I am having a hard time believing it has been nearly two months since Bayside hosted the Alabama Association of Independent Schools Conference. I have an even harder time believing that my presentation on Popular Media and its effects on Teens and Tweens was so well attended! Since people keep asking me to view it (and I finally had an extra second of time on my hands), I am finally making it available here. If you are interested in having me present this at your parent/church/work or other group, I am available locally by honorarium!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
It seems this is life around Bayside as of late:
And I am not shocked in the least; I think the students have had summer on the brain since before Spring Break! But before unleashing our students on to the unsuspecting world, I wanted to remind everyone to have fun and be safe over the break. Inevitably, part of your child's summer will be spent as a coach potato (or a computer desk chair potato), and so I wanted to leave you with one of my favorite resource finds from this past year:
I am already looking forward to next school year, because thanks to funds from the Parent's Association and training + funds from The Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation the counselor's office will be able to expand and start new programs. I am looking forward to receiving feedback from parents, students, and faculty on what you believe the most pressing issues are for the Bayside family. Be sure to comment here or email me (ahembree@baysideacademy.org) and let me know. I will still be around either here or occasionally on campus over the summer, so please keep in contact!
Thanks for a fabulous first year!
-Amanda
Thanks for a fabulous first year!
-Amanda
Monday, May 11, 2009
Breaking the Cycle
As the school year winds down, I find that there is the tendency for "flare ups" among students who have unresolved issues with one another. Perhaps it is the stress of exam time or the anxiety of change looming, but whatever the cause, students are finding their way to my office in droves.
One of the main issues bringing students into my office is bullying, and while I can hope that some students will have a "magical summer" and mature out of this stage, two recent articles I have read tend to stop my hear momentarily.
The first article in the New York Times speaks of bullying in the workplace, especially by women to other women. The article mentions that researchers "found that some women may sabotage one another because they feel that helping their female co-workers could jeopardize their own careers." I have found this self-interest fueled sabotaging occurring in young female students, and worry that the cycle could continue well into their adult lives.
Another article from Medscape/WebMD explores the potential for bullied kids to become psychotic preteens. Here I read that "Investigators...found the risk for psychotic symptoms nearly doubled among children who were victims of bullying at age 8 or 10 years, independent of other psychiatric illness, family adversity, or the child's IQ, and increased nearly 4-fold when victimization was chronic or severe."
While I can address the issue of bullying as I witness it (or in Character Education,or through the Peer Counselors), there is only so much I can do, and most of it is reactive. Parents, however, can take the most proactive role in raising happy, healthy, non bullying kids! Here are a few tips and resources on how to promote having a child with character:
One of the main issues bringing students into my office is bullying, and while I can hope that some students will have a "magical summer" and mature out of this stage, two recent articles I have read tend to stop my hear momentarily.
The first article in the New York Times speaks of bullying in the workplace, especially by women to other women. The article mentions that researchers "found that some women may sabotage one another because they feel that helping their female co-workers could jeopardize their own careers." I have found this self-interest fueled sabotaging occurring in young female students, and worry that the cycle could continue well into their adult lives.
Another article from Medscape/WebMD explores the potential for bullied kids to become psychotic preteens. Here I read that "Investigators...found the risk for psychotic symptoms nearly doubled among children who were victims of bullying at age 8 or 10 years, independent of other psychiatric illness, family adversity, or the child's IQ, and increased nearly 4-fold when victimization was chronic or severe."
While I can address the issue of bullying as I witness it (or in Character Education,or through the Peer Counselors), there is only so much I can do, and most of it is reactive. Parents, however, can take the most proactive role in raising happy, healthy, non bullying kids! Here are a few tips and resources on how to promote having a child with character:
- Be a good role model (AT ALL TIMES). Your children are watching and copying what you do, so make sure the images they are seeing are ones you want them to copy!
- Turn off the violence! TV, movies, video games, etc. often promote and glorify violence. Your children internalize this as being "OK" and then copy it in the form of bullying.
- Stress family time and family values. If your children know there are high expectations to be met and consequences for not meeting them, they will most likely strive to please you. Be clear on what your family values are and use every opportunity to discuss and promote them.
- Educate yourself on what your child is doing so you can be proactive in dealing with things that may come up in their lives.
- A quick tip sheet on dealing with bullying from parenthood.com
- How to turn your child from a bully into a child with character
- How to help kids deal with bullies
- A great list of recommended reading for both parents and children about bullying
And finally, a quick note to inform you that Officer Shane Nolte from the Fairhope Police Department will be giving an informative talk on the risks of social networking at 6:30 PM on Monday. May 18th at Fairhope United Methodist Church. I urge all parents to attend with their children!
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