few responsible students that she can call if there is a question about schoolwork. Ask the teacher to assign a responsible buddy for this purpose. Some accommodating teachers are willing to share their own home phone number.
Be sure to ask the teacher for progress notes that keep you aware of how your child is doing. If you haven't received any communication or feedback for a while, call the teacher or write a note.
If homework assignments seem to be taking an inordinate amount of time and your child is struggling, make an appointment with the teacher. Special modifications may need to be arranged (i.e., shorter assignments; oral rather than written projects; your child dictates and you transcribe for her). Make sure the teacher understands your efforts and the extraordinary difficulty your child is having surrounding homework. If the teacher is unwilling to accept any reasonable adjustments or make modifications, see the administrator.
Final Tips
Encourage your child and emphasize effort as the most important criteria. Praise your child for being on-task, getting to work, and taking responsibility. Give extra praise for accomplishment and progress. Rewards and incentives are appropriate as well as effective.
http://www.davidsongifted.org/Search-Database/entry/A10443
~THE ICEBERG ILLUSION~
But what about what people do NOT see?
Sacrifice
Failure
Disappointment
Persistence
Hard work
Dedication & Discipline
Self-Control
Continue Reading Here
Sacrifice
Failure
Disappointment
Persistence
Hard work
Dedication & Discipline
Self-Control
Continue Reading Here
Why Students Forget—and What You Can Do About It
Our brains are wired to forget, but there are research-backed strategies you can use to make your teaching stick.
Please click for more on this topic.
Please click for more on this topic.
Sandy Hook Promise Parent Program
When: Thursday, October 26th, 2017
Time: 6:30pm
Where: Little Miami Junior High School Cafeteria
Featured Speaker: Patricia Parker-Perry, Ed. D. Program Coordinator
Please find information in the attached PDF on our Parent Program
Hope to see you there!
sandy_hook_promise.pdf
Time: 6:30pm
Where: Little Miami Junior High School Cafeteria
Featured Speaker: Patricia Parker-Perry, Ed. D. Program Coordinator
Please find information in the attached PDF on our Parent Program
Hope to see you there!
sandy_hook_promise.pdf
Parent's Guide to Mindset
FAIL
First
Attempt
In
Learning
Please continue reading at the below link!
beachborough-parents-guide-to-mindset-booklet.pdf
First
Attempt
In
Learning
Please continue reading at the below link!
beachborough-parents-guide-to-mindset-booklet.pdf
Preventing Teen Suicide: What the Evidence Shows
Rates of teen suicide continue to rise, federal health officials reported this month, with rates for girls higher than at any point in the last 40 years. A rational response would be to engage in evidence-based measures to try to reverse this course. Too often, we assume that there’s nothing we can do.
Suicide rates were even higher in the 1990's. But from 2007 to 2015 rates rose from 10.8 to 14.2 per 100,000 male teenagers and from 2.4 to 5.1 per 100,000 female teenagers. In 2011, for the first time in more than 20 years, more teenagers died from suicide than homicide.
There are evidence-based ways to prevent suicide. The World Health Organization has a guide for how media professionals should talk about the subject. They should avoid sensationalizing it or normalizing it. They should be careful not to repeat accounts of suicide or to provide explicit descriptions as to how suicide might be attempted or completed. They should word headlines carefully, and avoid video or photos of suicides or the victims.
Please continue reading by clicking below.
NY TIMES ARTICLE
Suicide rates were even higher in the 1990's. But from 2007 to 2015 rates rose from 10.8 to 14.2 per 100,000 male teenagers and from 2.4 to 5.1 per 100,000 female teenagers. In 2011, for the first time in more than 20 years, more teenagers died from suicide than homicide.
There are evidence-based ways to prevent suicide. The World Health Organization has a guide for how media professionals should talk about the subject. They should avoid sensationalizing it or normalizing it. They should be careful not to repeat accounts of suicide or to provide explicit descriptions as to how suicide might be attempted or completed. They should word headlines carefully, and avoid video or photos of suicides or the victims.
