Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Social media take bullying to a whole new level.
Many teens have access to the Internet and, in turn, to Facebook. The social networking site is popular among teens as a way to stay connected with their friends and family. It is estimated that 75 percent of teenagers use Facebook and check their pages up to 10 times a day. NBC's The Today Show recently shed some light on a condition in teenagers called "Facebook depression." It is usually something that occurs in teens who already have symptoms of depression. The amount of Facebook friends they have, seeing friends tagged in pictures at events they weren’t invited to or being teased online can all have an impact on any teenager’s self-esteem. For teens who already suffer from depression, such websites can make things even worse. Thirty-…
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
How do you explain death to your children?
This week I received news from my relatives in California that my father's aunt died suddenly following a bout with cancer. After reflecting for a little bit on what this week's Moms Talk topic would be, I decided it was a good time to broach the subject of death with children. The death of a loved one is hard to understand - at all ages- but how do you explain death to your children? Some people write books, others rely on counseling services. How do you help your children through grief? How do you explain the death of a loved one? What resources have you found helpful? Each week in Moms Talk, we will start the discussion, take your questions, give advice and share solutions.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Video games are becoming increasingly more violent.
Most everybody’s kids play video games. Whether it is on a Nintendo DS, an iPad, iTouch, Xbox 360 or any other gaming system it’s the “in thing” with kids ages 5 and older. So our question to you is this: ”Do you know what your kids are playing?” Different parenting styles means variations on what video games are acceptable to parents. When the kids walk over to the neighbor’s house, when they swap games at the restaurant, when they are watching over someone else’s shoulder while waiting at the dentist, do you really know what they are seeing? Have you checked the rating on the games your kids are playing? Here is the scoop. Games are rated as follows: eC for Early Childhood – suitable for kids ages three and older. E for Everyone – …
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Dexter parents are asked to weigh in on today's parenting topic.
When it comes to teens and dating, we wish we could lock them up and not let them date until they're 30. But, when the teen years hit, reality sets in—the crushes start turning into puppy-love relationships. Dr. Phil says, "Teenagers shouldn't have serious dating relationships. No 14-year-old needs to have an intense boyfriend or girlfriend." He offers the following advice on his blog: —Don't allow your teenager to close the bedroom door when someone of the opposite sex is over. This should be a non-negotiable rule. —Talk with your teenager. The more conversations you have, the less likely he/she will be to get into trouble. If you've always kept the door open for discussions, your child will be more likely to come to you with questions or…
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Dexter Patch discusses nut-free schools.
For what seems like an increasing number of children, food allergies can cause life-threatening reactions. Walk up to the doors of some Dexter elementary schools, and you'll find a "Nut-Restricted School" sign prominently displayed on the front doors. Is your child affected by food allergies? If so, how do you teach your child to cope? What do you think about Dexter schools' nut-restriction policies?
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
From violence overseas to America's own Charlie Sheen, how do you talk to kids about current events?
Moms Talk is a feature on Dexter Patch that is part of an initiative to reach out to moms and families. Dexter Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in Dexter. Each week in Moms Talk, moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for questions about local neighborhood schools, the best pediatricians, 24-hour pharmacies and the thousands of other issues that arise while raising children. Moms Talk will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. Where can we get information on local flu shot clinics for children? How do we talk to our children about the tsunami in …
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
What are your time management survival strategies for families on the go?
Moms Talk is a new feature that is part of an initiative to reach out to moms and families. We invite you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for parents and their families right here in the area. Within an hour of your baby's birth, you find out quickly that scheduling, timing and stress management are essential survival skills for a parent. Parents start working on the child's time clock with each newborn cry. As your child grows, parents become time jugglers when scheduling play dates, doctors' appointments, music lessons, sport practices and, of course, homework time. American families seem to be always on the go. How often do you find rushing moms and dads checking their mental BlackBerries to figure out a …
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Every week, Dexter Patch looks at questions and issues that are on the minds of parents in our community.
From the malls to the classrooms, you see children texting friends and parents on their cell phones. According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, about 23 percent of parents said their children got their first cell phones when they were 13 years old. Several schools are modifying their technology policies to accommodate students’ cell phones on campus. As parents in Dexter, what are your thoughts on the use of cell phones? How old should children be before they use cell phones?
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Today Dexter Patch looks at two recently published studies that indicate possible contributors to American childhood obesity rates.
Moms Talk is a place to drop in for a discussion about the latest parenting hot topic. So feel free to share your thoughts, tricks and opinions with your neighbors every Wednesday at 1 p.m. While U.S. obesity rates have leveled off for both children and adults in recent years, numerous factors seem to contribute to the obesity epidemic in this country. Are we too lazy? Do we eat too much? Do the environmental toxins around us play a role in how our bodies metabolize food? Who—or what—is to blame for the American obesity epidemic? Two recent studies attempt to shed light on factors that contribute to obesity rates in children. One study, published this month in the journal Child Development, looked at 990 children living in 10 American …
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Elementary school principals are seeking a shift from part-time to full-time kindergarten in 2011.
Moms Talk is a new feature on Dexter Patch that is part of a new initiative on our Patch sites to reach out to moms and families. Dexter Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in Dexter. Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council of experts and smart moms take your questions, give advice and share solutions. This week we're addressing the issue of shifting from a part-time kindergarten program to a full-day every-day program at both Bates and Cornerstone Elementary Schools. Recently, school principals presented the option to the Dexter Community Schools Board of Education. The cost to implement the new program would be between $270,000 to $400,00o. According…
Sharon Carty
2:29 pm on Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Keeping them off Facebook seems like the only logical solution to me. As the principal of a New Jersey high school told parents last year: "There is absolutely, positively no reason for any middle school student to be a part of a social networking site!” he wrote in an e-mail blast to parents Wednesday. “They are simply not psychologically ready for the damage that one mean person online can … more ›