 |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
The
bullies themselves often exhibit more violent behavior
as an adult than others and many end up in jail
or prison. Many do poorly in school and are not
successful in careers or relationships as an adult.
Who are the bullies?
Boys and girls both can be bullies. Male bullies
tend to be physically larger and stronger than their
victims. Many bullies are self-confident with high
self-esteem, while others are insecure on the inside.
Both types have a need to dominate their targets
and have little empathy for others.
What
to do if you are being bullied?
» Tell an adult, such as a parent, teacher,
or principal. Do not let the bully get away with
his/her behavior by remaining quite.
»
Try to remain with a group of others
when walking home from school or to class.
» Ignore the bully – walk away
with confidence and your head high
»
Instead of reacting with anger, tell
the bully that his/her behavior is unacceptable
– do not let the bully know that he/she has
upset you
What
to do if someone else is being bullied?
»
Refuse to join in with the bully
»
Draw attention away from the victim
»
If the victim is in physical danger,
immediately get help from an adult
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bullying
Bullying is a serious problem which can lead to
life-threatening violence. Bullying can be physical,
verbal, or nonverbal and creates an unhealthy atmosphere
for everyone. Report all bullying incidents to a
teacher, a parent, a law enforcement officer, or
other adult.
What
is bullying?
Bullying is when an individual or group repeatedly
picks on someone who is weaker or more vulnerable
in terms of physical strength or social standing.
It can be direct attacks such as hitting or name
calling, or indirect attacks such as spreading rumors
or exclusion.
Who
does bullying affect?
Children that are bullied suffer from stress which
can affect their school performance, concentration,
self esteem and/or cause depression. They may also
consider suicide.
Children who witness bullying may feel guilty for
not helping or reporting the incident.
Continued
on right column » |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Reducing
The Risks
»
Use parental controls to filter what
your child is allowed to access online.
» Discuss with your child about not
giving personal information (name, address, etc)
to anyone online and never upload any photos.
»
Talk to your child about never meeting
anyone in person that they have met online without
the parents knowledge
Do not allow your child to have the computer in
his/her bedroom, have it located in a common area
of your home
Explain to your child about what to do if they receive
email or instant messages that make them feel uncomfortable
or scared.
If you suspect someone of sexual exploitation, report
it to local law enforcement immediately
Signs That Your Child May
Be At Risk
»
You find pornography on your child’s
computer
»
Your child receives phone calls from
people or phone numbers that you do not know
»
Your child spends an excessive amount
of time on the computer
»
Your child turns off the monitor
or changes the screen when you enter the room
»
Your child receives mail or gifts
from someone you do not know.
Actions
To Take If You Suspect Your Child Is At Risk
»
Discuss your suspicions and the dangers
of online sexual predators with your child.
»
If you have caller ID, use it to
determine who is calling your child.
»
Monitor your child’s email
»
Report the receipt of any pornography
or sexual solicitations to the authorities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Internet Safety
It is important for parents to discuss not only
the benefits, but more importantly the dangers of
surfing the net to their children. Teenagers may
unknowingly be exposed to internet conversations
that involve adult sexual predators.
Often, these predators pose as other teenagers,
when in fact they may be 30-50 years old or older.
They may gain the teen’s confidence and lure
them into giving out personal information or convincing
the teen to meet them personally.
Potential
Risks For Children Using The Internet
»
Exposure to unsuitable material of
a sexual or violent nature.
»
Contact by a sexual predator posing
as another child or teenager.
»
Harassment or bullying by others their
age
»
Downloading viruses or malware by
visiting adult websites or unsafe websites.
Continued
on right column » |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Whatever the reason, the decision to drop out of
school can have long-term repercussions on the student’s
income, occupational choices, and self-esteem.
Students most likely
to drop out
»
Students in large cities
»
Hispanics have the highest dropout
rate
»
Students with disciplinary problems
» Students who have been held back
a grade
»
Students who have a truancy problem
Opportunities and
Earnings
» Dropouts will earn $200,000 less than high school
graduates and $800,000 less than college graduates
in their lifetime.
» Dropouts make up almost half of the households on
welfare
Nearly half of the prison population is made up
of dropouts
Prevention
»
Arrange for the student who is doing
poorly in school to have a tutor or help with making
up missed work.
»
Help the student investigate other
options to help the family financially other than
the student working full time.
»
Assist the student with understanding
the repercussions of the choices they make that
have a negative impact on their education.
» Encourage the student to get involved
in extracurricular activities. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Staying in School
Consequences of dropping out of school can affect
a person for a lifetime. Studies have shown that
high school dropouts are more likely to live in
poverty, receive government assistance, stay on
government assistance longer, be unemployed, and
become involved in crime than those who are high
school graduates.