Please continue reading by clicking below.
NY TIMES ARTICLE
The Secret to Raising Smart Kids
HINT: Don't tell your kids that they are. More than three decades of research shows that a focus on “process”—not on intelligence or ability—is key to success in school and in life
GROWING PAINS:
Many people assume that superior intelligence or ability is a key to success. But more than three decades of research shows that an overemphasis on intellect or talent—and the implication that such traits are innate and fixed—leaves people vulnerable to failure, fearful of challenges and unmotivated to learn. Teaching people to have a “growth mind-set,” which encourages a focus on “process” rather than on intelligence or talent, produces high achievers in school and in life. Parents and teachers can engender a growth mind-set in children by praising them for their persistence or strategies (rather than for their intelligence), by telling success stories that emphasize hard work and love of learning, and by teaching them about the brain as a learning machine.
Please continue reading at https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-secret-to-raising-smart-kids1/
GROWING PAINS:
Many people assume that superior intelligence or ability is a key to success. But more than three decades of research shows that an overemphasis on intellect or talent—and the implication that such traits are innate and fixed—leaves people vulnerable to failure, fearful of challenges and unmotivated to learn. Teaching people to have a “growth mind-set,” which encourages a focus on “process” rather than on intelligence or talent, produces high achievers in school and in life. Parents and teachers can engender a growth mind-set in children by praising them for their persistence or strategies (rather than for their intelligence), by telling success stories that emphasize hard work and love of learning, and by teaching them about the brain as a learning machine.
Please continue reading at https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-secret-to-raising-smart-kids1/
Welcome Back Panthers
(Back to School: Transitioning Your Family From Summer to School)
Anticipate and address your child’s anxiety. Going back to school is stressful for kids of all ages, so head off the stress before school even starts. Talk with your children about new experiences and traditions.
Manage your own anxiety. Maintain a positive attitude about summer ending. If you are nervous about school starting, then your child is certainly going to be nervous about school starting. It also helps to plan fun, transitional activities to prepare your kids. Plan a fun weekend for Labor Day, and include the kids in the plan. If school has already started, it’s a nice buffer vacation. If it hasn’t, Labor Day is a great time to say good-bye to summer and hello to all the good things coming up in the new school year.
Ease back into scheduled days. When your kids are used to running around outside until dark each night, shifting to the early morning school bus rush can be a real shock to the system. To ease the transition, about a week before the first day of school, start their bedtime routine about 10 minutes earlier each night and wake them up 10 minutes earlier each morning, every day, until they’re back on track. And Mom and Dad: don’t forget to re-adjust your bedtime schedules too!
Stay connected to nature. Going back to class doesn’t mean your kids have to say farewell to outdoor fun. Make a habit of getting outside together after the school day ends, for as long as the warm weather lasts. When the air turns cold, hold a “camp-in” weekend evening.
Get back to healthy eating. If your family is like mine, your household inventory of potato chips and cookies skyrockets during the summer. The arrival of fall is a perfect time to teach your kids that family-focused healthy eating can be fun too. While kids may be used to having ice cream every night in the summer, start swapping those out some nights for fruit Popsicles, frozen yogurt, or baked fruit sprinkled with cinnamon and brown sugar. And be prepared with healthy snacks and meals when things get hectic, such as in the morning before school, when kids come home from school, and before dinner.
Seek out one-on-one time with your child every day. Yes, this one is daunting, especially when your days consist of carting Kid A to one activity and picking up Kid B from another. But challenge yourself to set aside just 15 minutes per day, per child, to enjoy a quiet activity together. Your children will savor your undivided attention. And both of you will benefit from putting yet another hectic day on hold.
Manage your own anxiety. Maintain a positive attitude about summer ending. If you are nervous about school starting, then your child is certainly going to be nervous about school starting. It also helps to plan fun, transitional activities to prepare your kids. Plan a fun weekend for Labor Day, and include the kids in the plan. If school has already started, it’s a nice buffer vacation. If it hasn’t, Labor Day is a great time to say good-bye to summer and hello to all the good things coming up in the new school year.
