Back-to-school Means Homework for Parents Too

As teens head back to the classroom this fall, they’ll be assigned a lot of homework in the three “Rs”: reading, writing, and arithmetic. Important to students’ success will be the homework parents do in teaching two other “Rs”: role modeling and responsibility.

“A parent’s words and actions provide powerful role modeling,” explains Lonnie Carton, PhD, director of teen and family resources for the Web-based “Warm2Kids” program and an advisory panel member of the “Family Talk About Drinking” program. “They teach teens what kind of behavior is expected of them and how to make good decisions. Responsible decisions include obeying the law and not getting involved in underage drinking.”

Although some parents think peer pressure is the major cause of underage drinking, the fact is parents, not peers, have the greatest influence on their teens’ choices related to this issue. According to the 2008 GfK Roper Youth Report(TM) , 71 percent of teenagers 13 to 17 say their parents are the No. 1 influence on their decisions about whether to drink.

“Parents who communicate with their sons and daughters regularly, openly and honestly on a variety of issues find it much easier to talk with and listen to them on sensitive subjects like alcohol,” Carton advises. “At the start of this new school year, I encourage mothers and fathers to take the time to sit down with their children. Discuss expectations, and emphasize the importance of making wise choices not only about underage drinking but about all other decisions.”

Carton offers these guidelines to parents for remaining a positive influence in the lives of teens:

Be Factual. Give teens the facts about underage drinking in a calm, clear manner. Simply say something like, “It’s against the law for anyone under 21 to use alcohol; our family obeys the law and we expect you to do the same.”

Know Your Child’s Friends and Their Parents. Being aware of other families’ values and rules will help you better understand what pressure your child’s friends may be putting on him or her.

Get Help if You Need It. Be aware of any changes in your teen’s behavior or attitude such as suddenly doing poorly in school, hanging out with a different group of friends whom you don’t know, or becoming disinterested in sports, music or other activities which once meant a lot, etc. If such changes occur, seek professional advice right away.

For more tips and information on responsible role-modeling, visit www.myspace.com/positiveparenting. For “Family Talk About Drinking” materials, visit www.familytalkonline.com or call (800) 359-TALK (1-800-359-8255). The materials are provided free-of-charge as a community service of Anheuser-Busch.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Your Kids Are Too Young to Have Back Problems

When your kids come home from school, are they literally weighted down with homework? Wearing a backpack so heavy, they are slumped over and leaning forward when they walk? That’s how 10-year-old Marquiese Jackson of Wichita, Kan., used to look every day.

“He’d come home from school very tired, with his shoulders slumped and kind of drooping. When he started experiencing back problems and complaining about headaches, I decided it was time to bring him to the doctor,” says the boy’s mother, Eileen Ward.

Marquiese is not alone. According to a Simmons College report, 55 percent of students carry more than the recommended guideline of 10 to 15 percent of their body weight around on their backs. Whether it’s because the child can’t get to his or her locker during the day, or simply because he is a pack rat, Dr. Jerry DeGrado, the National Backpack Safety Chairman at the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations, says it’s a huge problem.

“Numerous studies have shown that putting a lot of weight on shoulder straps causes problems with the neck, mid back and low back. It is also to blame for headaches, fatigue, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs and complications for kids who have already been diagnosed with scoliosis of the spine,” says Dr. DeGrado.

When he first saw Marquiese, Dr. DeGrado did an adjustment on his back which offered immediate relief; then told him and his mom that things had to change. “I told his mother to think of it this way. Your son weighs 65 pounds and is carrying 30 percent of his body weight or 20 pounds on his back. If you weighed 150 pounds that would be like you carrying 46 pounds around with you all day.”

After offering that explanation, Dr. DeGrado then recommended that Marquise do the following:

#1 Lighten the load.
This can be done by taking all non-essential items out of the backpack and simply leaving them home. Then rearrange the books and folders the child does need to carry, placing the heaviest materials closest to the child’s back.

#2 Purchase an ergonomically designed backpack for your child that will redistribute weight to promote an upright standing position and keep the spine straight.

