HEY PARENTS: CHILD ID KIT
Month: October 2019
HEY KIDS
The following series of articles are directed to youth.
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WORDS HURT
“Language is too powerful a weapon to be dismissed as innocent”
Bullying isn’t always just a physical confrontation. One of the commercials running on Canadian television is about Bullying and about how words hurt.
Kidswatch and the Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB) have an ANTI-BULLYING Hotline
Telephone: 1-866-444-6996 ~ A SAFE PLACE TO CALL
E-mail: bully@alcdsb.on.ca
For outside of Kingston there is the national KIDS HELPLINE PHONE
KIDS HELPLINE = JEUNESSE, J’&ECOUTE
Telephone: (1-800)-448-6868
Webpage: http://www.kidshelpphone.ca
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BULLYING
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Elmer the Safety Elephant’s School Bullying Program
Bullying is a problem that has been around for a long time. Many children have dealt with bullies at one time or another in their lives. Children need to learn how to protect themselves against the school yard bully without having to resort to unacceptable behaviour themselves. Elmer suggests a few things to remember if you come across a bully.
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CULTIVATE CHARACTER
It is all about cultivating character
Fairness
– Treating everyone in a just and accepting manner
Honesty
-Being trustworthy, sincere and truthful
Empathy
-Understanding how someone else feels
Respect
-Valuing self, others and our world
Courage
-Facing the challenge
Integrity
-Doing what is right and honourable
Compassion
-Showing care and consideration
Perseverance
-Staying purposeful and committed
Responsibility
-Being reliable and accountable
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FIVE ATTITUDES TO WIN IN SPORTS AND LIFE
1. Do not avoid competition. Look for it everywhere.
2. Be prepared to sacrifice everything but your family and education for the activity you choose if you want to be good at it.
3. If you pamper yourself you will never be a winner. BE your hardest driver; do not expect our coach to push you all the time.
4. Do not give up, keep at it.
5. Use your mind to solve problems and create new methods. Dare to be great.
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THE ART OF WRITING THANK YOU NOTES
Here are some helful hints for writing thank-you notes. Really, it is an easy gesture that means so much to the person who receives it. but too often thank-you notes are considered a chore when the truth is that you don’t have to write a novel – just a few simple thoughts tucked neatly in an envelope is all you need. Here are a few hints to get started:
– first, greet the recipient, like “Dear Aunt Martha.”
– Then express your gratitude, like “Thanks for the beautiful scarf.”
– Follow with letting “Aunt Martha” know how you plan to use the gift. For instance, say “It’ll come in handy during the cold winter days ahead.”
– It is also good to include a personal line to show interest in how the person is doing , such as “I hope your new job in Toronto is going well.
– Last but not least, say thanks, again and sign your name.
That is all there is to it. so the next time you receive a gift or someone has done something special for you, take a minute and write a quick thank-you note to show how much you appreciate the person.
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MORAL INTELLIGENCE BUILDER
Signs of a strong conscience to share with kids
There are many ways people display strong moral actions, and the more aware that kids are of things people with healthy consciences say and do, the more likely they are to incorporate them into their own behaviour.
Here are a few examples of conscience to discuss and role play with your class.
WHAT PEOPLE WITH A CONSCIENCE SAY
1. “I know how to act right.”
2.”You should put that back. It isn’t yours.”
3. “I only watch TV shows that my parents permit.”
4. “Let’s do something else. This isn’t right.”
5. “You can count on me.”
6. “I’m sorry. It was my fault.”
7. “You should tell the truth.”
8. I do my own work, because copying is cheating.”
WHAT PEOPLE WITH A CONSCIENCE DO
1. Act the way they know is right.
2. Do not steal, or cheat, because they know it is wrong.
3. Obey their parents even when that parents are not watching.
4. Are not swayed by others, and do what they know is right.</strong>
5. Can be trusted to do what they are told.
6. Admit when they are wrong.
7. Do not lie, because they know it is wrong.
8. Obey the rules and not cheat because it’s the right thing to do.
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I AM …
“I am a martial artist.” I see through different eyes.
I see a bigger picture when others see grey skies.
Though many can’t conceive it, I stand…facing the wind.
My bravery, not from fighting, but from my strength within.
I am a martial artist. I’ll walk the extra mile.
Not because I have to, but because it’s worth my while.
I know that I am different, when I stand on a crowded street.
I know the fullness of winning, I’ve tasted the cup of defeat.
I am a martial artist. They say I walk with ease.
Though trained for bodily harm, my intentions are for peace.
The world may come and go, but a different path I’ll choose.
A path I will not stray from, no matter, win or lose.
Author: Karen Eden and T-shirt available through Century Martial Arts
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KIDS NINJA STORIES
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The Warrior Information Network – Ninja Stories
Jutaro and the Bridge
This is a story from when Jutaro (Takamatsu Sensei’s name as a young man) was 18 years of age. In his father’s factory they needed about 330 gallons of clear water a day. Every morning, using a pole and four buckets, Jutaro brought all of the water to the factory. This was a feat that no one else could perform. The water came from the mouth of a stone turtle, which consistently gave out clear water. This turtle was located a little way down from Maruyama mountain, which was seven to eight blocks away from the factory, Each load weighed 529 pounds and a total of five trips from the turtle were needed. Jutaro said that this was perfect for conditioning his legs and waist.