Ease back into scheduled days. When your kids are used to running around outside until dark each night, shifting to the early morning school bus rush can be a real shock to the system. To ease the transition, about a week before the first day of school, start their bedtime routine about 10 minutes earlier each night and wake them up 10 minutes earlier each morning, every day, until they’re back on track. And Mom and Dad: don’t forget to re-adjust your bedtime schedules too!
Stay connected to nature. Going back to class doesn’t mean your kids have to say farewell to outdoor fun. Make a habit of getting outside together after the school day ends, for as long as the warm weather lasts. When the air turns cold, hold a “camp-in” weekend evening.
Get back to healthy eating. If your family is like mine, your household inventory of potato chips and cookies skyrockets during the summer. The arrival of fall is a perfect time to teach your kids that family-focused healthy eating can be fun too. While kids may be used to having ice cream every night in the summer, start swapping those out some nights for fruit Popsicles, frozen yogurt, or baked fruit sprinkled with cinnamon and brown sugar. And be prepared with healthy snacks and meals when things get hectic, such as in the morning before school, when kids come home from school, and before dinner.
Seek out one-on-one time with your child every day. Yes, this one is daunting, especially when your days consist of carting Kid A to one activity and picking up Kid B from another. But challenge yourself to set aside just 15 minutes per day, per child, to enjoy a quiet activity together. Your children will savor your undivided attention. And both of you will benefit from putting yet another hectic day on hold.
Know! To Focus On Mental Health
If our pancreas has a chemical imbalance, we seek treatment. If our kidneys are not physiologically working right, we seek treatment. When our most complex organ, the brain, is not physiologically working right or has a chemical imbalance, for some reason we ignore or hide it. May is Mental Health Month; an opportunity to break the negative stigma that surrounds mental illness and promote the well-being of the whole individual. Mental health conditions are far more common among teens than most people would imagine. In fact, one in five youth ages 13 to 18 have or will develop a serious mental illness. They are disorders that affect a person’s thinking, feeling or mood, impacting their ability to interact with others and function in their daily lives. However, just like many physical conditions, mental health conditions can be treatable and people can and do recover and live happy, full lives. Mental illness is no one’s fault and is rarely the result of one particular thing. Instead, research suggests that there are multiple linking causes including genetics, environment and lifestyle. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), extreme stress, traumatic events and substance abuse are among the factors that can make a person more susceptible. The importance of early detection and intervention is crucial, yet the average delay between the onset of symptoms and intervention is usually between 8 to 10 years - and lack of treatment can be fatal. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for 15 to 24-year-olds, and the third leading cause of death for 10 to 24-year-olds. More than 90% of young people who die by suicide have a mental health condition. Adolescents with untreated mental illnesses are also more likely to drop out of school, have chronic physical health conditions in adulthood and have a shortened lifespan of up to 25 years. Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14. For some youth, the onset of symptoms can be scary and confusing, and for some parents, it can be unclear whether what they are seeing in their teen is typical adolescent behavior and personality changes or symptoms of a mental health condition.
Every child with mental illness will have different experiences, even those with the same diagnosis. However, common warning signs include:
As a parent who suspects there may be an issue with your child, there are four very important things you can do, according to the experts at NAMI. Talk with your pediatrician, get a referral to a mental health specialist, work with your child’s school and connect with other families experiencing similar situations. A teen experiencing symptoms of mental illness needs to know they are not alone, and that they have many resources available to them as well, including Ok2Talk.org – an online opportunity to connect with other young people who may be going through the same things as them.
To connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message – text NAMI to 741-741. For additional information and support, call the NAMI helpline at 800-950-NAMI or visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness at NAMI.org.
Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Know The Warning Signs; Mental Health by the Numbers; Fact Sheet Library.
