ParentInfo, February 1, 2007

Last Updated on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 at 5:17 AM

In this issue:

*Take Your Family to School Week

*Random Acts of Kindness

*Teen Dating Violence Prevention

*Summer Camp Planning

*Kentucky Future Leaders Foundation Scholarships

*Children’s Advocacy Day Reminder

Take Your Family to School Week

Mark your calendars and plan to visit your child’s school the week of February 11-17. It’s PTA Take Your Family to School Week, a time designed to connect families with their children’s school experiences.

As children get to middle school and beyond they become more independent, and parent involvement in their education tends to wane. Take Your Family to School Week is a perfect excuse to “re-connect” to your child’s school no matter what their age. By visiting your child’s school:

you’ll gain a new perspective and understanding of your children’s school day
teachers know you care and build positive partnerships with parents
children know that their families value education
schools build an excellent reputation in the community as open and welcoming places for families

Many schools in Kentucky have special events planned for the week to encourage parents to come to school. If your child’s school does not, you might want to call and arrange a time on your own.

Take Your Family to School Week coincides with PTA’s Founders Day, which commemorates the day 109 years ago when PTA began its work of encouraging parent involvement in children’s education

Random Acts of Kindness

When was the last time you did something for somebody else without being asked?

When was the last time your child did something for somebody else without being asked?

They’re called random acts of kindness, and they’re a great way for you and your kids to reach out to others at work, at school or in the community.

Random Acts of Kindness Week is February 12-18. Don’t know what to do? There are hundreds of ideas for random acts of kindness available online. Most don’t take any money and just a small amount of time.

Set an example for your kids. Do something nice for someone, and encourage him or her to also. You might be surprised how appreciative that other person is and how good you and your child will feel in the process.

Teen Dating Violence Prevention

It’s not a subject we like to talk about, or for that matter, even think about. But anyone with teenagers really needs to be aware that teen dating violence is a very real problem in our society. And contrary to what you might think, it can happen to your child.

Consider these facts from the American Bar Association:

One in five female high school students reports being physically or sexually abused by a partner.
40% of teenage girls between the ages of 14-17 report knowing someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend.
Intimate partner violence among adolescents is associated with increased risk of substance use, unhealthy weight control behaviors, sexual risk behaviors, pregnancy and suicide.
The severity of violence among intimate partners has been shown to increase if the pattern has been established in adolescence.
Teen dating violence does not discriminate by gender, race, socioeconomic status or geography.

To raise awareness of the problem, Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week has been designated for Feb. 5-9. A toolkit focusing on warning signs and prevention tips is available from the American Bar Association. Click on “Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention.”

Summer Camp Planning

With freezing temperatures outside and the snow flying, you might think it’s a little early to start thinking about summer camps, but believe it or not, some camps are already filling up fast.

Before you sign-up your child for that summer experience of a lifetime, the experts say you need to do your research. The American Camp Association is a good resource for parents.

There are also some questions you also need to ask yourself. Is camp something your child would enjoy? Just because you thought summer camp was great does not mean your child will. Is he or she ready for camp? The experts say your child should never feel embarrassed for not wanting to leave the family. They say overnight camps are usually for those ages 8 and up.

Experts say talk with your kids to find out what kind of camp experience they would like and then tailor your choices to those kinds of camps. Once you have narrowed the list, visit the camp and/or call the director and ask:

Is the camp accredited? Is it licensed?
Does the camp have safety precautions and procedures in place?
How are injuries treated, and where are the nearest medical facilities located?
How does the camp handle homesickness, behavioral problems and adjustment issues, and does it match your parenting philosophy?
What is the staff-to-camper ratio?
What is the return rate for staff and campers?

The bottom line is know what you and your child are getting into, and remember -- camp should be about having fun!

Kentucky Future Leader Foundation Scholarships

Seniors in high school interested in pursuing a college scholarship should take note:

The A.B. “Happy” Chandler Foundation has a new name. It is now known as the Kentucky Future Leaders Foundation.

While the name has changed, the student scholarships have not. They are $4,000 and are renewable. The money is paid directly to the college toward tuition. The scholarships are restricted to Kentucky students planning to attend college in the Commonwealth.

Students may download scholarship criteria and application. The submission deadline is March 1.

Children’s Advocacy Day Reminder

A reminder, Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol is scheduled for February 8. The day provides an opportunity for those interested in children’s issues to gather and show legislators that Kentucky cares about is children.

Web links in this issue:

Take Your Family to School Week

http://www.pta.org/

ne_press_release_detail_1168451574265.html

Random Acts of Kindness

http://www.actsofkindness.org/

http://www.actsofkindness.org/file_uploads/files/11_pdf.pdf

Teen Dating Violence Prevention

http://www.abanet.org/media/omk.html

Summer Camp Planning

http://www.campparents.org/campplanner.php

Kentucky Future Leaders Foundation Scholarships