Archive for April, 2010
Sue Scheff: Teens and Tanning Beds – Not a Good Mix
Teens and fun in the sun! Today you don’t need the sun to get a tan, but do you know the dangers of tanning beds? An FDA advisory panel recommend that parents keep children and teens from using tanning beds.
Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers among young adults in the United States, and the rates of skin cancer among Americans of all ages continue to rise.
While genetics play a large part in a person’s cancer risk, many studies suggest that exposure to ultraviolet, or UV, light and the use of tanning beds at a young age is a major cause of skin cancer.
The dangers of tanning beds is well documented. Indoor tanning may actually be more dangerous than the sun. Check out five fast facts about the dangers of tanning on Health Central.
As summer is around the corner, hanging out at the beach is a popular teen activity. Get sun smart with these helpful tips from Kids Health for Teens:
- Wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 every day, even on cloudy days and when you don’t plan on spending much time outdoors. Wearing sunscreen every day is essential because as much as 80% of sun exposure is incidental – the type you get from walking your dog or eating lunch outside. If you don’t want to wear a pure sunscreen, try a moisturizer with sunscreen in it, but make sure you put on enough.
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Ideally, it should also be hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic so it doesn’t cause a rash or clog your pores and give you acne.
- Apply sunscreen thickly and frequently. If you’re not sure you’re putting on enough, switch to one with a higher SPF. Regardless of the SPF, always reapply sunscreen after a couple of hours. Most broad-spectrum sunscreens are more effective at blocking UVB rays than UVA rays. So even if you don’t get a sunburn, UVA rays could still be doing unseen damage to your skin.
- Reapply sunscreen every 1½ to 2 hours and after swimming or sweating. In direct sun, wear a sunscreen with a higher SPF, like SPF 30. While playing sports, use sunscreen that’s waterproof and sweatproof, but still reapply sunscreen every 1½ to 2 hours.
- Take frequent breaks. The sun’s rays are strongest between 10:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. During those hours, take breaks to cool off indoors or in the shade for a while before heading out again.
- Wear a hat with a brim and sunglasses that provide almost 100% protection against ultraviolet radiation.
Be an educated parent, you will have healthier and safer teens.
Parents Universal Resources Experts – Sue Scheff: Underage Drinking – Too Smart to Start – Education is Prevention
April is Alcohol Awareness Month. No matter what time of year, how many parents actually know when, how and why their kids are drinking? A new study suggests that teens are heavily influenced by the drinking habits of their friends.
Too Smart To Start is a public education initiative sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Through this initiative, SAMHSA provides research-based strategies and materials to professionals and volunteers at the community level to help them conduct an underage alcohol use prevention program. The materials are designed to educate youth about the harms of alcohol use and to support parents and caregivers as they participate in their children’s activities.
Learn about the facts vs myths of underage drinking. Here are a few examples:
Myth: Alcohol isn’t as harmful as other drugs.
FACT: Alcohol increases your risk for many deadly diseases, such
as cancer. Drinking too much alcohol too quickly can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can kill you.
Myth: Adults drink, so kids should be able to drink too.
FACT: A young person’s brain and body are still growing. Drinking
alcohol can cause learning problems or lead to adult alcoholism. People who begin drinking by age 15 are five times more likely to abuse or become dependent on alcohol than those who begin drinking after age 20.
Myth: Drinking alcohol will make me cool.
FACT: There’s nothing cool about stumbling around, passing out,
or puking on yourself. Drinking alcohol also can cause bad breath and weight gain.
Take the time to visit Too Smart to Start and find out more about preventing underage drinking.
Be an educated parent. Start talking before they start drinking!
Parents Universal Resource Experts – Sue Scheff: Beating Childhood Obesity – Let’s Move Campaign
First Lady Michelle Obama has made it her mission to create awareness on obesity in our country, especially among our children.
Recently she visited Falcon Cove Middle School in Weston, Florida. Falcon Cove Middle School students Lauren Shatanof, Rachel Shatanof and Taylor Duarte were summoned to the principal’s office Wednesday to speak to First Lady Michelle Obama.
“Can you have junk food everyday? No, you just can’t,” said Obama during a meeting in Washington.
The First Lady spoke to the trio from the White House, where she held a town hall meeting with an audience of other students about her Let’s Move anti-childhood obesity campaign. “You don’t have the ability to walk. You’re in your parents car or you’re on a bus, and then you get to school, and there’s no physical education programs,” said Obama.
