Kid Safe » Free Reports

Kids Coupon Codesadmin

admin — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 08:18:53 +0000

Shopping around for the best deals can make a big difference. Whether it is for food, clothing, back to school supplies or other items on a busy mom or dad's list. While online coupons and promotional codes are not new, it has been found that only about 38% of American households take advantage of these while shopping online. If you have a family, let us show you why kids coupon codes and promotional codes can be of great benefit to your household.

Basically these codes work the same way clipping coupons out of a newspaper or magazine does, but you can use them online. Many may not realize it, but even big name retailers offer a variety of money saving codes. So, if you are looking for a particular brand, you can still get a great deal. Whether you are looking for discounted prices or a break on shipping cost, you can find what you are looking for. How does it all work and where can you find these kids coupon codes and promotions?

There are hundreds of sites online that can offer kids promotional codes. Simply search for a particular retailer or if you don't have a preference and want to just see what is out there, type in kids coupon codes or kids promotional codes into a search engine. There will be many sites that come up or go to CouponsIdea.com. Look for the ones you think you will use most often, it is helpful to bookmark these for easy access next time you shop online. Once you have your codes, make your purchase at the store of your choice, or as outlined by the coupon. When you are ready to check out, enter the code into the box labeled 'coupon code' or 'promotional code'. The discount will be taken automatically.

Other types of codes, such as rebate codes and even those for putting money into a college saving account can be found online. For the thrifty and savvy parents, kids coupon codes and promotional codes can be prove to be a big help when it comes to the family budget. Anything from supplies, vitamins, toys and other essentials are available online at discounted prices, they are but a click away!

Exaggerating Bullying Could Increase Bullying

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:59:21 +0000

As I previously wrote, cyberbullying is a serious problem, but not an epidemic. Yet, there continue to be widespread reports that bullying has reached epidemic proportions. This misinformation can actually have the unintended consequence of increasing bullying.

One study, from the Crimes Against Children Research Center, showed that bullying has actually decreased in recent years, and no credible studies have shown a significant recent increase. The recent EU Kids Online (PDF) study from the London School of Economics found that "across Europe, 6 percent of 9- to 16-year-old Internet users have been bullied online, and 3 percent confess to having bullied others." In the U.S., the Cyberbullying Research Center found that 20 percent of "randomly selected 11 to 18 year old students in 2010 indicated they had been a victim at some point in their life."

Even the most optimistic numbers indicate a problem, but I wouldn't call this an "epidemic" of either bullying or cyberbullying as some articles and TV shows have suggested.

Some well-meaning advocacy groups have contributed to the misinformation by releasing data suggesting that the majority (in some cases the vast majority) of youth have been bullied or have bullied others, though most surveys have put the percentages much lower -- typically around 20 percent. One reason for the discrepancy in the research results is the lack of a uniformly agreed upon definition of bullying. Some studies ask whether "anyone has ever been mean to you" or has "hurt your feelings." Based on this definition, I am surprised that the rate isn't near 100 percent.

Bullying defined

A more widely accepted definition of bullying comes from the Olweus Bullying Prevention program which says that bullying has "three important components:"

1. Bullying is aggressive behavior that involves unwanted, negative actions.
2. Bullying involves a pattern of behavior repeated over time.
3. Bullying involves an imbalance of power or strength.

When these components are used to determine incidents, the rate of bullying is substantially lower. Of course, you can argue with the definition, especially when it comes to online or so-called "cyberbullying," because -- online -- a single act of bullying can be repeated over time and it's harder to agree on the definition of an "imbalance of power," where a person's online "power," influence or presence may have little or nothing to do with traditional means of obtaining power such as physical strength, appearance or popularity.

Social norms research shows accurate reporting makes kids safer

Putting the bullying problem into its proper perspective doesn't minimize it, but actually helps prevent it from getting worse. I know that may seem counterintuitive, but there is a lot of solid research that shows that if people overestimate anti-social or harmful behavior, they are more likely to engage in it themselves. In other words, reporting accurately about the rate of bullying actually makes kids less likely to bully others. Besides, as my ConnectSafely.org co-director Anne Collier wrote in NetFamilyNews, "Kids deserve the truth about cyberbullying."

Much of this research focuses on health related activities such as smoking, alcohol abuse and overeating, but there is also data on the impact of peer perceptions on bullying.

Overestimating contributes to the problem

A paper (PDF) published in the April, 2011 edition of Group Processes Intergroup Relations, by H. Wesley Perkins, David W. Craig and Jessica M. Perkins, shows that "variation in perceptions of the peer norm for bullying was significantly associated with personal bullying perpetration and attitudes." As the authors pointed out, "decades of research in social psychology... have demonstrated the strong tendency of people to conform to peer norms as they look to others in their midst to help define the situation and give guidance on expected behaviors in the group or cultural setting."

