Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.

Get Adobe Flash player

Rock 'n Ride 2009
National Independent Living Conference
Black Jack in the Stacks

  Scroll Up Scroll Down

Search daniel Web
 
Parenting Tips
Parenting Tips  

 

Click here for free

"Parenting Tips"

 

Monitoring TV and

Video games

 

Every parent eventually asks themselves how much television and video games are too much. To help shed some light on this topic

 

Question: We have often talked about how to be a responsible parent and I know that many parents struggle with the issues of TV and video games – how much are kids really watching/playing and is it a problem?

 

Actually, according to the National Institute on Media and the Family, children are spending more time in front of computer, television, and game screens than ANY other activity in their lives except sleeping.

 

Question: How can parents control and influence the TV shows that their children are watching?

 

 (1)SET SOME GUIDELINES ABOUT WHEN AND WHAT CHILDREN WATCH: Communicate with your kids about what they want to watch and why to get their perspective, keeping in mind the final call belongs to you the adult. Remember, the clearer the rules (i.e., no TV before school, or until homework is completed, etc.), the better.  There are several ways to assure these rules are followed, such as learning how to use the parental controls on your TV, on gaming systems and on the Internet.  A good site for information on this is:

 

 

How do you go about

becoming a foster parent?

 

Being a foster parent is like being a good aunt or uncle to a child that is not able to be with their family due to abuse or neglect.

 

The process to be a foster parent includes a 30 hour (one evening per week for 10 weeks) training called MAPP (Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting). The goal of MAPP training is to:

1.      Educate the foster family about the children that will need to be cared for and the kinds of abuse and neglect they have suffered.

2.      The expectations the agency will have of the foster parents caring for these children.

3.      Self screening, for families that are not truly committed to becoming foster parents or may not qualify. It is a way to withdraw from the process without feeling like they failed.

 

For the families that complete MAPP training, the agency schedules the Licensing Study which is what qualifies a family to be foster parents; it will include:

 

1.      Criminal records checks

2.      Abuse Registry checks

3.      An evaluation of the home (to insure it is a good environment for children)

4.      Personal and professional references.

5.      Any additional information needed to insure the foster parents are good, loving, stable people that will be able to care for children while the children are not able to be with their family.

 

 

Identifying Abuse or Neglect:

 

Q: What constitutes child neglect? What if you suspect a child neglect case?



• Abuse: The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect defines child physical abuse as: "The physical injury or maltreatment of a child under the age of eighteen by a person who is responsible for the child's welfare under circumstances which indicate that the child's health or welfare is harmed or threatened thereby.”

• Neglect: Although neglect is just another form of abuse, neglect is defined as any act or series of acts or commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child.

• Signs of both/either
- Aggressive, disruptive, and sometimes illegal behavior
- Anger and rage, or feelings of sadness or other symptoms of depression (or
sexual acting out)
- Poor self-image
- Self-destructive or self-abusive behavior, suicidal thoughts
- Anxiety or fears, or flashbacks and nightmares
- Changes in a behavior or school performance
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- School problems or failure
- Seems guarded and startles easily
- Loiters at school or friends' houses and/or seems reluctant to go home.
Signs of Abuse:
- Broken bones, internal injuries, burns, cuts and bruises
- Hard-to-believe stories about how accidents occurred
Signs of Neglect:
- Constant hunger or thirst
- Dirty hair or skin, and for babies- frequent diaper rash
- Signs of lack of sleep
- Lack of interest in surroundings
- Lack of supervision
- Passive or withdrawn behavior



Q: What do you do if you suspect child abuse in someone else’s family? (Signs of abuse)

• Those who work for or with kids (teachers, child care workers, sport coaches, etc.) have a greater responsibility to report abuse to the hotline has required by state law.
• Anyone who suspects abuse should contact 1-800-96abuse or the United Way Hotline (dial 211)
• Your call is anonymous and your report may save a child’s life
• If your suspicions are invalid- then the case is closed and no action taken. The notification says in the sate computer system so that if another action occurs they begin to look at patterns. If the complaint was malicious they can file a charge. This has happened in custody disputes where false complaints were done to be vindictive.


How can you encourage reading in children?
• Make Reading a Priority. Let your child know how important it is to read regularly.
• Establish a regular time and place for reading.
• Read to Your Child. Make time to read to your child on a regular basis. It is a great way to help develop a love of learning.
• Ask Your Child to Read to You. Have your child read aloud to you.
• Keep Reading Material Close By. Make sure children's books and magazines are easily accessible. Keep a basket of books in the family room, kitchen, or your child's bedroom to encourage him or her to read more often.
• Visit the Library. Make visits to the library a regular activity and let your children select their own books.
• Be a Reading Role Model. Read a lot. Let your child see you read and hear you talk about your books.

How can you be sure your children are using the Internet safely?

  • Do Your Research. Find safe and relevant sites and child-friendly search engines for your child to use. Bookmark them for easy access.

  • Make an Agreement. Create an agreement with your child that outlines which site he or she is allowed to visit, and which areas and activities are off-limits. Involve your child in this activity.

  • Learn About and Use Internet Blocking Features available on AOL and Comcast and other sites

  • Stay Aware. Keep lines of communication open so you know what Web sites your child is visiting. Pay attention to his or her surfing habits. Let your child know that he or she can come to you in case of trouble.

  • Review Facebook, My Space and Twitter pages (your children’s and their friends’)

  • Report Suspicious Activity. If you or your child encounters suspicious or dangerous situations online, report them to your Internet Service Provider and local police.