Every child with mental illness will have different experiences, even those with the same diagnosis. However, common warning signs include:
- Feeling sad or withdrawn for more than two weeks (crying, fatigued, unmotivated)
- Trying to harm or kill oneself or making plans to do so
- Out-of-control, risk-taking behaviors that can cause harm to self or others
- Sudden overwhelming fear for no reason (racing heart, physical discomfort, fast breathing)
- Significant weight loss or gain (not eating, throwing up or using laxatives to lose weight)
- Severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
- Repeated use of drugs or alcohol
- Drastic changes in behavior, personality or sleeping habits
- Extreme difficulty in concentrating or staying still that can lead to problems in school
- Intense worrying that gets in the way of daily activities, including hanging out with friends and going to class
As a parent who suspects there may be an issue with your child, there are four very important things you can do, according to the experts at NAMI. Talk with your pediatrician, get a referral to a mental health specialist, work with your child’s school and connect with other families experiencing similar situations. A teen experiencing symptoms of mental illness needs to know they are not alone, and that they have many resources available to them as well, including Ok2Talk.org – an online opportunity to connect with other young people who may be going through the same things as them.
To connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message – text NAMI to 741-741. For additional information and support, call the NAMI helpline at 800-950-NAMI or visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness at NAMI.org.
Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Know The Warning Signs; Mental Health by the Numbers; Fact Sheet Library.
Netflix Series "13 Reasons Why"
As many of you may already be aware, there is a series out on Netflix called “13 Reasons Why”. The show is a 13 hour series depicting strong and graphic themes of suicide, bullying, sexual assault, drug use and other social issues. The main character takes her own life as a way of ending her emotional pain. The popularity of this show just shows how vulnerable our youth can be and even “stable” youth can make impulsive, rash decisions when feeling over emotional. A poll estimates about 33-40% of our young people are watching the series.
The show is causing a tremendous amount of controversy and concern for mental health experts, and could be more harmful than helpful. The show does not address mental illness or show viable alternatives to suicide and there is concern of the contagion effect. Across the board, this affects our entire student population from our at-risk students, our athletes, to our academically high performing students who put intense pressure on themselves.
For more information, please follow this link:
http://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/netflix-series-13-reasons-why-glorifies-suicide-mental-health-experts-n749551
Here are some talking points from the JED Foundation:
https://www.jedfoundation.org/13-reasons-why-talking-points/
The show is causing a tremendous amount of controversy and concern for mental health experts, and could be more harmful than helpful. The show does not address mental illness or show viable alternatives to suicide and there is concern of the contagion effect. Across the board, this affects our entire student population from our at-risk students, our athletes, to our academically high performing students who put intense pressure on themselves.
For more information, please follow this link:
http://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/netflix-series-13-reasons-why-glorifies-suicide-mental-health-experts-n749551
Here are some talking points from the JED Foundation:
https://www.jedfoundation.org/13-reasons-why-talking-points/
Are Teenagers Replacing Drugs With Smartphones?
Interesting article published by NY Times linking smartphones to an addiction. Amid an opioid epidemic, the rise of deadly synthetic drugs and the widening legalization of marijuana, a curious bright spot has emerged in the youth drug culture: American teenagers are growing less likely to try or regularly use drugs, including alcohol. With minor fits and starts, the trend has been building for a decade, with no clear understanding as to why. Some experts theorize that falling cigarette-smoking rates are cutting into a key gateway to drugs, or that anti-drug education campaigns, long a largely failed enterprise, have finally taken hold. But researchers are starting to ponder an intriguing question: Are teenagers using drugs less in part because they are constantly stimulated and entertained by their computers and phones?
Continue reading
Continue reading
Know! To Secure, Monitor and Properly Dispose
Tis the season for spring cleaning!!
As you’re working hard to get your home de-cluttered, organized, spotless and sparkling, be sure to include the clearing out of old, unused or unwanted medicines – it’s a vitally important task!
Click Here
As you’re working hard to get your home de-cluttered, organized, spotless and sparkling, be sure to include the clearing out of old, unused or unwanted medicines – it’s a vitally important task!
