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Summer Time Tips
Five Tips to Lower Summertime Stress and Keep the Joy in Summer
By Andy Smithson, LCSW
Create a Game Plan
I’ve found a formula for an awesome summer experience for you and your kids: 1 part planning + 1 part spontaneity = awesome summer! Easier said than done, right? Finding the perfect balance between spontaneity and planning can be tricky. A basic rule is to set clear routines and expectations from the beginning with the mutual understanding that there will be times for bending the routine and just enjoying time together. With the following five tips, you can decrease your stress level while building great memories for your family.
1. Mornings matter: The morning routine is not something to be left to chance. To get each day off on the right foot, it’s important to be deliberate about your mornings. Collaborate with your kids on plans for your family’s summer mornings. My wife and children have established daily morning chores that must be completed before breakfast, such as making the bed. For working moms and dads, mornings are an especially important time to connect with the kids and get the day started right. Morning is a time to eat together and learn about each other’s plans for the day.
2. Help kids with self-directed goals: Summertime provides a unique opportunity for kids to experience real, self-directed goal completion. During the summer, your kids get to identify any goal they want to accomplish. Set personal goals and invite your kids to write a summer “bucket list” of things they want to do or learn this summer. Share your goals with them. Inspire them to set their own self-directed goals. My oldest son has shown an interest in waterfowl and birds of prey. He wants to be able to identify the birds we see near our home.
3. Plan activities: A lot of families participate in planned vacations, camps and programs that can give parents a break and kids some amazing experiences. Special daycare activities or summer sport/educational camps can be a fun way to make sure your kids are enjoying safe summer activities when you can’t be with them. However, it’s important not to overdo it. Planning specific activities is supposed to enhance your summer experience rather than unnecessarily tie you to endless commitments that stress everyone out. My wife and I consult our children when planning summer activities to help find the right balance for everyone.
4. Let them play: Allow for time to just play and enjoy not having any specific demands. Dr. Scott Sampson, host and science advisor of “Dinosaur Train,” encourages parents to schedule unstructured play when kids create their own imaginative games and activities using natural elements. Let the kids play in the dirt or in the water. Let them use their imaginations to build forts and hideouts. Let them get a little bit sunburned. Even better, do it with them. The trampoline and sprinklers provide hours of summer fun at our house, even for Mom and Dad. This is where the balance comes in. As adults, sometimes we have to plan to be spontaneous, to take a random day off of work or schedule a special time in the evening to just play. No specific direction in mind, just play!
5. Maintain bedtime: Summer bedtime can be tough because the days are longer and it’s still light outside. However, sleep is just as important during the summer months as it is the rest of the year. The morning and bedtime routines are like bookends on each day. They help our children feel some security and have time to bond regardless of work schedules, or whatever crazy experiences life brings. Whether it’s the school year or summer, our family always sticks with the same bedtime routine. Sometimes we are an hour later, but we always try to include our usual reading, stories and prayer each night.
Every family is unique and has certain preferences, but these important elements can be a great starting point for developing a wonderful, memorable summer with your children. Save yourself some stress by planning ahead, but always remember to look for the spontaneous moments that make all of the planning worthwhile.
Drowning Prevention: Information for Parents
When we think of water safety, we often think of the potential for only young children to drown. Drowning is a leading cause of death among children, including infants and toddlers, but drowning is also a concern for teens and young adults. Not including boating incidents, on average about nine people die from drowning every day in the United States, according to Injury Facts 2017 the annual statistical report on unintentional injuries produced by NSC. Most infant drownings occur in bathtubs and buckets. Toddlers between one and four years most commonly drown in swimming pools. However, many children in this age group drown in ponds, rivers, and lakes. Children older than five years old are most likely to drown in rivers and lakes, but this varies from one area of the country to another. It is important to know that children can drown in even one inch of water. While drowning is more common for children 5 and younger, it's the second leading cause of death for people age 5-24. According to NSC data, 737 people age 5 to 24 drowned in 2014.
Swimming is a fantastic form of exercise and a major component of many spring break trips and summer break fun. But parents should remember that swimming also comes with risk. Follow these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics to protect children from drowning.
Pool Safety:
· Whenever children under age 5 are in or around water, an adult – preferably one who knows how to swim and perform CPR – should be within arm's length, providing "touch supervision."
· Install a fence at least 4 feet high around all four sides of the pool. The fence should not have openings or protrusions that a young child could use to get over, under, or through.
· For additional protection, install window guards on windows facing the pool. Drowning victims have also used pet doors to gain access to pools. Keep all of your barriers and alarms in good repair with fresh batteries.