One day a factory worker said, “Young master, I had a heck of a time last night. I was working alone on Shin Bashi Bridge when a man blocked my way. If I moved to the right to pass him, he moved to block me and did the same if I moved to the left. Then, he grabbed me by my collar and threw me into the water. I thought I was going to be killed. Young master, I don’t really want to go on errands in that area after dark.” Overhearing this conversation, another worker added, “Really? Me, too.”
Hearing this, Jutaro said, “Leave it to me.”
Shin Bashi Bridge is at the point where the river enters from the Akashi seashore. The sailors tie their small boats to the banks here and leave for the sea from this spot. That night Jutaro crossed Shin Bashi Bridge four of rive times without anything happening. The next day he did the same thing with the same result. Jutaro said to himself, “Maybe this ruffian is someone who knows me.”
The following night he wore a disguise and went to the bridge. As expected, when he was halfway across the bridge, a man wearing a hat to cover his eyes came walking toward him. Jutaro moved to the left to pass him but the follow moved in his way. The same thing happened when he moved to the right. Then he grabbed Jutaro by the collar and tried to throw him by using his hip. Jutaro stuck out his stomach and let his arms down loosely. The man persistently tried to throw him; then tried to hit Jutaro with his fist, then tried to kick him. But all his punches and kicks hit air. When the man became confused, Jutaro threw him upside down, yelling a kiai. The man’s hat flew away and he fell down on his stomach, stretched out like a dead spider. Jutaro turned the man over to see his face and to apply the art of resuscitation. It was one of Mizuta Sensei’s students, Miyata, who held a middle rank license in jujutsu. Jutaro angrily lectured him. “How could you disgrace your school in this way? You should be ashamed!”
The Story of Sasuke Sarutobi
Sasuke Sarutobi, one of the heroes of ninjutsu, was created in Tachikawa literature at the end of the meiji period. Up until that time, the general image of ninjutsu was related to black arts, witchcraft, magic, hobgoblins, thieves, and assassins. Sasuke was a mischievous boy. Books describe him as an innocent child with a strong sense of justice. In the stories, great importance was placed on humor, with actual combat considered secondary.
One day, Sasuke said to himself, “I’m already ten years old. It’s no longer practical for me to practice yatoo (a form of Kiai-spirit shout) with monkeys and deer. I’ll follow my father’s advice and seek a master swordsman to train me. I’m going to go to Okunoin in the Torie Pass to ask the gods to provide me with a good master.”
When Sasuke arrived at Okunoin, he began playing among the clumps of trees rather than practicing yatto. Not satisfied with a stick, Sasuke grappled with a large tree, trying to twist is down. Then, he heard someone laughing at him. Sasuke called, “Hey, who are you? I’m concentrating on fencing. Don’t you dare laugh at me. Come out here. I’ll not forgive you.” As he looked around, he saw an old man with swept-back long hair tied at the back of his head smiling at him. The man’s hair was as white as snow. Sasuke asked, “Oh, you laughed at me, didn’t you, old man?”
The old man answered, “Yes I did.”
Sasuke asked him again fiercely, “Why did you laugh at me? Answer me. If there is no good reason, I’ll never forgive you even if you are an old man.”
The old man laughed and said, “Well, Sasuke, you were practicing with a tree, but this is like practicing with a dead enemy. You can’t improve your fencing that way. Do you want to learn fencing so badly?”
This was the age of civil wars, and only a few people could live to an old age. Therefore, Sasuke reasoned, an elderly fencing instructor was surely a master at martial arts.
Sasuke said, “Old man, are you a master of martial arts? I want to learn the secrets of martial arts.”
“What are you going to do with them, after you learn them?”
“I’ll be a strong swordsman and win fame and honor.”
“Wonderful. What an admirable goal for only a boy! All right. I’m going to give you a lesson in consideration of your zeal and determination.”
Sasuke prostrated himself before the old man and thanked him. Then, Sasuke delivered a sword stroke to the old man. However, he had disappeared. Sasuke looked around nervously. Then, he was suddenly tripped by an attack from behind and fell flat on his face. The old man appeared suddenly in front of Sasuke with a smile.
The old man taught Sasuke for the next three years. He tried to teach him the godan or fifth-level secrets by saying, “Don’t you have your eyes in the back of your head? How handicapped you are!
“You’ll be a failure unless you know how to defend your weak point, even if you know the unguarded point of your opponent. The secret of defense in martial arts is to always be alert. Unless one knows his own weak point, he can never be certain that the weak point of his opponent is not a decoy.”
In addition to ankokutoshijutsu techniques for seeing in the dark, Sasuke learned to listen for stealthy footsteps coming from more than thirty meters away.
