The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

June is Internet Safety Month and cyber-parenting is another aspect of parenting that we have to consider when raising teens today. As if parenting wasn't challenging enough, now we have the added fun of technology and the digital world. The Web offers a plethora of fun and educational things for kids to do, plus all the social networking that is huge for tweens and teens. But along with that comes plenty of places for danger. Just as parents need to talk to their kids about safety in the everyday real world, they also must discuss safety precautions related to the Internet, and make sure their kids get it. What can parents do? How do they start the conversation? It is important to cover the dangers – all of them – in age-appropriate language to help kids understand the dangers of giving away information online. Talk, Talk, Talk The most important thing parents can do is talk to their kids, tweens, and teens. Make sure they know the dangers that are prevalent online, ...

By Randy Nathan Experts agree that bullying is a national epidemic and impacts hundreds of thousands of lives across the country. This book uncovers the prevalence of bullying in sports by identifying the behavior. It calls out those who are involved in enabling the culture and the matter in which it is being used, and what can be done to stand up against this conduct. Bullying in Sports offers a comprehensive approach that openly acknowledges the bullying in sports and identifies the breeding ground that inculcates athletes into a certain mindset that spills over into the classroom, hallways, and bathrooms. Chapters offer strategies and tactics on how to put policies into action. Furthermore, this book offers an important paradigm shift that has the ability and potential to completely transform our bullying programs and strategies. Order today on Amazon.

What is a helicopter parent, you ask? These are the parents that won’t let their kid out in the front yard to play without constant supervision. They won’t take a nap and risk their twelve year old being home ‘alone’. They are constantly hovering over their children and micromanaging their every move. How can you tell if you’re a helicopter parent? Well, you know you’re a helicopter parent when… You know the risks are incredibly high – Part of the problem is that with wall-to-wall Internet and cable news, every missing child case gets so much airtime that it’s not surprising even normal parental paranoia can be amplified. Know the real risks. You are afraid your child will literally die if left unsupervised – Mortality rates from all causes, including disease and accidents, for American children are lower now than they were 25 years ago. According to Child Trends, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research group, between 1980 and 2003 death rates dropped by 44 percent for ch...

OCD, like ADD, ADHD, ODD, etc is another commonly used acronym that doctors use as diagnoses of teens and adults.  I am not making light of it, however I believe parents need a better understanding of it.  Today guest Blogger, Jenny Stowe from Masters In Healthcare , asked me to share this post.  I find it very interesting and I hope my readers do too.  The more we know, the better we can understand Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Despite being one of the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders and present in as many as one in 50 U.S. adults, obsessive-compulsive disorder tends to occupy a gray area in the public consciousness that’s marked more by myth than truth. Chalk it up to stereotypes or characters like Jack Nicholson’s in As Good as It Gets , but many people hold to a system of misconceptions about OCD that simply aren’t true. Those with the disease or who have a loved one with it know the truth, but for everyone else, here are the...

The Children's Movement of Florida was formed to take action and improve Florida's need for caring for our youth. Their mission statement: The Children’s Movement of Florida believes that the well-being and education of our children in Florida must be the highest priority of government, business, non-profit institutions and families. The economic future of our state and the stability of the communities we live in depend on achieving this goal. The major objective of the citizen-led, non-partisan Children’s Movement of Florida is to inform the political, business and civic leaders, and the parents and people of this state, about this issue – and encourage them to make the well-being and education of our children our highest priority, including in the way we invest our public resources. Why now or should we say, what took so long ? Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel recently wrote: The statistics about how we treat our children in this state should make y...

Dateline featured one of the most compelling wake-up segments for parents this week.  Perils of Parenting has been the coffee table and water cooler topic since it aired this week.  Even Twitter has been Tweeting all week about it! What if you could spy on your kids as they go through a typical day, dealing with some typical problems — like bullying, and drinking & driving? A group of parents did just that — with the help of Dateline's hidden cameras. What they learned about their children could teach us all a little something about our own. Kate Snow reports. - Watch full episode here . Look who's talking is a perfect example of parents being a poor example to their kids.  Are you a BBM parent?  What is one?  Black-Berry-Messenger Parent.  Watch the video below as the little boy, probably no older than 7, talks about BBM people . In this short clip below, it is shocking how aware these young kids are to realize how much virtual time th...

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 o...

