What’s for Lunch? Get the Not So Skinny on School Lunches
by Sue Scheff on Sep 10, 2010
One of the trending topics over the past few years has been childhood obesity. With the hit show by Jamie Oliver, Food Revolution, the awareness of what school lunches contain was more than enlightening – it was shocking. As school is open now, let’s try to encourage healthy eating. Some great tips and advice from Connect with Kids.
Source: Connect with Kids
The Not So Skinny on School Lunches
“Do it as a family. Kick them off the couch, get your exercise, stock your house with all kinds of healthy things and try to establish good eating habits, good healthful behaviors.”
– Kathleen Zelman, American Dietetic Association
New research funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture finds that children who eat school lunches are more likely to become overweight – with many of the a la carte choices falling outside certain federal nutrition standards. Childhood obesity tops the list of concerns parents have for their kids. Why? Because American kids are getting fatter.
Is it the food they eat? Fifteen-year-old Tony says his diet was definitely unhealthy. “Chips, popcorn, soda, you name it. If it was there, I’d eat it,” he says.
How much they eat? Eighteen-year-old Matt admits he used to go overboard. “I would eat whole bags of potato chips. … We’d have two-liter bottles of soda; I’d drink probably the whole two liters … in a night,” he says.
Is it lack of exercise? “It’s OK if we want to sit at home, and play video games, and eat all day, and do nothing. I mean, our society has kind of put us that way,” says Jonathan, 16.
Or too much stress? Pediatric dietician Marilyn Tanner says, “It’s very common for kids – and adults – to use food as sort of a coping mechanism.”
The answer? It is all of these.
And according to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, for the first time this year, childhood obesity tops the list of concerns parents have for their children.
But how can parents turn the tide?
Kathleen Zelman of the American Dietetic Association says: “Do it as a family. Kick them off the couch, get your exercise, stock your house with all kinds of healthy things and try to establish good eating habits, good healthful behaviors.”
Brenda Johnson, mother of an overweight child agrees. “Then it becomes a part of your lifestyle, and that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to change our lifestyle to not being sedentary, but being active and making better choices,” she says.
It isn’t easy. And television, cars and fast food don’t make it any easier, but making better choices means exercise and a healthy diet.
Fifteen-year-old Tony knows that it takes hard work to shed extra pounds. “I wish, wish, there was some kind of a magic pill you could take, but there isn’t. You just gotta struggle through it,” he says.
What We Need To Know
In the past 30 years, childhood obesity has doubled for children between the ages of 2 and 5 and tripled for 6- to-11-year-olds. More than 15 percent of children between 6 and 19 are considered obese. Countering that trend, child advocates say, will require nothing less than a multi-pronged national effort.
Kids Health suggests the following strategies to help steer kids toward healthy food choices, at school and at home:
- Look over the cafeteria menu together. Ask what a typical lunch includes and which meals your kids particularly like. Recommend items that are healthier, but be willing to allow them to buy favorite lunch items occasionally, even if that includes a hot dog.
- Encourage kids to take a packed lunch, at least occasionally. This can put you back in the driver’s seat and help ensure that kids get a nutritious midday meal.
Today, less than 6 percent of high schools require juniors and seniors to take physical education. There is also an “enormous decrease” in the number of school playgrounds. And recess has disappeared in many elementary schools where principals, anxious about preparing students for high-stakes standardized tests, have deemed it “nonproductive.”
- Efforts are under way to reinstate physical education. Recommendations include a minimum of 150 minutes a week for elementary school students and 225 minutes for high school students.
- The Council of Educational Facility Planners International dropped its recommendations calling for vast acreage for large school sites, which will give school districts more flexibility in locating schools on smaller sites in places accessible by walking and biking
- By one estimate, 65 percent of students walked to school 30 years ago. Today only 10 percent do.
For more than 14 million children, accounting for 25 percent of students between kindergarten and 12th grade, no parent is home after school. The child must take care of himself or herself. Many receive strict instructions from parents: Lock the door and don’t go outside. It’s a recipe for inactivity and an opportunity to snack. Only 11 percent of students (6.5 million) attend after-school programs, where they are likely to get a nutritious snack and take part in fitness activities.
The reasons for childhood obesity are complex and cannot be pigeonholed in a single or few causes.
Among the reasons experts cite are:
- Kids’ backpacks are too heavy for walking too school.
- Children rely on school buses or family vehicles for daily transportation.
- Parents are concerned for kids’ safety and no longer permit outside, unsupervised play.
- More homework allows less time for play.