The authors also observed that "adolescents and young adults (incorrectly) tend to believe that risky or problem behaviors and attitudes are most common among peers and think protective responsible action is rare," and that "these misperceptions then contribute to or exacerbate the problem behavior as more youth begin to support and engage in the behavior than would otherwise be the case if norms were accurately perceived."

Bullying is not normal and it's not OK

To put it simply, overestimating bullying makes it seem like it's common. And, so the reasoning goes, if it's common, it must be normal and if it's normal, it must be OK. Well, it's not OK and, fortunately, it's not normal. And that's exactly what anti-bullying programs need to emphasize.

Norms awareness campaigns

The authors of the study recommend that schools engage in awareness campaigns that emphasize that most kids don't bully. In their paper, they give examples of positive media campaigns to help reinforce behaviors that are both positive and normal.

Responsible media coverage

While media coverage about bullying can help raise awareness and lead to positive results, it's important that it be accurate and reasonable. Coverage that exaggerates either the size of the problem or the likely outcomes does little to help and can actually hurt. It's also important to realize that the impact of bullying can range from mildly annoying to extremely serious. And while it is true that bullying can be a contributing factor to some suicides, it's also true that it's rarely the only factor. What's more, the vast majority of youth who are bullied are able to handle it without extreme reactions.

Parents, educators, government leaders, nonprofits, the media, religious organizations and, of course, young people themselves need to step up our efforts to create a positive social climate, but we must do so without resorting to hysteria and exaggeration.

Slide show:

Do fear and exaggeration increase risk? View more presentations from Larry Magid

Larry Magid blogs at SafeKids.com and LarrysWorld.com

New Chat Lingo Parents Should KnowKymberley Page

Kymberley Page — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 02:43:08 +0000

A few years ago we did a post on online acronyms – well the world has changed quite a bit since fall of 2008 and us parents have a whole new language we need to get "hip" too, and keep up with, as kids change faster than we can spit these days. So here is your Back to School 2011 Chat Lingo – to english dictionary – you might be disgusted, offended, or humbled either way you NEED to know and we all need to learn how to write an actual letter with hand written spelled out words before our entire dictionary becomes an acronym.

So get out your reading glasses and saddle up – we now have over 500 acronyms to try to make sense of! HTH! If you would prefer more info in a downloadable pdf then here is your Free Report for Parents - _Chat Lingo Guide

.02 Your (or my) two cents worth.

10X Thanks

2MI Too much information

2U2 To You Too

4COL For Crying Out Loud

420 let's get high

420 got weed?

the speaker chuckles

the speaker is frowning

Grin

the speaker is grinning

the one writing the message is smiling

the one writing the message is smirking

the one writing the message is winking

[$X$] No spam !!

JK Just Kidding

? I have a question

?RUD What are you doing?

! I have a comment

A-OLs Administrators On-Line

AAMOF As A Matter Of Fact

ADN Any Day Now

AFAIC As Far As I'm Concerned

AFAIK As Far As I Know

AFAIR As Far As I Remember

AFJ April Fools Joke

AFK Away From the Keyboard

AISI As I See It

ANFAWFOS And Now For A Word From Our Sponsor

ANFSCD And Now For Something Completely Different

AS Another Subject

ASAP As Soon As Possible

ASAYGT As Soon As You Get This

ASL Age, Sex, Location

ASLA Age, Sex, Location, Availability

ATSL Along The Same Line

AV Audio Visual

AV Anti-Virus

AWC After While, Crocodile

AWGTHTGTTA Are We Going To Have To Go Through This Again?

AWHFY Are We Having Fun Yet?

AWTTW A Word To The Wise

AYOR At Your Own Risk

B4N Bye For Now

BAC Bad A**ed Chick

BAK Back At Keyboard

BBFN Bye Bye For Now

BBIAB Be Back In A Bit

BBIAF Be Back In A Few

BBL Be Back Later

BBR Burnt Beyond Repair

BC Because

BCNU Be seein’ you

BEG Big Evil Grin

BF Boy Friend

BFN Bye For Now

BFD Big Frickin Deal

BFF Best Friends Forever

BIF Before I Forget

BION Believe it or not

BOBFOC Body Off Baywatch, Face Off Crimewatch

BOHICA Bend Over, Here It Comes Again

BOT Back On Topic

BRB Be Right Back

BRS Big Red Switch

BTA But Then Again

BTAIM Be That As It May

BTHOM Beats The Hell Outta Me

BTOBD Be There Or Be Dead

BTW By The Way

BWL Bursting With Laughter

BWQ Buzz Word Quotient

BYE Response to BYE?

BYE? Are you ready to say goodbye?

BYKT But You Knew That

BYOB Bring Your Own Bottle

BYOM Bring Your Own Mac

C&G Chuckle and Grin

CADET Can't Add, Doesn't Even Try

CID Crying In Disgrace

CMIIW Correct Me If I’m Wrong

CO Conference or Company

CPP C Plus Plus or C++

CRS Can't Remember Sh**

CSG Chuckle, Snicker, Grin

CU See You

CU2 See You, Too

CUL See you later

CUL8R See You Later

CULA See You Later, Alligator

CWYL Chat With You Later

CYA See Ya or Cover Your Ass

CYAL8R See You All Later

CYOA Cover Your Own Ass

D8 Date

DAC Duck And Cover

DAU Dosen't Add Up

DIIK Damned If I Know

DIKU? Do I Know You?

