How many times have parents been approached by other parents because their kids and teens are being bullied only to hear parents loudly proclaim “NOT MY KID.”
How many times have you blamed your child’s friend or a neighbor for negative behavior of your child? It is not MY kid, it is the friends he/she is hanging with. MY kid would never bully anyone. I taught them better than that, they are too smart for that. But are they smart enough, kind enough, respectful and compassionate for others?
Think about it. The faster you remove yourself from the “NOT MY KID” excuse, the sooner you can work on getting your child the help he/she may need.
Parents should not only look at their kids’ behavior, but as a role model what message do you send to your kids and teens? Do your kids model your behavior? Are you continuing the cycle of what you were taught as a kid?
ENOUGH with the excuse of NOT MY KID! Parents must take responsibility for their child’s behavior!
So, if your child’s school calls you and tells you that your child is bullying other kids, if other parents are complaining to you that your child is bullying their child, or if you notice that your child is constantly getting into fights … take a deep breath and admit that your child has a problem.
Drop the stance of denial or feeling that others are being mean to their child. It takes a courageous and open parent to realize that their child has a problem and that they need help.
Parents may think there is no problem – that it’s just a little teasing, or that it’s natural for kids to fight with one another. Take all accusations of bullying seriously. What may seem natural to you may be harming others a great deal.
Sit down and have a conversation with your kid. Tell them that the school or other parents have reported their aggressive behavior, that you love them no matter what, that their behavior has to change and that you support the school’s punishment and will not tolerate this behavior.
Explain that bullying, whether it’s physical or verbal, causes pain to others. Let them know that name-calling, teasing, hitting, pushing, starting or spreading rumors are wrong and not acceptable behavior.
Let your child know that you will help them to change the behavior and correct the situation. Ask them how they think the bullying could stop. What do they think has to change in order for them to change?
Depending on the age of the child, they may not know any better. Young children, especially, need to be told that hurting another child is not acceptable.
After you have thoroughly discussed this with your child, meet with their teacher. Listen to the teacher’s perspective without being judgmental.
Let the teacher know that you are willing to work with the school to help stop your child from bullying. It’s important to tell the teacher if there are any family problems that you might be experiencing.
Additional counseling may be needed for your child. It will help them learn to behave differently, accept responsibility for their actions and teach them how to develop guilt, as well as learn how to form cohesive relationships.
Parents need to understand that ignoring these signs or blaming it on others is not going to help your child. You need to seek help so it doesn’t escalate to anything worse. A parent in denial is not helping their kids, it is actually harming them.
There isn’t any shame in having a kid that is who is a bully, the only shame is if you don’t get your kids help!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Three Bully Suicides In One Week: It Has To STOP
November 4 -11th:
16-year-old Cassidy Joy Andel Cooperstown, N.D. posted a good-bye note on her Facebook Page and hung herself, 14 year-old Samantha Kelly of New Boston, Michigan hung herself and 14-year-old Brandon Bitner of Middleburg, Pennsylvania committed suicide by running into the path of a tractor trailer – all of them tormented by bullying!
This is more than a wake-up call. This is a national crisis and if we don’t do something to educate kids, parents and schools and get everyone working together, I am afraid of what we will see in the next 5-10 years. Our future is disappearing before us because kids and teens are bullying others.
Parents – talk to your kids – everyday. Enough with the “Not My Kid” attitude! Take responsibility and teach your children morals and ethics. I’d rather know my kid was a bully and I could get him /her help to stop it, than hide my head in the sand and live in denial.
And — recognize the signs of bullying and cyberbullying so you can help your child if they are victims. Don’t wait for them to come to you!
Schools – Wake Up! I’m tired of hearing from teachers who say they don’t want to be policemen. It may not be what you signed up for but it’s a different world today! We are living in the wild west frontier with the Internet and kids are getting bolder and more aggressive. So yes teachers and principals, it’s your responsibility to educate our youth about bullying and cyberbullying even if you have to police them!
It really does take a village and for those who think our youth are not in crisis mode – think again!
The bullying and cyberbullying MUST stop!
Parents MUST do better parenting!
Anti-bullying and cyberbullying Education MUST be a priority!
Bullycides MUST STOP!
If you’re being bullied, we know how awful the pain is, but taking your life is NOT the answer!
If you know someone who is being bullied, be an UPSTANDER and help them!
If you’re a bully, ASK FOR HELP. What you’re doing is bad enough, but the reality is you could be responsible for someone taking their life? Can you really live with that? Think about it!
Call STOMP Out Bullying at 888-347-KIDS (5437) for help, call someone, call anyone. There is so much help out there for victims and we’re all here to help the victims get help and to save their lives and we’re here to get help for the bullies so this insanity STOPS once and for all.
Bullying can kill – Kindness goes a long way and feels really good!
Develop a plan for help with the person. If you cannot develop a plan and a suicide attempt is imminent call “911.”
There is help!
Talk to a trusted adult!
Or contact any of these organizations who can and will help you!
National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) Deaf Hotline: 1-800-799-4TTY (1-800-799-4889)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
Yellow Ribbon 303-429-3530
Boystown Hotline 1-800-448-3000
Covenant House Nineline 1-800-999-9999
The Trevor Helpline 866-488-7386
If you or someone you know is on the verge of suicide PLEASE call 911 immediately so you can get help!
Life may not feel so great right now, but there is hope!
STAY ALIVE!
SAVE SOMEONE’S LIFE!
Ross Ellis
Founder and CEO
Love Our Children USA (http://www.loveourchildrenusa.org/ )and STOMP Out Bullying (http://www.stompoutbullying.org/)
16-year-old Cassidy Joy Andel Cooperstown, N.D. posted a good-bye note on her Facebook Page and hung herself, 14 year-old Samantha Kelly of New Boston, Michigan hung herself and 14-year-old Brandon Bitner of Middleburg, Pennsylvania committed suicide by running into the path of a tractor trailer – all of them tormented by bullying!
This is more than a wake-up call. This is a national crisis and if we don’t do something to educate kids, parents and schools and get everyone working together, I am afraid of what we will see in the next 5-10 years. Our future is disappearing before us because kids and teens are bullying others.
Parents – talk to your kids – everyday. Enough with the “Not My Kid” attitude! Take responsibility and teach your children morals and ethics. I’d rather know my kid was a bully and I could get him /her help to stop it, than hide my head in the sand and live in denial.
And — recognize the signs of bullying and cyberbullying so you can help your child if they are victims. Don’t wait for them to come to you!
Schools – Wake Up! I’m tired of hearing from teachers who say they don’t want to be policemen. It may not be what you signed up for but it’s a different world today! We are living in the wild west frontier with the Internet and kids are getting bolder and more aggressive. So yes teachers and principals, it’s your responsibility to educate our youth about bullying and cyberbullying even if you have to police them!
It really does take a village and for those who think our youth are not in crisis mode – think again!
The bullying and cyberbullying MUST stop!
Parents MUST do better parenting!