Of all the ergonomically designed packs on the market, the one Dr. DeGrado likes best, and has on display in his office, is the AirPacks System by Core Products International. Developed by orthopedic professionals, the pack is clinically proven to reduce stress on the body by up to 80 percent and lighten the effective load by up to 60 percent.

To demonstrate how effective wearing the right backpack can be, Dr. DeGrado put Marquiese’s 20 pound pack inside an AirPacks, then handed it back to him and asked him to put it on. “The pack felt so much lighter, my son was convinced the doctor had taken some of his books out and hidden them somewhere,” says Ward.

The secret to the Airpacks’ effectiveness at reducing back strain is its inflatable lumbar air cushion and wide foam-cushioned shoulder straps. They work together to redistribute weight from the shoulders to the hips and lower back, promoting an upright standing position.

“Once Marquiese started using the AirPacks, he stood up straighter, stopped complaining about back pain, and said his load actually felt lighter. I’m very happy with the results,” says Ward.

Airpacks are available in many doctor’s offices throughout the country, or you can purchase one direct from the manufacturer at www.CoreProducts.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Third Annual Essay Contest Gives Kids Chance to Thank Outstanding Drivers

(ARA) – You buckle your child into her government-approved car seat in your sturdy, reliable vehicle with the high government crash test rating and side curtain airbags. You drive to school, alert and attentive, obeying all the laws of the road while carrying your precious cargo. You may think the back seat of your own car is the safest mode of transportation for your school-bound child. Think again.“America’s school bus drivers are collectively doing an outstanding job of safely transporting our children to and from school every day,” says John O’Leary, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses, the leading manufacturer of school buses in the United States. To recognize the contributions individual drivers make to children’s safety every year, Thomas Built sponsors an annual Children’s Choice School Bus Driver of the Year essay contest.

With their parents’ help, children in kindergarten through sixth grades can nominate their favorite drivers by submitting a 90-word essay on what makes their driver so special. Now in its third year, the contest runs until August 1, 2008. Winners earn a $1,000 educational savings bond and laptop computer for the nominating child and a $1,000 Visa gift card for the nominated driver. All winners and runners up also receive Thomas Built Buses jackets and Saf-T-Liner C2 school bus lunch boxes. To enter the contest, visit www.thomasbus.com/contest for complete rules and an entry form.

Completed forms and typed or legibly printed 90-word essays should be mailed to: Children’s Choice Essay Contest, HMH, 1435 W. Morehead St., Suite 140, Charlotte, NC 28208.

School buses are the safest and largest mass transportation system in the United States, according to research by the School Bus Information Council (SBIC). Consider the following eye-opening facts about school bus safety:

* Each year, the nation’s 450,000 yellow school buses annually make 8.8 billion student trips carrying 24 million children, the SBIC reports.

*While nearly equal numbers of children ride the school bus as use other modes of transportation in getting to school, in 2003, the last year for which statistics are available, five passengers were fatally injured while riding in school buses. By contrast, every year about 800 school aged children lose their lives on their way to school while either riding in private passenger vehicles, walking or biking, according to the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences.

* Long gone are the dubiously maintained and equipped school buses you might remember from your own childhood. Today’s buses have safety devices that range from specially cushioned high-backed seats, and flashing red and yellow warning lights to rollover protection, enhanced braking systems and buses can now be equipped with optional three-point lap-shoulder belts for every seat without reducing passenger capacity.

* School bus drivers undergo rigorous special training, must hold commercial drivers licenses, and submit to criminal background and substance screening tests.

“Modern school buses are outfitted with extensive safety devices but one of the most important contributors to your child’s safety is the bus driver,” O’Leary says.

To nominate your driver for “School Bus Driver” of the year, visit www.thomasbus.com/contest for complete rules and an entry form.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Though it will soon be back-to-school for all of them, students have very different needs in terms of school supplies depending on their age.

“Back-to-school shopping is certainly a universal experience, but some of the specific educational needs can be very different from one stage of schooling to another,” said Pete Gibel, Vice President of Merchandise, Staples Business Depot.