DILLIGAD Do I Look Like I Give A Darnn?

DIY Do It Yourself

DK Don’t Know

DLTBBB Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite

DNFTT Do Not Feed The Trolls

otgov A government official (from the .gov of government domain names)

DTRT Do The Right Thing

DWIMC Do What I Mean, Correctly

DWIMNWIS Do What I Mean, Not What I Say

EG or Evil Grin

EOL End of Life

EPIF Epic Failure

ESAD Eat Sh** And Die

ETLA Extended Three Letter Acronym

F2F Face To Face

FCFS First Come, First Served

FISH First In, Still Here

FICAR Forget It, Cut And Run

FITB Fill In The Blank

FOAD F*** off and die

FOAF Friend Of A Friend

FOAG **** Off And Google

FOMC Fell Off My Chair

FS For Sale

FTASB Faster Than A Speeding Bullet

F2F Face to Face

FTF Face To Face

FTL Faster Than Light

FUBAR Fouled Up Beyond All Repair

FUBB Fouled Up Beyond Belief

FUD Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt

FURTB Full Up Ready To Burst

FWIW For What It’s Worth

FYA For Your Amusement

FYI For Your Information

G Grin, or Giggle

G1 Good One

G2G Got to Go

GA Go Ahead

GAL Get A Life

GD&R Grinning, Ducking and Running

GD&RF Grinning, Ducking and Running Fast

GD&WVF Grinning, Ducking, and Walking Very Fast

GDW Grin, Duck and Weave

GF Girl Friend

GFN Gone For Now

GFR Grim File Reaper

GG Good Game

GGP Gotta Go Pee

GIDK Gee I Don't Know

GIWIST Gee, I Wish I’d Said That

GJ Good Job

GL Good Luck

GLGH Good Luck and Good Hunting

GLWTN Guffawing loudly waking up the neighborhood

GMTA Great Minds Think Alike

GNU Good, N' You?

GO Get Out or Get Off

GOYFA Get Off Your Fat Ass

GOWI Get On With It

GR8 Great

GR&D Grinning, Running and Ducking

GTFO Get The F*** Out or Off

GTG Got To Go

GTSY Great To See You

H&K Hugs and Kisses

H4U Hot For You

HAGD Have A Great Day

HAK Hugs And Kisses

HAND Have A Nice Day

HDYLTA How Do You Like Them Apples?

HHIS Hanging Head In Shame

HHOJ Ha Ha Only Joking

HHOK Ha Ha Only Kidding

HHOS Ha Ha Only Serious

HHTYAY Happy Holidays to You and Yours

HNY Happy New Year

HOAS Hang On A Sec (Second)

HOYEW Hanging On Your Every Word

HSIK How Should I Know

HT Hi There

HBASTD Hitting Bottom And Starting To Dig

HTH Hope That Helps!

IAC In Any Case

IAE In Any Event

IANAL I Am Not A Lawyer (but ) A disclaimer which is usually followed by a legal opinion

IAW In Accordance With

IBK Idiot Behind Keyboard

IBTD I Beg To Differ

IC I See

IDK I Don't Know

IDKTMWIM I Don't Know Tell Me What It Means

IDR I Don't Remember

IIABDFI If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It

IIRC If I Remember Correctly

IIWM If It Were Me

IJWTK I Just Want To Know

IJWTS I Just Want To Say

IKWR I Know What's Right

IKWUM I Know What You Mean

IKYABWAI I Know You Are But What Am I?

IMA I Might Add

IMAO In My Arrogant Opinion

IMCO In My Considered Opinion

IME In My Experience

IMHO In My Humble Opinion

IMN2U I'm Into You

IMNSHO In My Not So Humble Opinion

IMO In My Opinion

IMPOV In My Point Of View

IMS In a Manner of Speaking

INPO In No Particular Order

IOH I'm Outta Here

IOHE4U I Only Have Eyes For You

IOW In Other Words

IRL In Real Life

ISS I’m So Sure

ISSYGTI I’m So Sure You Get The Idea!

ISWYM I See What You Mean

ITFA In The Final Analysis

ITSFWI If The Shoe Fits Wear It

IWALU I Will Always Love You

IWBNI It Would Be Nice If

IWTAAQ I Want To Ask A Question

IYFEG Insert Your Favorite Ethnic Group

IYSS If You Say So

IYSWIM If You See What I Mean

J4F Just For Fun

JAM Just A Minute

JAS Just A Second

JC Just Chilling

JFI Just For Information

JIC Just In Case

JK Just Kidding

JMO Just My Opinion

JTLYK Just To Let You Know

JWK Just Wondering

K Okay

KHYF Know How You Feel

KIBO Knowledge In, Bullshit Out

KISS Keep It Simple, Stupid

KIT Keep In Touch

KMA Kiss My Ass

KMIA Kiss My Italian Ass

KPC Keep Parents Clueless

KWIM Know What I Mean?