Anti-bullying and cyberbullying Education MUST be a priority!
Bullycides MUST STOP!
If you’re being bullied, we know how awful the pain is, but taking your life is NOT the answer!
If you know someone who is being bullied, be an UPSTANDER and help them!
If you’re a bully, ASK FOR HELP. What you’re doing is bad enough, but the reality is you could be responsible for someone taking their life? Can you really live with that? Think about it!
Call STOMP Out Bullying at 888-347-KIDS (5437) for help, call someone, call anyone. There is so much help out there for victims and we’re all here to help the victims get help and to save their lives and we’re here to get help for the bullies so this insanity STOPS once and for all.
Bullying can kill – Kindness goes a long way and feels really good!
Develop a plan for help with the person. If you cannot develop a plan and a suicide attempt is imminent call “911.”
There is help!
Talk to a trusted adult!
Or contact any of these organizations who can and will help you!
National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) Deaf Hotline: 1-800-799-4TTY (1-800-799-4889)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
Yellow Ribbon 303-429-3530
Boystown Hotline 1-800-448-3000
Covenant House Nineline 1-800-999-9999
The Trevor Helpline 866-488-7386
If you or someone you know is on the verge of suicide PLEASE call 911 immediately so you can get help!
Life may not feel so great right now, but there is hope!
STAY ALIVE!
SAVE SOMEONE’S LIFE!
Ross Ellis
Founder and CEO
Love Our Children USA (http://www.loveourchildrenusa.org/ )and STOMP Out Bullying (http://www.stompoutbullying.org/)
“Battling Bullies” WABC TV Special With Guest Ross Ellis, Love Our Children USA
Ross Ellis, founder and chief executive officer of Love Our Children USA and STOMP Out Bullying was a special guest on the show and chatted with viewers on line offering help and hope. Watch the Video!WABC TV ”Battling Bullies” with guest Ross Ellis
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Another teen suicide: Teen bullied because of learning disability
Seventeen year old Jesse Buchsbaum from Boyertown, PA hanged himself Monday night.
His friends have told his family that the quiet shy teen may have been bullied recently.
The grieving family fears that triggered the suicide and is sure that Jessie had been constantly bullied as a result of him being little, and having a speech impediment and learning disability.
His mother told news sources that there was an incident back in junior high school and most recently an incident involving kids hanging outside a local McDonalds, laughing and pointing at Jesse.
Although little research has been conducted on the relation between learning disabilities (LD) and bullying, research indicates that children with LD are at greater risk of being teased and physically bullied.
Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are more likely than other children to be bullied. They also are somewhat more likely than others to bully their peers.
Children with medical conditions that affect their appearance (e.g., cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and spina bifida) are more likely to be victimized by peers. Frequently, these children report being called names related to their disability
Obesity also may place children at higher risk of being bullied. In a study of children aged 11–16, researchers found that overweight and obese girls (aged 11–16) and boys (aged 11–12) were more likely than normal-weight peers to be teased or to be made fun of and to experience relational bullying (e.g., to be socially excluded). Overweight and obese girls were also more likely to be physically bullied.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
His friends have told his family that the quiet shy teen may have been bullied recently.
The grieving family fears that triggered the suicide and is sure that Jessie had been constantly bullied as a result of him being little, and having a speech impediment and learning disability.
His mother told news sources that there was an incident back in junior high school and most recently an incident involving kids hanging outside a local McDonalds, laughing and pointing at Jesse.
Although little research has been conducted on the relation between learning disabilities (LD) and bullying, research indicates that children with LD are at greater risk of being teased and physically bullied.
Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are more likely than other children to be bullied. They also are somewhat more likely than others to bully their peers.
Children with medical conditions that affect their appearance (e.g., cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and spina bifida) are more likely to be victimized by peers. Frequently, these children report being called names related to their disability
Obesity also may place children at higher risk of being bullied. In a study of children aged 11–16, researchers found that overweight and obese girls (aged 11–16) and boys (aged 11–12) were more likely than normal-weight peers to be teased or to be made fun of and to experience relational bullying (e.g., to be socially excluded). Overweight and obese girls were also more likely to be physically bullied.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Saturday, October 2, 2010
National Cyber Safety Month Awareness Month – October, 2010 - National Cyber Safety | Examiner.com
National Cyber Safety Month Awareness Month – October, 2010 - National Cyber Safety Examiner.com
October is National Cyber Safety Awareness Month and it’s important for you and your family to be cyber smart and cyber safe!
Learn how to keep your children safe on the Internet. So many parents say "my child would never meet anyone from the Internet" ....yet the reality is that so many kids are looking for something more ... someone more ... more love ... more attention ... and when a stranger tells them how wonderful they are and how happy they can make them ... don't be fooled! Your kids will believe them.
Love Our Children USA offers you internet safety facts … Advice for parents and childcare givers to help keep your children surf serious, surf smart and surf safe
Here you will find information on parental control software, keeping kids from visiting inappropriate websites and ensuring their use of appropriate monitored chatrooms. You can also learn about cyber bullying which is serious and on the rise!
You will also find information which will help keep you cyber safe. The more cybersafe parents are, the safer their children will be online.
Read more of the article here
October is National Cyber Safety Awareness Month and it’s important for you and your family to be cyber smart and cyber safe!
Learn how to keep your children safe on the Internet. So many parents say "my child would never meet anyone from the Internet" ....yet the reality is that so many kids are looking for something more ... someone more ... more love ... more attention ... and when a stranger tells them how wonderful they are and how happy they can make them ... don't be fooled! Your kids will believe them.
Love Our Children USA offers you internet safety facts … Advice for parents and childcare givers to help keep your children surf serious, surf smart and surf safe
Here you will find information on parental control software, keeping kids from visiting inappropriate websites and ensuring their use of appropriate monitored chatrooms. You can also learn about cyber bullying which is serious and on the rise!
You will also find information which will help keep you cyber safe. The more cybersafe parents are, the safer their children will be online.
Read more of the article here
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Parents of bullied kids: Should they be adult bullies in defense of their kids?
James Jones, a furious Florida dad stormed onto his child’s school bus because his 13-year-old daughter who suffers from cerebral palsy had been bullied.
It’s normal for a parent to be upset about their children being bullied. And no one can ever fault this dad for being upset. His poor child was being tormented by boys on the bus.
Yet, this dad terrified innocent kids on the bus, used the “F” word and threatened to kill whoever was responsible for bullying his daughter. Death threats cannot be taken lightly no matter how upset a person is.
Does her deserve jail? NO! But, as diffifcult as it is, Mr. Jones along with other parents need to approach this issue rationally.
Yesterday, parents in New York went to a bully’s home and told the bully’s parents that their child was bullying their child. But it didn’t stop there. They threatened the bully with horrible things that would happen to him.
The bully’s parents were devastated that their child was a bully and have already taken steps to rectify the situation, but to have their child threatened by adults was taking it too far.
Read More Of This Article Here
It’s normal for a parent to be upset about their children being bullied. And no one can ever fault this dad for being upset. His poor child was being tormented by boys on the bus.