- Many schools have stopped scheduling recess.
- Toy vehicles of today are not kid-powered, but battery-powered.
- Computer games stimulate sports, rather than kids actually playing the sport.
- Kids often eat due to stress or boredom.
New research funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and reported in The Journal of Human Resources finds that federally-funded school lunches are contributing to the obesity epidemic, as children who eat school lunches are more likely to become overweight. Researchers analyzed data on more than 13,500 elementary students – and found that many of the a la carte items offered students fall outside the scope of federal guidelines.
Although cafeteria menus are coming under fire, the problem goes beyond what children eat to include when they eat. Crowded schools must extend lunch hours to serve everyone. An early lunch hour may come when the kids aren’t hungry, they may not eat a healthy meal, and then they’ll snack later. With a late lunch hour, kids might snack first and not be hungry for a good lunch. Finally, students also have limited time to eat.
Resources
- C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tips for Parents to Help Children Maintain a Healthy Weight
- KidsHealth – School Lunches Kids Love
- WebMD Health on Childhood Obesity
Tags: Childhood Obesity, Cyber Safety, Food Revolution, Parents Universal Resource Experts, School Lunches, Sue Scheff, Teen Health, Teen Help, Teen Obesity
Cutting, Self-Mutilation, Self-Embedding: Dangerous Form of Teen Self-Harm
by Sue Scheff on Sep 08, 2010
Self-injury with teenagers has been a constant and growing concern for parents and professionals. Objects such as metal (paper clips), crayons, and plastics are some of the examples of what teens are inserting into their skin after cutting themselves.
According to CNN Health, self-embedding is a less common form of self-injury than cutting, said Joseph Garbely, chief medical officer at Friends Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Teens who engage in self-mutilating behaviors tend to have low self esteem and problems dealing with their feelings, he said. Some come from abusive households. Others are doing it to rebel, or to imitate peers, or to regulate difficult emotions.
Generally, the purpose of self-embedding and other forms of self injury is to take away unpleasant feelings, he said. When engaging in this behavior, the body releases chemicals called endorphins that, at least temporarily, regulate painful emotions.
According to experts, one of the most common reasons teens self injure is because the injury is in some way a “release” from emotional anxiety. The pain of the injury provides a distraction from the emotional pain the teen is feeling, and acts almost as a drug to them. It can also help the injured feel ‘human’ again, by putting them in touch with a common human experience: pain.
Self-embedding is generally not a suicidal act, but a person can develop skin infections or worse: Bone infections or deep muscle infections.
Dr. William Shiels, who conducted a study about this this subject, said objects may also travel inside the body and get near vital organs. Getting these objects removed early is important. The study revealed that 11 patients aged 14 to 18 engaged in this behavior out of 600 patients who had received treatment for removing foreign objects embedded in soft tissue.
If you discover that your teen is cutting, there are several important keys to remember. First and foremost, approach your teen with a level head. Address your teen calmly and supportively. Do not react angrily or upset your teen in any way. Experts warn that overreacting or reacting loudly or angrily can often push your teen further away and increase the cutting or self injuring behaviors. Your teen needs to know you are open to hearing what she has to say and getting her the help she needs. You should also tell your teen that you are not upset with her, love her, and know she is in a lot of pain.
Counseling for a teen that cuts is crucial. It can often take many years of therapy before your teen is willing or able to uncover the reasons she cuts herself. Schools, pediatricians and emergency rooms can be extremely helpful at providing resources for teens that cut. Often there are local support groups for parents who feel guilty or unsure of how to deal with a teen that cuts.
A great resource in Broward County is OPP (Office of Prevention Programs for Self-Injury) specifically for self injurers and their families, an organization dedicated treating victims of self abuse.
Sources: CNN Health, Teen Self Injury, S.A.F.E.
Be an educated parent, you have safer and healthier teens!
Tags: At Risk Teens, Cutting, Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Self Harm, Self Injury, Sue Scheff, Teen Health, Teen Help, Teen Issues
GreatNonprofits: Power of Education Campaign Launches to Identify Leading Nonprofits
by Sue Scheff on Sep 06, 2010
School is officially open and students are getting to know their teachers, schools and peers. With a struggling economy, some students and schools are in need of supplies and services. The following nonprofits prove that there is power in people caring about others. There is energy in teams of supportive groups that have a goal. The Power of Education Campaign will benefit many children. Take a moment to read the following press release and visit each of the websites below – you may find where you may be able to make a difference in a child’s academic life.