KWL Cool

KYFC Keep Your Fingers Crossed

L Laugh

L8R Later

LABATYD or LAB&TYD Life's A Bitch And Then You Die

LJBF Let’s Just Be Friends

LLTA Lots and Lots of Thunderous Applause

LMA Leave Me Alone

LMAO Laughing My Ass Off

LMBO Laugh My Butt Off

LMHO Laughing My Head Off

LMK Let Me Know

LMS Let Me See

LOLV Lot's Of LoVe

LOL Lots Of Luck

LOL Laughing Out Loud

LOM Laugh Out Major

LOML Love Of My Life

LQL Laughing Quite Loudly

LSHMBH Laughing So Hard My Belly Hurts

LTHTT Laughing Too Hard To Type

LTM Laughing To Myself

LTNS Long Time No See

LTNT Long Time, No Type

LQTM Laughing Quietly To Myself

LTS Laughing to Self

LUWAMH Love You With All My Heart

LY Love You

LYLAB Love You Like A Brother

LYLAS Love You Like A Sister

LYMY Love You Miss You

M8 Mate

MEGO My Eyes Glaze Over

M/ Heavy Metal Music

MLA Multiple Letter Acronym

MOF Matter Of Fact

MOS Mom Over Shoulder

MOSS Member Of Same Sex

MOTAS Member Of The Appropriate Sex

MOTD Message of the day

MOTOS Member Of The Opposite Sex

MOTSS Member Of The Same Sex

MRA Moving Right Along

MTFBWY May The Force Be With You

MYOB Mind Your Own Business

NAC Not A Clue

NAVY Never Again Voluneer Yourself

NBD No Big Deal

NE14KFC? Anyone for KFC?

NFW No Freakin Way

NFW No Friggin Way

NHOH Never Heard Of Him/Her

NIH Not Invented Here

NIMBY Not In My Back Yard

NINO Nothing In, Nothing Out or No Input, No Output

NITL Not In This Lifetime

NM Never Mind

NOYB None Of Your Business

NP No Problem

NQA No Questions Asked

NRN No Response Necessary

NTIM Not That It Matters

NTIMM Not That It Matters Much

NTW Not To Worry

NTYMI Now That You Mention It

O Over (indicates the end of a communication)

OATUS On A Totally Unrelated Subject

OAUS On An Unrelated Subject

OB Obligatory

OBO Or Best Offer

OBTW Oh, By The Way

OIC Oh, I See

OMFG Oh My Friggin God

OMG Oh My God

ONNA Oh No, Not Again

ONNTA Oh No, Not This Again

ONYD Oh No, You Didn't

OO Over and Out (end of communication)

OOTC Obligatory On-Topic Comment

OST On Second Thought

OTF On the Floor (laughing)

OTFL On the Floor Laughing

OTL Out To Lunch

OTOH On The Other Hand

OTOOH On The Other Other Hand

OTT Over The Top

OTTH On The Third Hand

OTTOMH Off The Top Of My Head

OWTTE Or Words To That Effect

P911 Parent Alert Change Subject

PABG Packing a Big Gun

PCMCIA People Can't Memorize Computer Industry Acronyms

PCT Podcasting

PD Public Domain

PDS Please Don't Shout. (typing all in capital letters is rude)

PEBCAK Problem Exists Between Chair And Keyboard

PITA Pain In The Ass

PLOKTA Press Lots Of Keys To Abort

PMBI Pardon My Butting In

PMF Pardon My French or Pure Freaking Magic

PMFBI Pardon Me For Butting In

PMFJI Pardon Me For Jumping In

PMIGBOM Put Mind In Gear, Before Opening Mouth

PMJI Pardon My Jumping In

PMP Peeing My Pants

PNCAH Please, No Cursing Allowed Here

POC Piece Of Crap

POS Parent Over Shoulder

POS Piece of S**t

POSSLQ Person Of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters

POTUS President of the United States

PPL People

PTMM Please Tell Me More

QT Cutie

R U THERE? Are you there?