One day the old man handed a scroll to Sasuke and said to him, “Well, Sasuke, this is my parting gift, the rules of Ninjutsu. Carry it with you for life and behave prudently. When you are in combat with others or meet heroes and great men, you’ll never be beaten if you understand what is written in this scroll.”
When the old man gave the scroll to Sasuke, he for the first time revealed his name as Hakuunsai Tozawa, and then disappeared.
Takamatsu in China
This is a story from when Jutaro (Takamatsu Sensei) was 26 years old. In various places in China he entered martial arts contests and was never beaten. So, he was recommended to be the chairman of the Japanese Association of Young Martial Artists.
Lord Ren, the uncle to the former Emperor of China, treated Jutaro as if here were his own son. He always bragged that his Jutaro was a top-rate martial artist. This was no wonder because at this time Jutaro had more than eight hundred Chinese, Japanese, American and French students. Every night, he taught 70-80 students. Even in the raging heat of midsummer, he did not show a drop of sweat.
Hearing these facts, a Shaolin kung fu master, Choshiryu from the Santo province, challenged Jutaro to a match. Choshiryu lifted a 248-pound barbell 100 times every morning.
Jutaro refused twice but Choshiryu would not accept his refusal. That night, Jutaro dreamed of a red giant demon who swung a heavy iron bar to catch a little butterfly. The butterfly effortlessly avoided the blows time and time again. Sweat poured off the red demon and in a while he fell down and yelled, “Enough!” The next morning, Jutaro conceived the butterfly dance technique.
Lord Ren came to see Jutaro and said, “Jutaro, Choshiryu has come again. What shall we do?”
Jutaro replied, “This is the third time that he has proposed a match. This time I will accept his proposal.” Lord Ren said, “Thank you, this will be a great event!” Lord Ren told everyone he passed in the city and then informed Choshiryu of Jutaro’s acceptance. Choshiryu was 37 years old, weighed 248 pounds, and was approximately 1.9 meters tall. Jutaro weighed 165 pounds. The match was held in the plaza of the English settlement.
With Lord Ren acting as referee, the match began with Choshiryu giving a yell and jumping 5 meters closer and kicking with the speed of a giant dragon.
Jutaro jumped to the right by 3 meters. Choshiryu jumped up, down, right, and left within an eye’s blink. When he came again with the deadly striking punches and kicks, Jutaro saw an unguarded point. He tried to use the crawl position blow. Choshiryu jumped up 2 meters and returned fierce kicks and punches.
The heated battle had gone on about two hours when he noticed that Choshiryu was out of breath and was sweating profusely. His movements had clearly slowed. The weak point of a big fighter – inability to endure long battles – started to appear. Choshiryu’s vision was impaired because of the sweat that ran down his face. Jutaro did not perspire a drop. When Jutaro said, “Here I come,” with a calm smile on his lips, Lord Ren stopped the fight. The audience yelled for them to continue fighting. But Lord Ren could see that Choshiryu had no chance of winning. Jutaro and Choshiryu smiled at each other in congratulations for having such a good match.
After the match, Lord Ren, Choshiryu, and Jutaro went to a restaurant to celebrate a newfound friendship, the kind that can only come from respect earned during such a competition as they had. Choshiryu praised Jutaro, while the younger man modestly returned the older man’s compliments. Choshiryu announced that he wanted Jutaro to be his brother, so they sealed this martial bond with a drink of sake.
There are few ties between friends that are closer than those of brothers in martial arts.
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HEY PARENTS
The following series of articles are directed to parents
WHEN CHILDREN ASK TO DO KARATE.
Daddy, I want to take Karate!
Mommy, Jimmy on the bus hit me again today.
There are many reasons why parents want to sign their children up for Self Defense or Martial Arts classes.
Once you have made the decision, now you are faced with many different options and questions.
What style? … How much does it cost? … Is my child too young?
MARTIAL ARTS STYLES
There are probably as many different styles of Martial Arts as there are religions in the world.
You have probably heard of Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Jujitsu, and even Aikido, but there are still numerous styles and offshoots of the major styles.
So what Style is the Best and what style should I choose?
In reality, the ‘style’ of Martial Arts your child will learn is really not that important.
What is important is the method of teaching and training that your child will undergo.
With Martial Arts training your child should learn self-discipline, self-respect, and self-esteem, along with the confidence and ability to defend themselves.
The Instructor, (or Sensei) is the key. I suggest that all parents visit several locations with their children to observe the Instructor at work.
Make sure you visit a beginner’s class as well as an upper level class. The beginner’s class is where your child will start.
Does the instructor’s personality and philosophy match your morals and ideals?
Does the class participate in any Eastern Religious practice that does not match your faith?
Do you want your child viewing this instructor as a role model?
Most children will look up to their Martial Arts & Self Defense Instructors as role models and will be in awe of their skills and abilities.
Make sure that this person who will be dealing with your children matches your values.
It is also important to view an upper level class. The beginner classes are usually very tame, and the teaching philosophy is tailored to a younger audience.
