Internet Safety

Michigan's Attorney General, Mike Cox, has put internet safety information on Michigan's government site. He has listed rules to help parents monitor their children when on the internet. He also has advice about cyber-bullying, which has become a real problem for many kids.

On the government site, you will find links to internet safety. Here are some additional sites where you can find further information:

Zippy Scenarios for Teaching Internet Ethics

Resources for Teaching Information Technology Ethics to Children and Young Adults

Disney's Surf Swell Island

Cyberethics for Kids

Nerves

The first four days of school seemed to go fairly smoothly for most of the students! It has been great to see old friends and begin to get to know the new faces. If this is your child's first year at Hope, s/he might still be experiencing some "unsure jitters." While Hope is a very caring and friendly place, it often seems huge and confusing to many 5th graders. If your child is still a little anxious about his/her new school, s/he might complain of not feeling well. S/he may test the rules a little and try to get you to allow him/her to stay/come home. S/he might try to balk at the new routine.

I just want to encourage you to listen to what your child is really trying to tell you. Is there some part of his/her day that is causing some anxiety? Is s/he making friends? Is s/he comfortable in the classroom? Does s/he know how to do the locker combination yet? Does s/he know which arts & fitness class to go to on which day? Is the lunch account all set?

What can you do? Make sure your child gets 10-12 hours of sleep every night... I know that sounds like a lot, but that is the doctor-recommended amount for children in 5th and 6th grade! Make sure that s/he gets something to eat in the morning. Not a breakfast eater? Send him/her to school with a granola bar, string cheese, or apple to eat a little later in the morning. Or, consider letting him/her eat whatever sounds good - mac & cheese might sound like a weird breakfast to you... but, kids' brains need some fuel to get them going for their day at school. It's better for a child to eat SOMETHING than nothing at all. Finally, keep in regular communication with your child's teacher. Use the Agenda to write notes to the teacher and let him/her know if your child is having worries. You are also welcome to call or email the teachers or me at any time. We are all here to help! Not until children feel comfortable, safe, and confident in their environment are they ready to learn. Let's work together to ensure that happens.

Transitioning Back to School

I posted a link to some great back-to-school tips on the left sidebar (under "places to visit"). It was published by the National Association of School Psychologists, which you will see me refer to often. Please take a second and give it a read if you are looking for some ideas to help your children transition back into their school routine more smoothly. I put the link over there so that you can find it easily if you'd like to refer back to it later. Leave me a comment if you have any other tips to share or further questions...

Parents and Preteen Privacy

Where's the line between your child's privacy and a parent's need to know? Think about these ideas from the Mayo Clinic's August 2007 Newsletter.

• One size does NOT fit all. When setting household rules, carefully consider your child's age and maturity level.
• Separate personal choices from safe behaviors. Your child's choice of hairstyle may not be worth the battle. However, your rules about going out alone and other safety issues are non-negotiable.
• Respect privacy - to a point. Generally speaking, it's NOT okay to monitor your preteen's phone calls or to search his/her room. However, if you have serious concerns about him/her, you may need to put safety before privacy. By allowing your child some amount of privacy, you are teaching him/her a valuable lesson about trust and respect.
• Communicate and connect. Talk with your preteen about her/his interests. Get acquainted with your child's friends and their parents.
• Monitor your preteen. Know where s/he is going and follow up occasionally to confirm his/her whereabouts.
• Have a family code word, such as a pet's name, your child can use to let you know s/he needs your help. If your child is with a friend and calls you saying, "I wish Fido were here," go and get your child, no questions asked.
• Have empathy. Remember what it was like to be entering those confusing teen years?