Press Release by GreatNonprofits:
GreatNonprofits and GuideStar jointly announce the launch of the 2010 Power of Education Campaign, which seeks to identify top-rated organizations working on the many and varied aspects of education.
Partners in the campaign, which will run throughout the month of September, include Everybody Wins! USA, All Kinds of Minds, the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, Children’s Literacy Initiative, The Partnership for After School Education, DonorsChoose.org, Givology and Little Kids Rock.
We are also pleased to be working with blogger Sue Scheff, a parent advocate and author during this campaign.
A major goal of the campaign is to raise public awareness about the many excellent nonprofit organizations that work on education issues and initiatives — including schools and their supporting organizations — as a new school year begins for them.
Any educational nonprofit that gets at least 10 new positive stakeholder reviews by midnight, September 30th will be recognized on the GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Education Nonprofits List. “There are so many wonderful nonprofit organizations working on education from all sorts of perspectives,” said Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits. “Through this campaign, we hope to shine a spotlight on their important work.”
Participants in the campaign can expect to receive increased exposure to donors and volunteers and increased visibility in their communities and the media.
Research conducted by GreatNonprofits indicates that user reviews are having a wide array of impacts on nonprofit organizations – from fundraising to volunteer recruitment to programmatic changes.
The user reviews gathered by GreatNonprofits are written by anyone with personal experience with a nonprofit, i.e., a donor, volunteer, board member, client, or member of the public.
Over the past year more than 450,000 people visited GreatNonprofits to read and write these reviews.
About the Campaign
The Power of Education campaign will run throughout the month of September and all reviews will appear on both the GreatNonprofits.org and GuideStar.org websites. Nonprofits with 10 or more positive reviews will be included on the GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Education Nonprofits List. Review submissions must take place from September 1st through 30th, 2010.
Partners: GuideStar is the leading source of philanthropic information on the web.
Adopt-A-Classroom increases opportunity for student success by empowering teachers with community donors and funds to purchase classroom resources. Adopt-A-Classroom provides an easy and accountable way for anyone to make a tax-deductible donation to any classroom, anywhere in the United States. Every school is listed at http://www.adoptaclassroom.org.
All Kinds of Minds is a nonprofit organization that translates groundbreaking research from neuroscience on how children learn – and vary in their learning – into a powerful framework and set of strategies that help teachers help more students learn and thrive.
Children’s Literacy Initiative Classroom by classroom, CLI coaches pre-k through 3rd grade educators and provides high-quality children’s books to dramatically increase the quality of reading instruction and raise student achievement.
DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need.
Everybody Wins! USA is a national children’s literacy and mentoring nonprofit proven to build the skills and love of reading among low-income elementary students. By bringing volunteer mentors into schools for weekly one-on-one Power Lunch reading experiences, everybody wins! – children, schools, volunteers, their companies and ultimately, society.
Givology As an online giving marketplace, Givology leverages small dollar donations to support grassroots education projects and student scholarships in the developing world. Our motto: Learn to Give, Give to Learn.
Little Kids Rock is a nonprofit organization that transforms children’s lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in public schools nationwide.
The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) is the voice and social conscience for the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness.
The Partnership for After School Education (PASE) is a child-focused organization that promotes and supports quality afterschool programs, particularly those serving young people from underserved communities.
Tags: Academics, Charities, Donating, Great Nonprofits, GuideStar, Nonprofits, Parenting Resources, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Power of Education, Schools, Sue Scheff
School Resources: Utilizing All that is Offered to your Teens
by Sue Scheff on Sep 06, 2010
As school has opened and is opening in many parts of of the country this week – it is a perfect time to be sure you and your child is aware of all the resources your school has to offer. This can help them with many assignments as well as helping them to get to know their environment. Alisa Gilbert offered this great guest Blog to help you and your kids begin their school year.
Utilizing Your School’s Resources
By Alisa Gilbert
Make sure you utilize your school’s resources; there are endless untapped means of assisting you through your academic career. First and foremost, know where the learning or student center is located and start there in finding out what’s available on campus. Whether you need a tutor for a difficult class or carpooling ideas, the student center should be a good place to acquire some basic information. Ask your professors and classmates, too, if they have any inside tips on where to go for help in certain areas. You’d be surprised what little secrets people may share with you that can really enhance your experience on campus.
Know where the computer and writing labs are and their hours. It is also useful to know if writing tutors are available and when they are there to help you. If you are struggling with a paper or have a professor who’s tough on grading papers, see a writing specialist and they can help critique your style. They can also send an email to your professor if you would like, letting them know you came to the writing lab for assistance with a particular paper. This shows great effort and responsibility on your part; it might also help boost your grade or make the professor a little more lenient on his/her grading technique.