However, the older the student is, the real teaching and training methods are put into effect.
You may feel comfortable with how the instructor teaches the younger beginning students, but may not be comfortable with how they handle the older students.
COST
The majority of Martial Arts & Self Defense Locations (or Dojo) run their business on a membership basis.
In some cases the customers must sign contracts, where they are obligated to pay for a certain time period to participate.
The locations are run like a gym membership, you pay for a certain length of time and may participate as often as you desire.
Unfortunately, rarely are the ?hidden costs? discussed when signing up for a class or membership.
WHAT ARE THE HIDDEN COSTS?
The most over looked cost is the testing fee. In Martial Arts there are numerous skill levels that are equated to a belt rank.
After a certain period of time and training, the student is ready to advance to a new level or belt in their martial arts style, and a belt test will be performed.
This belt test almost always requires the student/parents to pay a belt-testing fee.
I have seen fees from $50 up to $500 depending on the belt rank.
Parents, make sure you inquire about these fees and are comfortable with them before you sign any contract.
Another hidden cost is required items to purchase. Some locations require that you purchase a uniform with the schools logo.
The average cost of these uniforms range from $30-$50. As the child advances in rank, protective sparring gear is required.
Now this is normally mandatory for the child’s protection and safety, but can be expensive.
Normal safety gear for Martial Arts consists of Foot Pads, Hand Pads, Head Gear, Mouth Piece, Groin Cup, and optional Chest Protector. Depending on the style and sizes all this gear together cost about $150 retail or higher.
So Parents, factor in the total cost of classes, testing fees, and required equipment when making your decisions.
AGE
At what age should my child begin Martial Arts or Self Defense?
Now this is an often-debated issue. I have seen children as young as 4 years old participate in Martial Arts or Self Defense training. Some have been successful while for others it was just too young.
The age of which a child should start Martial Arts or Self Defense classes should be judged on an individual basis and be determined by the parents. Some key points to consider.
– Does the child have a good attention span?
– Has the child participated and flourished in other group activities?
– Is the child comfortable in larger group settings?
If the child is currently enrolled in grade school and has no problem adapting to those settings or conditions then they should be considered old enough to participate and benefit from Martial Arts or Self Defense instruction.
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SELF ESTEEM
In Karate advertisements you will often read that Karate improves self esteem, but what does this mean?
Self esteem can be an issue at any age,? luckily, problems are usually temporary! This is especially true for teens who are still figuring out who they are and where they fit in the world. Self esteem is an important step to self awareness.
How a teen feels about himself or herself can be related to different factors ? environment, body image, self-expectations, personal experiences, as well as parental expectations. Here are some steps for building positive self esteem.
Recognize that you can improve your own self image.
Learn what can hurt self esteem and what can build it.
Value yourself as a unique individual.
Think about how you can share your special gifts with others.
Self esteem comes down to how you feel about yourself.
Some days when you are feeling great, your self esteem is high other days all it takes is a comment from someone to make you not fell so great and your self esteem is low and everyday tasks become a challenge.
Self esteem affects absolutely everything in your life, from productivity at school or word, to relationships with friends and family.
Do you feel capable and confident in your abilities? Do you feel attractive, interesting and worthy?
To promote a sense of high self esteem, there are certain things you can do to make you feel better about yourself and help maintain that good feeling.
Physical activity is known to create a rush of endorphins but also positive reinforcement from friends family or counselors, teachers and coaches help increase your confidence and keep your self-esteem high, which enables you to accomplish even more.
TEN TIPS TO BECOMING YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND
1.Focus on your inner beauty. The outer you is changing everyday, but by focusing on your talents, your skills, your character and your heart, you?ll like yourself no matter how bad a hair or face day you?re having.
2.Exercise, Exercise, Exercise! You?ll not only improve your body, but you?ll relieve stress at the same time.
3.Replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Instead of criticizing yourself, give yourself a pat on the back.
4. Be forgiving. If your friends make mistakes, forgive them. Do the same for yourself.
5. Speak up for yourself. Do not be afraid to share your opinions and ideas. And if someone tries to put you down, stand up to them.
6. Once a week, make a list of three things about yourself that make you happy.
7. Do not be a perfectionist. Remember, it those little imperfections that makes us unique and wonderful.
8. Consider helping others, like raising money for a cause you believe in. Once you start thinking about other people, you won?t be so focused on your problems.
9. Surround yourself with friends who love you for who you are, not what you wear or how you look.
10. HAVE FUN NOW.
So what is the payoff? Studies prove that teens with high self esteem do better in school, enjoy school more and find it easy to make friends. They tend to have better relationships with peers and adults, feel happier, find it easier to deal with mistakes, disappointments s and failures, and are more likely to stick with something until they succeed. Improving self esteem takes work, but the payoff is feeling good about one’s self and one’s accomplishments.
Small changes make a difference.
PARENTS PLEDGE TO THEIR TEEN
I Pledge to:
– Make positive statements about myself in front of my child.
– Exercise and enjoy physical activity.