“While every student needs pens and pencils and notebooks, other items will come and go in importance depending on what stage of schooling they’re in.”

Staples Business Depot makes it easy for parents by highlighting some of the different school supplies in popularity based on students’ grade levels:

As noted, every pupil needs pens, pencils and notebooks. But in the younger elementary grades, art-related supplies such as glue sticks, 24-pack pencil crayons, erasers, markers and an 8.5 by 11-inch sketch book are also important items to add to the back-to-school shopping list.

Ditto for first sets of implements such as rulers and geometry sets. Pencil sharpeners, scissors (safety scissors for younger elementary students) and a pencil case or box are also good ideas for children at this stage.

In later elementary school years, more advanced items come into play, including a dictionary and math set (compass, protractor, triangles). And when given their first lockers, combination locks and locker organizer accessories will be new items on the list.

Moving on into high school, school supplies become more specialized and sophisticated. The pens, pencils and paper needs remain, but added into the mix are calculators, mini staplers, binders (and page reinforcements), a three-hole punch, highlighters, dividers and agendas to keep class assignments and deadlines clearly organized.

As classroom technology continues to advance, even some digital media supplies like blank CD’s and electronic organizers come into play.

“Parents shouldn’t be daunted by back-to-school shopping,” says Pete Gibel. Good sales associates are well-versed in the varying needs that change as students move up through their school years.

“And the best preparation for back-to-school shopping still lies in communication,” Pete Gibel says. “Talk to your children, and to their teachers about the kinds of activities they’ll be involved in during the upcoming school year.

“A little advance planning before heading out shopping can make the whole experience that much smoother and more enjoyable, both for the parents and the kids,” Pete Gibel said.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

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When parents send their children to school, rarely do they think of the many allergy triggers lurking in the classroom or the playground. The culprits include indoor allergens like dust from the chalkboard, mold in the locker room and dander from class pets, as well as outdoor allergens like pollen, which can travel from the recess field to the classroom on clothing and hair.

Many kids have trouble concentrating on schoolwork because they are distracted by their allergy symptoms. In fact, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, up to 40 percent of American children have allergies.

“Kids miss about two million school days a year due to bothersome symptoms like itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and a runny nose,” says Dr. Paul Ehrlich, pediatric allergist and associate chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. “They can get frustrated when allergy symptoms interrupt their day and prevent them from doing the same things their friends do.”

It’s a good idea to have a plan in place to treat your child’s allergies before they leave home. Dr. Ehrlich explains that choosing the right allergy medication is key to making sure your child stays focused while at school.

“Some allergy medicines can make children drowsy or jittery,” he says. “I suggest using Children’s Claritin since one dose lasts the entire day without making kids feel jittery or drowsy. It’s safe for kids as young as two, and it’s available in several forms including easy-to-take grape chewables and a grape syrup.”

So what else can you do to relieve your child’s allergy symptoms and prevent them from flaring up during the school day? Dr. Ehrlich offers the following tips:

* Identify the specific allergens that trigger your child’s symptoms so he or she will be able to avoid contact with them.
* Tell your child’s teachers, school nurse, coaches and caretakers about his or her allergies, triggers and medications.
* If your child is seated near classroom pets or plants, ask the teacher to change his or her seat.
* Remind your child to wash his or her hands frequently to avoid spreading allergy — causing dust, pollen, pet dander or other substances.
* Before your child leaves for school, treat allergy symptoms with a non-sedating antihistamine, such as Children’s Claritin, that will last through the school day without making him or her drowsy. That way your kid can enjoy recess and all the other activities throughout the day.

Speaking of school, allergy education goes right alongside treatment of those pesky symptoms. Kids are inquisitive by nature, and it’s important to help them understand the causes of their symptoms so they can concentrate on their schoolwork, not their allergies.

“Casey and the School Day Sneezes” is an educational story designed to help kids understand the indoor and outdoor allergy triggers they may encounter during the school day, while providing tips on how to manage them. Parents and teachers can visit www.claritin.com to order a free copy.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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New to the state, Laurie and her husband Martin found a volunteer opportunity right in their apartment building. The building superintendent was hosting a foreign exchange student with EF Foundation for Foreign Study and put them in contact with the program’s local coordinator. Things happened quickly after that.