Yet, this dad terrified innocent kids on the bus, used the “F” word and threatened to kill whoever was responsible for bullying his daughter. Death threats cannot be taken lightly no matter how upset a person is.
Does her deserve jail? NO! But, as diffifcult as it is, Mr. Jones along with other parents need to approach this issue rationally.
Yesterday, parents in New York went to a bully’s home and told the bully’s parents that their child was bullying their child. But it didn’t stop there. They threatened the bully with horrible things that would happen to him.
The bully’s parents were devastated that their child was a bully and have already taken steps to rectify the situation, but to have their child threatened by adults was taking it too far.
Read More Of This Article Here
Monday, August 23, 2010
Join me for BLUE SHIRT DAY!
It’s that time of year again, back to school shopping is in full swing and the summer is winding down. Although things get crazy with the start of a new school year we need to focus on one important thing and that is to be considerate and respectful to everyone we encounter throughout our day.
Bullying has become an epidemic and I need your help to stop it. The first step to stopping bullying starts with you today. If you haven’t already taken the pledge to STOMP Out Bullying, I’d like to suggest you do – today and everyday.
You can even take bullying and cyberbullying awareness to the next level by participating in BLUE SHIRT DAY (Love Our Children USA’s initiative) by wearing a Blue Shirt Day on Monday, October 4th 2010. Tell your friends and family and get as many people involved as you possibly can.
I hope you will take a stand and join me by wearing a Blue Shirt on Monday October 4th as the day of worldwide prevention to Stomp Out Bullying. You can make a difference, and the way to start is by showing your support and wearing a Blue Shirt on Monday, October 4th.
Just because bullying has been around for a long time doesn’t mean it needs to exist forever so make bullying a thing of the past.
Visit http://www.stompoutbullying.org for details — and make a commitment to STOMP Out Bullying one positive word at a time.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Why BLUE SHIRT Day matters!
A special message from Cati, your Teen Ambassador:
Wow- I can’t believe the new school year is upon us. It seems like yesterday was the last day and now I get to see all my friends again on the first day. I am so excited for all of the new opportunities and challenges this year will bring. Especially organizing BLUE SHIRT DAY at my school again, it was a blast! Last year was the first time I approached my principal about organizing a BLUE SHIRT DAY at my high school in San Diego. Everyone at my school was happy to participate! This year, I’m thinking BIG, that is why I am asking you to take a stand against bullying and organize your own BLUE SHIRT DAY at your school. If you have ever been bullied, witnessed someone being bullied, or have even heard about bullying, I encourage you to help stop this vicious trend and take a colorful stand on Oct 4, 2010 by simply wearing a BLUE SHIRT. It really is that simple! You have the power to take a stand, be your own hero, and help defend others who may not be able to defend themselves. I want to unite under BLUE and STOMP Out Bullying everywhere across America – around the world. So can I count on you to wear BLUE and make October 4th the day that bullying prevention is heard around the world?
Visit our sister site www.stompoutbullying.org
Visit www.stompoutbullying.org for details.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Girls or Boys? Who are the bigger bullies?
We know that bullying is an ongoing problem which has reached epidemic proportions, with a distinct difference between the actions and responses of boys vs. girls.
Whenever you hear of bullies one might think of boys with their fists tightened ready to fight. We always think of girls as verbal bullies and mean girls who socially alienate and exclude others.
Today we see a rise in boys using verbal bullying, gossip and social exclusion, while we see girls who bully with a lot of it related to sports.
And with the internet, both boys and girls cyberbully at an alarming rate — and it’s anonymous, making it that much easier for kids. With 43% of kids being cyberbullied, it’s been found that girls are cyberbullied more than boys.
Whether its boys or girls bullying and/or cyberbullying, it’s out of control and clearly inappropriate.
We must STOMP Out Bullying!
Whenever you hear of bullies one might think of boys with their fists tightened ready to fight. We always think of girls as verbal bullies and mean girls who socially alienate and exclude others.
Today we see a rise in boys using verbal bullying, gossip and social exclusion, while we see girls who bully with a lot of it related to sports.
And with the internet, both boys and girls cyberbully at an alarming rate — and it’s anonymous, making it that much easier for kids. With 43% of kids being cyberbullied, it’s been found that girls are cyberbullied more than boys.
Whether its boys or girls bullying and/or cyberbullying, it’s out of control and clearly inappropriate.
We must STOMP Out Bullying!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Kid healthy cooking "must haves' that last in your freezer
As we know the Center for Disease Control reports that childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. The prevalence of childhood obesity among kids aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008. The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1%.
Although parents are so busy, many are finding that cooking at home with healthy foods helps in the way their kids are eating.
The idea of “fresh food” is wonderful but may not always be a reality with work and family schedules.
The next best thing is have staples in your freezer so that you can squeeze in a few homemade meals in for your family during your week.
READ MORE OF THE ENTIRE STORY HERE
Although parents are so busy, many are finding that cooking at home with healthy foods helps in the way their kids are eating.
The idea of “fresh food” is wonderful but may not always be a reality with work and family schedules.
The next best thing is have staples in your freezer so that you can squeeze in a few homemade meals in for your family during your week.
READ MORE OF THE ENTIRE STORY HERE
Friday, July 23, 2010
Cyberbullying: Is it a cry for help or a need for attention?
Jessi Slaughter, an 11-year old Florida girl whose profanity-laced video spurred online death threats after she claims she was cyberbullied on Facebook, told Good Morning America and other news sources that she has no intentions of staying off the Internet, which is also a decision backed by her parents.
Jessi's rage, graphic language and violent threats that she used against her online tormenters has everyone talking.
She told ABC News: "I'm going to continue making my videos, I'm going to continue updating my Twitter and going on Stickam and stuff -- just going to be a little more careful with who sees what I'm doing," the girl told ABCNews.com. Because she is only 11-years-old only screen name is being used.
Jessi broke down on the video which she made on her webcam. Even her father appeared on the video in an absolute rage.
She created an Internet firestorm by posting an almost five-minute video raging against online bullies who had called her names and accused a friend of raping her.
READ THE ENTIRE STORY HERE and WATCH Ross Ellis, Founder and CEO, Love Our Children USA and STOMP Out Bullying on the ABC News Nightline video in response to this story.
Jessi's rage, graphic language and violent threats that she used against her online tormenters has everyone talking.
She told ABC News: "I'm going to continue making my videos, I'm going to continue updating my Twitter and going on Stickam and stuff -- just going to be a little more careful with who sees what I'm doing," the girl told ABCNews.com. Because she is only 11-years-old only screen name is being used.
Jessi broke down on the video which she made on her webcam. Even her father appeared on the video in an absolute rage.
She created an Internet firestorm by posting an almost five-minute video raging against online bullies who had called her names and accused a friend of raping her.
