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 Educate
Bully Tip:
Bullying has taken on a new form in the cyber realm. Kids are posting things on websites and social media forums that attack their fellow teens. Some victims of cyber bullying have found that turning the bullying into a positive situation helps to alleviate the pain of being bullied. Pinnacle High student, Steven Henderson created a group at his high school whose main purpose was to change his fellow students' perceptions of LGBT classmates. Henderson was inspired by the cruel bullying he had gone through as being an openly gay individual.
To see see how other students have dealt with bullying and cyber bullying CLICK HERE, and remember sometimes all a child may need is a safe, secure place to talk.
Alcohol Tip:
Binge drinking is becoming a serious issue among teens and those entering college. Once an adolescent enters high school or college the risk for alcohol abuse can become higher. With this choice there also becomes a higher chance that the teen will make other risky choices such as driving with a person who is also drunk or using other drugs while drinking.
The are some tips that can be helpful with such a situation as this:
- Emphasize what risky behavior like this can do to the teen's future.
- Give real examples of how drinking can affect a teen such as being kicked off a sports team
- Use stories that have been circulated in the news to show how prevalent the problem can be
- Always keep the door open for discussions
For more information CLICK HERE.
Tech Tip:
Although the internet can be a great tool for parents and children to research, it can also be a dangerous area for predators to try to make connections with children. About 71% of teens from age 13-17 reported receiving messages from people they didn't know. If parents believe their child is a victim of internet predation there are certain acts they can take to monitor a child's safety while online. These could include viewing the internet history, or blocking certain instant message or chat rooms.
One of the most important tools as a parent is to remind your children about the dangers of being online. To receive more information on signs of being a victim, or what to do if you think your child is participating in dangerous activities CLICK HERE.
Drug Tip:
In 2009 the National Center for Educational Statistics found that 22 percent of high school students were offered or sold drugs at school. High school students are facing many drugs issues, and one of the newer drugs of choice are prescription drugs. The Center for Disease Control found that about 20 percent of high school students have taken prescription drugs such as OxyContin for recreation. Start the conversation with your kids about the dangers of such activities.
Take a look at other statistics of prescription drug use with teens, and some tips to start the conversation by CLICKING HERE.
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101/Scottsdale 