Click Here
Tips for Beating Test Anxiety
Study strategies and coping skills transform attitudes
"When athletes are called upon to perform in high-pressure situations many of them describe having peaked senses that they use to their advantage. They’re able to quiet their minds, zone out the audience, and make the catch. Kids with test anxiety have the opposite reaction. “Anxiety also has the potential to shut you down,” explains neuropsychologist Ken Schuster. “When kids are having test anxiety they can’t think clearly, they can’t judge things the way they could if they weren’t anxious. All of your other abilities get clouded up by anxiety.” Continue reading at https://childmind.org/article/tips-for-beating-test-anxiety/
Know! The Not-So-Innocent Side of Teen Romance
Be aware of the warning signs of your child being in an unhealthy “relationship":
• Your child’s excessive communication with their “partner” via text, social media or in person
Your son or daughter becomes depressed or anxious
• Extracurricular activities get put on the back-burner or come to a halt altogether
• Your child’s partner is extremely jealous or possessive
• They begin to dress differently
• They have mood swings beyond what is expected among teens
• They stop spending time with their friends
• Your child’s excessive communication with their “partner” via text, social media or in person
Your son or daughter becomes depressed or anxious
• Extracurricular activities get put on the back-burner or come to a halt altogether
• Your child’s partner is extremely jealous or possessive
• They begin to dress differently
• They have mood swings beyond what is expected among teens
• They stop spending time with their friends
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SAVE THE DATE for... FERNSIDE'S CAMP ERIN-CINCINNATI
What: Teen Retreat
When: April 22-23rd
Who: Navigating Grief... Finding Your Way From Here to There
One time experience for grieving teens ages 13-18. For more information or to register please call: Fernside Supporting Children & Families Through Grief at (513) 246-9140 or visit the website at www.fernside.org
When: April 22-23rd
Who: Navigating Grief... Finding Your Way From Here to There
One time experience for grieving teens ages 13-18. For more information or to register please call: Fernside Supporting Children & Families Through Grief at (513) 246-9140 or visit the website at www.fernside.org
fernside.pdf | |
File Size: | 113 kb |
File Type: |
IT'S NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK!!
Happy National School Counseling Week 2017, "School Counseling: Helping Students Realize Their Potential," will be celebrated from Feb. 6-10, 2017, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by ASCA, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. National School Counseling Week is always celebrated the first full week in February.
Children deserve some un-supervised time!
www.freerangekids.com is a website that speaks to parents about on going freedom and independence for their children.
www.freerangekids.com is a website that speaks to parents about on going freedom and independence for their children.
Stress Management Parent Night on MARCH 6th @ 6:30pm (LMHS)
Who isn’t stressed these days? Some say stress is the plague of modern civilization… But stress isn’t likely to disappear anytime soon, so what can we do to manage the stress in our lives?
The presentation will include:
· How stress affects the body & brain, and impacts overall health
· Coping strategies to manage everyday stress
· Reducing stress at home
· Ways to help children deal with school related stress, test anxiety & senior angst
The presentation will include:
· How stress affects the body & brain, and impacts overall health
· Coping strategies to manage everyday stress
· Reducing stress at home
· Ways to help children deal with school related stress, test anxiety & senior angst
Teaching Conflict Resolution Skills For Teenagers
As a parent, it is part of your job to help your child navigate life without too many hiccups. Start early and teach your teenager some easy ways to manage conflict. She may not thank you for it today, but you can pat yourself on the back for a job well done!
Teach your teenager the following conflict resolution commandments:
Commandment 1:Conflict is a reality. There is no escaping the fact. Hiding won’t solve anything.
Commandment 2:You can’t wish the problem away. Don’t pretend and put on a mask. Keeping your feelings cooped inside won’t work.
Commandment 3:Learn to deal with the problem, not the person. Conflict occurs because of a particular issue, not because of a person. Don’t make it personal.
Commandment 4:Be respectful. Listen to the other person. Really listen. Listening to your parents or teachers may seem like a drag but zoning out is not the solution.
Commandment 5:Be assertive. You don’t need to be either passive or aggressive to deal with teen conflicts. You need to be assertive. Being assertive means putting your views forward confidently and calmly.