“Two weeks later we were being interviewed,” says Scott. “A few weeks after that, our first exchange student arrived.”

The couple initially got involved in the program to help exchange students. Scott lights up when she discusses the young people her family has met through hosting. “They are all such wonderful kids,” she says. “Smart, athletic, fun to be around.”

Scott remembers that when each students arrived, it was “pretty obvious” that they were from a foreign country because they didn’t understand American customs. Once they became involved in school activities and made friends, however, they immersed themselves in the American lifestyle and gained new points of view.

“Each of our kids came to the U.S. with their own unique perspective on our society and culture, and they weren’t always positive views,” Scott says. “By the time they left us at the end of the school year, their views had totally changed. Now for the rest of their lives, they will be walking ambassadors for America.”

While the Scotts have given so much to students from abroad, she says that they have gotten so much back from them as well. “Now our family extends around the world and we have so many new places to visit,” she adds.

Emily Santillo, president of EF Foundation for Foreign Study, stresses the true exchange that takes place when families host. “The best way to experience another culture is by opening your heart and home to a young person from another country,” Santillo says. “Your family and community gain the opportunity to learn about another culture while you have a chance to share your American values and traditions.”

Laurie Scott agrees, noting that hosting exchange students can build mutual understanding for everyone involved. “We really need programs like this to understand each other. It has been a fantastic experience for us,” she says.

EF Foundation students are between 15 and 18 years old, and arrive with health insurance and their own spending money. Host families are asked to provide a room, meals and a stable family environment.

EF Foundation for Foreign Study is a non-profit organization that welcomes high school students from all over the world to live and study for a year in the United States. Since 1979, the program has helped 90,000 students from nearly 40 countries take part in international exchange.

To learn more about the EF Foundation and the steps you’ll need to take to become a host family, log on to http://www.effoundation.org or call (800) 44-SHARE.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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A new survey conducted by TNS NFO reinforces that parents are seeking advice on how to reduce their children’s stress. It shows that:

* Approximately half (49 percent) of all parents believe their child’s life would be better balanced if it was more organized

* More than 60 percent of parents feel their child would be less stressed if they had home schedules or time management coaching and tips

“With just a little organization, children’s lives could be more in control,” says parenting expert Stacy DeBroff, founder of MomCentral.com and author of “The Mom Book Goes to School: Insider Tips to Ensure Your Child Thrives in Elementary and Middle School.”

“Many kids lag behind because basic self-management and organizational skills are lacking. You might see your child struggle with planning ahead, prioritizing or managing time effectively, but the good news is all of these concepts can be taught,” she says.

To help families balance their lives and feel in control for the new school year, DeBroff recommends the following:

* Create a Family Calendar: Prioritize school assignments and extracurricular activities with a dry-erase organizer like the Day Runner family matters monthly wall InfoCenter ($15.49 to $38.99). Create a weekly ritual out of updating the calendar with your child to track the major events of the week.

* Lighten Your Little One’s Load: Select a child-friendly backpack, like the TUG by Foray line of backpacks ($9.99 to 39.99), that fit a child’s frame and are more comfortable to carry because of their ergonomic design. Plus, these backpacks have tons of pockets, which help do the organizational work for your child.

* Color Coded for Success: Assign each activity a particular color or pattern and follow through with that same pattern on tote bags, book covers, notebooks and accessories. To help kids become fully coordinated and organized, Office Depot has just introduced seven new coordinating patterns on a wide range of products ($1.99 to 9.99), including notebooks, folders and totes.

For the complete “Balanced for Success” brochure, visit www.school.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Another school year is about to get underway, and a lot of work is going on behind the scenes. While teachers are getting their classrooms and lesson plans ready, the administrative staff is taking care of all the other details that need to be settled before students arrive. One of the most important details is making sure they have an appropriate sized pool of qualified and prepared substitute teachers in place once classes get underway.