READ THE ENTIRE STORY HERE and WATCH Ross Ellis, Founder and CEO, Love Our Children USA and STOMP Out Bullying on the ABC News Nightline video in response to this story.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Kids’ restaurant meals may not be so “happy”
According to the Center for Disease Control childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. The prevalence of childhood obesity among kids aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008. The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1%.
Kids menus at restaurants aren’t so happy! Ask Mary Jo Messito, Director of the Obesity Clinic at New York’s Bellevue Hospital who told news sources that “Children’s meals at restaurants are garbage.”
READ THE ENTIRE STORY HERE
Kids menus at restaurants aren’t so happy! Ask Mary Jo Messito, Director of the Obesity Clinic at New York’s Bellevue Hospital who told news sources that “Children’s meals at restaurants are garbage.”
READ THE ENTIRE STORY HERE
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Animal abusers: a precursor to violence against humans
Just last month I reported about the two LI teens who viciously tortured and killed an innocent turtle.
Now a 22-year-old Albany man admits drowning a cat in his bathtub and torturing two other cats.
According to Associated Press and CBS News, Caleb Capen faces one to four years in prison after pleading guilty Friday to felony animal cruelty. This past February he was arrested after a police officer found a dead cat burning inside paper and plastic bags in a snowbank.
Police went to Capen’s home where they found two more cats with broken bones from abuse. He told police that he had adopted a cat who didn't get along with the other cats and admitted to stepping on the cat, squeezing it, striking it with a wrench and then drowning it. He'll be sentenced in September.
According to a 1997 study done by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Northeastern University, animal abusers are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against people and four times more likely to commit property crimes than are individuals without a history of animal abuse.
READ MORE OF THE ENTIRE STORY HERE
Now a 22-year-old Albany man admits drowning a cat in his bathtub and torturing two other cats.
According to Associated Press and CBS News, Caleb Capen faces one to four years in prison after pleading guilty Friday to felony animal cruelty. This past February he was arrested after a police officer found a dead cat burning inside paper and plastic bags in a snowbank.
Police went to Capen’s home where they found two more cats with broken bones from abuse. He told police that he had adopted a cat who didn't get along with the other cats and admitted to stepping on the cat, squeezing it, striking it with a wrench and then drowning it. He'll be sentenced in September.
According to a 1997 study done by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Northeastern University, animal abusers are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against people and four times more likely to commit property crimes than are individuals without a history of animal abuse.
READ MORE OF THE ENTIRE STORY HERE
Monday, July 5, 2010
The second leading cause of child deaths are from drowning: Learn water safety now
The water can be so much fun, yet it can also be dangerous for young children. Even for kids who know how to swim, there have still been drownings.
According to the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death among children ages 1 to 4 years old and children 10 to 14 years. Children 4 and under actually have the highest drowning death rate in the U.S. and the majority of child drownings occur in backyard pools & spas.
Just this week, former NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham's 2-year-old son drowned in his parent’s pool spa in Las Vegas and last week NYC sixth grader Nicole Suriel drowned on a class trip to Long Beach. Two-year-old Joseph Anthony Daignault died on June 29th after drowning in his family’s swimming pool. Since the end of May, eight children died in pool drownings in Tennessee.
According to Dr. Mark Waltzman at the Children’s Hospital in Boston, toddlers have a difficult time keeping their top-heavy bodies balanced when sitting up and they often have a hard time getting back up after they fall, and can drown in just one inch of water.
READ MORE OF THE STORY HERE AND SEE VIDEO
Friday, July 2, 2010
Wild West 2.0 hits the nation by storm! The reality of the dangers that lurk online
Your kids use the Internet, you use it, so do your family and friends.
We live in a digital frontier and it’s not going away. Our kids spend most of their time on the Internet which is a virtual playground for online bullies, cyber attackers, stalkers and predators.
You use the Internet for business, or you might be looking for a job, trying to make new friends or even find your mate online. You’d be surprised how many online dangers lurk online for adults as well.
There are moms who bully, people who want to ruin other’s reputations, stalkers and other cyber attackers.
No doubt about it -- the Internet IS your life!
While setting up Google alerts for you and your kids are a good practice, people aren’t going to check to see what “he said …she said”, and who is telling the truth.
Wild West 2.0 already in its second print has hit book shelves across the nation! And it’s a must read for every parent!
READ THE ENTIRE STORY HERE
We live in a digital frontier and it’s not going away. Our kids spend most of their time on the Internet which is a virtual playground for online bullies, cyber attackers, stalkers and predators.
You use the Internet for business, or you might be looking for a job, trying to make new friends or even find your mate online. You’d be surprised how many online dangers lurk online for adults as well.
There are moms who bully, people who want to ruin other’s reputations, stalkers and other cyber attackers.
No doubt about it -- the Internet IS your life!
While setting up Google alerts for you and your kids are a good practice, people aren’t going to check to see what “he said …she said”, and who is telling the truth.
Wild West 2.0 already in its second print has hit book shelves across the nation! And it’s a must read for every parent!
READ THE ENTIRE STORY HERE
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Norton online family protects families worldwide
This week Norton/Symantec announced that its award-winning online family safety service, Norton Online Family, will now be offered for free worldwide in 25 languages.
Previously available in English only, the new version of Norton Online Family is the first globally available free solution to give parents the comprehensive tools they need to not just block inappropriate websites, but truly connect with their children's online lives and foster ongoing dialogue about safe Internet behaviors. According to the Norton Online Family Report, a global study that was released today, 62 percent of kids worldwide have had a negative online experience, underscoring the need for a service like Norton Online Family that helps create positive online experiences for their kids.
READ MORE ABOUT THIS STORY
Previously available in English only, the new version of Norton Online Family is the first globally available free solution to give parents the comprehensive tools they need to not just block inappropriate websites, but truly connect with their children's online lives and foster ongoing dialogue about safe Internet behaviors. According to the Norton Online Family Report, a global study that was released today, 62 percent of kids worldwide have had a negative online experience, underscoring the need for a service like Norton Online Family that helps create positive online experiences for their kids.
READ MORE ABOUT THIS STORY
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Violence By Texting. Are your teens safe?
“Textual Harassment” is a newer aspect of dating violence and it’s growing out of control.
Constant texts asking “Where r u?” Who r u with? Why aren’t u answering me? …are just a ping away on cell phones. And those pings can amount to hundreds per day.
A17-year-old New York girl was trying to break up with her boyfriend. Yet the texts she received were not only menacing but in one text he threatened to kill her.
A 22-year-old Virginia woman received 20 to 30 unrelentless texts a day wanting her back. Not taking no for an answer he texted and called 758 times.
For those digital pros, “Textual Harassment” is a big part of domestic violence and it’s gotten out of hand.
The victim will feel compelled to respond to the messages. Textual Harassers are obsessive and can text more than 100 times a day.
READ MORE OF THE STORY HERE
Constant texts asking “Where r u?” Who r u with? Why aren’t u answering me? …are just a ping away on cell phones. And those pings can amount to hundreds per day.