· Keep rescue equipment (a shepherd's hook – a long pole with a hook on the end — and life preserver) and a portable telephone near the pool.
· Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as "floaties." They are not a substitute for approved life jackets and can give children and parents a false sense of security.
· Children over age 1 may be at a lower risk of drowning if they have had some formal swimming instruction. However, there is no evidence that swimming lessons or water survival skills courses can prevent drowning in babies younger than 1 year of age.
· The decision to enroll a child over age one in swimming lessons should be made by the parent based on the child's developmental readiness and exposure to water, but swim programs should never be seen as "drown proofing" a child of any age.
· Avoid entrapment: Suction from pool and spa drains can trap a swimmer underwater. Do not use a pool or spa if there are broken or missing drain covers. Ask your pool operator if your pool or spa's drains are compliant with the Pool and Spa Safety Act. If you have a swimming pool or spa, ask your pool service representative to update your drains and other suction fitting with anti-entrapment drain covers and other devices or systems. See PoolSafely.gov for more information on the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.
· If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa first.
· Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors.
Boating Safety:
· Children should wear life jackets at all times when on boats, docks or near bodies of water.
· Make sure the life jacket is the right size for your child. The jacket should not be loose and should always be worn as instructed with all straps belted.
· Blow-up water wings, toys, rafts and air mattresses should not be used as life jackets or personal flotation devices. Adults should wear life jackets for their own protection, and to set a good example.
· Adolescents and adults should be warned of the dangers of boating even as a passenger when under the influence of alcohol, drugs, and even some prescription medications.
· Children follow your example, whenever you are on a boat – everyone, kids and adults should wear a life jacket.
Open Water Swimming Safety:
· Never swim alone. Even good swimmers need buddies!
· A lifeguard (or another adult who knows about water rescue) needs to be watching children whenever they are in or near the water. Younger children should be closely supervised while in or near the water – use "touch supervision," keeping no more than an arm's length away.
· Make sure your child knows never to dive into water except when permitted by an adult who knows the depth of the water and who has checked for underwater objects.
· Never let your child swim in canals or any fast-moving water.
· Ocean swimming should only be allowed when a lifeguard is on duty.
· Teach children about rip currents. If you are caught in a rip current, stay calm and float with it, don't try to swim against it, swim parallel to shore until you escape the current, and then swim back to shore.
· Be aware that pools and beaches in other countries may not have lifeguards, and pools may have unsafe drain systems. Supervise children closely.
· At the beach, stay within the designated swimming area and ideally within the visibility of a lifeguard
· Seek shelter in case of storm. Get out of the water. Get off the beach in case of lightning.
· Never drink alcohol when swimming; alcohol is involved in about half of all male teen drownings, according to KidsHealth.org
Every pool, every lake and every warm summer day holds the possibility of new, fun summer experiences. All you need to add is your undivided attention.
Fun Things to Do With Your Children This Summer
Summer may be a time to relax, but tell that to children who are bouncing off the walls or shrieking " I am Bored." As parents, babysitters, and nannies we want each summer to be more memorable than the last, and with that comes the need for a few new ideas -- especially if your child is too young to go to a summer camp. Jill Tipograph, summer expert and founder of Everything Summer, suggests that you "take advantage of those bright sunny days and warm summer nights and plan something new a couple of times a week."
Here are ideas for your summer bucket list -- to keep children from being bored and create memories that they'll have for a lifetime or at least for that first day of school when they're asked "what did you do this summer?".
1. Volunteer at a nature center.
2. Have a luau in the backyard.
3. Visit the beach and collect shells.
4. Make a fort out of cardboard boxes.
5. Visit a farmer's market.
6. Stage an A to Z scavenger hunt, where you have to find something that starts with every letter.
7. Have a picnic at a state park.
8.Go canoeing at a local lake.
9. Build a sandcastle.
10. Write and illustrate your own book and have it published into an actual hardcover book using IlluStory.
11. Forget cooking -- set up an ice cream sundae buffet for dinner.
12. Have a backyard campfire...or just use the grill! Roast hot dogs on sticks, pop popcorn and finish off with s'mores.
13. Make homemade pizza.
14. Go for a walk and then make a collage from nature objects you find along the way.
15. Head to a creek and look at the ducks.
16. Have a water balloon fight.
17. Go biking on a trail
18. Interview an older relative about what life was like when they were young.
19. Plan a picnic at a local park -- or in your backyard.
20. Practice making interesting shadow puppets and then put on a show with your characters.
21. Plant a garden of herbs and veggies.
22. Make a sidewalk chalk mural.
23. Have an outdoor painting party using huge canvases or cardboard.
24. Visit a fish hatchery.
25. Plant a butterfly garden with flowers.
26. Make an indoor sandbox using colored rice: mix 4 cups of rice with 3 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol and a few drops of food coloring and let dry overnight.