BikeMonkey Over and over again we read articles about distracted driving.  Oprah featured the No Phone Zone and accumulated thousands to join in.   It is a fact, texting and driving or talking on your phone can kill .  It is distracted driving that can take your focus off the road and into an oncoming car within seconds. Newsflash: Distracted driving includes bicycles! As school has opened in many parts of the country, including Broward County, teens will ride to their bikes to get to school.  After witnessing several teenagers in Sunrise biking and texting in the morning to school, suddenly I realized that there are not enough warnings about the dangers of biking and texting . Riding a bicycle is part of growing up, however riding a bike responsibly is maturity.  Teenagers need to realize distracted driving extends to distracted riding. In many situations teens are not allowed to have their cells on in class, so every other waki...

What is next?   As schools are opening and teachers, parents and administrators get ready for another school year, there is another form of bullying/cyberbullying developing.  Sextortion. Teens blackmailing other teens for what they do online with less than flattering photos.  Broward County is not foreign to text rage, as we saw in the Josie Ratley beating.  Or is it stranger to bullying , as we witnessed when 15 year-old Michael Brewer was nearly burned to death.  Now we are dealing with teens blackmailing each other to protect themselves from humiliation. What can you do?   Talk to your kids about this now.  This is even more reason for them not to be passing photos of any kind virtually.  Knowing pictures can be manipulated and photo cropped into some very unflattering pictures, is a fact your teens need to not only recognize, but understand the consequences. Communication is key to prevention - talk, talk, talk and don't stop. ...

There is nothing wrong with admitting there is no way we actually know all the teen lingo and the acronyms they use.  However it is very smart to keep a few websites handy for when you are in doubt or concerned about a text or IM that you can't figure out. Teen Chat Decoder is an excellent website that not only has lists of acronyms and abbreviations, it has a search box you can type your questionable word/acronym in and it will give you the meaning. As parents, when our kids started to use the Internet more and more, we did what any good parent would do – we monitored their online activity. We reviewed their browser history, or some parental control software product like PC Tattletale. But it was really frustrating when we found that our kids used abbreviations and acronyms in when chatting online or via their cell phones. Now some acronyms are pretty easy to figure out, like “LOL” (Laugh Out Loud), but many made no sense at all – unless you were 15 ! So se...

School is opening soon and parents are scrambling to get school supplies, uniforms books and other things needed to start off the school year.  There is one item you can't forget, that is yourself !   Parent involvement has a positive impact on their child's academic and social life in school.  It can be difficult with many single parent households or parents that are working more than one job to make ends meet, but your child's school should be high on your priority list. Even if you can only volunteer an hour a month, it makes a difference. Many think that parent involvement is focused around moms, don't be fooled !  Fathers are needed and wanted!  More and more dads are getting involved and finding the time to make a difference their child's life. All Pro Dad's  is a simple idea with a profound impact. It's a one-hour monthly breakfast held before school where fathers and their children meet with other dads and kids in the school ...

As a parent, it is important to educate your children about diversity , teaching them to respect and understand other countries and their cultures and customs . Well how would you like to get involved with an organization that builds bonds of friendship and trust with the power to change the world too? Welcoming a high school foreign exchange student into your home is a great way to increase global awareness for your family, your schools and even across your community. This month, EF Foundation for Foreign Study is looking for host families for the 2010-2011 school year.  South Florida is a melting pot with many families from all over the world.  It’s wonderful to think that by being a host family, you’d not only be learning about another culture in which you may not be too familiar with, but you’d also be creating a positive view of the United States that crosses oceans and lasts a lifetime. EF Foundation has: Connected over 100,000 talented, enthusiastic ...

There are many chapters of the Parent and Teacher Association (PTA) and they are always a great way to get involved and stay involved in your child’s school. Education is key to your child’s success in life, and being part of that is a vital part to learning.  It is true, we are in tough times.  Many kids are in single family households or both parents working or parents with more than one job.  This means the time spent with your kids diminishes. Parent involvement is crucial to the health and well-being of a child. As a parent, you are the most important influence in your child’s success in school and in life. In this role, you have a fresh opportunity every day to get involved with your child. Parent involvement in childrens education allows kids to perform better in school, and navigate more easily some of the challenges of growing up, such as bullying. PTA is committed to being the leading resource for parent involvement. We offer com...

The recent New York Times article, Accepting That Good Parents May Plant Bad Seeds by Dr. Richard A. Friedman,  has started a lot of great conversations. (Watch video below). Fact is there are many great parents and they are doing a great job at raising their kids , but every so often you will hit that pothole in the road.  Parenting today is extremely challenging.  It is not only discussing the birds and bees that is critical, talking to your kids about the dangers of online scams , predators not to mention the prevalence of stranger danger today. Yes, this generation is completely different.  We have gone from Mad Men to Middle to Modern Family and somehow all these shows can mirror one time of our life or another. Good kids do make bad choices.  That is called life experiences, but if these experiences escalate to a point that is endangering the teen or the family, it may be time for outside help.  Many times the parent can be in such...