Become familiar with your school’s library. It’s a great resource and often has more resources than one would expect to find, but you have to inquire and learn what those tools are. So know your school library, get familiar with the hours and ask the librarians there for any assistance as that’s what they are there for.
Depending on what stage you’re in school, you may have an I.D. card as a graduate student that has more uses than simply showing you are a commuter. The school may put a small amount of money on your card each semester that can be used for copies, faxes or food in the cafeteria. If you don’t know the money is there to spend, it’s just accumulating each semester and soon you may have a small chunk of change that you could throw away if you’re not aware it’s there. Speaking of cafeterias, know where you can get some food around campus for those late nights when you have to study, but your stomach is grumbling. Whether it be the local diner, vending machine or school cafe, you should know what’s available, the hours and where it’s located so being hungry doesn’t affect your studies. You’re paying to go there, get your money’s worth!
Tags: Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, School Resources, Sue Scheff, Teen Help
ABC’s of Online Education
by Sue Scheff on Sep 03, 2010
Especially adults that have decided to go back to school will take advantage of online education. I was recently asked to post this article written by Tim Handorf of Best Online Colleges. It is a comprehensive list of considerations for an online school life.
ABC’s of Online Education
Whether you plan to go back to school to finish your degree or you’re a fresh high school graduate who’s looking to go to college for the first time, the decision to pursue an online education is certainly a good one. With more stringent accreditation practices and the exposing of diploma mills, it’s easy to find an online school that’ll meet your personal academic requirements. If you’re considering enrolling in an online college, read through the ABCs of online education listed below.
- Accessibility is an asset
Regardless of where you live and your busy schedule, you can always take online classes. Online schools are very accommodating to their students. - Beneficial to your career
You’ll also gain confidence knowing that you’re a more valuable asset to your employer, and in the future, you’ll be more likely to achieve positions of responsibility. - College – it’s never too late
Online colleges enable students to attain their degrees when they aren’t able to attend traditional brick-and-mortar schools. - Dedicated students
In order to get the most out of an online education, you must be a dedicated student. You’re on your own, and no one is there to monitor your progress. - Enlightening those who are curious
Online classes will expose you to new ideas, enabling you to understand a wide range of topics. - Flexible scheduling
The flexibility of online education gives people from all walks of life the opportunity to pursue their degrees. Classes are offered during weeknights and weekends – outside of normal work hours. - Graduation is attainable
If you didn’t finish college, you can transfer a portion of your credits – depending on the classes required for your major – to an online college and pickup where you left off. - Hard but doable
Pursuing an education online is no different than pursuing an education at a local college. It’s hard, but with the proper dedication, as previously mentioned, a degree is attainable. - Interactive while miles apart
Although you’ll likely be miles away from your classmates and professors, lectures are set up so that you’ll be able to communicate with them through chats or forums. - Joining a new online era
The internet has enabled people to accomplish almost anything without leaving the comfort of their homes, so why not pursue your degree online? - Knowledge of a discipline
Want to be an accountant? Love history? By enrolling in an online college program, you’ll become an expert in the discipline of your choice. - Learning on your own
A trait of dedicated students is their ability to learn on their own. They’ll burn the midnight oil as they attempt to fully understand a complicated concept. - Money maker
A college degree results in almost $1 million more in lifetime earnings than people with just a high school diploma. With a college degree, you’ll be more likely to achieve financial security during your lifetime. - New classes
A bevy of classes are offered at online schools, and new ones are added each semester. Their additions reflect the growing number students attending the schools. - Off-campus
Although you might miss out on the on-campus environment, you can set up your own campus of sorts, establishing an environment conducive to learning. - Professors who genuinely care
Accredited online colleges hire highly trained professors who strive to help their students achieve their goals. - Quality education
If you find the right online school, you’ll undoubtedly receive a quality education, which can be just as effective as one received at a brick-and-mortar school. - Reasonable cost
Online classes aren’t cheap, but enrolling in one is typically less expensive than regular college classes because you save on room and board, commuting, and additional fees like lab fees. Of course, some online classes are more expensive than others, so it doesn’t hurt to research beforehand. - Skills for your career and life
Not only will you learn skills that will make you attractive to employers, but you’ll also gain analytical and critical thinking skills, so you’ll view thoughts and ideas through a new scope. - Technologically advanced
Because of the obstacle of distance, online schools have been early adopters of technology, allowing them to deliver lectures and accompanying assignments efficiently and effectively. Podcasts, for example, have been used by online colleges since the beginning of their popularity. - Ubiquitous resources
Traveling for work? You can still make time to study with the online resources provided by your online school. Some – like the University of Phoenix – feature extensive online libraries. - Virtual Learning
Lessons can be viewed with the use of streaming video and audio and flash animation. The typical notes and PowerPoint presentations can be uploaded prior to a lesson in some cases; they can be accessed on a site used by the school or professor. - Well-worth the work
Students who take online classes work hard. Most tend to be older with families and full-time jobs, so the extra workload that comes with taking online classes is far from insurmountable. - X-ray technician programs are available online too
It’s 2010. If you’ve heard of the program, it’s probably offered online, and that doesn’t exclude x-ray technician programs. - Young and old students
Young and old people alike in varying stages of life enroll in online classes. The older students who would feel out of place sitting amid 18-to-24 year olds don’t have to endure the self-consciousness. - Zero regret
Students who attend online schools achieve varied amounts of success – just like with brick-and-mortar schools – but all of them gain knowledge that transcends their careers. New interests are cultivated and the thirst for knowledge never ends.
