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

It is hard to accept when we realize our sweet angel we once rocked to sleep as an angel can become defiant, beligerent and downright mean.  Connect with Kids recently posted an excellent article on how girls are becoming more violent. Source: Connect with Kids Girls and Violence “All that bad stuff is not going to take you anywhere...except you're going to be dead, in jail, or pregnant. Girls need to start doing something positive and think about your future.” – Toni, 16 years old Juvenile jails were once filled with boys and young men... but that's changing. 16 year old Toni says, "Girls are out there stealing, killing people, you know, doing all things that, you know, used to be just guys." In fact Toni went to jail for possession of marijuana. For the past decade, arrest rates for girls have been rising and new numbers from the federal government show that today one in four teenage girls has gotten into a serious physical fight, either at work or a...

After one of the most horrific acts of violence by teens in South Florida, which left 15-year old Michael Brewer with burns over two thirds of his body, 3 of the 5 teenagers accused of this despicable crime will be tried as adults. This is a strong and solid message by Broward Circuit Judge Lee Seidman . What type of child or teen does this unconscionable act to another person? It is very disturbing to believe this type of violence exists and that bullying can reach a level of nearly killing another person. Should minors be charged as adults? In some instances, such as this one, many believe that to be true. This crime was so heinous that adults have a hard time comprehending how anyone could do this to another person. As a parent we need to take the time to talk with our children about this incident. Open up your lines of communication, talk about bullying , discuss consequences and answer their questions and concerns honestly. Neighbors 4 Neighbors has created the Michael Brewer Fu...

With the recent gang rape of a 15 year-old girl in Richmond, California, our country is awakening to one of the ugliest forms of abuse to teens. Sexual abuse, assault and rape of teens are horrendous and more attention needs to be brought on this subject.Teen dating violence and abuse is an issue parents need to be aware of and learn more about. Love is Not Abuse is an organization that was founded in 1991 by Liz Claiborne Inc. Everyone needs to take the time to be an educated parent; you will have a safer teen. Love is Not Abuse posted an informational letter from an expert on Teen Dating Abuse. Please learn more now and explore their website for more resources. A Letter to Parents on Teen Dating Abuse from Pediatrician and Expert, Dr. Elizabeth Miller Dear Parents/Guardians/Educators, As a physician who specializes in care for adolescents, a researcher on teen dating abuse, and a parent of a teen, I am often asked by other parents to talk about the warning signs of dating abuse, ...

Violence among kids and teens has made headlines in South Florida this week. As parents, educators and others that work with today’s children, we need to take steps to help prevent these violent incidents. Communication is key, however difficult. It starts at home, what can you as a parent do to help? As a Parent Advocate , I have always encouraged parents to get to know who your teen’s friends are, who are they hanging out with? Not only in school but online! Where is your child surfing in space? Do you know the websites they are frequently visiting? It is time to be an educated parent which can lead to a safer teen. Here are some quick tips to think about and put into action: • Get to know your teen’s friends. Take an interest in them. Ask them about their siblings and their parents. Do they have the same hobbies/interests as your teen? • Take the time to call the parents, introduce yourself. If your child is spending time with their child, I am confident they will appreciate gett...

http://www.connectwithkids.com/ “They may incorporate that dislike into disliking themselves and then it’s only one or two short steps from disliking one’s self to wanting to harm one’s self.” – Jim Stark, Ph.D., Forensic Psychologist Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people in the United States. Marvin Novelo is 17, openly gay - and has tried to kill himself several times. “Drowning, pills, several other things,” he remembers. Since the third grade, Marvin says, he has been the victim of bullies at school. He’s been beaten up, thrown into a dumpster, a trashcan, and into a toilet in the girl’s bathroom. “But of course, none of it was really as bad as just the verbal harassment,” Marvin says. “Because you couldn’t escape it. You could run away from someone trying to beat you up, but in a classroom there was nowhere to run.” A new review of studies by Yale University finds that bully victims are two to nine times more likely to report having suicidal thoughts than ot...

New research about the influence of media violence on children may offer a startling new way to predict who will grow up to be a violent adult: find out how much violence on television and in the movies children watched when they were 6, 8 or 10 years old. With today's wide range of channels for our children to surf on T.V. - we need to be aware of what our kids are watching. As a parent advocate, I will continue to bring articles that can offer helpful tips to parents dealing with today's teens. Read more - Click Here .