A17-year-old New York girl was trying to break up with her boyfriend. Yet the texts she received were not only menacing but in one text he threatened to kill her.
A 22-year-old Virginia woman received 20 to 30 unrelentless texts a day wanting her back. Not taking no for an answer he texted and called 758 times.
For those digital pros, “Textual Harassment” is a big part of domestic violence and it’s gotten out of hand.
The victim will feel compelled to respond to the messages. Textual Harassers are obsessive and can text more than 100 times a day.
READ MORE OF THE STORY HERE
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Gov Paterson pushes anti-bully hotline for schools one day after news reports a kid who was bullied
Bullying is a problem that affects millions of students of all races and classes. 1 out of 4 kids is bullied and 42% of kids have been bullied while online. Child and teen Bullying and Cyberbullying are at an all-time high. Some kids are so tormented that suicide has become an alternative for them. It has everyone worried. Not just the kids on its receiving end, but the parents, teachers and others who may not understand how extreme bullying can get.
New York does not have anti-bullying legislation – but maybe they will as a last hurrah for Governor David Paterson.
A day after the Daily News wrote about a teen being routinely harassed at his school, Governor Paterson announced he had submitted a bill to assist kids in trouble. Perhaps he wasn’t aware of all of the other kids in New York who have been harassed at school since he’s been in office … but we’re glad he’s finally taking notice.
The legislation which is way overdue, would require every school to post the state's school violence hotline so that students could have quick access to services.
Read more of the story here
New York does not have anti-bullying legislation – but maybe they will as a last hurrah for Governor David Paterson.
A day after the Daily News wrote about a teen being routinely harassed at his school, Governor Paterson announced he had submitted a bill to assist kids in trouble. Perhaps he wasn’t aware of all of the other kids in New York who have been harassed at school since he’s been in office … but we’re glad he’s finally taking notice.
The legislation which is way overdue, would require every school to post the state's school violence hotline so that students could have quick access to services.
Read more of the story here
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Mayor Bloomberg encourages NY fathers to be more active in their kids’ lives
Kudos to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as he told news sources about his plans to hire a fatherhood-services coordinator as part of an initiative to encourage dads to be more active in their children's lives. This comes as great news to all of the child advocates in New York City.
Mayor Bloomberg told news sources that "Strong families make a strong New York. But too many children in this city are growing up without their fathers." The administration reports that 32 percent of all children under 17 in New York City grow up in a fatherless household.
Read more of the story here
Monday, June 14, 2010
A View From A Bully's Parent
We asked mom Maggie Vink to give us her view as a bully’s parent in hopes that it will spur other parents to get help for their kids who are bullies.
The inner Mama Bear. I think all parents have that desire to stand up and protect their kids when they’re being hurt or wronged in any way. But while it is a parent’s job to advocate for and protect our children, if we’re not honest about our kid’s behavior we’re missing a great opportunity for education.
I adopted my son just before he started fourth grade. Soon after starting school, he came home with stories about this kid or that kid being mean to him. My inner Mama Bear was riled but — being a newbie parent — I wasn’t sure exactly what to do about it. Should I call the school? Call the other parents? While I hesitated on the best way to support my son, I did talk to him about how to handle the situation — I suggested ignoring it, playing with different kids, or telling an adult. What I didn’t do, was pause and question whether the story my son was telling me was the whole truth.
One day I had the opportunity to go to my son’s school and watch the kids playing on the playground. Just sitting back and watching your child interact with a group is something all parents should do from time to time. What I saw surprised me… and not in a good way. My son was continuously being unfair or downright mean to other kids. He was literally pushing and shoving kids in order to be first in line. When playing basketball, he’d hog the ball and never pass it to teammates even when there was no way for him to get a shot. He would boot others out of the pitching position in kickball and then wouldn’t give up the position long after it should have been someone else’s turn. While he never called any other kids names or said mean things, he was clearly ignoring the needs and wants of other kids in order to get his own way. What’s more, he was joyfully playing and seemed completely oblivious to the fact that he was hurting the others’ feelings.
While I believed his behavior to be unintentional and I knew he didn’t have any desire to hurt others, my son was being selfish. He was being unkind. He was being a bully.
My son spent his first ten years in complete inconsistency, bouncing from home to home in the foster care system. While he was blessed to have several good foster homes, each had a different set of rules, each had different levels of involvement in his life, and he switched schools with each move he made. What’s more, when he was very young and still with his birth family, my son had had literally no exposure to other children and no opportunity to develop social skills.
I immediately began working on social skills with my son. We talked about being a good friend and I’d make sure he treated me fairly when we were playing board games or kicking a soccer ball around in the backyard. I also watched all of my son’s soccer practices and would later discuss situations with him — trying to show him how other kids felt when he rudely stepped in front of them in order to be the first in a drill.
My son was still having a difficult time seeing how his behavior could hurt others, yet he was acutely aware of how they could make him feel. It wasn’t long before his behavior on the school playground started to annoy and frustrate other kids. One group of boys in particular started making a daily habit of following my son around and quietly taunting him. They’d tease him, call him names, and encourage the other kids to exclude my son from play. My son had gone from being the bully to being bullied.
My son’s school had a zero tolerance policy on bullying. While I believe the system to be good in theory, it’s unfortunately flawed. When the other boys would taunt and tease my son, my quick-to-anger child would fight back loudly and without concern of being caught. Subsequently, my son would get in trouble and the boys who repeatedly teased him would get off with no consequences at all.
I could have just let the inner Mama Bear in me out. I could have fought with the school, denying that my maligned child deserved any consequences and arguing that the other kids were the real ones who needed punishment. I could have seen my son as completely innocent in the situation. But that would have done my son no good whatsoever.
It was my job to talk to the school, accept the appropriate consequences my son was given, and to try to make sure that all kids involved were given consequences . And it was also my job to recognize that my son had a played a significant role in his playground woes and to help him overcome it.
Bullying isn’t always clear cut. It’s not necessarily that “bad kids” are bullies and “good, innocent kids” are bullied. Sometimes it’s just low self esteem, poor social skills, or previous hurts that lead a child to act like a bully.
Instead of letting my inner Mama Bear take over, I took a proactive stance. I enrolled my son in a bullying/social skills class at his therapy clinic, friendship skills became a frequent topic with his therapist, I invited other kids over to our house for one-on-one playtime that I could observe, I worked closely with my son’s teacher, I watched my son’s sports practices and games, and how to “think like a friend” became an ongoing lesson in our house. I also worked with my son on developing empathy and taught him how to read body language.
My son doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. When he started to understand how his behavior made other kids feel is when his behavior started to improve. My son has been with me for several years now — he’s lived with me longer than he ever lived with any one foster home. His social behavior has improved by leaps and bounds, but it continues to be a work in progress. He still likes to be first in line for everything and has to fight down that urge. He still wants to be quarterback or pitcher or goalie and has to actively remember to give other kids a turn. And he has to work hard to control his angry reactions when other kids aren’t very nice to him. But he’s more generous now, he pays attention to other’s feelings, and he’s more fair when playing. He now has a large group of great kids he can truly call friends — had his social skills not improved, I sincerely doubt that he would have these friends.