– Talk to my child about relationships and make an effort to be open minded about his or her choice of friends.
– Help my teen set realistic expectations.
– Set appropriate boundaries and communicate the importance of self-discipline to my teen
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TEN WAYS TO MAKE YOUR CHILD FEEL SPECIAL
by Ann Douglas
Source: http://www.canadianparents.com
When your child was a baby, you told her how special she was a hundred times each day. You conveyed your delight with her by gazing into her eyes while you were feeding her, making funny faces at her while you bathed her, and singing gentle lullabies while you rocked her to sleep.
Now that your child is older and more independent, you may find it more difficult to let her know how much she means to you. If she’s a busy toddler or preschooler, she may not want to slow down long enough for you to squeeze in a cuddle. If she’s a school-aged child, she may let you know in no uncertain terms that public displays of affection are decidedly uncool.
Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to make your child feel special, regardless of his or her age. Here are a few tips:
1. Help your child to recognize what makes her unique and special.
Dr. Robert Currie, professor of psychology at Judson College in Elgin, Illinois, suggests that parents make a point of acknowledging such traits as honesty, courage, insight, and creativity, heaping on praise where praise is due, noting that “It only takes twenty seconds to make someone’s day.”
2. Be generous with your praise-but make sure that it is sincere.
Rather than speaking in vague generalities when you are praising your child, try to be as specific as you can, suggests Linda Dunlop, chair of the psychology department at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. “When you’re looking at a drawing that your child made, tell him or her exactly what it is about the drawing that appeals to you. Say, ‘I love the colors you used’ or ‘You have a special way of looking at things.'” Children are more likely to accept praise that sounds heart-felt rather than contrived.
3. Talk to your children about things that really matter to them.
Jerry Aldridge, an associate professor of early childhood education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, feels that parents can help to make their children feel valued if they take time to really listen to what their children are trying to communicate. “Be genuinely interested in whatever news they care to share with you about whatever might be happening at school or with their friends.”
4. Understand your child’s own unique rhythms and temperaments, and honor them,
suggests Brian Nichols, an instructor in the Center for Community Development and Health at Sir Sandford Fleming College in Peterborough, Ontario. Instead of trying to change a night owl into an early riser or an introvert into the life of the party, accept and love your child for the person that he or she is-just as you expect others to accept and love you the way you are.
5. Give your child as much one-on-one time as you can.
If you have more than one child, find ways to spend time alone with each of your children. Make a habit of taking one child with you when you do the grocery shopping so that you can spend some time alone together. Or better yet, hire a babysitter to come to your house one night each week so that you and your partner can take one of your children to a movie or out to dinner by himself or herself. If you rotate kids from week to week, each child will have the chance to experience some glorious two-on-one time with his or her parents. This special time with your child may be complicated to arrange, but it’s definitely worth the effort, says Dunlop. “One-on-one or two-on-one time says you’re special.”
6. Celebrate regularly.
Don’t hold out for major achievements or milestones, suggests Nichols. Celebrate all the little things that deserve to be savoured on a day-to-day basis-the first goal of the hockey season, a positive comment from a teacher at school, an exceptionally clean bedroom, and so on.
7. Let your child know that you will be there for him or her in both good times and in bad,
and that you will do whatever you can to help them get through the rough times. “Believe in your child when he or she is shakiest,” said Clint Kelly, author of How to Win Grins and Influence Little People. “Say, ‘Hey, not to worry. Even Winston Churchill had to repeat sixth grade. Let’s see how we can get you over the hump.'”
8. Laugh with your child.
There’s nothing like shared laughter to foster a bond between parent and child, says Lisa DeHaven-Jordan, program director of Raising Today’s Teens, a non-profit parenting hotline. “Sharing an inside joke reminds your child that he or she has a very special place in your heart.”
9. Share something of yourself with your child.
Tell him or her about the time you failed your math test, had a fight with your best friend, or lost your dog. Most important of all, be the first to admit it if you’ve made a mistake, particularly if that mistake affects your child, suggests parenting consultant Diane Pipher Wolf. “In our family, if we’ve blown it when dealing with a particular child, we simply shout, ‘Erase’ and start over!”
10. Above all, remember that making your child feel special is one of your most important tasks
as a parent, says Anita Landau Hurtig, a pediatric psychologist in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “No one can build a child’s self-esteem the way a parent can
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IF CHILDREN …
If children live with criticism,
they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility,
they learn to fight.
If chilfren live with ridicule,
they learn to be shy.
If children live with shame,
they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with tolerence,
they learn to be patient.
If children ive with encouragement,
they learn confidence.
If children live with praise,
they learn to appreciate.
If children live with security,
they learn to have faith.
If children live with approval,
they learn to like themselves.
If children live with acceptance,
they learn to find love in the world.
Anonymous
Source: Ross Laboratories – makers of Similac® and Isomil® infant formula products
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CHILD ABDUCTION MUST STOP
One of the worst fears a parent can have is that their child will become one of the thousands of missing children reported each year. Statistics Canada reports that 61,248 children under the age of 18 were reported missing in 1992. In most cases, children are only temporarily lost. Others simply “run away” from home, only to return an hour after for cookies and milk.