RAEBNC Read And Enjoyed, But No Comment

RE Hello again or In Regard To

REHI Hi again

RHIP Rank Has Its Privileges

RL Real Life

RLCO Real Life Conference

ROFL Rolling On Floor Laughing

ROFLAS Rolling On Floor Laughing And Screaming

ROFLMAO Roll On Floor Laughing My Ass Off

ROFLOL Roll On Floor Laughing Out Loud

ROTF Rolling On The Floor

ROI Return on Investment

ROTFL Rolling On The Floor Laughing

ROTFLMAOTID Rolling On The Floor Laughing My Ass Off Till I Die

ROTFLOL Rolling On The Floor Laughing Out Loud

ROTFLOLAPMP Rolling On The Floor Laughing Out Loud And Peeing My Pants

ROTFLTIC Rolling On The Floor Laughing Till I Cry

RRQ Return Receipt Request

RSN Real Soon Now

RSVP Respondez S'il Vous Plait – please reply

RTBM Read The Bloody Manual

RTFAQ Read The Frequently Asked Questions

RTFF Read The Freaking FAQ

RTFM Read The F—— Manual

RTM Read The Manual

RTSM Read The Silly Manual

RTWFQ Read The Whole Friggin' Question

RTWT Read The Whole Thing (blog term)

RYFM Read Your Friendly Manual

RYS Read Your Screen

S Smile

SAPFU Surpassing All Previous Foul Ups

SCNR Sorry, Could Not Resist

SEC Wait a second

SETE Smiling Ear To Ear

SFLA Stupid Four Letter Acronym

SICS Sitting In Chair Snickering

SLM See Last Mail

SMOP Small Matter of Programming

SNAFU Situation Normal: All Fouled Up

SO Significant Other

SOB Stressd Out Bigtime

SOL SH** Out Of Luck

SOS Same Old Stuff or Help!

SOW Speaking Of Which

SSDD Same Stuff Different Day

STN Spend The Night

SUFID Screwing Up Face In Disgust

SUL Snooze You Loose

SWAK Sealed With A Kiss

SWIM See What I Mean?

SWL Screaming With Laughter

SYS See You Soon

TAF That's All, Folks!

TAFN That’s All For Now

TAKS That's a knee slapper

TANJ There Ain’t No Justice

TANSTAAFL There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch

TARFU Things Are Really Fouled Up

TBD To Be Decided

TBYB Try Before You Buy

TCO Total Cost of Ownership

TDM Too Darn Many

TFS Three Finger Salute (Ctl-Alt-Del)

TFTHAOT Thanks For The Help Ahead Of Time

TFTT Thanks For The Thought

TGAL Think Globally, Act Locally

THX Thanks

TIA Thanks In Advance

TIC Tongue In Cheek

TINWIS That Is Not What I Said

TMI Too Much Information

TNSTAAFL There's No Such Thing As A Free Lunch

TNTL Trying Not To Laugh

TNX Thanks

TNXE6 Thanks A Million

TOBAL There Oughta Be A Law

TOBG This Oughta Be Good

TOMA Take Over My Arse/Ass

TOY Thinking Of You

TPTB The Powers That Be

TRDMC Tears Running Down My Cheeks

TS Totally Stinks

TSR Totally Stupid Rules

TTBOMK To The Best Of My Knowledge

TTFN Ta Ta For Now

TTKSF Trying To Keep a Straight Face

TTUL Talk To You Later

TTTT To Tell The Truth

TTYAWFN Talk To You A While From Now

TTYL Talk To You Later

TTYS Talk To You Soon

TTYT Talk To You Tomorrow

TYCLO Turn Your CAPS LOCK Off (Stop Shouting)

TYVM Thank You Very Much

UOK Are You OK?

UOM You Owe Me

UOMBT You Owe Me Big Time

UR Your, You're (You Are)

WAEF When All Else Fails

WAG Wild Assed Guess

WAYD What Are You Doing?

WB Welcome Back

WDALYIC Who died and left you in charge?

WDYMBT What Do You Mean By That?

WDYT What Do You Think?

WE Whatever

WHT What Happened To

WHT Whatever Happened To

WIBAMU Well, I'll Be A Monkey's Uncle

WIBNI Wouldn’t It Be Nice If

WMMOWS Wash My Mouth Out With Soap

WNOHGB Where No One Has Gone Before

WOA Work Of Art

W00T We Owned the Other Team

WOTAM Waste Of Time And Money

WRT With Regard To, or With Respect To

WRUD What Are You Doing

WT Without Thinking

WTB Want To Buy

WTF What The F***?

WTFIYP What The F*** Is Your Problem?

WTG Way To Go!

WTGP Want To Go Private?

WTH What the heck/hell?

WTMI Way Too Much Information

WTN What then now?

WTN Who then now?

WTTM Without Thinking Too Much

WUM Watch Your Mouth

WWJD What Would Jesus Do?

WWYD What Would You Do?

WYM Watch Your Mouth

XOXOXO Kisses and hugs

YABA Yet Another Bloody Acronym

YAOTM Yet Another Off-Topic Message

YAUN Yet Another Unix Nerd

YBYSA You Bet Your Sweet A**

YGLT You're Gonna Love This

YGTI You Get The Idea?

YGTBK You've Got To Be Kidding

YGWYPF You Get What You Pay For

YIU Yes, I Understand

YIWGP Yes, I Will Go Private

YKYARW You Know You're A Redneck When

YKWIM You know what I mean

YMMV Your Mileage May Vary (or your experience could be different)

Rising threat to kids who habituate the InternetKymberley Page

Kymberley Page — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:22:30 +0000

There is a rising threat to kids who habituate the Internet: the likelihood that a popular mobile app or social-networking service will invade their privacy.

