Raising Non-Violent Kids

From the USA.gov blog:

Your child’s environment – whether at home, at school or socially – can greatly influence how they may behave in the future.
FindYouthInfo.gov, a government website focused on youth issues, found that in 2012, more than 630,000 young people between the ages of 10 and 24 were admitted to the hospital due to violence-related injuries.
If you’re worried that your child is at risk for violent behavior, there are some factors that may indicate a problem.
Risk factors for violent youth
During their teen years, some kids may behave violently because of some risk factors found in their environment.
Note: Some of these risk factors may be out of your control. However, it is recommended that you keep them under consideration.
At home
From an early age, young people could be exposed to:

• Violent behavior between parents
• Severe punishments
• Parents who are frequently absent or don’t pay attention to their children
• Rejection or emotional distance from parents
• A broken home

At school
Youth may exhibit behavioral problems such as:

• Teasing or bullying other students
• Skipping class
• Exhibiting either aggressive or introverted behavior
• Difficulty concentrating or exhibiting hyperactive behavior
• Developing learning issues or failing classes

In society
Young people could be considered violent if they:

• Harass or provoke kids that are their same age or younger
• Have been arrested before age 14 for committing a crime
• Belong to a gang or other violent group
• Take drugs or drink alcohol
• Have been treated for psychological or emotional issues

Tips to prevent youth violence
You can help prevent violent behavior in your child by following these recommendations:

• Spend more time with your child and include everyone in family activities.
• Don’t argue with your spouse in front of your child.
• Form a bond with your son or daughter. Communicate with your children if they have any problems or issues.
• Make respect and open communication a priority in your home.
• Do not give out severe or violent punishment.
• Be aware of your child’s friends, but do not be overprotective.

Resources
STRYVE is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s national initiative helping families and communities prevent youth violence.
FindYouthInfo.gov is a collaboration among 18 government agencies that supports programs and services for the prevention of youth violence.

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Education Opportunities for Kids

From the USA.gov Blog:

Join us on Thursday, June 20, at 1 p.m. ET for a live Twitter chat about fun and educational activities for kids this summer. You’ll learn about great free and educational resources from Kids.gov, NASA and more and you’ll find out about fun outdoor activities on our country’s public lands.
To participate, follow @kidsgov on Twitter and use the hashtag #kidsummer.

Grade A Parent/Teacher Meetings

Grade A Parent/Teacher Meetings: From GovGab: "Kitty Vanzant came to Washington with a Master’s in English Education, but first worked at several federal agencies writing radio and TV scripts, speeches, and publications. After moving to West Virginia, she earned certification in gifted education and writing, and taught in rural areas of West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. When a job offer led her back to Virginia, she resumed a career with the government. Today she manages a resource page for teachers of grades 6 – 12.

Just as the leaves begin to turn in the Alleghenies and the ancient Shenandoah mountains, familiar back to school routines run like a well-oiled machine…don’t they? After all, young Bubba and Tina head out the door each day. At dinner, you ask, “How was school?” And to this, you probably hear, “Fine.” But parents, don’t let the conversation end there! Carpe Diem! Be the responsible parent you are, and “Seize the day!” Channel your parent power now, in early October, and get involved in your child’s education by meeting with each teacher.

Good teachers want to hear what’s happening at home—the sooner, the better. One-on-one teacher-time will pay dividends for you, your family, and your child. When I was teaching, a mother came to see me not long after the school year had begun. Trailing behind was my student, a quiet, 7th grade boy whose missing homework papers had sunk his grade average like a rock. After I mentioned the string of missing assignments, Mom interjected, “But he told me he didn’t have any homework!” I showed her the homework board, and she gasped. “Every assignment is listed here,” she said to her son, “And here’s where you can pick up the ones you’ve missed!” She pointed to the clearly marked, homework papers milk crate, divided into 31 folders, one for each day of the month, with extra homework assignment pages neatly filed by day. No longer was her anger directed at me.

We walked to the door, as my student hung his head. “Your son’s a bright young man,” I said. “He knows what he needs to do. From his smile, I think he’s ready to take better care of himself.” It gave me a warm feeling to see the grin spread a little. Then I mentioned softly to his mother as she turned to leave, “Middle school is the bridge to high school, so our primary job as parents and teachers is to get students ready for that transition by helping them become responsible for themselves.” "