There are some who leave home and don’t want to be found. Unfortunately, however, there are those instances when a child does become a victim of an abduction. There are countless reasons why someone would abduct a child. A few include:
1) A non-custodial parent unhappy with the legal arrangements of the separation or divorce;
2) A person who wants a child, but cannot have a child of his/her own;
3) To “sell” a child on the “adoption black market”;
4) To “recruit” for child prostitution rings;.
5) Child molestation;
With the recent increased public concern about this type of crime, and the number of agencies involved in finding missing children, the rates of children being returned is on the rise. However, parents must also become more aware and take precautionary measures to lessen the chances of this type of tragedy from occuring.
DEALING WITH STRANGERS
The term “stranger” is often a difficult one for children to understand. To many children, strangers are people they do not know, whose appearance is frightening, ugly or unkempt. However, many children are abducted by nice-looking, seemingly harmless people, sometimes with whom they are aquainted. Parent should not warn children about strangers as if they all fit into some descritive categry. rather they should teach their children to recognize potentially dangerous situations. The following are some rules for safety you should be sure your child understands and follows regularly:
1) Teach your child not to be too trusting. Strangers who tell your child they were sent by his/her parents are not to be believed.
2) Teach your child not to accept gifts form strangers and to avoid being alone with overfriendly adults who try to touch him/her in any way.
3) Teach your child to avoid playing alone in deserted areas.
4) Teach your child to run in the opposite direction if a car is following him/her.
5) Teach your child to seek help from store clerks, police officers and other reliable authorities when in danger.
Source: Child Safety Handbook – A community service of the Kingston City Police Association
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STREETPROOFING HELPS YOUR CHILD HOME SAFELY
There are many different kinds of safety, and all of them are important.
There is school bus safety, traffic safety and bike safety. But there is also the kind that keeps children safe as they walk back and forth to school or even when they play in the park. It is the sort of safety that has become known as “streetproofing”, a common sense reaction to the reality that there are people out there that view children as easy victims.
One of the most important rules in “streetproofing”, is that there is safety in numbers. By staying with other children, your child can be safer when traveling to and from school.
“A child traveling alone is more susceptible to being a victim,” said Constable Mary Lou Davidson a community relations officer with the Niagara Regional Police. A mother of one teenage boy, she has been teaching safety to school children in Niagara schools for several years.
Set up a Buddy system
It is recommended that parents set up a buddy system for their children to ensure they never walk the streets alone. An adult should be the “buddy” if the child is young.
Let’s face it, two five-year-olds together are only slightly safer than one five year-old.
At that age they lack the maturity and reasoning ability to keep themselves safe. Once they are older, children can walk together to be each other’s buddy. Children never really outgrow the need for the buddy system and even adult women should ensure they are not walking on streets alone.
It is a sad fact that residents of the Niagara peninsula city of St. Catherines know only to well.
Kirsten French was a high school student of 15 when she was abducted while walking home by herself from school. She apparently stopped to help a couple who had a map and said they needed directions. She was beaten and sexually assaulted before being killed, her nude body found dumped beside a road.
While horrific crimes such as this are rare in Ontario, it doesn’t pay to ignore safety rules, even in a small town where there is little crime and a general assumption that this sort of thing just won?t happen.
The question students ask most commonly, what if the person has a gun. This is probably because of the influence of television shows and they assume there will be all sorts of gun-toting kidnappers. It is a scenario that rarely happens with children grabbed by kidnappers.
If there is a weapon, the child should scream and if they are threatened they should scream even louder. An abductor does not want to draw attention.
Stay away from vehicles
Another rule high on the list is also fairly simple: Stay away from any vehicles. If a child is ever pulled into a vehicle it is extremely difficult to get out again.
The same rule applies to women and teenage boys. Just remember Clifford Olson, who kidnapped and killed a still-unknown number of children, most of them boys.
For this reason, children should be told to never hitchhike. Hitchhiking is an activity which places them directly in a vehicle with a stranger. Unfortunately a lot of young people continue to hitchhike, especially in rural areas.
Parents should start early teaching their child to be responsible and diligent, because it won’t happen automatically when they become a teenager. Part of that responsibility is always letting their parents know where they are. For young children, their parents cannot protect them if they don?t know where they are.
Play where it is safe
Children should be taught where to play where it is safe, and should learn how to figure this out for themselves. A safe place esides being one away from obvious danger such as a busy street or rushing water is one where someone can come to their aid if they need help. That means they must be somewhere where someone could hear them if they call for help. While a tree fort or a ravine may be a lot of fun, a parent who does not know where they are will not be able to find them if they fall from the fort and hurt themselves. And if no one can hear them, their cries for help will be useless.