It’s extremely hard as a parent to admit that your child can be a bully. But how can we help our kids if we aren’t honest about their behavior? My son isn’t a bad kid by any stretch of the imagination. But if I had simply fought to protect him when the other kids were teasing and excluding him, I would have missed the root of the problem. I would have missed the opportunity to teach my son how to be a better friend. And my son would have missed out on the opportunity to have real, non-combative friendships like he enjoys today.
What to do if your child is a bully
The inner Mama Bear. I think all parents have that desire to stand up and protect their kids when they’re being hurt or wronged in any way. But while it is a parent’s job to advocate for and protect our children, if we’re not honest about our kid’s behavior we’re missing a great opportunity for education.
I adopted my son just before he started fourth grade. Soon after starting school, he came home with stories about this kid or that kid being mean to him. My inner Mama Bear was riled but — being a newbie parent — I wasn’t sure exactly what to do about it. Should I call the school? Call the other parents? While I hesitated on the best way to support my son, I did talk to him about how to handle the situation — I suggested ignoring it, playing with different kids, or telling an adult. What I didn’t do, was pause and question whether the story my son was telling me was the whole truth.
One day I had the opportunity to go to my son’s school and watch the kids playing on the playground. Just sitting back and watching your child interact with a group is something all parents should do from time to time. What I saw surprised me… and not in a good way. My son was continuously being unfair or downright mean to other kids. He was literally pushing and shoving kids in order to be first in line. When playing basketball, he’d hog the ball and never pass it to teammates even when there was no way for him to get a shot. He would boot others out of the pitching position in kickball and then wouldn’t give up the position long after it should have been someone else’s turn. While he never called any other kids names or said mean things, he was clearly ignoring the needs and wants of other kids in order to get his own way. What’s more, he was joyfully playing and seemed completely oblivious to the fact that he was hurting the others’ feelings.
While I believed his behavior to be unintentional and I knew he didn’t have any desire to hurt others, my son was being selfish. He was being unkind. He was being a bully.
My son spent his first ten years in complete inconsistency, bouncing from home to home in the foster care system. While he was blessed to have several good foster homes, each had a different set of rules, each had different levels of involvement in his life, and he switched schools with each move he made. What’s more, when he was very young and still with his birth family, my son had had literally no exposure to other children and no opportunity to develop social skills.
I immediately began working on social skills with my son. We talked about being a good friend and I’d make sure he treated me fairly when we were playing board games or kicking a soccer ball around in the backyard. I also watched all of my son’s soccer practices and would later discuss situations with him — trying to show him how other kids felt when he rudely stepped in front of them in order to be the first in a drill.
My son was still having a difficult time seeing how his behavior could hurt others, yet he was acutely aware of how they could make him feel. It wasn’t long before his behavior on the school playground started to annoy and frustrate other kids. One group of boys in particular started making a daily habit of following my son around and quietly taunting him. They’d tease him, call him names, and encourage the other kids to exclude my son from play. My son had gone from being the bully to being bullied.
My son’s school had a zero tolerance policy on bullying. While I believe the system to be good in theory, it’s unfortunately flawed. When the other boys would taunt and tease my son, my quick-to-anger child would fight back loudly and without concern of being caught. Subsequently, my son would get in trouble and the boys who repeatedly teased him would get off with no consequences at all.
I could have just let the inner Mama Bear in me out. I could have fought with the school, denying that my maligned child deserved any consequences and arguing that the other kids were the real ones who needed punishment. I could have seen my son as completely innocent in the situation. But that would have done my son no good whatsoever.
It was my job to talk to the school, accept the appropriate consequences my son was given, and to try to make sure that all kids involved were given consequences . And it was also my job to recognize that my son had a played a significant role in his playground woes and to help him overcome it.
Bullying isn’t always clear cut. It’s not necessarily that “bad kids” are bullies and “good, innocent kids” are bullied. Sometimes it’s just low self esteem, poor social skills, or previous hurts that lead a child to act like a bully.
Instead of letting my inner Mama Bear take over, I took a proactive stance. I enrolled my son in a bullying/social skills class at his therapy clinic, friendship skills became a frequent topic with his therapist, I invited other kids over to our house for one-on-one playtime that I could observe, I worked closely with my son’s teacher, I watched my son’s sports practices and games, and how to “think like a friend” became an ongoing lesson in our house. I also worked with my son on developing empathy and taught him how to read body language.
My son doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. When he started to understand how his behavior made other kids feel is when his behavior started to improve. My son has been with me for several years now — he’s lived with me longer than he ever lived with any one foster home. His social behavior has improved by leaps and bounds, but it continues to be a work in progress. He still likes to be first in line for everything and has to fight down that urge. He still wants to be quarterback or pitcher or goalie and has to actively remember to give other kids a turn. And he has to work hard to control his angry reactions when other kids aren’t very nice to him. But he’s more generous now, he pays attention to other’s feelings, and he’s more fair when playing. He now has a large group of great kids he can truly call friends — had his social skills not improved, I sincerely doubt that he would have these friends.
It’s extremely hard as a parent to admit that your child can be a bully. But how can we help our kids if we aren’t honest about their behavior? My son isn’t a bad kid by any stretch of the imagination. But if I had simply fought to protect him when the other kids were teasing and excluding him, I would have missed the root of the problem. I would have missed the opportunity to teach my son how to be a better friend. And my son would have missed out on the opportunity to have real, non-combative friendships like he enjoys today.
What to do if your child is a bully
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Are supermarket carts safe for your kids?
Last week a New York City mom was checking out her local supermarket and looked down to see her toddler’s leg stuck in the narrowest bar of the shopping cart. Her daughter’s leg was completely stuck.
While the toddler cried the mom tried to remain calm by slowly slipping her leg back out, but it wouldn’t move. The checkout lady, manager and security all came to their rescue to no avail. Someone cried “get the Crisco oil”, another yelled “don’t touch it” and someone yelled “call 911.”
The poor mom was panic stricken and screamed for someone to get a cutter which is used to cut large metal bike locks.
Someone came to the rescues with the metal cutters but the frantic mom couldn’t help but think “Do it and don’t miss” and prayed her daughter’s leg or ankle would not be broken.
Soon the little girl was free with only a few scratches and bruises.
Read more of the story here
While the toddler cried the mom tried to remain calm by slowly slipping her leg back out, but it wouldn’t move. The checkout lady, manager and security all came to their rescue to no avail. Someone cried “get the Crisco oil”, another yelled “don’t touch it” and someone yelled “call 911.”
The poor mom was panic stricken and screamed for someone to get a cutter which is used to cut large metal bike locks.
Someone came to the rescues with the metal cutters but the frantic mom couldn’t help but think “Do it and don’t miss” and prayed her daughter’s leg or ankle would not be broken.
Soon the little girl was free with only a few scratches and bruises.