By Bob Riha Jr., USA TODAY

Child-safety advocates say identity thieves and pedophiles are taking advantage of kids' infatuation with mobile devices and apps. The Federal Trade Commission last month announced a $50,000 settlement with app maker W3 Innovations for collecting and dispersing information of kids under 13 in violation of the Children's Online Privacy and Protection Act, or COPPA.

Earlier this year the FTC wrested a record $3 million settlement from online game developer Playdom, now a division of Disney, for similar COPPA violations. Child-safety advocates say identity thieves and pedophiles have begun taking advantage of youngsters' increasing infatuation with mobile devices and Web apps.

"Children are using these services more and more, opening themselves up to more information disclosures," says Andrew Serwin, chairman of the privacy practice at law firm Foley & Lardner. "And there's more and more mobile services directed to children, as well." W3 Innovations published Emily's Girl World, Emily's Dress Up and Emily's Runway High Fashion, online services which encouraged kids to create virtual models and outfits and e-mail a fictitious character named Emily with comments and blog posts.

Apple iPhone and iPad users downloaded Emily apps more than 50,000 times. "We want to make it crystal clear, to app developers and to others in this new mobile space, that we believe the protection under COPPA is not platform specific," says David Vladeck, director of the FTC's consumer protection bureau.

"If you can't do it online, you can't do it in an app."

FTC staff is hammering out revisions to COPPA rules likely to include different guidelines for verifying parental permission for kids to use certain apps, and specific rules to protect children using Internet-connected mobile devices, Serwin says.

Meanwhile, more children than ever are using mobile devices and spending longer hours socializing online and and using cool Web apps designed to gather data in support of selling advertising. A recent survey by anti-virus firm AVG found roughly half of children ages 6 through 9 regularly interact with friends online, yet 58% of their parents admitted to not being knowledgeable about social networks.

Rising commercial pressures for kids to get online add to already intense peer pressures, says Hanan Lavy, CEO of child security software maker United Parents. Facebook is open to those 13 or older, though a recent Consumer Reports survey found 7.5 million Facebook users 12 and under. And Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said he would like to formally extend Facebook to kids. "

The risks to children from social networking at an early age are numerous," Lavy says. "As pedophiles become more technologically sophisticated, they're able to find and connect with kids easier than with previous methods." More time spent online also means higher risk of children getting exposed to inappropriate content and advertising. Identity thieves target minors' names and Social Security numbers to create bogus credit accounts with a lower likelihood of getting discovered.

Get your free internet safety reports here

Cyber-bullying on the RiseKymberley Page

Kymberley Page — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 15:07:56 +0000

Below is an article I found today from an attorney about the prevelance of Cyberbullying. This obviously a hot topic especially as kids return to school. What I got

out of the article is the final statement.

You can not talk to your kids enough about the responsible use of technology!

For a free e-book on Cyberbullying please click here

Attorney: Prevalence of cyberbullying increasing

KAREN HAASE, a lawyer with the Harding & Schultz law firm in Lincoln, takes a break to talk to a reporter during a visit with Chris Uttecht, Wisner-Pilger High School principal. Haase was one of the featured speakers during an in-service Thursday at the school." src="http://www.norfolkdailynews.com/SiteImages/Article/31412a.jpg" title="" width="200" />

Jerry Guenther/Daily News

KAREN HAASE, a lawyer with the Harding & Schultz law firm in Lincoln, takes a break to talk to a reporter during a visit with Chris Uttecht, Wisner-Pilger High School principal. Haase was one of the featured speakers during an in-service Thursday at the school.

By JERRY GUENTHER
Regional editor

WISNER — Twenty years ago, bullying might have meant an elbow to the ribs or getting pushed down on the playground when the teacher wasn’t looking.

Now it includes students harassing their peers through messages sent via cell phones or computers, often times away from school grounds and property.

Karen Haase of Lincoln, a lawyer whose law firm is dedicated almost exclusively to representing schools in cyberbullying cases, said statistics indicate one in four students between ages 11 and 19 have been the victim of cyberbullying.

The fact that there isn’t immediate and face-to-face communication through cyberspace usually

makes it worse, Haase said, as the bully doesn’t see the pain being caused.

Her comments came Thursday during an in-service program for teachers and staff at Wisner-Pilger Public Schools.

Haase, a self-described “recovering teacher,” provided several court cases to give guidance to teachers and administrators on how to react to situations.

“The culture has changed from what was acceptable in 1985 to 2011,” she said.

One of the recurring areas where problems often occur involve girls in about fifth to eighth grades, she said. “Middle school girls — that’s what I see over and over again,” Haase said.

It can be a difficult issue for schools to address.

The victim’s parents will contact the school principal and want to know what the school is going to do about it, even if the bullying takes place away from the school during non-school hours and functions, Haase said.

At the same time, the bully’s mother can be outraged because she believes the school has done too much to discipline her child, Haase said.