The First Lady said her Let’s Move initiative is about promoting an active lifestyle and not focusing on appearances. She’s encouraging children to think about the choices they make in their own lives and to take responsibility for their own futures. – WSVN
Helping parents make healthy family choices is part of educating families on healthier eating habits. Obesity threatens the healthy future of one third of all American children. Obesity rates have tripled in the past 30 years.
According to the CDC, children need 60 minutes of active and vigorous play every day to grow up to a healthy weight. Let’s Move to increase opportunities for kids to be physically active, both in and out of school and create new opportunities for families to be moving together.
Be an educated parent, you will have healthier children! Stay active and eat healthy as a family!
Parents Universal Resource Experts – Sue Scheff: Teens and Career Choices
It is that time of the year again. Parents of teenagers graduating from high school or college are facing career decisions. What about taking a “gap year“? With today’s high unemployment should your teen consider a job that is in demand rather than going for their dream job?
What is best for your child and their goals?
- 2-year college
- 4-year college
- Vocational School/Tech School
- Grad School
- State, private or community college
There isn’t a right or wrong answer, it is an individual choice depending on what is best both financially and professionally for your teen.
Pursuing your dreams versus choosing a career where jobs are plentiful. What do you say when your child’s dream is not practical? How can parents help their children choose a career path that is successful and rewarding.
- Encourage your child to explore his or her options. Be supportive by asking your child, “Can I help you get connected?” or “Can I help you with researching a career?”
- You need to remember this is not your career decision. Have trust in your child and be supportive, yet informative.
- The world of work has changed since many parents made their first career choice. So some parents need to realize some of their information might be outdated.
- Direct your child to resources where he or she can research his or her desired career.
Reference: Connect with Kids
As a parent, we always want our children to be happy. Helping your child find their ideal job may take longer than usual in today’s economy, however loving what you do in life can be priceless. In Florida Career Builders of Florida and College Grad in Florida may offer you further assistance in finding the perfect career for your teen.
Be an educated parent, you will be prepared and your children will have a bright future.
Parents Univeral Resource Experts – Sue Scheff: National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Ouch! No, the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida! Prevent Child Abuse Florida, the Ounce of Prevention Fund and the Florida Department of Children and Families are launching Pinwheels for Prevention, a national campaign creating a community-wide commitment to make children a priority.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Pinwheels for Prevention is a national campaign to engage individuals and communities in actions that prevent child abuse and neglect before it ever begins.
“The pinwheel displays in Florida and across the nation are a reminder of our shared responsibility to provide healthy environments and experiences for children. Whether you are a neighbor, teacher, police officer or family member – each of us can, and should, make children a priority by providing positive experiences that promote healthy child development,” said Christie Ferris, Director of Prevent Child Abuse Florida.
FloridasHealth.com helps to identify and develop resources to promote the safety and well being of Florida’s children through actions and services to prevent child abuse and the exposure of children to violence.
Healthy Families Florida helps promote positive family-child relationships. In today’s stressful times, many families are struggling and juggling with finances and taking care of their children. It is not a secret that parents can reach a breaking point. There are many resources that can help you through difficult emotional times. Take the time to reach out if you need help. In Florida there is also The Children’s Trust Line you can reach out to.
Parents, teachers, daycare providers, and others that work with children, remember education is key. Learn about recognizing the signs of abuse. Learn about the different types of abuse.
Be an educated parent, you will have safer and healthier children.
Parents’ Universal Resource Experts – Sue Scheff: Students Working Against Tobacco
Although we hear it a lot, smoking is bad for you, there are still many adults and kids that continue to smoke cigarettes. Parents will say that we need to pick and choose our issues with our teens, which is correct, however we cannot stop talking about the dangers of smoking tobacco.
In Florida, Tobacco Free Florida and Florida’s Quitline are two organization directed at helping you and your loved ones quit smoking.
Unveiled in 2008 under the direction of the Florida Department of Health, the Tobacco Free Florida campaign seeks to decrease the number of tobacco users in the state of Florida through efforts aimed at both preventing nonusers from starting to use tobacco and encouraging current users to quit. These efforts are funded by money derived from court settlements against major tobacco companies, and include executions in the realm of Advertising, Public Relations, Interactive, Guerilla Media, Event Media, Sponsored Promotions and more.