Read more of the story here
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Teen Pregnancy and How to Prevent It
We have all heard the expression "kids don't come with instructions" and it's so true -- they don't.
And when teens become parents they are not emotionally mature enough to handle parenthood.
How is a parent to know if their teens are sexually active? If they are ... are they taking precautions?
Parents can learn The Real Truth about Teens and Sex by Sabrina Weil, President of Weill Media and former Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen Magazine.
The results are revealed for the first time in The Real Truth about Teens and Sex. This book is a great tool for parents to learn about their teens sexual activity and how to keep them from becoming teen parents.
Although teen pregnancy has been on the decline over the past decade, more and more teens are having sex.
According to facts at http://www.stayteen.org/ three out of ten teenage girls in the United States get pregnant at least one before age 20 -- that amounts to 745,000 teen pregnancies each year.
The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the industrialized world -- twice as high as in England or Canada and eight times as high as in the Netherlands or Japan.
Click here to read more of the story
And when teens become parents they are not emotionally mature enough to handle parenthood.
How is a parent to know if their teens are sexually active? If they are ... are they taking precautions?
Parents can learn The Real Truth about Teens and Sex by Sabrina Weil, President of Weill Media and former Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen Magazine.
The results are revealed for the first time in The Real Truth about Teens and Sex. This book is a great tool for parents to learn about their teens sexual activity and how to keep them from becoming teen parents.
Although teen pregnancy has been on the decline over the past decade, more and more teens are having sex.
According to facts at http://www.stayteen.org/ three out of ten teenage girls in the United States get pregnant at least one before age 20 -- that amounts to 745,000 teen pregnancies each year.
The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the industrialized world -- twice as high as in England or Canada and eight times as high as in the Netherlands or Japan.
Click here to read more of the story
Friday, June 4, 2010
Bullying continues to take lives. When will it stop?
Scott Walz should be celebrating his high school graduation from Johnsburg High School in McHenry County, IL.
He can’t. Scott took his life this past March 4th as a result of years of being bullied. His family says the school didn’t do enough to stop it.
Sadly this is not a surprise. Most schools don’t do enough. Some do nothing. The victims endure torment and pain.
Scott’s mom told CBS news that Scott was quiet and shy. He had a black belt in Karate but never fought back – even after nine years of being bullied. He was even beaten up and choked to the point of passing out.
Bullying and cyberbullying hurt. The pain can be devastating!
And this past Monday on Memorial Day, Christian Taylor, a 16-year-old freshman at Grafton High School in Yorktown, Va., took his own life after reportedly enduring months of relentless bullying.
Scott Walz (Illinois), Christian Taylor (Virginia), Alexis Pilkington (New York), Phoebe Prince (Massachusetts), Celina Okwuone and Hope Witsell (Florida), Ryan Halligan (Vermont) and all of the others who took their lives were tormented on a daily basis. But they might be here today if their schools had listened – if they took a stand against all forms of bullying.
Read more of the story here
He can’t. Scott took his life this past March 4th as a result of years of being bullied. His family says the school didn’t do enough to stop it.
Sadly this is not a surprise. Most schools don’t do enough. Some do nothing. The victims endure torment and pain.
Scott’s mom told CBS news that Scott was quiet and shy. He had a black belt in Karate but never fought back – even after nine years of being bullied. He was even beaten up and choked to the point of passing out.
Bullying and cyberbullying hurt. The pain can be devastating!
And this past Monday on Memorial Day, Christian Taylor, a 16-year-old freshman at Grafton High School in Yorktown, Va., took his own life after reportedly enduring months of relentless bullying.
Scott Walz (Illinois), Christian Taylor (Virginia), Alexis Pilkington (New York), Phoebe Prince (Massachusetts), Celina Okwuone and Hope Witsell (Florida), Ryan Halligan (Vermont) and all of the others who took their lives were tormented on a daily basis. But they might be here today if their schools had listened – if they took a stand against all forms of bullying.
Read more of the story here
Sunday, May 30, 2010
The baby is coming …Dr. Jeff Gardere educates young fathers to be on VH1 “Dad Camp”
Where are the fathers?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 24 million children live apart from their biological fathers. That is 1 out of every 3 (33%) children in America. Nearly 2 in 3 (65%) African American children live in father-absent homes. Over 1 in 3 (34%) Hispanic children, and 1 in 4 (25%) white children live in father-absent homes.
Last year, President Obama challenged young men to step up as fathers, urging them to recognize that their “responsibility does not end at conception.”
VH1 and Dr. Jeff Gardere are coming to the rescue with their new show “Dad Camp.”
Dr. Jeff Gardere is a licensed psychologist and national relationship expert in New York City who prepares six young twenty-something young men for fatherhood in this VH1 eight-episode series.
Here the young fathers will face reality: A baby is on the way! Through parenting classes, personal challenges and powerful couple and group therapy, these young couples will learn about responsibility and the dedication, commitment and importance of selflessness that they must make to their children ... because it's the right thing to do and because fatherhood can be a positive and rewarding experience.
In each episode, Dr. Jeff offers intensive parenting lessons and challenges to prepare these young men for fatherhood. They’ll learn about parental nurturing, conquering their fears and commitment.
"Dad Camp’s” goal is to educate these young men and turn them into responsible fathers, when they’d much rather be out with their friends and other young women, spend time playing video games, drinking, using drugs, etc.
Dad Camp also addresses many of today’s societal issues, including the importance of male role models, absent fathers and the struggles of being a young parent.
The degree of risk to children of very young parents may be determined by the financial, social, and emotional stresses these families face. Yet, few participate in parenting education.
Click here to read more of the article
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Congress Working to Ban Drop-Side Cribs
According to the Associated Press, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is preparing legislation to ban the manufacture, sale and resale of all drop-side cribs, as well as ban them from day-care centers and hotels. Gillibrand hopes the legislation that will be introduced this week, will accelerate efforts for a ban, either via Congress or the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and draw concerns to parents who are using them drop-side cribs.
Senator Gillibrand is pushing this because 6-month-old Bobby Cirigliano of North Bellmore, NY died as a result of his drop-side crib. The side rail on his drop-side crib slid off the tracks and trapped his head and neck between the mattress and the malfunctioning side rail. His face pressed against the mattress. Sadly he suffocated.
Bobby was one of at least 32 infants and toddlers since 2000 who suffocated or were strangled in a drop-side crib, which has a side that moves up and down to allow parents to lift children from the cribs more easily than cribs with fixed sides. Drop-sides, which have been around for decades and used by many of today's parents, are suspected in an additional 14 infant fatalities during that time.
CPSC which regulates cribs, has warned about the problem. Its chairman, Inez Tenenbaum, has pledged to ban the manufacture and sale of cribs by the end of the year with a new performance standard that would make fixed-side cribs mandatory. It could be several months into 2011 before becoming effective.
The industry has already started phasing out drop-sides and big retailers such as Babies R Us and Wal-Mart have taken them off sale floors. However with Internet, many of these cribs are still for sale online, giving cause for Congress to get involved.
