Internet Safety
What Should You Do If You Suspect Your Child Is Communicating With A Sexual Predator On-line?
* Consider talking openly with your child about your suspicions. Tell them about the dangers of computer-sex offenders.
* Review what is on your child's computer. If you don't know how, ask a friend, coworker, relative, or other knowledgeable person. Pornography or any kind of sexual communication can be a warning sign.
* Use the Caller ID service to determine who is calling your child. Most telephone companies that offer Caller ID also offer a service that allows you to block your number from appearing on someone else's Caller ID. Telephone companies also offer an additional service feature that rejects incoming calls that you block. This rejection feature prevents computer-sex offenders or anyone else from calling your home anonymously.
* Devices can be purchased that show telephone numbers that have been dialed from your home phone. Additionally, the last number called from your home phone can be retrieved provided that the telephone is equipped with a redial feature. You will also need a telephone pager to complete this retrieval.
* This is done using a numeric-display pager and another phone that is on the same line as the first phone with the redial feature. Using the two phones and the pager, a call is placed from the second phone to the pager. When the paging terminal beeps for you to enter a telephone number, you press the redial button on the first (or suspect) phone. The last number called from that phone will then be displayed on the pager.
* Monitor your child's access to all types of live electronic communications (i.e., chat rooms, instant messages, Internet Relay Chat, etc.), and monitor your child's e-mail. Computer-sex offenders almost always meet potential victims via chat rooms. After meeting a child on-line, they will continue to communicate electronically often via e-mail.
From Federal Bureau of Investigation
Cyber Division/'s A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety
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Make Your School a Safe School!
Create a school safety advisory group. This advisory group should include representatives from all constituencies, especially law enforcers, judges, lawyers, health and human services professionals, parents and the media. Individuals should be able to articulate the desires of the groups they represent and relate advisory group actions back to their peers. Select members who can be relied upon for consistent, continued support and who seek solutions rather than recognition and status from their participation. Recruit group members with special qualifications, such as policy-making authority, access to the media, ability to mobilize volunteers or expertise in raising funds.
Pair law enforcers with high-risk youths, similar to the "Big Brother" program. Such relationships can be an important step in changing delinquent behavior patterns.
Internet citation: National School Safety Center
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Bullying
Combatting Relational Aggression Children can be taught to assert themselves effectively. As a caring adult, you can:
* Demonstrate assertive behavior. Teach children to ask for things directly and respond directly to each other. It is OK to say "no" to an unacceptable demand. Let children role-play with puppets or dolls.
* Teach social skills. Suggest ways for children to compromise or to express their feelings in a positive way. Show children how to resolve problems firmly and fairly.
* Identify potential friendship problems and correct them. Teach children how to ignore routine teasing. Not all provocative behavior must be acknowledged. Teach children the value of making new friends.
* Teach common courtesy skills.
* Teach children to ask nicely and to respond appropriately to polite requests.
* Identify ways to respond to bullies. Help children identify acts of aggression, bossiness or discrimination. Encourage children not to give up objects or territory to bullies. This discourages bullying behavior.
* Demonstrate the rewards of personal achievement. Teach children to trust and value their own feelings. They will be more likely to resist peer pressure, respect warm and caring adults, and be successful in achieving their personal goals.
Internet citation: SAMHSA
For additonal information or for help in this area contact Youth & Family 405.275.3340
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Eating Disorders
What is anorexia?
Eating habits lie on a continuum, from healthy eating habits on one end, to serious eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia on the other end. We are saturated with messages from the media that advise us to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. However, an obsession with losing weight, counting calories, and exercising can lead to an eating disorder, with serious emotional and physical consequences.
Internet citation: Anorexia Nervosa: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, Effects, and Treatments
For additonal information or for help in this area contact Youth & Family 405.275.3340
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