< ELMER >
Elmer the Safety Elephant has been teaching young children how to stay safe since 1947, and continues to be one of Canada ‘s best known and loved symbols of safety. To thousands of children, Elmer is a constant reminder of the importance of being careful in traffic. Elmer the Safety Elephant was created to educate children about road safety. At first, he looked like an ordinary jungle elephant, but Elmer’s easily memorized list of safety rules taught through song and reinforced with a unique flag program, proved to be an extraordinary success. When he first appeared in Toronto in 1947, the incidence of traffic accidents involving children dropped by 44%.
Toronto Police Inspector Vern Page developed Elmer the Safety Elephant and noted animator and character creator, Charles Thorson designed the Elmer in 1948. Thorson’s ultra cute, anthropomorphic design was so child-friendly that, in time, Elmer became a beloved character nation wide. Today, an updated version of Elmer the Safety Elephant teaches the same valuable lessons (plus one new one) that he first taught sixty years ago.
A CBC Television clip from 1955 takes a look at how Elmer the Safety Elephant came to be and how his message is bringing safety to the streets. Elmer’s Road Safety Video was developed for children in kinderarten to grade two.
The current version of Elmer has lost the old-fashioned sailor hat and necktie in favour of a more modern sports cap and jacket.
The original six rules, introduced in 1947, were based on a study by safety authorities of collisions involving children five to nine years of age. The study showed that the vast majority of mishaps were caused by six specific hazards. It also revealed that running was usually a contributing factor. Lack of knowledge of safety rules was not the only reason for these incidents. Momentary excitement could make the child forget to be careful.
These study results have been corroborated time and again by many researchers around the world. The seventh rule, the seat belt rule, was added in the mid-seventies, when Ontario became the first province in Canada to mandate their use.
Elmer the Safety Elephant’s Seven Traffic Safety Rules
1. Look all ways before you cross the street.
2. Keep away from parked cars.
3. Ride your bike safely – obey signs and signals
4. Play in a safe place away from the street.
5. Walk, don’t run when you cross the street.
6. If there are no sidewalks, walk at the side of the road facing traffic.
7. Always wear your seatbelt in the vehicle.
Visit www.Elmer.ca for more information.
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CYBER-BULLING OUR CHILDREN’S NEW REALITY
Majority of Canadian teens in survey report being bullied online
Cyber-bullying is disturbingly common among Canadian teens, with a majority who responded to an online survey saying they have been bullied online, according to a report released Wednesday April 18, 2007 .
The report, Cyber-bullying: Our Kids’ New Reality, drew from nearly 2,500 responses to a survey conducted by Kids Help Phone between Dec. 20, 2006, and Jan. 20, 2007. Kids Help Phone and Bell Canada released the report in a handful of Canadian cities.
More than 70 per cent of respondents to the survey reported that they have been bullied online, while 44 per cent said they have bullied someone online. At least 38 per cent reported having experienced cyber-bullying within the last three months.
“A large percentage of kids are experiencing bullying or are bullying others in cyberspace online, which was quite a surprise,” Donna Hansplant, vice-president of counselling services for Kids Help Phone, told reporters in Toronto.
“What’s become really clear to us is the kids are really looking for a way to help them navigate this whole new world. It’s their world. There are no adults helping them. They are there by themselves since there are no adult controls on that whole internet system.”
The report says 76 per cent of respondents reported being called names and being made to feel bad, while 52 per cent reported having rumours spread about them and 38 per cent reported being threatened or scared.
Of the methods used, 77 per cent reported being bullied by instant messaging, 37 per cent by e-mail and 31 per cent on social networking sites, such as MySpace and Facebook.
When bullied online, 43 per cent said they did nothing, 32 per cent confronted the person who bullied them, and 27 per cent told a friend.
Only 39 per cent, however, said taking some action helped by making them feel better, while 35 per cent said it had no impact. At least 31 per cent, though, said it stopped the bully from doing it again.
More than 50 per cent of respondents said they were between the ages of 13 and 15 years.
Online bullying is powerful
The report says online bullying carries a greater impact than everyday bullying. It says “there seems to be a greater sense of powerlessness, frustration and betrayal among victims.”
It defines cyber-bullying as any communication posted or sent by a minor online, by instant messenger, e-mail, website, diary site, online profile, interactive game, handheld device, cellphone or other interactive device that is intended to frighten, embarrass, harass or otherwise target another minor.
Cyber-bullying is similar to bullying because it involves unequal amounts of power, hurtful actions and repetitive behaviours. But it is different in that the bully can remain anonymous and can pretend to be another person, it says.
As well, online bullying can happen anywhere, at any time, can take many forms and carries the capacity for instant and limitless spreading of words and images. If minors are not involved in both sides of the communication, the report says the exchange is considered cyber-harassment, not cyber-bullying.
Preteens and young teens are the ages most often affected and cyber-bullying usually ends around 14 years of age, it says. After 14, the report says it tends to become sexual harassment or hacking attacks.
“Kids seem to be more daring on the internet than they would be face to face, but they are still suffering the emotional hurt and pain that the bullying causes in real life,” Hansplant said.
