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 Parenting Related NewsTruth be told, the lessons about alcohol consumption that are the most powerful may just be the ones that are not accompanied by a wagging finger and a tongue lashing. It is the small, accumulated lessons about drinking that add up to make a difference.
I am betting that very few of you have sat through a week’s worth of sex education classes at your teenkid’s school. If your school district offers – or mandates – such classes, you no doubt have received a carefully crafted note listing the topics to be covered. And, if you have somehow managed to raise one of those rare tweens or teens who, in response to “so, what happened at school today?” replies polysyllabically, you might have a general notion of what goes on.
Let’s face it. Teens are not that interested in talking to someone whose sole intent is to pepper them with questions, judge their answers, and offer unsolicited advice. In fact, these forms of communication serve to obstruct rather than facilitate communication with our teens. As a matter of fact, they are part of a longer list of communication blocks that parents would do well to avoid if they’d want their teens to talk to them.
Do you know an outstanding youth coach or student athlete who demonstrates a commitment to fair, drug-free play and an overall healthy lifestyle? Does this person inspire others to give it their all, make the team smile after a big defeat, or show exemplary character and integrity on and off the field?
If you answered YES, [...]
One in five teenagers has abuse prescription pain medication. Dr. Drew shares some reasons why teens are abusing pills and what parents can do if they suspect their child is using.
One of the most important things you can do as a 21st Century grandparent is instilling a belief in philanthropy. My husband and I have helped foster a sense of “giving back” into our grandchildren that is helping them learn the importance of assisting those in need.
Being a responsive parent instead of a reactive parent begins with more matter-of-fact interactions with our kids. This means speaking to them in a calm manner and not freaking out, overreacting and getting extreme with our emotions. Too often, when we see something in our relationship that we don’t like, we try to change everything wholesale. We say things like, “From now on, things are going to be different!”
She smiled and said she was proud of him. He had come to a 180 degree turn in his life. And with that, he turned to the other teens and thanked them for helping him change his life. His victory became theirs.
As a college student living 5 hours away from my parents, I have the freedom to do pretty much whatever I want. If I got into any real trouble, with the university or the law, only then would the school contact my parents. Otherwise, I can get away with a lot without my parents ever knowing. That’s a scary thought for parents reading this, right?
My colleague told me she was having her 10-year-old stepson practice his reading and comprehension skills while reading entries from my personal blog. Effectively, she noted, along the way she discovered that it’s a creative method of early drug prevention too.
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Study Finds Obese Children Display Early Signs of Heart DiseaseOct 19, 2007 A study published in the winter issue of the Journal of Cardiometabolic Syndrome suggests that obese children display early signs of heart disease similar to those exhibited by obese adults with heart disease, United Press International reports. To evaluate heart disease symptoms within the pediatric population, researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis studied 168 children ages 10 to 18 with symptoms including heart murmur, chest pain, acid reflux or high cholesterol. Based on body mass index for age (BMIA) guidelines, 33 patients were classified as obese, 20 were labeled at risk for obesity and 115 were considered to be at normal weight. By assessing changes in each patient’s heart muscle motion, the researchers found that as a child’s BMIA increased, both the relaxation and contraction phases of the heart beat changed in a manner similar to the changes seen in adults. Angela Sharkey, M.D., an author of the study, noted that "many of these changes that have been seen in adults were assumed to be from long-standing obesity, but it may be that these changes start much earlier in life." She suggests that future research seek to determine at what age cardiac changes occur and whether those changes could be reversed with weight loss. The researchers further recommend that pediatricians use the findings to counsel children and their parents about the serious risks of obesity and the benefits of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. (United Press International, 10/18/07); Medical News Today 10/18/07; Lorch and Sharkey, Journal of Cardiometabolic Syndrome, winter 2007 [subscription required]). Reproduced with permission of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton, N.J. |
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