Wow – this is a topic I speak with parents about on almost a daily basis.  Teens today think it is an easy solution – drop out of school and get a GED!  Years ago, it was not only frowned upon – it was targeted at those in trouble with the law, another words, juvenile delinquents.  Take a minute to read these parenting tips from Connect with Kids – help keep your teens in school! Source: Connect with Kids “If you get your high school diploma, you’re going to be better off. If you get some college, you’re going to be better off. If you get a bachelors degree, you’re going to be better off.” – Martin Segura, Education Counselor For some students, earning a GED seemed like the next best thing to a high school degree. But a new report from the University of Chicago finds that a GED holds little value in helping students succeed in today’s competitive job market. Tanya dropped out of high school after her sophomore year. “That was my dream, ...

When you think of Mel Gibson , you immediately think Hollywood.  Tinsel Town USA which is not only home to many celebrities, it is home to many parents.  Whether you are a celebrity parent or an average working mom or dad, the stress and frustrations of a household, can sometimes drive you to your wit's end. Unfortunately for celebrities, like Mel Gibson, the entire world is watching.  The audio tapes released are being tagged as potentially manipulated or other excuses, however the fact is there - we heard them, we felt them - and many maybe even silently related to them. As experts dissect this tirade, and media talk hosts have their opinions, the issue of mental illness is lingering. If you as a parent have found yourself reaching this level of rage, or worse, have seen your teen reaching this extent of anger and rage , it should be a red flag to get help now. About.com listed some warning signs that your anger may be getting out-of-control: You fi...

July is National Make a Difference to Children Month . As families are enjoying their summer vacations, time at the beach, time with friends, and simply having fun in the sun, there are children that are suffering. Children that are hungry. Children that are being harmed and children that need you to help them make a change. During National Make a Difference to Children Month , find it in your heart to dig into your wallet and make a difference to a child today. Every dollar counts, every donation can help bring a smile to a child somewhere. Nationally, Love our Children USA has brought an awareness to violence among children. Since 1999 they have been the leader in violence prevention and continue to expand through STOMPOutBullying.org . Bullying and cyberbullying is a growing concern today, and again Love Our Children USA is taking a stand to educate and inform people about bullying prevention . Learn how you can donate today. Is there someone that is special ...

Here are 10 great tips to help you and your teens to stop using foul language.  Cuss Control by James V. O'Connor:   Your language might offend some people, but the tone and attitude behind your words do far greater damage to all of your relationships. Even if your friends and associates commonly use cuss words, you will be perceived as more mature, intelligent, articulate, polite, considerate and pleasant if you control your language and the emotions that typically prompt expletives. You can choose to have character and class, or be considered rude, crude and crass. Cursing is sometimes humorous, but sometimes abusive. It can help vent anger, or provoke it. It can relieve stress, or cause it. It can be clever and flirtatious, or sexist and intimidating. Consequently, be aware of when and where you swear. Control it, tame it, time it. ...

Many are anxiously waiting for the new movie starring Julia Roberts, Eat, Pray, Love based on the best-selling book by Elizabeth Gilbert . When you think about raising your children today, you can think about all these parts of your life.  Find your appetite in life , be a good parent and be kind to yourself too! Eating is survival. If you diligently try to have at least one meal together as a family daily, chances are very good you will be able to increase your communication with your children, especially teenagers, and build a stronger family union. Prayer is different to all people.  No matter what your religious beliefs are, to be passionate about your family, your children and your life is to bring positive affirmations into your day.  Whether it is considered praying or simply meditating, it is time for you to take for yourself to have a better life. Love. What a simple yet complex four-letter word.  We all love our children...

Prescription medications and teens and children has been a debate for years.  The controversy over ADD/ADHD medication such as Ritalin, Adderall, Strattera, Concerta and others has been hashed out in medical reports and articles for many years. According to the American Academy of Dermatology , by mid-teens more than 40 percent of adolescents have acne or acne scarring which may require treatment by a dermatologist and use of prescription drugs such as Accutane to treat their condition, not realizing the drug’s serious side effects like liver failure, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and depression which can lead to suicide. One unfortunate example of this effect is Congressman Bart Stupak’s son, who tragically took his own life after being on Accutane to treat his acne. According to DrugWatch , on June 29, 2009, Roche Pharmaceuticals pulled Accutane from the market due to numerous personal injury lawsuits and business costs. Isotretinoin, the generic for...