Helping Your Child Stand Up To Bullies

Unfortunately bullies are common in the lives of many children. I know that my own son has been bullied. Bullies use fear and often a larger size to get away with tormenting others. Bullying can be physical like kicking and tripping or more emotional like gossiping and exclusion. Children who are bullies have little empathy and enjoy dominating others. They have a positive attitude toward aggression and are often impulsive. A bully can be a boy or a girl, although their methods usually differ. Bullies usually pick on those that can’t or won’t protect themselves. So here are some ways … Continue reading →

Warning: Beware the Safety Of Air Rifles

“Air rifle shot kills 14-year-old girl”. The headline screamed at me from the front page of the Mobile Press Register. A parents’ biggest fear becomes reality. A child cut down too soon. Unfortunately accidental deaths for kids under the age of 18 is on the rise. So parents need to be aware of steps they can take to try and make sure their kids are safe. In this case, all that is known is that a boy, who was an acquaintance of the deceased girl, fired the fatal shot in a home that was under construction. The boy at this … Continue reading →

Preparing Kids For an Unsafe World

I’ve never wanted to scare my kids. I don’t want them to be immobilized by fear or distrustful of everyone they meet. But, I wanted them to know how to keep themselves safe–as if my diligent preparation could keep them out of harm’s way and protected from the harsh random reality that comes from living in this world of humans. They are teenagers now and typical invincibility has replaced the caution hammered into them by a variety of stranger safety, earthquake drills, and safe touch books when they were younger. I finally realized that I cannot keep them safe, I … Continue reading →

Teens and Instant Messaging

Teenagers lead the country in use of technology. With 87% of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17, using the Internet on an almost daily basis. That number has risen 24% in the last four years. Today more teens than ever use the Internet to play games, get news, shop, and find health information. Email, once considered cutting edge, is quickly being replaced by instant and text messaging. Email is considered the method to communicate with adults like teachers or to send long messages to a large group of friends. But it is in IM that teens share details … Continue reading →

When Should Kids Be Allowed To Use Public Restrooms Alone?

Maybe I’m overprotective or just plain cautious. When Tyler and I are out in pubic I never allow him to go to a public restroom alone. He either goes in the ladies room with me, we use one of the family restrooms or if it’s one of those one-per-person deals, he can go in the men’s room alone while I stand guard at the door. But apparently not all parents are so cautious. Take the case of a couple in Iowa who sued a Wal-mart store because they say their 4-year-old son was sexually assaulted in the men’s room. The … Continue reading →

Study Says Mom’s Recorded Voice Works Best To Rouse Sleepy Kids

A mom’s voice works wonders to soothe a crying baby. It also works better than traditional fire alarms in rousing kids from a deep sleep. According to a recently released study, when moms recorded a message calling their kids by name and ordering them to get out of their bedrooms the kids were more likely to wake up than when they heard the traditional beeping sounds of a smoke alarm. The study was conduced with 24 children ranging in age from 6 to 12. The mothers recorded a message saying, “Tyler, Tyler (child’s first name)! Wake up! Get out of … Continue reading →

Children Are At Risk For Deadly ‘Tylenol’ Overdose

Tylenol (known generically as Acetaminophen) is important when a child has a headache, fever, toothache or muscle injury. It eases pain and allows a child to get a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, Tylenol is also a powerful toxin. Too much Tylenol can kill a child. We have all heard the warning and advice to give children Tylenol instead of aspirin to avoid Reyes Syndrome. Many people stopped giving their children anything except Tylenol or acetaminophen. Many think if a drug is sold over the counter without a prescription, it has to be safe, yet the Institute for Safe Medication Practices … Continue reading →

School Drill Taken Too Far Or Not?

With the increase of school shootings, drugs, and other school issues how far do you think police should go in conducting drills? For one combination middle and high school in Michigan many parents feel that the drill went to far. The police entered the school in riot gear including vests and helmets. Students were removed from the classroom and patted down by officers in the halls. They were asked what was in their pockets and if they had any weapons. The police carried rifles that were unloaded and marked with tape indicating that they were not live, although I doubt … Continue reading →

Planning For Emergencies: Grab-And-Go Bag

If you a regular reader of my blogs you know that I was living in New Orleans before Katrina and that I am returning home in June– just in time for the hurricane season to start. Although I have lived in the south all of my life and am all too familiar with the threat of hurricane’s, like many people, I never really prepared myself for having to actually leave the city. Like a lot of people, whenever there was a threat I would schlep to Winn Dixie and pick up a few goodies to eat, some batteries, candles, etc. … Continue reading →

More Comments On Violence In The Schools

I wasn’t planning on a three-part blog on the issue of the rise in violence in schools but when I read the paper this morning, I found a few more interesting comments that I want to share (if you missed the earlier blog, go here.) One caller said we should lockdown the schools. Her kids attended school in Michigan and once the school day got underway, they locked the school and in order to get in, a visitor had to ring a buzzer. School personnel then looked on a monitor to see who it was and if it wasn’t a … Continue reading →