Commandment 6:Learn to negotiate. This is the most important skill you need to learn. Negotiating is a skill that will serve you in the long term.
Commandment 7:Stick to the present. Don’t drag in past issues. Doing so will only muddy the conflict further.
Commandment 8:The silent treatment does not work. Sulking is as bad as getting aggressive – it won’t solve the problem. Talk it out.
Commandment 9:Be understanding. Try to put yourself in the other person’s shoe. Don’t get defensive and analyze the situation.
Commandment 10:Learn to say sorry. Stand in front of the mirror and practice, if the need be! If you are wrong, accept it. Doing so will not make you a wimp. Only a strong person has the strength to say ‘sorry’. This simple word can work like magic, try it!
Teach your teenager the following conflict resolution commandments:
Commandment 1:Conflict is a reality. There is no escaping the fact. Hiding won’t solve anything.
Commandment 2:You can’t wish the problem away. Don’t pretend and put on a mask. Keeping your feelings cooped inside won’t work.
Commandment 3:Learn to deal with the problem, not the person. Conflict occurs because of a particular issue, not because of a person. Don’t make it personal.
Commandment 4:Be respectful. Listen to the other person. Really listen. Listening to your parents or teachers may seem like a drag but zoning out is not the solution.
Commandment 5:Be assertive. You don’t need to be either passive or aggressive to deal with teen conflicts. You need to be assertive. Being assertive means putting your views forward confidently and calmly.
Commandment 6:Learn to negotiate. This is the most important skill you need to learn. Negotiating is a skill that will serve you in the long term.
Commandment 7:Stick to the present. Don’t drag in past issues. Doing so will only muddy the conflict further.
Commandment 8:The silent treatment does not work. Sulking is as bad as getting aggressive – it won’t solve the problem. Talk it out.
Commandment 9:Be understanding. Try to put yourself in the other person’s shoe. Don’t get defensive and analyze the situation.
Commandment 10:Learn to say sorry. Stand in front of the mirror and practice, if the need be! If you are wrong, accept it. Doing so will not make you a wimp. Only a strong person has the strength to say ‘sorry’. This simple word can work like magic, try it!
How to Motivate Your Students After Winter Break
College Credit Plus Meeting
College Credit Plus
Through the College Credit Plus program, qualified students in grades 7-12 can earn college credit prior to graduation. Please download the CCP packet for more detailed information. The district will also host an informational meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. The high school will host a follow up meeting on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017.
http://www.littlemiamischools.com/little-miami-high-school/school-counseling-dept-9/additional-resources-46/
Through the College Credit Plus program, qualified students in grades 7-12 can earn college credit prior to graduation. Please download the CCP packet for more detailed information. The district will also host an informational meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. The high school will host a follow up meeting on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017.
http://www.littlemiamischools.com/little-miami-high-school/school-counseling-dept-9/additional-resources-46/
PRESENTATION OPPORTUNITY @ LMIS
TOPIC: Are You Concerned with How Technology Has Changed the Way Students Communicate?
Date: Monday, January 23, 2017
Time: 6:30pm
Where: Little Miami Intermediate School
Please click on attached flyer for more information: lmis_flyer.pdf
Please visit the website for more helpful tips and resources: www.awiredfamily.org
Time: 6:30pm
Where: Little Miami Intermediate School
Please click on attached flyer for more information: lmis_flyer.pdf
Please visit the website for more helpful tips and resources: www.awiredfamily.org
"It's better to give than to receive" is an old adage that we've all heard. A study by the American Psychological Association suggests that giving to others increases life expectancy by at least 5 years. A stretch? Maybe. But if you and your child shovel the snow from your elderly neighbor's sidewalk this winter, you may be doing yourself, your child, and your neighbor a favor. We can start with the very small and teach our children about giving to others in need. Young children can learn to give back during the holiday season by giving a kind word, offering a smile, sharing a toy, drawing a picture, writing or dictating a note, or comforting a friend or family member. And as they grow, so will their generosity. Website Link- Click Here
The Science Behind Gratitude (& How It Can Change Your Life)
The benefits of practicing gratitude are nearly endless. People who regularly practice gratitude by taking time to notice and reflect upon the things they're thankful for experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even have stronger immune systems. Below are a few key steps to practicing gratitude!