27. Turn the backyard into a carnival -- set up a face painting area and games like ring toss.
28. Make totem poles out of paper towel rolls and decorate them.
29. Visit a museum you've never been to.
30. Make a giant hopscotch or Twister game on the lawn (with spray paint) or driveway (with chalk).
31. String beads into jewelry.
32. Make a bird house out of Popsicle sticks.
33. Learn about stargazing and identify as many constellations as possible -- see if there are any local astronomy groups for kids.
34. Create leis with wildflowers.
35. Go fossil hunting near a lake.
36. Make paper boats and race them in a kiddie pool using straws to propel them.
37. Get a map of the United States and mark off all the exciting places you want to visit -- create the ultimate road trip.
38. Set up a net and play badminton and volleyball. Or try one of these 11 Backyard Games for Kids.
39. Visit an amusement park or water park.
40. Wade through a stream and search for minnows or tadpoles.
41. Investigate an ethnic grocery store and make lunch using interesting spices and kid-friendly international recipes.
42. Visit a fire station.
43. Collect rocks and paint them to use as paperweights or pet rocks.
44. Go roller skating.
45. Visit a zoo or aquarium to learn about animals.
46. Run through the sprinklers.
47. Batter up at a batting cage.
48. Bake cupcakes in ice cream cones and then decorate them.
49. Assemble a family cookbook with all your favorite recipes.
50. Go horseback riding.
51. Make popsicles in Dixie cups using fruit juices.
52. Catch fireflies in a jar (and let them go at the end of the night).
53. Stage your own Summer Olympics with races, hurdles and relays.
54. Create a backyard circus -- kids can pretend to be animals and dress up as clowns.
55. Decorate bikes and have a neighborhood Fourth of July parade.
56. Take a sewing/crochet/knitting class.
57. Go to a flea market.
58. Volunteer at an animal adoption organization.
59. Visit a retirement home and read stories to residents.
60. Attend an outdoor festival or concert.
61. Pick a nearby town to visit for the day.
62. Get a map of your area, mark off all the local parks -- then visit them, take pictures and vote for your favorite.
63. Take in a fireworks exhibit.
64. Make your own hard-to-pop bubbles with 1 cup of distilled water, 2 tablespoons of Dawn dish soap and 1 tablespoon of glycerin.
65. Paint canvas sneakers with fabric paint pens or acrylic paint.
66. Create three dimensional buildings using toothpicks and mini marshmallows.
67. Make bird feeders by covering pine cones with peanut butter and rolling in birdseed.
68. Paint with ice by freezing ice cube trays with washable tempera paint.
69. Have a fancy tea party.
70. Make a giant slip-n-slide with a painter's tarp and shaving cream.
71. Go camping in the backyard or at a campsite. Follow these tips for camping with kids.
72. Let kids paint each other with washable tempera paint, then wash it off in the sprinklers.
73. Visit a national park and help the kids earn a junior ranger badge.
74. Go to a ballgame.
75. Take a free kid's workshop at stores like Lowe's, Home Depot or Pottery Barn.
76. Have a game night with charades, Pictionary and bingo.
Netflix will release Season 2 of "13 Reasons Why" on May 18, 2018.
Many parents and professionals are worried about the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. Based on the book by Jay Asher, it tells the story of Hannah, who kills herself and leaves behind 13 tapes for the people who played a role in her decision. The worry is that the series could make some vulnerable children consider or try suicide. Children are affected by what their peers do and say, and by what they see in the media. Most of the time, it isn’t a serious problem. But when it comes to suicide, it can be a serious problem.
Don’t be afraid to have a conversation with your children about the Netflix series and the issues it raises. Children have likely heard of and possibly already watched this popular series, based on a book about the same topic, so you’ll want to be prepared to respond to any feelings or questions it may have evoked. It is important to ask your children if they’ve heard about "13 Reasons Why", or have seen it. Then listen intently to their ressponse and ask them open ended questions without judgment. Try to resist the urge to offer quick fixes or solutions to their potentially tough questions and reactions, and validate and support their feelings. If your child is talking about any level of distress, do not hesitate to ask them about changes in mental health or suicidal thoughts. It can start with just asking ”Are you ok?” Research states that raising the question about thoughts of suicide does not increase the risk or plant the idea. Instead, it creates the opportunity to offer support.