Substitute teachers impact the lives of millions of children every day. They are the individuals who fill in when a full-time teacher is out sick, on vacation or taking part in professional development training. According to a study done by Utah State University, they are in the classroom more often than you may think. The study suggests that one full year of a student’s K-12 education will have been taught by substitute teachers by the time they graduate from high school.

“Substitute teachers are part of a mission critical workforce. Without them, there is a significant disruption to the continuity of the learning process — something our achievement-driven educational system cannot afford. Given the importance of their role, it is essential that we understand the key aspects of recruiting and retaining quality substitute teachers,” says Scott Smith, vice president, Kelly Educational Staffing, employer of more than 18,000 substitute teachers across the country. His company recently polled more than 2,500 substitute teachers and found there are a few simple things school districts can do to attract and retain quality substitute teachers to their classrooms.

When asked, “What is the most important thing a full-time teacher can do to prepare for a substitute teacher to take over their classroom?” Here’s how the substitute teachers responded:

56 percent — Provide complete lesson plans
24 percent — Provide enough planned work to keep students engaged
11 percent — Establish rules for students when the regular teacher is out
5 percent — Have established classroom rules and discipline procedures posted or available
3 percent — Provide a seating chart of the students
1 percent – Provide the names of responsible students in the classroom that can assist a substitute

When asked, “What would help you most to improve your substitute teaching skills?” they responded as follows:

42 percent — Feedback regarding my performance (strengths and weaknesses) in the classroom
14 percent — More time in the classroom
12 percent — Online training courses
11 percent — In-person training courses
9 percent — Mentoring opportunities
7 percent — Additional education (i.e. bachelor’s or master’s degree)
6 percent — Additional reading materials on substitute teaching

“Our substitute teachers have told us how important feedback is to them, but our experience shows there is value in taking it a step further,” says Smith. “Recognition programs for substitute teachers that acknowledge the outstanding contributions they make to the classroom year after year create tremendous goodwill and employee satisfaction.”

How do such programs work? Take a cue from Kelly Educational Staffing, which has both internal and external employee recognition programs in place. During National Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week, the company places banners recognizing their subs in prominent places at partner schools. Twice each school year, Kelly sponsors a Substitute Teacher of the Semester Award Program to recognize substitute teachers across the U.S. for outstanding performance. Additionally, throughout the school year, teachers earn points for such things as receiving positive feedback from school administrators, principals and teachers, for taking last minute assignments, continuing skills enhancement and more. As points are earned, teachers can exchange them for a variety of merchandise or gift certificates.

Smith points out employee recognition is a win-win for both employees and employers alike. “From the employee perspective, being recognized in a meaningful way clearly communicates their contributions are valued and it gives them a sense of self worth. For the employer, providing well-deserved recognition demonstrates appreciation for outstanding performance, which enables them to consistently attract and retain quality employees.”

To learn more about Kelly Educational Staffing and how your school district can strengthen its current substitute teacher program, visit www.kellyeducationalstaffing.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Kids will be kids, and are likely to have skin contact with other children and get minor cuts while playing at home and at school. Bacteria can be spread easily from person to person, and children are at greater risk of contracting staph infection.

The words “staph infection” used to only be uttered in hospitals or healthcare facilities, but the increase in the number of recent cases reported in the general public are alarming. Bacteria can be spread easily from person to person, and children might be at the most risk. Parents and teachers alike need to learn prevention now.

Staphylococcus aureus, or simply staph, are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the noses of healthy people. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph that is resistant to antibiotics including methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as penicillin and amoxicillin.

Educate and protect yourself and your family today with these tips:

Treat and cover wounds
Any open wound is a potential entry point for MRSA. Treat wounds with StaphAseptic to kill germs that may cause infection and keep them covered for protection.

Don’t share personal items (like towels)
Germs can live on clothing and gear for over 24 hours. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, razors, soap, uniforms and any sports equipment that directly touches your body.

Shower after physical activity
If you participate in sports, shower after each event with soap. Close skin to skin contact is one of the main ways MRSA is being spread among athletes.

Properly clean gear and equipment
Germs can live on athletic mats, gym equipment, sports equipment and clothing. Clean and disinfect all objects before and after use, especially if it’s shared.

