The Most Important Back to School Tools

Once again, summer flew by and it's time for school again for most.  Back to school time can be met with mixed emotions for young people. It may be a positive change for some as a chance to see many of their friends again, be involved in some of their favorite activities, and get into the routine.

Yet, there are a lot of young people who dread the thought of walking through those doors again in the fall for various reasons.  For many kids and teens, they may even get physically sick from the anxiety it brings.

Some of the things that may be viewed negatively may be as simple as getting out of bed earlier and having homework to more serious issues like bullying, peer pressure, social anxiety (or not feeling  accepted), not having enough money to keep up with the latest trends or having major difficulty keeping up academically.  Some young people my express their anxiety and fears regarding these issues, but some may keep it to themselves.

So while its important to fill all the supply lists and get them the pencils and notebooks they need, the most important back to school tools parents can give their teens is a little extra time and effort helping them gain the tools that could make their school year much more successful.

Following are some suggestions for helping the year be a little less intimidating and a possibly a bit more successful:

* Assurance- assuring your child that their family loves them no matter what
* Encouragement - building self esteem with affirming words and actions
* Training - helping your child re-adjust to a routine before the first day of school
* Balance-helping the child maintain a balance between work and  "play"
* Character building - helping the child to develop new habits and positive responses to 
   challenges with people and situations

Enjoy the last few days of summer as you all gear up for another school year!

Don't forget to take "your time", parents!

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Parenting, when done well, requires a lot - emotionally and physically.  Especially these days, when schedules are packed, homework can take hours and teens are involved in various extracurricular activities.  It can get very overwhelming!

Even if you are a parent who feels like you haven't necessarily "snapped" or  you are able to keep it all under control,  the stress and demands on a parent can many times lead to burn out, frustration, yelling matches and criticism among other things.  None of which contribute to a healthy environment.

It's very important for hands on parents and caretakers to make sure that they get some time for themselves doing things that refresh and encourage them and help them to be a better person overall.  Some examples may include: taking time to enjoy a hobby, getting a night out with friends, getting regular exercise, having a date with your spouse or being involved in their place of faith.

Whatever that may look like to you, take some time today, mom or dad.  You deserve it!

Parents/guardians, what are some of the things that help you to refresh in the busy world of parenting?

Who's Responsible?

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Does it seem like kids/teens are getting more privileges and less responsibility these days?!  It's not uncommon for young people to have new cars, smart phones (even for tweens and younger), expensive electronics, $400 prom dresses, and unlimited gas money etc., yet not be expected to make their bed, get a job or take out the trash.   

There are many well meaning parents who want to give their kids a good life and possibly a better life than they had growing up, but could they actually be doing more harm than good sometimes?!

There is no perfect formula for how much responsibility and privilege a young person needs to become balanced and responsible.  Each family is different in how each person is expected to contribute to the home and surrounding community.  Responsibility, however, is an essential part of becoming a mature adult.  

Below are a few ideas that may be helpful in building responsibility in teens and even in younger children.

:: Assign age appropriate chores within the home (with or without 
   allowence).

:: [For teens] summer work outside the home - mow lawns, babysit, 
   clean pools, paper route, life guard at a local pool, etc. 

:: Open a bank account and teach them how to manage their money.

:: Have them open a library account and allow them to be responsible 
   for returning books, DVDs and CDs on time and/or pay the fines 
   themselves.

:: Teach them a new life skill - laundry, changing a tire, cooking a 
   meal, balancing a budget/checkbook, changing the oil, etc. 


We have to be careful, as parents, in our attempts to give our kids a good life, that we don't raise entitled, irresponsible or possibly lazy adults.  Let's not deny them opportunities to become responsible, mature and confident contributors to society.   


Parents/guardians, what do think? You are in the trenches everyday with the very people we are talking about.  We would love to hear your input.  

What are some ways that the tweens and teens in your family are learning responsibility?  How do they contribute to the home and community? 

Do Some Investing This Summer

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Many parents count down the last days of school as they wait for the opportunity to spend some extra time with their kids during the summer.  Some parents may also count down the days until school starts again.

Regardless of which group you fit into, most kids are home an extra 35 +/- hours a week during the summer.  That's a whole lot of extra time at home.

Although summer break is nearly half over, it's not to late to be intentional about spending quality and quantity time with your kids.  Obviously, not everyone has ample vacation days or funds to spend on their kids during the summer.  However, spending quality time with your kids doing simple activities will create special memories that will last a lifetime.

Parents don't have to clean out their bank accounts to make special memories with their kids.  There are so many activities that are free or cost very little.  Here are a few ideas:

:: Camp outside under the stars - even if it's in your backyard. 
:: Grab a fishing pole and head to a pond or lake.
:: What sport/activity does your child enjoy?  Do it with him/her.
:: Cook a meal together.
:: Have lunch or dinner at a local park or lake. 
:: Check out free local outdoor activities in your community. 
:: Been to the zoo lately? 
:: Go unplugged - play some board games, card games or "pictionary".
:: What kind of nature does your community offer?  Go for a hike, spend time at the lake, or do  
   some rock climbing or head out on the bike trails.
:: Teach them a new skill.  Do you know how to change a tire? Do laundry? Cook? Mow the
    lawn? Sew? Play an instrument? Paint a portrait? Fix something? Take quality photos?
:: Give back - serve at a local soup kitchen or lend a hand to some elderly neighbors.