Staying in school is more important now than ever
before. Years ago it was not necessary to have a
high school diploma to advance in some careers.
However, currently a high school dropout is unlikely
to have the knowledge or skills to succeed in today’s
technological workplace.
Students
drop out of school for many different reasons
» Some don’t like school or don’t
like the specific school they are attending.
» Sometimes the student is failing and can’t
keep up with the school work, while others have
disciplinary problems.
» Some have to go to work to help out with their family
financial situation.
Continued
on right column » |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Symptoms:
»
Frequent sadness and/or crying
»
A feeling of hopelessness
»
Low self esteem
»
Acute sensitivity to rejection
or failure
»
Social isolation
»
Low energy and motivation
»
Increased anger or irritability
»
Withdrawal from friends and
family
»
Thoughts of suicide
Sadness due to normal life stresses such as an argument
with a friend or family member, breaking up with
a boyfriend or girlfriend, or failing a test is
usually short-lived.
If a teenager has five or more of the above symptoms
for 2 weeks or more, he or she may be depressed
and should seek help.
Treatment for depression may include counseling,
medication, or both.
Depression does not mean that someone is “crazy”.
It is a physical problem that involves the chemicals
in the brain called neurotransmitters. When there
are an insufficient number of certain neurotransmitters
that regulate mood, depression occurs.
Just like you would go to the doctor if one of your
kidneys or lungs were not functioning properly,
you should seek help when you are experiencing depression.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Teen Depression
Approximately 4 out of 100 teenagers get seriously
depressed each year. Children who have experienced
a loss, are under stress, are having problems at
home or whose parents are suffering from depression,
are more likely to develop depression themselves.
Types of depression:
»
Major Depression – a
severe, short-lasting depression
»
Dysthymia - a longer-lasting
(more than 2 years) but less severe type
»
Adjustment Disorder with Depressed
Mood – a reaction to a specific life
event (death, divorce, etc.)
»
Manic-Depression or Bipolar Illness
- alternate between periods of highs and lows.
Continued
on right column » |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
»
Use of alcohol and/or drugs.
»
Poor relationships with parents,
family, and friends.
»
Having been sexually or physically
abused.
»
A previous attempted suicide.
Warning Signs
» Frequently talking about suicide or death
» No longer interested in activities that was previously
important such as sports, clubs, etc.
» A significant change in eating and/or sleeping habits
» Emotional distancing from family and friends
» Risky behavior (drinking, taking drugs, etc)
» Declining grades.
Prevention
Communicate with your child on a daily basis and
watch for the above warning signs. If your child
will not talk to you about his feelings, suggest
a he talk to a family member, school counselor,
or a clergy member.
Professional
Help
If your teen admits to suicidal thoughts, get him/her
professional help immediately.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Teen Suicide
Suicide is the third highest cause of death for
teenagers, preceded only by accidents and homicides.
Sixty percent of all teen suicides are committed
with a gun. Although girls attempt suicide twice
as often as boys, boys die from suicide four times
as often as girls.
Risk
Factors
»
A psychological disorder such
as bipolar disorder or depression.
Continued
on right column » |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Fever
» Fever is the body’s sign that it is fighting an infection.
» If the teen’s temperature is over 103° and you cannot get it down; the fever is accompanied by a stiff neck, headache and vomiting; he is having difficulty breathing; he is vomiting and/or has diarrhea; or the fever has lasted for more than three days, contact a doctor immediately.
» Never give aspirin to a child or teenager. Doctors recommend that anyone under the age of 21 should not use aspirin, especially if they have cold or flu-like symptoms. Instead, use a non-aspirin medicine such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce his fever.
Medicine
» If your teen has trouble swallowing pills, consult with the doctor as to whether the medication can be crushed and mixed with food such as applesauce.
» Never give any medications without consulting a doctor.
Hunger
Many times teenagers are not hungry when they are sick. Do not force them to eat, but make sure they get plenty of liquids to prevent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
When Your Teen Gets Sick
Taking your teen to the doctor for annual checkups will help the doctor be familiar with your teen’s physical and mental development. This will help with the assessment of your teen’s symptoms when he is sick.
If you are not sure whether or not your teen needs to be seen by a doctor, err on the side of caution. Do not worry about looking silly or being over-reactive. It is better to be for you to be wrong, than to overlook a potentially serious illness.
Symptoms
» Have your teen explain in detail what symptoms he is experiencing.
Temperature
» An average temperature ranges between 97.6 and 98.6 degrees.
» If you suspect that your teen has an elevated temperature, check it by using an oral glass-mercury thermometer or a digital type.
» When using an oral thermometer, have your teen hold the thermometer under his tongue for two to three minutes. He should not talk or open his mouth while his temperature is being taken.
Continued
on right column »
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