- Freshen Up Your Thanks
- Get Real About Your Gratitude Practice
- Make Thankfulness Fun By Mixing It Up
- Be Social About Your Gratitude Practices
Let's EXPLORE on Ohio Means Jobs
This past week students were introduced to the words COLLEGE & CAREER. Students created a username and password as well as began their exploration with careers through a Career Interest Inventory. Based upon a 80 question survey, students were matched up with various Career Clusters based on their current interests. I encourage you and your child to EXPLORE on this website, to see what all is available for you as this is a wonderful resource! CLICK HERE
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"SIT WITH US" App
You know when you're at a cafeteria, you've got your lunch and then you just don't know where to sit? You don't want to sit alone, but you also don't know who would be friendly and let you sit with them. Sixteen-year-old Natalie Hampton has been there. She's an 11th grader from Sherman Oaks, California, and the creator of a new app called Sit With Us.
Read more about this app by clicking below.
Click Here
Read more about this app by clicking below.
Click Here
ONE SCHOOL--- ONE GOAL--- YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE
RED RIBBON WEEK
This week at LMJH we celebrated Red Ribbon Week. The Red Ribbon Week initiative took place providing drug awareness to students, teachers, and community. Since 1985, the Red Ribbon has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. In response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, angered parents and youth in communities across the country, people began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction caused by drugs in America. In 1988, the National Family Partnership sponsored the first National Red Ribbon Celebration. Today, the Red Ribbon serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities.
How to raise SUCCESSFUL kids... without OVER PARENTING
Please click the link to watch this TED TALK
By loading kids with high expectations and micromanaging their lives at every turn, parents aren't actually helping. At least, that's how Julie Lythcott-Haims sees it. With passion and humor, the former Dean of Freshmen at Stanford makes the case for parents to stop defining their children's success via grades and test scores.
Instead, she says, they should focus on providing the oldest idea of all: unconditional love.
Please click the link to watch this TED TALK
By loading kids with high expectations and micromanaging their lives at every turn, parents aren't actually helping. At least, that's how Julie Lythcott-Haims sees it. With passion and humor, the former Dean of Freshmen at Stanford makes the case for parents to stop defining their children's success via grades and test scores.
Instead, she says, they should focus on providing the oldest idea of all: unconditional love.
Stress & Early Brain Growth
Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)- What are ACEs?
- How do ACEs affect health?
- What is the link between stress and early brain growth?
Read more by clicking the link below...
STRESS & EARLY BRAIN GROWTH
Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)- What are ACEs?
- How do ACEs affect health?
- What is the link between stress and early brain growth?
Read more by clicking the link below...
STRESS & EARLY BRAIN GROWTH
Know! Family Support for PreventionResearch Institute has identified 40 Development Assets for adolescents; a specific set of skills, experiences, relationships and behaviors that help young people flourish and mature into successful and contributing adults. Studies of more than five million children of all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds consistently show that the more developmental assets they possess, the less likely they are to engage in four specific patterns of high-risk behavior; problem alcohol use, violence, illicit drug use and sexual activity. According to the Research Institute, as the number of assets increase for youth, the greater their chances of succeeding in school and being happy, healthy and responsible. Youth who experience at least 31 of the 40 assets are considered to be thriving. Unfortunately however, the average youth in sixth through twelfth grade typically experiences less than half of the 40 Developmental Assets, which places them at higher risk for making poor behavioral choices.
Here are just a few ideas on how you can take action to strengthen your family support:
Give them your undivided attention: This is how children measure love. The times that matter most to our children is when we are willing to stop what we’re doing to go throw the ball with them, jump on the trampoline or listen attentively to their trumpet solo.
Give them words of affirmation: A child’s self-identity and self-worth depend highly on the words we speak to them. It is our job to correct our children, but even in discipline our words should come from a place of love, encouragement and positive reinforcement.