Time is a priceless commodity.  When you invest it in your children, the returns are plentiful.

Is There a Bully in Your Home?

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Bullying.  Unfortunately, this term has become way too common in American schools and social media. Most of us have heard (or experienced) some of the horrible stories of just how serious bullying can be and the detrimental effects it can have on the lives of young people.  

A new report came out last week that said bullying among siblings was as harmful and destructive as bullying outside of the home (i.e. at school, etc.).

That is probably not much of a surprise, but what may be surprising is the level of bullying that occurs in many homes among siblings.

The biggest piece of advice that experts give is to have a NO TOLERANCE policy at home, as well.  Child and adolescent psychiatrist, of the Uniersity of Texas Medical Branch, Dr. Robin Mallett gives some tips on avoiding this problem at home:

• Establish values and rules: Bullying is not tolerated;
• Don’t exhibit aggressive behavior yourself, particularly when your children are around;
• Reward positive behavior and kindness between siblings;
• Acknowledge and praise individual traits of each child;
• Do not “play favorites” among your children;
• Take time to build the self-esteem of each child;
• Give your children time apart during conflicts to defuse situations.

Overall, parents should not write off bullying as harmless childhood behavior by having the attitude "kids will be kids".  Bullying, at home or at school, is a very serious issue that can leave long term emotional scars.  

Parents/guardians, what are some ways that you encourage cooperation, kindness and respect among the siblings in your home?

The Blame Game

The blame game. Pointing fingers. Blame shifting. We all know about it and we have probably all done it at one point or another. It happens from government offices, to large corporations, to school classrooms, to religious communities and at home. It is as old as time. 

Part of raising children into successful and mature adults, is by helping them to understand how to take responsibility for their actions and owning up to their decisions - good and bad.

On an episode of the Dr. Phil Show regarding bullying, Dr. Phil was talking to a teenage girl who had badly beaten up one of her friends and posted the video online. There were a lot more excuses than confessions on her part. Finally, there was a little remorse shown and she basically said that what's done is done and there was nothing she could do about it now. To which Dr. Phil replied, "you can't take it back, but you can own it".

So what can parents do to help teach children to take responsibility for their actions and own up to their choices?

Here are some tips that may be helpful in doing this:

::Watch out for phrases such as:

"It's not fair."

"It's not my fault."

"But....he/she did this or that so I did this or that."

"I didn't mean to."

::Consistency and follow-through when it comes 

  to discipline.

When you set rules for your children, there should be consequences if those rules are broken...every time! Each family has their own rules/guidelines and their own consequences. Even at an early age, kids will know if you are serious about following through or if you are just nagging and threatening.

::Teach (and exemplify) respect for authority 

  and boundaries.

Teach children that they will always be accountable to someone for their actions, even when they become an adult - teachers, professors, law enforcement, their boss, the government and so on. There was an occasion when an irate parent came in yelling at the administration for punishing her child for poor behavior (making bad choices). The parent left the building ranting at how no one was going to punish her child except her. What kind of message did that send to the child?!

::Emphasize and re-emphasize the power of 

  choice: the A+B=C theory.

Yes, it's true that there are things in life that are out of our control. However, let's be honest with ourselves and say that most things that happen to us and to others are the results of choices made.

When we bring a weapon to school, we will most likely be expelled.

When we speed, we are very likely to get a speeding ticket.

When we consume more than a moderate share of junk, we are very likely to have health problems and/or become overweight.

When we don't do our homework, we are very likely to fail the class.

When we don't show up for work, we are very likely to get fired.

When we spend money that we don't have, we are very likely to go into debt.

Very simple equations really: A + B = C

::Teach them that their choices (good and bad) 

  usually affect more than just themselves:

Very rarely, do our choices affect only ourselves. Mature thinking (and planning) looks beyond our own needs, wants and desires and thinks about how it will affect those around us. Learning this at an early age will save our children and those they love a lot of heartache.

"Trying to grow up hurts. You make mistakes. You try to learn from them, and when you don't, it hurts even more." 
~Aretha Franklin

Help P.A.T.H, Help Yourself and Help Local Teens!

Some of you are long time friends and/or supporters of P.A.T.H. either through your time, finances or talents.  For some of you, P.A.T.H is a fairly new concept.  

Regardless of your relationship with P.A.T.H, it is an organization that has reached thousands of tweens and teens over the years with a positive message.  A message that empowers young people to make healthy choices for their present and future.   

Although P.A.T.H has federal funding for many of it's programs, these funds are not allocated to cover the LIV.TRUE mentoring program.  Unfortunately, this program has been suspended due to a lack of funding. LIV.TRUE after school mentoring program is a vital program that reaches out to underprivileged children in neighborhoods throughout Northwest Indiana.  

Through the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP), tax deductible donations to P.A.T.H can help change the life of a teen, his/her family and ultimately an entire community forever.  Your donation can also benefit you by getting yourself a federal tax deduction as well as a 50% state tax credit for your donation.  

If you believe in P.A.T.H and the difference these programs are making, please consider a donation today and be a part of the difference P.A.T.H is making!

Click here for more information and to donate.