While "13 Reasons Why" has some dangerous potential for contagion, that some children may take away a disturbing message that presents suicide as an acceptable solution if your child in a solid state of mental health, and insist on watching the show you can then offer to watch the show with them; however it is recommended to watch one episode at a time, and allow time to talk about each episode.
How worrisome is this?
It’s a reasonable concern. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in youth ages 15 to 19, just behind accidents — some of which might actually be suicides. According to the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), 17.7% of high school students said they considered suicide in the previous year, 14.6% made a plan, and 8.6% tried to kill themselves.
That’s a lot of children. And given that there are studies that show that teens are more likely to commit suicide when they hear or read about another suicide, or when a schoolmate commits suicide, it’s understandable why the Netflix series has raised alarm. Trying to stop children from watching it is a natural response. But besides the fact that it’s hard to do that for a show mostly watched online, the better response may be to use the show to start conversations, and get educated, about suicide.
Data shows that nearly one in five high school students thinks about suicide. Bullying, social isolation, and stressful life events, all of which happen to Hannah in the show, can make a teen think about dying and, as also happens in the show, parents, friends, teachers, and others can be completely unaware of how sad and desperate a teen is feeling.
It’s certainly true that adolescence is almost by definition full of angst. But it’s important to be alert to anything that increases a teen’s risk of feeling suicidal, and to any signs that a teen is very sad, angry, or isolated. Too often, we are reluctant to even to talk about suicide, when talking is exactly what we need to do.
5 points to discuss with your child
Ideally, parents should watch 13 Reasons Why with their teens, and talk about it. But if that’s not possible (or if their children have already watched it), here are some points worth discussing:
1. The struggles and feelings Hannah has are common. So very many teens have trouble fitting in, or experience bullying, or have relationship problems, for example. Sometimes teens can feel like they are the only ones for whom life isn’t working out. Talking about this can put it in perspective, and allow you to point that out.
2. There are other and better solutions than suicide. As horrible as a situation might feel in the moment, there is always something that can be done, and there is always someone who can help. Things can get better unless you are dead, in which case they can’t. However, in order to get help, you have to let someone know you need it.
3. If you ever start thinking about suicide, at all, tell someone. The best “someone” is someone who can help, or help you get help, like a parent, a teacher, or your doctor. But the most important thing is to tell someone. If you don’t feel comfortable telling someone you know, there are hotlines you can call, like the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255.
4. If someone ever says that they are thinking about suicide, take it seriously. Don’t brush it off as a joke, don’t act like it’s no big deal or just a bad day. Act like they mean it, and get them help. You should also react and get help when someone is acting sadder than usual, is isolating herself or himself more, or is otherwise acting different in a way that is worrisome. If it turns out to be nothing, they will at least know how much you care about them.
5. We all have the power to help — or hurt — people every day. The people around Hannah didn’t realize how much they were hurting her, or how they could have helped her. Comments and actions that seem small can be devastating; kindnesses that seem small can make all the difference. If we use this Netflix series to talk about how we are responsible for each other, and how we need to take better care of each other, it could not only help us be better people, it could save lives.
WARNING: If your child is currently struggling, has had any level of suicidal thoughts or attempts, or experienced a sexual assault, psychologist highly recommend not watching the show. If you fear your child may be at risk, get professional help right away.
Learn how to have a conversation about mental health and suicide at: afsp.org/mentalhealth.
Claire McCarthy M.D.
Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publications
Carroll ISD gives students a voice.
1. Student Hotline System:
Designed to help students anonymously report past, present, and predicted concerns that they see or hear. They may call or text the hotline at:
DIS: 817-406-2516
EIS: 817-406-2517
CMS: 817-406-2514
DMS: 817-406-2515
CHS: 814-406-2513
CSHS: 817-406-2512
2. Dragon Tip Line:
Allows the user to select from different topics, departments, schools to ask a question, share a success or submit a comment concerning school safety.
These tips are submitted through the Dragon Mobile App and sent directly to campus principals, and central office administrators.
3. Let's Talk!:
Let's Talk! Helps to build trust and open the lines of communication between parents, staff, students and our community. It allows the user to select from different topics, departments, and schools to ask a questions, submit a comment or share a success.
Let's Talk! is available through the Carroll ISD website.
https://www.southlakecarroll.edu/Page/1638
4. Coming Soon...
A student centered Let's Talk! focus area is launching soon, and will allow students to quickly and easily dialogue with campus and district staff.
Contact Us:
Jane Kea CMS 817-949-5400
Paula Lynn CMS 817-949-5400
Tammy Pulse CHS 817-949-5600
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Location: Southlake, TX, United States
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