Prioritizing online safety for your kids

Summer is a time when kids may have nothing to do but to zombie out in front of the computer.  Be sure they are using their screen time wisely.  We know about the dangers of the internet, but it is a new world for your children to unveil and potentially expose themselves to inappropriate content.

There’s no denying that the Internet has revolutionized the way we work, learn and interact. And with the recent 25th birthday of the Internet, it is a good time to look back and evaluate the online safety measures you take to protect your kids from potential dangers they could face every time they log on to play a game, do homework or chat with friends.

Common online safety tips

Just like we teach our kids to be alert around people in public, it is important for your child to keep information guarded when interacting with people online. These are the most basic of internet don’ts that all kids should know:

• Never give out personal information such as name, address, contact information or school schedules
• Don’t send pictures of yourself to strangers – they may use them to help track you down
• Tell a trusted adult if someone online makes you feel uncomfortable or threatens you
• Never agree to meet a stranger in real life who you met online
• Remember that not all people are who they claim to be online

 Find other great parenting tips

Good rules for online safety

There are some general things you can do to help keep your child safe online. Here are just a few:

• Watch them when they are online – this will keep them from viewing things they shouldn’t and you can see who they’re talking with
• Use the safety filter options on your web browser to keep inappropriate search results and web pages from appearing
• Keep anti-virus and malware protection current to avoid hackers stealing private information about you or your kids
• Agree on what is okay to download – are music lyrics vulgar or pictures too graphic for kids their age?

With a little care and the proper coaching, your kids can experience all the great things there are to see and do online without falling victim to predators or being taken in by scams.

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Fun exercises for kids

Fun exercises for kids (besides karate)

Summer has begun!  Don't let them lay around all summer.  Get them moving!

With so much digital stimulation available today such as video games, tablets and the like, instant gratification has become the most important consideration for a child to deem an activity as fun. But whatever happened to good, old-fashioned play time? Many kids end up sitting on the sofa with a device in their hands rather than playing outside. The result is that children are packing on more pounds than they used to, which puts them at risk for a host of diseases.

Here are some fun exercises for kids. They won’t realize they’re exercising since they will be too busy having fun to care.

• Monkeying around – Challenge a child to complete a playground obstacle course in a timed fashion. Whoever gets through the entire course wins. By including requirements like going down the slide five times, climbing the monkey bars from one side to the other, scaling the jungle gym or running two laps around the perimeter, children will learn to complete fitness goals. Parental involvement is more important than people realize. Parents can get in on the fun to make the challenge more real.

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• Scavenger hunt – Hide treasures around the house, both inside and out. Then write clues on index cards suggesting a method of exercise to use to get to the next location. For example, if the child is to advance to the deck from the kitchen suggest they go where the sunshine meets their face and the wind greets their hair, but use jumping jacks to get there.

• Animal yoga – Kids are so flexible. Capitalize on that by introducing them to yoga. The poses they’ll do emulate cats arching their backs and snakes slithering along the ground. Encourage children to make the animal sounds as they perfect the pose. Between the giggles they will strengthen their core and leg muscles.

• Video games rock – Don’t forget the video games! Many game developers create games that encourage movement and exercise. Join in the fun and make the activity a family affair.

Children can be coerced off the couch. They are still children after all and will have fun the moment they begin playing. It just takes a little planning to find some great exercises for kids they’ll actually want to do!

Of course...karate will help keep their brains stimulated throughout summer.  Focus and discipline are skills that, with practice, get better.  Find out more!

Debunking the popularity myth

Debunking the popularity myth

Awareness of bullying has dramatically increased in America over the last few years. There are many stories in the news about the disastrous consequences that sometimes take place.

However, many people who are not around the bullying on a regular basis fail to see the reason that it may be taking place. Previously, it was thought that bullying only comes from the top of the social pecking order.

Recent studies, however, have shown that the vast majority of bullying happens between kids in the same perceived social strata.

Why bully?

Bullying among adolescents typically is motivated by a desire for some sort of change in social standing.

While many people think that bullying comes from those that are already in a position of high standing among their peers, this is not the case. Instead, the majority of bullying comes from kids who are trying to advance their standing at the expense of their peers.

The question then becomes: What is the cause of this bullying and how does it occur in the first place?