Keep hands clean
One of the easiest ways to protect yourself is to wash your hands.

Consult your physician for all active wounds
If you think you have an infection, be sure to contact your physician. In order to determine if an infection is MRSA, it must be cultured by a physician.

Understanding the importance of prevention at school, StaphAseptic is now donating MRSA education kits to schools nationwide that educate students and parents, and promote steps to staying healthy. Included is an educational DVD, a full color poster and samples of StaphAseptic to keep for the school nurse, administrators, coaches and more.

“MRSA really is a ticking time bomb,” says Dr. Mark Christensen, a registered pharmacist in Utah and Oregon and associate professor at the Oregon State University College of Pharmacy. “We have great fears that community acquired MRSA staph infections will increase dramatically — because of what we’ve seen in the hospitals (MRSA infections). There is an overwhelming fear for some of the clinicians out there.”

Commonly mistaken as spider bites, staph and MRSA infections look like a pimple, boil or ingrown hair and can be red, swollen, painful, or have drainage. Many occur in the armpits, neck, groin and buttocks where bacteria grow. More serious infections may cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or even death.

“If kids are in sports I have a real concern. Parents should be doing preventive measures immediately if there are any kinds of cuts or scrapes. It should be automatic. You really don’t know what you’re going to come in contact with out there. So even if they come in with a little owie they should try and do preventive measures like washing with a good soap and applying StaphAseptic. I think that should be basic care for kids now days,” says Dr. Christensen.

If you want a complimentary MRSA educational kit to be sent to your community school, have your school administrator or coach call (800) 482-4464 and press “0”. To learn more about staph and StaphAseptic visit www. StaphAseptic.com. StaphAseptic is available at most retail pharmacy stores.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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These outdoor adventures can promote creativity, lower stress levels, build fitter leaner bodies, inspire a sense of wonder, and instill caring and responsibility for all things wild. Green Hours can take place anywhere that provides green spaces where children can safely learn and play. Some Green Hour activities recommended by the National Wildlife Federation are:

* Go on a five senses hike
* Organize a nature scavenger hunt
* Explore a local nature trail
* Campout in the backyard
* Take a photo safari
* Put up a bird feeder and wait for visitors
* Observe a night sky
* Plant a family tree and watch it grow

Parents and caregivers can find more ideas for outdoor fun and exploration at www.greenhour.org.

Good ideas on how to experience those outdoor adventures together can also be found in Ranger Rick, the National Wildlife Federation’s award-winning children’s magazine, which is celebrating its 40th birthday this year. Happy Birthday Rick!

Ranger Rick has captivated generations of young readers with amazing photos and articles about wildlife and wildlife habitat. “Ranger Rick helped me see wildlife as something fun and exciting and curious rather than scary or dangerous,” says James Gilardi, who read Ranger Rick as a child.

Another avid reader in his youth, Gregory Watkins-Colwell, from the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, credits Ranger Rick with inspiring his chosen profession. “Ranger Rick first introduced me to the word “herpetologist” (study of reptiles and amphibians). I no longer said I was going to be an astronaut, firefighter or rock star when I grew up. No, I was going to be a herpetologist — and that’s what I am today.”

Karen Good, an environmental educator believes “The stories of Rick and the gang made me realize that I was put on this earth to take care of it. I still have the Ranger Rick nature pledge in my office.”

Ranger Rick continues to entertain and inform young readers while inspiring them to protect wildlife. Anna Lueck, age 10, says “Ranger Rick got me interested in gorillas, and I plan to use my lemonade stand as a fundraiser to help great apes.”

While the magazine is for kids 8 to 12, it appears you never outgrow your curiosity about the wild. “My grandpa gave me a subscription 25 years ago. Now, when my daughter’s Ranger Rick is delivered, I read through it even before I give it to her,” admits Tiffany Vanderhider from Spring, Texas.

Ranger Rick is often used by teachers to stimulate interest in wildlife and wild places. In 2006 the magazine received the Teachers’ Choice Award for the Family by Learning magazine (leading magazine for elementary school teachers).

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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