Tags: College Online, Education, Higher education, Online Education, Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Sue Scheff
Labor Day Weekend Blast: Don’t Drive Drunk or Buzzed! Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving
by Sue Scheff on Sep 02, 2010
As another long weekend approaches and many have off from work, plans for parties and end of summer picnics are planned.
Did you know that in 2008, just over the Labor Day holiday weekend, 194 people were killed in crashes involving an impaired driver?
This Labor Day Weekend, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Ad Council are trying to remind people to plan ahead and designate a sober driver for any Labor Day celebration because “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.”
Buzzed driving is drunk driving. Getting behind the wheel after even just one too many drinks can lead to disaster. It is critical to be prepared. One of the best ways to be prepared is to know your options for alternative transportation.
Check out the list of sober/safe ride programs across the country. Find one in your area, and save the number in your cell phone so you always have it on you.
Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens! Remember, underage drinking is illegal!
Watch video. You could save a life.
Tags: Buzzed Driving, Drunk Driving, Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Sue Scheff, Teen Drinking, Teen Help
Blast from the Past: 10 Things the Class of 2014 Hasn’t Experienced
by Sue Scheff on Aug 30, 2010
What a fantastic guest post from Ken Martin from Match a College.com. I find it fascinating as well as a reminder of how much things have changed – for everyone! I recall when the “microwave” was the latest and greatest gadget. This is a fun article and one that will really spark your past lives…. Thanks Ken for allowing me to share it!
Every once in a while, it hits you – “Man, I’m old.” Many of us are having the same experience as we realize the incoming class of college freshmen was born in 1991 and 1992, when Clinton was in the process of becoming the 42nd president, the first Iraq War was a resounding success and you were slow jamming to Boyz II Men. Today, we have our first African American president, we’re mired in a now seven-and-a-half year war in Iraq, and Lady Gaga is making us forget about Madonna. Other aspects of our lives have changed as well, making our day-to-day activities easier to accomplish. Below is a list of the 10 things the class of 2014 hasn’t experienced, or more accurately, the 10 things a majority of 18-year-olds haven’t experienced firsthand.