Recent research has shown that children who bully are often victims of bullying or abuse themselves. This may be among their peers, but it could also be something that they have to deal with at home.

Children who have disruptions at home are more likely to bully at school. Problems at home can include divorce, abuse, violence, neglect or a stressful atmosphere. Other issues involve medical conditions, including depression or ADHD.

 Learn more about bullying.

How do we counteract bullying?

It is important that schools make a diligent effort to understand that bullying may be coming from places that they may not expect. In one form or another, bullying happens to a majority of students.

Those who are looking for the social acceptance that they do not get at home are more likely to bully. They are also more sensitive to bullying from others.

Furthermore, parents can do their part to help with bullying by creating more stable environments at home.

There are certain factors that are hard to control, but a continued emphasis on children’s safety is not something that should be overlooked. Lastly, even in stable households, parents can teach their children about bullying and what to do in the event that they see it happening at school or among their friends.

Is your child dealing with bullying? Find out what you can do

Don't turn the TV off

We at Shihan Marc's Karate Academy subscribe to the Better Kids Institute.  Every week, this organization sends out smart little pieces of parenting advice to help all of us stay tuned into to what is important. Below is a sample of one email.  To learn more and sign up for this great program, click here.  You will NOT be slammed with spam!  This goes out every sunday.

Don't turn the TV off.

I know, I know in the past we have said that the TV
in one of the worst influences for our children (And
we still do) but in this particular case we are
recommending that it is OK, as long as you sitting
by their side when they watch. This will provide an
overabundance of teaching opportunities to coach
your children about integrity and character-driven
values.

When you see Britney Spears or Paris Hilton
frolicking around half naked, it's a great moment to
teach your daughter why that type of behavior is
unacceptable. When your son sees his favorite ball
player being questioned about steroid abuse, it's a
great time to explain why drugs are dangerous and
unacceptable. It's not hard to find everyday examples
all around you if you just look for them. Whenever you
see something that conflicts with the core values you
want your child to have, use it as an opportunity to
explain why they shouldn't do that.

We are not saying to intentionally expose your children
to the bad behavior, though. There's no need to rent
rated-R movies or take your child to "the wrong side
of town" when you can find ample teaching moments
nearby you every day.


To healthy, happy and safe kids,

Experts At The Better Kids Institute

The 5 main types of bullying

The 5 main types of bullying

Bullying is one of the more serious problems facing children and teenagers today. It seems like a new child commits suicide because of problems in school every week. Parents and educators need to better understand the different types of bullying to identify the troubles that kids go through.

Physical Bullying

When most people think of bullying, they think of physical bullying. This includes any type of physical action that one child takes against another.

Kicking, tripping, slapping and smacking are all types of physical altercations that parents and teachers might see in schools. Many schools now have zero tolerance policies that keep bullied students from acting out against their aggressors out of fear of expulsion.

Verbal Bullying

When one child calls another a mean nickname or uses a rude word to describe that child, it’s a type of verbal bullying.

Far too many adults think that verbal bullying isn’t as harmful as physical bullying, but it can still lead to poor self-esteem, trouble concentrating in school and even depression.

Making racist or homophobic slurs and remarks, taunting, and intimidating children through non-physical means are other types of verbal bullying.

 Learn more about bullying on our website

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying came about as children of all ages grew up surrounded by the Internet. They can now harass each other through emails, attack their social networking pages and even send threatening tweets to others.

Cyberbullying also includes bullying done through online games played on video game consoles, smartphones and tablets and bulling done via text or picture messages.

Social Bullying

Emotional and social bullying is a type of bullying done to exclude a specific person or group of people. Some groups deliberately exclude a certain child from that group by making fun of the child’s appearance, clothing and hobbies.

Though some parents and educators don’t think twice about students spreading rumors, rumor spreading is a type of social bullying. Other types of social bullying include lying about a child to others, making rude gestures and playing pranks on a child.

Sexual Bullying

Both boys and girls use sexual bullying as a way to intimidate and exclude others. They call other students sexually derogatory names, they make rude gestures, they attempt to touch unwilling participants and they taunt others with pornographic photos and videos.

Students who are sexual bullies are more likely to sexually assault someone later in life. Identifying the signs of bullying helps protect those future victims.

Learn more about bullying on our website