HOMEWORK TIPS:

 

Jim Clark, President/CEO of daniel: " Homework is the same as practicing for a sport or anything else in which your child wants to excel. It helps your child began to master a skill, teaches time management, encourages responsibility and improves skills. That said, I know that as a parent of two and the head of an agency that oversees as many as 1,000 kids each day – that it’s simply a fact of like that kids dislike homework. However, there are some things parents can do to make it a less frustrating, more meaningful and perhaps even fun process First, off, never use homework as a punishment."

Other than that . . .

 

1) Be Informed and Involved. You can’t help unless you know what’s going on. Find out about the school's policy on homework at the beginning of the school year. Ask your child's teachers about the kind of assignments that will be given and what kind of time frame the children have to complete them. Monitor the homework assignments with your child.

 

2) Learn How Your Child Learns. Every child learns differently. Some learn best visually, others do better with auditory processes (for instance, reading things aloud), others learn best with tactile methods (for instance, writing out spelling words with their fingers in sand or shaving cream). By understanding your child's learning style, you can develop routines that best support how he or she learns best. You can even make it fun—like using pieces of candy for math sorting and counting problems.

 

3) Set the Mood. Ensure the room your child studies in is quiet, has plenty of light, and has school supplies close at hand. Remove distractions by turning off the television and discouraging social phone calls during homework time.

 

4) Establish a Routine. Setting a regular time and sticking to it helps children complete their homework assignments.

 

5) Help with Organization & Planning . once a week and ideally at the beginning of each homework period daily, ensure your child has scheduled enough time to complete assignments. Also, teach proper note taking to your child.

 

6) Talk & Show Interest. Ask your child about school activities and talk about what was discussed in school that day. Discuss homework with your child. Talking about an assignment can help your child think it through and break it down into small, workable parts. Take your child to the library to check out materials for homework, and make time to read with your child as often as you can.

 

7) Provide Encouragement. Find ways to support your child's efforts in completing assignments. Whether it’s a special time out with you after a week of well-done homework or watching a favorite TV show together in the evening when their work is behind them – your encouragement and their looking forward to the reward of relaxing with their homework done will make a difference.

There are some great sites that can give you even more tips. Check out:

 

http://www.bjpinchbeck.com/index.html (a site that’s lauded by the New York Times)

* the duval school board has some great help on their site as well.

 

http://www.duvalschools.org/static/parents/firststeps/calendar08.asp

 

CHECK BACK SOON FOR MORE PARENTING TIPS!



For TV controls:                        www.TVBlanket.com

 

(2) KEEP TV OUT OF KIDS' BEDROOMS: It is difficult to monitor what your children are watching when they are watching TV in their own room. Having a TV in a child's room discourages participation in family activities and encourages them to watch TV when they could be studying, reading, or sleeping. Ideally, watching at least some of what your children are watching with them is best so you can ensure the show is appropriate and so it becomes something you can share together, joke or talk about.

 

(3) PUT THE FAMILY ON A TV DIET: Schedule some fun alternative activities, such as traditional board or cards games, even if it’s only one night per week. When you do watch television, watch it with your children.

 

 

Question: So many video games are full of violence. What do you suggest for parents wanting to monitor the content of the video games their child is playing?

 

(1)       RENT a game to preview before buying it for your child.

 

(2)       PICK non-lethal games that require the player to come up with strategies, and make decisions in a game environment that is more complex than punch, run, and kill.

 

(3)      PLAY AND ENJOY the game with your child; check in as your child moves into deeper levels in the game. (With some games the level of violence goes up the deeper into the game the player gets.)

 

       (4) USE PARENTAL CONTROLS WHEN AND IF NECESSARY

     Practically all the video games have parental controls that are easy to use. Check out GetGame Smart.com under their family tools section – there’s a list of parental control instructions for most popular games there. For internet controls, there are a number of parental control filters you can buy – so it’s likely best to just google “Parental Controls for the Internet” and analyze what’s best for your needs and budget.

 

 

Links:

Video Game Parental Control Instructions: http://www.esrb.org/about/news/downloads/ESRB_PTA_Brochure-web_version.pdf

TV Parental Control:

http://www.tvblanket.com/tv_parental_control.html

 

daniel newsletter signup
 
 
Donate to daniel
Our Story
Our Story

Daniel’s 125th Anniversary Means Better Lives for Thousands of Children

This year marks daniel’s 125th year of serving community kids in crisis. Originally established as an orphanage in 1884, daniel has evolved into a multi-service agency that helps an average of 1,000 abused, abandoned and neglected youth each day.


Please click PLAY button above to view short video or click here to view video in external player

 


INTERESTED IN FOSTER CARE? click here to find out more

 

For those wishing to make a donation in memory of long-time daniel supporters and board members, Beth Sumner Wiggins and Glyn Cook.

 

In loving memory of Beth Sumner Wiggins

 

The Glyn Cook Memorial Scholarship Fund

 

 

Mission: To provide quality services for youth and families.

 

Established in 1884, daniel has spent more than a hundred years meeting the physical and emotional needs of children. It is considered Florida’s oldest child-serving agency. Originally founded as an orphanage, and later named after James Jaquelin Daniel, daniel has evolved into a multi-service agency that assists troubled youth and their families with a variety of innovative and nationally recognized programs.


The daniel web site was designed to provide information about the more than 25 programs and services presently being offered. More information is available throughout the web site and we encourage you to enter it now and to visit often. If you would like to call us in Jacksonville, Florida, our telephone number is 1-904-296-1055