Partners in Parenting

This section contains useful resources on prevalent topics regarding child development. Each section provides you with a brief description and a link to some useful reading on the topic. We will update this section of the site periodically as we come across materials that may be useful.

The Benefits of the Camp Experience
A study involving more than 5000 families and 80 ACA (American Camp Association) accredited camps was conducted to investigate the youth development outcomes of the camp experience. The results of the study conclude that camp helps children develop in all four developmentally important domains investigated: Positive Identity, Social Skills, Physical and Thinking Skills, & Positive Values. To find out how and to read more about the benefits of summer camps, select the pdf document.
Youth Development Outcomes of the Camp Experience

The Impact of Media on Children
The National Institute on Media and The Family have been promoting healthier media choices since 1996. There website gives detailed information on how media (video games in particular) influences bullying, youth violence, school performance and obesity. They suggest that self discipline, the ability to delay gratification, perseverance, imagination and respect are all building blocks for success and that poor media choices are undermining all of these building blocks. Their website is a very useful tool for information on the adolescent brain and the powerful impact that media can have. As a starting point, click on the link for a fact sheet on the effects of video game playing: http://www.mediafamily.org/facts/facts_effect.shtml

Bullying
Bullying has always been a part of our schools but perhaps the seriousness has been overlooked until recent years. With social networking, instant messaging and text messaging, cyber bullying has become a prevalent issue for our youth. John Halligan uses his tragedy to heighten awareness of the risks involved with this boundless form of bullying. He travels across the states, has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and has formed a website in an attempt to ensure that the severity of bullying and the impact it has on the victims does not go unnoticed. You can read his story by selecting the following link: http://www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org/index.htm. His website contains useful information on cyber bullying and what we can do as a society to help children through their most difficult years.

Anxiety
Most feelings of anxiety are normal. Most of us still feel a little anxious if we have to speak in front of large groups but we are able to cope. The following article focuses on anxiety in children and begins by explaining the different stages of anxiety through child development and expands on the main types of anxiety. It clarifies what to look out for and explains some similarities with ADHD. The article also gives us some things we can all do to help children experiencing anxiety. The article was written by the National Association of School Psychologists, who work to enhance the learning and mental health of our youth.
Anxiety in Children

The Importance of Exercise / Childhood Obesity
Parents say childhood obesity is 2009's top health concern. The article suggests that it is not an increase in calorie consumption but rather a reduction in daily activity causing the obesity epidemic. NY Metro Parents provides practical information to parents on a variety of topics and this article explains what parents can do in the home to increase the amount of daily activity that our children are involved in. http://www.nymetroparents.com/newarticle.cfm?colid=15436

As the prevalence of this issue increases, organizations such as the NFL are stepping in to help. The NFL have teamed up with the American Heart Association to raise awareness and challenge all of us to 60 minutes of activity every day. Click the link to read more about how to take on the NFL Play 60 Challenge and make it fun to exercise. http://www.nflrush.com/play60/wmuplanner

Healthy Competition
The debate continues as to whether a competitive environment is a good or a bad thing. In the attached article, Dr. Christopher A. Thurber, Ph.D. explains that the responsibility is for adults to frame the game in a way that suggests a friendly manner. In this way, children learn from the benefits that competition brings while avoiding the potential drawbacks. Attach article
Healthy Competition

Today's Technology Driven Environment
Does your child seem to know more than you about the internet? Do they spend all of their free time online, refreshing their social networking sites? The Online Mom provides some basic guidelines for monitoring your child's internet usage and familiarizing yourself with today's technological environment. http://www.theonlinemom.com/secondary.asp?id=25

Jeffrey Leiken writes about the changing nature of relationships and the impact that technology is having on the way we interact. He suggests that technology is preventing us from truly being together and "hanging out" long enough to really make meaningful connections. We plan and socialize around activities rather than planning to be together and then creating the activity. In this newsletter, Jeffrey Leiken explains the importance of family time when it comes to teaching children how to form relationships and why we all need to periodically "switch off" from our plugged in world.
Changing Nature of Relationships

ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common behavioral disorder that affects approximately 8% to 10% of school-age children. Boys are about three times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with it, though it's not yet understood why. http://www.adhd-made-simple.com/ADHD_Children.html provides a useful guide for working with ADHD children.