Senator Giilbrand said "There's a great urgency here. We have to make sure that no parent is unaware that drop-side cribs could kill their children. There still are thousands and thousands of children who are sleeping every night in drop-side cribs and we need to protect them.”
The Senator will outline her bill today in a news conference joined by Bobby Cirigliano's parents and the family of 10-month-old Tyler Witte, who died in a drop-side crib in 1997.
Read more about this story here
Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association
CPSC crib information
House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing
Senator Gillibrand is pushing this because 6-month-old Bobby Cirigliano of North Bellmore, NY died as a result of his drop-side crib. The side rail on his drop-side crib slid off the tracks and trapped his head and neck between the mattress and the malfunctioning side rail. His face pressed against the mattress. Sadly he suffocated.
Bobby was one of at least 32 infants and toddlers since 2000 who suffocated or were strangled in a drop-side crib, which has a side that moves up and down to allow parents to lift children from the cribs more easily than cribs with fixed sides. Drop-sides, which have been around for decades and used by many of today's parents, are suspected in an additional 14 infant fatalities during that time.
CPSC which regulates cribs, has warned about the problem. Its chairman, Inez Tenenbaum, has pledged to ban the manufacture and sale of cribs by the end of the year with a new performance standard that would make fixed-side cribs mandatory. It could be several months into 2011 before becoming effective.
The industry has already started phasing out drop-sides and big retailers such as Babies R Us and Wal-Mart have taken them off sale floors. However with Internet, many of these cribs are still for sale online, giving cause for Congress to get involved.
Senator Giilbrand said "There's a great urgency here. We have to make sure that no parent is unaware that drop-side cribs could kill their children. There still are thousands and thousands of children who are sleeping every night in drop-side cribs and we need to protect them.”
The Senator will outline her bill today in a news conference joined by Bobby Cirigliano's parents and the family of 10-month-old Tyler Witte, who died in a drop-side crib in 1997.
Read more about this story here
Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association
CPSC crib information
House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing
Friday, May 7, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
"To Save A Life" the movie. It's about choices. What's yours?
There is help!
You have choices and it's all about the choices you make! Whatever is hurting you so bad that you would even think of suicide has a solution. And that's NOT suicide.
Suicide is NEVER the answer. It ends all of your dreams, it's permanent -- you can't take it back, it hurts the people who love you --- and it doesn't solve the problem that's hurting you!
While Love Our Children USA and STOMP Out Bullying does not endorse any particular religious organization or group, we encourage you to see the movie "To Save A Life" and then spread the word!
It can save your life, it can save the life of someone you know. It's up to all of us to help!
An all-star athlete and his girlfriend find their lives spinning out of control when Jake loses a childhood friend. Help comes when he reaches out to others who are hurting, and he realizes some people are just dying to be heard.
The movie asks...
How far would you go?
How much would you risk?
How hard would you fight...TO SAVE A LIFE
See the movie TO SAVE A LIFE in theaters near you.
Visit http://www.stompoutbullying.org/ and remember -- you can save a life --- you can save your life!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Talking To Kids How To Cope With The Earthquake in Haiti
It is heartbreaking to hear about the devastating earthquake in Haiti. At Love Our Children USA our hearts go out to everyone who has been so tragically impacted by this unspeakable disaster.
Natural disasters can be especially traumatic for children of all ages. Experiencing a devastating earthquake, a dangerous or violent flood or any violent act of mother nature is frightening even for adults -- and the devastation children and teens hear and read about can be long lasting and upsetting.
When an entire community is impacted, it undermines a child’s sense of security and normalcy. Many unique issues and coping challenges must be presented, including issues associated with specific types of natural disasters ... where will people relcoate to when their home and/or community have been destroyed, what happens to their family and friends, and a myriad opf questions. It is up to parents to lessen the trauma for kids in a way that they can handle their emotional reactions and coping techniques.
Children look to the adults in their lives for guidance on how to manage their reactions after the immediate threat is over.
Always reassure your children that they are safe. Teach kids that earthquakes are a part of nature and can be unpredictable.
Parents, teachers, and other caregivers can help children and youth cope in the aftermath of a natural disaster by remaining calm and reassuring children that they will be all right. Immediate response efforts should emphasize teaching effective coping strategies, fostering supportive relationships, and helping children understand the situation and their reactions.
Schools can help play an important role is in this process by providing a stable and familiar environment. Through the support of caring school personnel, kids can return to normal activities and routines (to the extent possible), and be presented with an opportunity to change a frightening event into a learning experience -- even a fundraising experience.
For older kids, this can be a good opportunity to help them turn a passive viewing experience into one where they funnel the emotions from some disturbing media images into positive action. This can be done by helping to raise money through local organizations.
Don't let kids under seven watch the news. Turn off the TV and radio news. Read the newspaper out of range so that kids can't be frightened by the pictures. Children this young don’t need to see or hear about something that will only scare them. Should you choose to discuss the tragedy with your kids, try to anticipate their questions and come up with honest but age- appropriate answers.
Read more at Love Our Children USA's web site and on my Examiner.com article at http://bit.ly/8h0wn9
Natural disasters can be especially traumatic for children of all ages. Experiencing a devastating earthquake, a dangerous or violent flood or any violent act of mother nature is frightening even for adults -- and the devastation children and teens hear and read about can be long lasting and upsetting.
When an entire community is impacted, it undermines a child’s sense of security and normalcy. Many unique issues and coping challenges must be presented, including issues associated with specific types of natural disasters ... where will people relcoate to when their home and/or community have been destroyed, what happens to their family and friends, and a myriad opf questions. It is up to parents to lessen the trauma for kids in a way that they can handle their emotional reactions and coping techniques.
Children look to the adults in their lives for guidance on how to manage their reactions after the immediate threat is over.
Always reassure your children that they are safe. Teach kids that earthquakes are a part of nature and can be unpredictable.
Parents, teachers, and other caregivers can help children and youth cope in the aftermath of a natural disaster by remaining calm and reassuring children that they will be all right. Immediate response efforts should emphasize teaching effective coping strategies, fostering supportive relationships, and helping children understand the situation and their reactions.
Schools can help play an important role is in this process by providing a stable and familiar environment. Through the support of caring school personnel, kids can return to normal activities and routines (to the extent possible), and be presented with an opportunity to change a frightening event into a learning experience -- even a fundraising experience.
For older kids, this can be a good opportunity to help them turn a passive viewing experience into one where they funnel the emotions from some disturbing media images into positive action. This can be done by helping to raise money through local organizations.
Don't let kids under seven watch the news. Turn off the TV and radio news. Read the newspaper out of range so that kids can't be frightened by the pictures. Children this young don’t need to see or hear about something that will only scare them. Should you choose to discuss the tragedy with your kids, try to anticipate their questions and come up with honest but age- appropriate answers.
Read more at Love Our Children USA's web site and on my Examiner.com article at http://bit.ly/8h0wn9
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