It is their hope that one day every Floridian might be free of the hazards of tobacco, and that we all may eventually live in the paradise that our name implies- a truly Tobacco Free Florida.
Join Tobacco Free Florida on Facebook and stay up to date with events and information to educate you on the hazards of smoking.
Tobacco Free Florida Week runs March 21st-28th and all week long we’re asking Floridians to help protect themselves and their loved ones from secondhand smoke (SHS) by asking the smokers in their life to, “Be Free For Me.”
SWAT is Florida’s statewide youth organization working to mobilize, educate and equip Florida youth to revolt against and de-glamorize Big Tobacco. They are a united movement of empowered youth working towards a tobacco free future.
You can join a lot of different groups in high school. This video below shows why SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) may be the most important.
Be an educated parent, you will have safer and healthier teens.
Parents Universal Resource Experts – Sue Scheff: Emotional Overeating and Your Teenagers and Children
As parents/adults many people experience that gallon of ice cream when a stressful situation is looming in your life. When feelings of sadness or hopelessness overcomes them, some people simple turn to food. It is no different for children, however we as parents need to recognize the signs and talk to our kids about it. Read this recent article from Connect with Kids about Emotional Overeating and your children.
Source: Connect with Kids
Emotional Overeating
“They’d make fun of me because I was getting overweight, and I’d come home and I’d feel bad so I’d eat. The next day they’d make fun of me again, and I’d come home and I’d eat.”
– Cheyanne Fowler, 13
Thirteen-year-old Cheyanne began hiding food three years ago.
“I’d stick it under my bed,” she says. “Or, I’d get a pack of gummies and I’d save the wrapper and, you know, stick it in a drawer or something, hoping my mom wouldn’t find it.”
Hiding the food didn’t work, though.
“I would find wrappers in her room,” says her mom, Debbie. “I would find plates with food, like the crust off of toast; things like that hidden under the bed.”
And then Cheyanne started having trouble at school.
“They’d make fun of me because I was getting overweight,” she says. “And I’d come home and I’d feel bad, so I’d eat. The next day they’d make fun of me again, and I’d come home and I’d eat.”
She says she was using food to ease the pain. Only at the time, she didn’t know it.
“I didn’t notice how I was feeling,” says Cheyanne. “I guess I thought I was hungry. But now, I know that I wasn’t, that I was either upset or I was angry.”
Cheyanne started seeing Dr. Genie Burnett, a psychologist.
“We do one of two things with our feelings,” says Burnett. Either we talk them out or we act them out. Sometimes acting them out involves taking in food.”
Burnett asked Cheyanne to keep a food journal. Every time Cheyanne ate something, she would write down how she felt.
“Basically, what I’m trying to do is help them link what is going on in their mind with what is going on in their belly,” says Burnett.
“I guess we started talking about my feelings,” says Cheyanne, “and then I’d say, ‘Well, I’m hungry’ or I’d have, like, a candy bar. … And if we were talking about something that I didn’t feel all that great about talking about, … I’d start eating the candy bar.”
Cheyanne had to interrupt her pattern of feeling bad and then eating to compensate, says Burnett.
“Before you go to dinner, before you go to breakfast, before you do whatever,” she adds, “if you feel like bingeing, sit down and write down what you are thinking and what you are feeling.”
“I would either talk to my mom or something because we are really close and I tell her just about everything,” says Cheyanne. “Or, I’d talk to a friend, or I would just go up in my room and just sit a while and wait till I’m not feeling so bad and try to stay away from the kitchen.”
Tips for Parents
- According to the American Dietetic Association, most people don’t even recognize they are engaging in emotional eating until they’ve gained a lot of weight. Parents should learn to recognize the warning signs – being overweight, having a history of weight fluctuations, eating alone, hoarding food, eating rapidly, eating until uncomfortably full, and having feelings of guilt or depression after eating.
- Experts say encouraging kids to express their feelings can lower a child’s need to binge. Have younger kids draw pictures of how they are feeling. Afterwards, discuss the drawings.
- When older children feel the need to binge, distractions may help. The American Dietetic Association suggests finding other things to do, for example, walking, riding a bike or playing with the dog.
- Keep the kitchen stocked with plenty of fruits and vegetables. If children feel like bingeing, encourage them to have a small, healthy snack instead.
References