Give them space: Just like most of us adults, teens need some alone time each day to relax and unwind.
Hug your child: This goes for the really big kids too. They may act like they don’t want one, but they do.
Spend time each week with your children individually: It doesn’t have to be anything extensive; take a walk with one of your children or ask one of them to run to the store with you; even picking your child up from their extra-curricular activity can provide an opportunity to have one-on-one time.
Start family traditions and rituals: Young people love to be spontaneous, but they also have a deep need for predictability. Choose a holiday to annually volunteer at a soup kitchen, designate a certain night of the week for family game night, or maybe start a new tradition in the way you celebrate family birthdays.
Preserve those precious memories: A family photo album is great, but it is also special to create a small memory book, memory box or photo album for each child to hold onto and be able to reminisce.
There are so many ways to increase family love and support for your child. The important piece is that you consistently make an effort to be active in your child’s life and show them your love and affection.
Article taken from Drug Free Alliance.
Here are just a few ideas on how you can take action to strengthen your family support:
Give them your undivided attention: This is how children measure love. The times that matter most to our children is when we are willing to stop what we’re doing to go throw the ball with them, jump on the trampoline or listen attentively to their trumpet solo.
Give them words of affirmation: A child’s self-identity and self-worth depend highly on the words we speak to them. It is our job to correct our children, but even in discipline our words should come from a place of love, encouragement and positive reinforcement.
Give them space: Just like most of us adults, teens need some alone time each day to relax and unwind.
Hug your child: This goes for the really big kids too. They may act like they don’t want one, but they do.
Spend time each week with your children individually: It doesn’t have to be anything extensive; take a walk with one of your children or ask one of them to run to the store with you; even picking your child up from their extra-curricular activity can provide an opportunity to have one-on-one time.
Start family traditions and rituals: Young people love to be spontaneous, but they also have a deep need for predictability. Choose a holiday to annually volunteer at a soup kitchen, designate a certain night of the week for family game night, or maybe start a new tradition in the way you celebrate family birthdays.
Preserve those precious memories: A family photo album is great, but it is also special to create a small memory book, memory box or photo album for each child to hold onto and be able to reminisce.
There are so many ways to increase family love and support for your child. The important piece is that you consistently make an effort to be active in your child’s life and show them your love and affection.
Article taken from Drug Free Alliance.
"Be a positive solution for positive change at LMJH!"
Have you ever wanted to become a part of a group at school?
Have you ever wanted to become a part of a group that promotes POSITIVITY?
Have you ever wanted to belong to a group that encourages your peers?
Have you ever wanted to promote school connectedness?
Have you ever wanted to enhance a more positive school culture?
Have you ever wanted to build a stronger environment for students and teachers?
THEN THIS GROUP IS FOR YOU!!!!
Please consider filling out this application and submitting it online to be selected as a LMJH Ambassador.
CLICK HERE
Have you ever wanted to become a part of a group at school?
Have you ever wanted to become a part of a group that promotes POSITIVITY?
Have you ever wanted to belong to a group that encourages your peers?
Have you ever wanted to promote school connectedness?
Have you ever wanted to enhance a more positive school culture?
Have you ever wanted to build a stronger environment for students and teachers?
THEN THIS GROUP IS FOR YOU!!!!
Please consider filling out this application and submitting it online to be selected as a LMJH Ambassador.
CLICK HERE
WELCOME BACK PANTHERS! I hope you and your family had a fun and relaxing summer. We are excited as the hallways are no longer empty! This will be a running blog and website that will be used to provide information, resources, and contact information throughout the school year. Junior high is such an exciting, yet challenging time for students, their parents and teachers. During this passage from childhood to adolescence, students are characterized by a need to explore a variety of interests, connecting their learning in the classroom to its practical application in life and work. Students are searching for their own unique identity as they begin turning more frequently to peers rather than parents for ideas and affirmation. It is my hope that this school year be filled with successful experiences for all students. Please feel free to contact us with any concerns in regards to your child. We are here to help you!