- A world without the internet
Not only do new college students not know a world without the internet, but many also haven’t endured the screaming modem connecting through a telephone landline. A dropped connection or the fear of it limited your enjoyment and inhibited you from accomplishing much. But as the internet has evolved, connections have become faster and almost everything has become available with the click of a mouse. Teenagers are able to sign up for SATs, apply for college, apply for financial aid, select their classes, find a dorm, find a roommate and join a club all before they set foot on campus. The legwork that came with making such a life transition two decades ago has been eliminated. - Consistent email correspondences
It’s tragically unhip to use an email for anything other than formal correspondence. It has become an archaic form of internet communication and it has been supplanted by social networking sites. Email is rarely used to facilitate conversations by young people because it’s too slow and too impersonal. Instead, it’s used for formal messages with bosses and professors, and as a tool for signing up for websites. - Life without cell phones
College freshmen now are connected to their friends every minute of every day thanks to their smartphones. They can maintain constant contact with each other by texting and Facebooking – the latter of which has made high school reunions less anticipated because graduates from the last several years already know what their classmates are doing with their lives. Many college students have never used a payphone, which was the main communication device to use when you were out and about in years past, though you couldn’t make the call if you didn’t remember the number. - Cameras with film
The class of 2014 will be taking plenty of pictures in the coming years, capturing the memorable and not-so-memorable moments that occur during college. But before the advent of Facebook, when picture-taking was less of a priority to young people, a camera was only as good as the film that accompanied it. There was no immediate gratification after taking a round of photos because you couldn’t upload them onto your computer. Instead, you dropped the roll off at the drugstore and waited until the photos were developed – it was the only way you would see the photos. - Using a paper map
Now, commuters are less likely to get lost with the presence of a GPS. The only time a paper map is unfolded, trial and error is used or verbal directions are requested during a trip is when the GPS hasn’t been updated in a while, and it steers you to an empty field. So when students from the class of 2014 embark on their first college roadtrips, the absence of wrong turns and unexpected detours will result in more time to have fun. - Driving manual transmission cars
Although cars with manual transmissions are still manufactured, few young people bother to learn how to drive them. The phase-out began a couple of decades ago, but for a while, many parents took it upon themselves to teach their kids how to drive a stick shift because it was still considered a useful skill. Cars with manual transmissions are usually cheaper, and car enthusiasts will tell you they’re more fun to drive. But driving has become a chore, and young and old people alike prefer to keep it as easy as possible. - Thumbing through an encyclopedia, dictionary or thesaurus
The time-consuming activity of thumbing through an encyclopedia, dictionary or thesaurus made research papers a dreaded part of the college experience during the pre-internet era. It was a given that you would spend hours upon hours in the library, and if you didn’t, your GPA would suffer. For home use, Encyclopedia Britannica and Webster’s Dictionary were reliable options. Now, definitions can be easily found by googling the term, and Wikipedia has become an informal source of information despite its inaccuracy. Library time is spent surfing the internet, unless a professor gives an assignment that requires for certain books to be cited. - Returning videotapes
Through the ’80s and ’90s, college students would spend late nights perusing the aisles of video stores, looking for the latest and greatest hits to view during their downtime. It was imperative they returned the videotapes in a timely manner; otherwise they would face late fees, which would put a dent their nearly empty bank accounts. And, of course, the tapes had to be rewound. Students today use torrents and sites like Netflix, and they never have to leave their dorm suites. - Cash only
No longer are trips to the ATM a necessary weekly occurrence. There are very few situations in which cash is needed, so few people carry bills in their wallets. Everyone with a bank account owns a debit card, so wads of cash aren’t needed by college students for activities like barhopping. Instead, they use their debit cards for everything, including bar tabs, which grow as more beer and shots are downed, causing future meals to be sacrificed due to the limited funds that remain. - Reliance on a wristwatch
Cell phones have ensured that people no longer uses wristwatches for time-telling purposes. Watches are no different than any piece of jewelry – they’re aesthetically-pleasing items that are worn fashionably. But it doesn’t seem to be a trend for 18-year-olds to own one, and with their cell phones always in their palms, they always know the time.
Reprinted with permission by Ken Martin. He can be reached at kenmartin83@gmail.com .
Tags: Ken Martin, Match a College, Parenting, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Sue Scheff
Distracted Riding: Biking and Texting – A Dangerous Combination
by Sue Scheff on Aug 28, 2010
The dangers of distracted driving are well known as Oprah promoted her No Phone Zone campaign and First Coast News is sponsoring the Great Hang Up! However we rarely see the dangers of bicycling and texting or talking on your cellphone. Should we call it distracted riding?
As school has opened on the First Coast (Duval, Clay and St. Johns County) you can see many teenagers biking to school or their neighborhood bike spot. How many of them have you seen reading a text or typing one while biking with one hand on handle bars.
According to the recent Nielsen Study, Florida ranks fourth in the country for cellphone usage and it was clear in the report that teens rule when it comes to texting. Do they text while biking? Two wheel texting is more common now since school opened, while teens arrange meeting their friends and planning the social events of the day.
Start watching today, how many teens are you witnessing texting, talking and biking? When you see this, be sure to use extra caution while approaching. God forbid there is an accident, in many cases the driver of the car will be held accountable when it was the teen that drifted into the road by being distracted.
Stop, talk, repeat, talk again – you can never talk enough about the dangers of distracted biking or driving. Remember parents, be an example to your kids!
Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens!
Watch video for potential ban on texting and biking. Read more.
Tags: Cell Phone Safety, Distracted Texting, Parenting, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Sue Scheff, Texting
Parenting Teen Girls and Tweens – Pink Locker Society
by Sue Scheff on Aug 26, 2010
The PINK Locker Society is launched and tweens are talking about it! Many are thrilled to have a website that answers many questions and feelings that are difficult or sensitive to talk about.