“So as much as they are quick to go on there and retaliate, or do revenge, or bully someone, they feel really bad about it afterwards, and then there’s no way to pull it back off cyberspace,” Hansplant said.
The report says bullies, in their own words, reported calling others names, spreading rumours, pretending to be someone else, threatening others and sending personal pictures to others.
Ways to help
Less than half of the respondents said an anonymous phone line for reporting bullying, zero tolerance at school and punishment at school for students who participate would help to prevent the problem.
The report makes several recommendations, saying children should know that cyberspace is public space and they could avoid places online where problems might occur. They could also ignore the bully, protect personal information, avoid contact, report the incident, know who their friends are and maintain a life outside of the internet.
Schools and communities, for their part, can create consequences for bullies, provide information, promote student solutions, include parents in the discussion and provide an anti-bullying help line, it says.
The report was released to help kick off the Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone scheduled to take place on May 6 in more than 50 communities in Canada. Kids Help Phone is a charity that provides phone and web counselling services.
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CHILDREN AND SMOKING
The Canadian Cancer Society released a survey that found an overwelming amount pf Canadians are taking their butts outside to puff away. Ninety-four percent of homes without smokers report being smoke-free, and 48 percent of Canadians with smokers at home have banned lighting up outdoors.
This is encouraging to see, yet 12 percent of children under the age of 17 are still being exposed to smoke. The Lung Association reports that exposure to tobacco smoke increases children’s risk not only of asthma, but of respiratory tract infections,ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome. As well, children who live with smokers are more likely to become smokers.
There are many ways to protect your children including making your home and vehicles smoke-free, or better yet, quit smoking or help a loved one quit.
Source:
Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health
221 Portsmouth Avenue
Kingston, ON K7M 1V5
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HUGGING IS HEALTHY
Hugging helps our body’s immune system, keeps us healthier, has been known to cure depression, reduce stress, induces sleep, invigorates and rejuvenates. It has no unpleasant side effects
Hugging is all natural. It is organic, naturally sweet, has no [esticides, no preservatives, no artificial ingredients, and is 100 percent wholesome.
Hugging is practically perfect. There are no movable parts, no batteries to wear out, and no periodic check ups. It has low energy consumption, a high energy field, is inflation proof, non-fattening, and has no monthly payments and no insurance requirements.
Hugging is theft-proof, non-taxable, non-polluting and, of course, fully returnable.
– Author Unknown
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TAPE TO MIRROR
This should probably be taped to your bathroom mirror where you could read it every day. You may not realize it, but it’s 100% true.
1. There are at least two people in this world that you would die for.
2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.
4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don’t like you.
5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
6. You mean the world to someone.
7. You are special and unique.
8. Someone that you don’t even know exists loves you.
9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.
10. When you think the world has turned its back on you take another look.
11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.
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THE BLACK TELEPHONE
When I was a young boy, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it.
Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person. Her name was “Information Please” and there was nothing she did not know.
Information Please could supply anyone’s number and the correct time.
My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy.
I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway. The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear. “Information, please,” I said into the mouthpiece just above my head.
A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear. “Information.”
“I hurt my finger…” I wailed into the phone, the tears came readily enough now that I had an audience.
“Isn’t your mother home?” came the question.
“Nobody’s home but me,” I blubbered.
“Are you bleeding?” the voice asked.
“No,”I replied. “I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts.”
“Can you open the icebox?” she asked.
I said I could.
“Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger,” said the voice.
After that, I called “Information Please” for everything. I asked her for help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my math. She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts.
Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called, “Information Please,” and told her the sad story.
She listened, and then said things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I asked her, “Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?”
She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, “Wayne, always remember that there are other worlds to sing in.”
Somehow I felt better.
Another day I was on the telephone, “Information Please.”
“Information,” said in the now familiar voice.
“How do I spell fix?” I asked.
All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston. I missed my friend very much.
“Information Please” belonged in that old wooden box back home and I somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me.
Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.
A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle. I had about a half-hour or so between planes.
I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said,
Information Please.”
Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.
“Information.”
I hadn’t planned this, but I heard myself saying, “Could you please tell me how to spell fix?”
There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, “I guess your finger must have healed by now.”
I laughed, “So it’s really you,” I said. “I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time?”
“I wonder,” she said, “if you know how much your call meant to me.” “I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls.”
I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.
“Please do,” she said. “Just ask for Sally.”
Three months later I was back in Seattle. A different voice answered, “Information.”
I asked for Sally.
“Are you a friend?” she said.
“Yes, a very old friend,” I answered.
“I’m sorry to have to tell you this,” She said.
“Sally had been working part time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago.
Before I could hang up, she said, “Wait a minute, did you say your name was Wayne ?”
“Yes.” I answered.
Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you called. “Let me read it to you.”
The note said, “Tell him there are other worlds to sing in. He’ll know what I mean.”
I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.
Never underestimate the impression you may make on others.
Whose life have you touched today? Why not pass this on? I just did….
Lifting you on eagle’s wings. May you find the joy and peace you long for. Life is a journey… NOT a guided tour.
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