There are times when law enforcement and county attorneys need to be brought in, depending on the offense, Haase said. If the parent feels the student poses a physical threat, he or she can always contact law enforcement, she said.

There are even situations where students have bullied teachers, Haase said.

The term cyberbullied is used when the victim or bully is a child or teen. The term cyber harassment is used when the victim is an adult, she said.

In one Pennsylvania case, a student compared a teacher to Adolf Hitler, did a computer graphic showing the teacher being decapitated and then asked for contributions from other students to hire a hit man.

The teacher feared for her life, had to receive counseling and eventually was awarded $500,000 by a jury.

When that student was expelled, the student did similar things to the principal, including creating a computer graphic showing a bullet hitting the principal’s head.

The principal also brought a suit against the student and settled out of court, Haase said.

A lot of times, students may create pages on social networks that degrade other students. They then will ask other students to press “like” to indicate they agree with it, Haase said.

Some county attorneys are getting tired of dealing with these issues and simply will charge everyone involved with making terroristic threats, she said.

Sexting also is a problem that is related to cyberbullying, Haase said. Surveys indicate that 48 percent of teens say they have received sexually explicit photos or messages, she said.

If a teacher sees cyberbullying or sexting, the teacher should report it to an administrator. Teachers and schools need to document what occurred and how they responded to end it, Haase said.

It is not acceptable to simply have the student delete such images or messages and tell them not to do it again, she said.

In addition, teachers and administrators must talk to students about the appropriate use of cell phones and computers, starting in grade school, Haase said.

“You can’t talk to students enough about responsible use of technology,” Haase said.

What are your thoughts on the article and what we can do as parents to talk with our kids about this issue – not only as the victims but also the bullies themselves.

You Can Trust This Guy With an Hour of Your TimeKymberley Page

Kymberley Page — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:34:49 +0000

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Summer Fun – Protecting Your Kids from Heat Cramps – Heat Rash and Sunburn -Kymberley Page

Kymberley Page — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:48:44 +0000

Heat Cramps

Heat cramps usually affect people who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. This sweating depletes the body's salt and moisture. The low salt level in the muscles may be the cause of heat cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion.

Recognizing Heat Cramps

Heat cramps are muscle pains or spasms—usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs—that may occur in association with strenuous activity. If you have heart problems or are on a low-sodium diet, get medical attention for heat cramps.

What to Do

If medical attention is not necessary, take these steps:

Stop all activity, and sit quietly in a cool place.
Drink clear juice or a sports beverage.
Do not return to strenuous activity for a few hours after the cramps subside, because further exertion may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Seek medical attention for heat cramps if they do not subside in 1 hour.

Sunburn

Sunburn should be avoided because it damages the skin. Although the discomfort is usually minor and healing often occurs in about a week, a more severe sunburn may require medical attention.

Recognizing Sunburn

Symptoms of sunburn are well known: the skin becomes red, painful, and abnormally warm after sun exposure.

What to Do

Consult a doctor if the sunburn affects an infant younger than 1 year of age or if these symptoms are present:

Fever
Fluid-filled blisters
Severe pain

Also, remember these tips when treating sunburn:

Avoid repeated sun exposure.
Apply cold compresses or immerse the sunburned area in cool water.
Apply moisturizing lotion to affected areas. Do not use salve, butter, or ointment.
Do not break blisters.

Heat Rash

Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather. It can occur at any age but is most common in young children.

Recognizing Heat Rash

Heat rash looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters. It is more likely to occur on the neck and upper chest, in the groin, under the breasts, and in elbow creases.

What to Do

The best treatment for heat rash is to provide a cooler, less humid environment. Keep the affected area dry. Dusting powder may be used to increase comfort.

Treating heat rash is simple and usually does not require medical assistance. Other heat-related problems can be much more severe.

This information provided by NCEH's Health Studies Branch.

Summer Fun – Recognizing Heat Exhaustion and What To DoKymberley Page

Kymberley Page — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:44:28 +0000

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. It is the body's response to an excessive loss of the water and salt contained in sweat. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood pressure, and people working or exercising in a hot environment.

Recognizing Heat Exhaustion

Warning signs of heat exhaustion include the following:

Heavy sweating
Paleness
Muscle cramps
Tiredness
Weakness
Dizziness
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Fainting

The skin may be cool and moist. The victim's pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast and shallow. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. Seek medical attention immediately if any of the following occurs:

Symptoms are severe
The victim has heart problems or high blood pressure

Otherwise, help the victim to cool off, and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than 1 hour.