From creating your Dream Locker with an interactive pop-up, to answering questions about your boy crushes or what to wear, The PINK Locker Society is fun, educational and offers a vast amount of information to help girls go from tween-hood into teen-hood.
Some of the most popular questions that are asked and answers are questions about getting their periods, boy crushes, and breast issues. As a parent, may have talked to their tweens about these sensitive subjects, however having a group of peer to talk to can really help understand they are not alone. Let’s face it, this is a trying time for them and being able to see others (their peers) are struggling too helps them see their questions are not stupid.
Let’s get cooking! The PINK Locker Society also offers recipes for your girls to create and make. Helping your daughter build her self-esteem is a major part of growing up and making good choices.
If you have a tween, get ready for the launching of The PINK Locker Society book that will be released September 14th. Click here to pre-order today!
Be an educated parent, you will have healthier teens!
Tags: Parenting, Parenting Resources, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Pink Locker Society, Sue Scheff, Teen Health, Teen Help, Teen Issues
Back to school, back to homework and back to exams! Teen Cheating High-Tech
by Sue Scheff on Aug 25, 2010
Back to school, back to homework and back to exams! With all the techy gadgets out there – are they in the classroom? In most cases, yes they are. Does this increase the percentage of students that are using technology to cheat? Here is a great timely article from Connect with Kids with good parenting tips!
Source: Connect with Kids
High Tech Cheating
“It is kind of obvious, but teachers don’t really notice. They just think you are listening to music.”
– Danny, 16 years old
We see it walking down the street, in the mall, at the dinner table – we know kids today seem to be constantly texting. A new survey of young people from Textplus shows teens are sending text messages during the school day, as well. And what they’re sending might be considered by some as high-tech cheating.
According to survey results, 43 percent of teens 13 to 17 say they text during class… and nearly 80 percent of say they’ve never gotten in trouble with their teachers. But perhaps just as troubling – some kids are using their cell phones and iPods to cheat.
“[Students] will be looking at the test, and they will just have their iPod on their desk, and they will be scrolling down the information on it,” says 16-year-old Danny.
Because the latest iPods display word documents, some students will download cheat sheets.
“I know somebody who does it all the time, and he hasn’t gotten caught yet,” says Carlton, 18.
Other kids will speak the answers into their iPods while studying, then play them back during a test.
“It is kind of obvious, but teachers don’t really notice. They just think you are listening to music,” says Danny.
“Except for maybe the young teachers, I don’t think the older teachers know much about iPods or any new technology,” adds Joie, 16.
While many texts may be about weekend plans or the latest gossip, according to teens surveyed by Textplus, 22 percent say they have texted answers to classmates… and 20 percent said they themselves had been “saved” by such a text.
Still, some kids say that cheating with an iPod is uncommon, partly because it takes too much work.
Nick, 18, says it’s just too much trouble. “If you are going to be wasting your time finding out how to get answers on an iPod, you might as well just study.”
Blake, 16, says there are easier ways to cheat. “I’d rather just go in and copy off of someone else.”
Experts say parents should make sure their kids understand that cheating has consequences.
For example, says 18-year-old Marquis, “I heard of some kid who was taking the SATs and his sister recently passed it. She texted him the answers or something, and he got expelled.”
Amber, 16, says the biggest deterrent is her own conscience. “It makes you feel guilty. It makes me feel guilty when I cheat.”
What Parents Need To Know
A recent edition of the “Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth,” a comprehensive national survey on the ethics of young people administered by The Josephson Institute of Ethics showed the following concerning high school students:
- Nearly two-thirds (71 percent) admit they cheated on an exam at least once in the past 12 months (45 percent said they did so two or more times)
- Almost all (92 percent) lied to their parents in the past 12 months (79 percent said they did so two or more times)
- Over two-thirds (78 percent) lied to a teacher (58 percent two or more times)
- Over one-quarter (27 percent) said they would lie to get a job
- Forty percent of males and 30 percent of females say they stole something from a store in the past 12 months
These statistics seem to be indicative of a drift away from the morals and values that parents traditionally associate with society in the United States. In the press release accompanying the preliminary result of the survey, Michael Josephson, founder and president of the Josephson Institute of Ethics and CHARACTER COUNTS!, called on politicians to recognize the vital importance of dealing with “shocking levels of moral illiteracy” as part of any educational reform package. Saying the survey data reveals “a hole in the moral ozone,” Josephson added: “Being sure children can read is certainly essential, but it is no less important that we deal with the alarming rate of cheating, lying and violence that threatens the very fabric of our society.”
When discussing issues of morality and values, how can a parent illustrate what it means to be a person of character? The Center for the 4th and 5th R’s provides the following examples of characteristics of an individual with a positive character. For example, a person of character …
Is trustworthy:
- Honesty – Tell the truth. Be sincere. Don’t deceive, mislead or be devious or tricky. Don’t betray a trust. Don’t withhold important information in relationships of trust. Don’t steal. Don’t cheat.
- Integrity – Stand up for your beliefs about right and wrong. Be your best self. Resist social pressures to do things you think are wrong. Walk your talk. Show commitment, courage and self-discipline.
- Promise-keeping – Keep your word. Honor your commitments. Pay your debts. Return what you borrow.
- Loyalty – Stand by, support, and protect your family, friends, employers, community and country. Don’t talk behind people’s backs, spread rumors, or engage in harmful gossip. Don’t violate other ethical principles to keep or win a friendship or gain approval. Don’t ask a friend to do something wrong.
Treats all people with respect:
- Respect – Be courteous and polite. Judge all people on their merits. Be tolerant, appreciative and accepting of individual differences. Don’t abuse, demean or mistreat anyone. Don’t use, manipulate, exploit or take advantage of others. Respect the right of individuals to make decisions about their own lives.
Acts responsibly:
- Accountability – Think before you act. Consider the possible consequences on all people affected by actions. Think for the long-term. Be reliable. Be accountable. Accept responsibility for the consequences of your choices. Don’t make excuses. Don’t blame others for your mistakes or take credit for others’ achievements. Set a good example for those who look up to you.
- Pursue excellence – Do your best with what you have. Keep trying. Don’t quit or give up easily. Be diligent and industrious.
- Self-control – Exercise self-control. Be disciplined.
Is fair and just:
- Fairness – Treat all people fairly. Be open-minded. Listen to others and try to understand what they are saying and feeling. Make decisions which affect others only on appropriate considerations. Don’t take unfair advantage of others’ mistakes. Don’t take more than your fair share.
Is caring:
- Caring and kindness – Show you care about others through kindness, caring, sharing and compassion. Live by the Golden Rule. Help others. Don’t be selfish. Don’t be mean, cruel or insensitive to other’s feelings. Be charitable.
Is a good citizen:
- Citizenship – Play by the rules. Obey laws. Do your share. Respect authority. Stay informed. Vote. Protect your neighbors and community. Pay your taxes. Be charitable and altruistic. Help your community or school by volunteering service. Protect the environment. Conserve natural resources.
According to experts at CHARACTER COUNTS!, character building is most effective when you regularly see and seize opportunities to …
- Strengthen awareness of moral obligations and the moral significance of choices (ethical consciousness).
- Enhance the desire to do the right thing (ethical commitment).
- Improve the ability to foresee potential consequences, devise options and implement principled choices (ethical competency).
When trying to instill morals and values to your child, experts at CHARACTER COUNTS! say it is important to …
- Be consistent – The moral messages you send must be clear, consistent and repetitive. Children will judge your values not by what you say but by what you do and what you permit them to do. They will judge you not by your best moments but by your last worst act. Thus, everything you say and do, and all that you allow to be said and done in your presence, either reinforces or undermines the credibility of your messages about the importance of good character. Over and over, use the specific language of the core virtues – trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship – and be as firm and consistent as you can be about teaching, advocating, modeling and enforcing these “Six Pillars of Character.” When you are tired, rushed or under pressure you are most tempted to rationalize. It may help to remember that the most powerful and lasting lessons about character are taught by making tough choices when the cost of doing the right thing is high.
- Be concrete – Messages about good attitudes, character traits and conduct should be explicit, direct and specific. Building character and teaching ethics is not an academic undertaking; it must be relevant to the lives and experiences of your children. Talk about character and choices in situations that your children have been in. Comment on and discuss things their friends and teachers have done in terms of the “Six Pillars of Character.”
- Be creative – Effective character development should be creative. It should be active and involve the child in real decision-making that has real consequences (such as teaching responsibility through allocating money from an allowance or taking care of a pet). Games and role-playing are also effective. Look for “teaching moments,” using good and bad examples from television, movies and the news.
Resources
- Textplus Survey on Teens and Texting
- The Josephson Institute of Ethics
- Center for the 4th and 5th R’s
- National Education Association
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