What to Do

Cooling measures that may be effective include the following:

Cool, nonalcoholic beverages
Rest
Cool shower, bath, or sponge bath
An air-conditioned environment
Lightweight clothing

Summer Fun – Keep Kids Safe in the Heat – part 2Kymberley Page

Kymberley Page — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:40:30 +0000

Do Not Leave Children in Cars

Even in cool temperatures, cars can heat up to dangerous temperatures very quickly. Even with the windows cracked open, interior temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees Fahrenheit within the first 10 minutes. Anyone left inside is at risk for serious heat-related illnesses or even death. Children who are left unattended in parked cars are at greatest risk for heat stroke, and possibly death. When traveling with children, remember to do the following:

Never leave infants, children or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked open.
To remind yourself that a child is in the car, keep a stuffed animal in the car seat. When the child is buckled in, place the stuffed animal in the front with the driver.
When leaving your car, check to be sure everyone is out of the car. Do not overlook any children who have fallen asleep in the car.

Use Common Sense

Remember to keep cool and use common sense:

Avoid hot foods and heavy meals—they add heat to your body.
Drink plenty of fluids and replace salts and minerals in your body. Do not take salt tablets unless under medical supervision.
Dress infants and children in cool, loose clothing and shade their heads and faces with hats or an umbrella.
Limit sun exposure during mid-day hours and in places of potential severe exposure such as beaches.
Do not leave infants, children, or pets in a parked car.
Provide plenty of fresh water for your pets, and leave the water in a shady area.

Hot Weather Health Emergencies

Even short periods of high temperatures can cause serious health problems. During hot weather health emergencies, keep informed by listening to local weather and news channels or contact local health departments for health and safety updates. Doing too much on a hot day, spending too much time in the sun or staying too long in an overheated place can cause heat-related illnesses. Know the symptoms of heat disorders and overexposure to the sun, and be ready to give first aid treatment.

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke occurs when the body is unable to regulate its temperature. The body's temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.

Recognizing Heat Stroke

Warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include the following:

An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F, orally)
Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
Rapid, strong pulse
Throbbing headache
Dizziness
Nausea
Confusion
Unconsciousness

What to Do

If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim. Do the following:

Get the victim to a shady area.
Cool the victim rapidly using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower; spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.
Monitor body temperature, and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102°F.
If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
Do not give the victim fluids to drink.
Get medical assistance as soon as possible.

Sometimes a victim's muscles will begin to twitch uncontrollably as a result of heat stroke. If this happens, keep the victim from injuring himself, but do not place any object in the mouth and do not give fluids. If there is vomiting, make sure the airway remains open by turning the victim on his or her side.

Summer Fun – Keep Kids Safe in the Heat! Part 1Kymberley Page

Kymberley Page — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:31:36 +0000

Extreme Heat: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety

Heat-related deaths and illness are preventable yet annually many people succumb to extreme heat. Historically, from 1979-2003, excessive heat exposure caused 8,015 deaths in the United States. During this period, more people in this country died from extreme heat than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined. In 2001, 300 deaths were caused by excessive heat exposure.

People suffer heat-related illness when their bodies are unable to compensate and properly cool themselves. The body normally cools itself by sweating. But under some conditions, sweating just isn't enough. In such cases, a person's body temperature rises rapidly. Very high body temperatures may damage the brain or other vital organs.

Several factors affect the body's ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather. When the humidity is high, sweat will not evaporate as quickly, preventing the body from releasing heat quickly. Other conditions related to risk include age, obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug and alcohol use.

Because heat-related deaths are preventable, people need to be aware of who is at greatest risk and what actions can be taken to prevent a heat-related illness or death. The elderly, the very young, and people with mental illness and chronic diseases are at highest risk. However, even young and healthy individuals can succumb to heat if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather. Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death. If a home is not air-conditioned, people can reduce their risk for heat-related illness by spending time in public facilities that are air-conditioned.

Summertime activity, whether on the playing field or the construction site, must be balanced with measures that aid the body's cooling mechanisms and prevent heat-related illness. This pamphlet tells how you can prevent, recognize, and cope with heat-related health problems.

What Is Extreme Heat?

Conditions of extreme heat are defined as summertime temperatures that are substantially hotter and/or more humid than average for location at that time of year. Humid or muggy conditions, which add to the discomfort of high temperatures, occur when a "dome" of high atmospheric pressure traps hazy, damp air near the ground. Extremely dry and hot conditions can provoke dust storms and low visibility. Droughts occur when a long period passes without substantial rainfall. A heat wave combined with a drought is a very dangerous situation.

During Hot Weather

To protect your health when temperatures are extremely high, remember to keep cool and use common sense. The following tips are important:

Drink Plenty of Fluids

During hot weather you will need to increase your fluid intake, regardless of your activity level. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink. During heavy exercise in a hot environment, drink two to four glasses (16-32 ounces) of cool fluids each hour.

Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the weather is hot.

Don't drink liquids that contain alcohol, or large amounts of sugar—these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.

Replace Salt and Minerals

Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body. These are necessary for your body and must be replaced. If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, non-alcoholic fluids each hour. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. However, if you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage or taking salt tablets.

Wear Appropriate Clothing and Sunscreen

Wear as little clothing as possible when you are at home. Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Sunburn affects your body's ability to cool itself and causes a loss of body fluids. It also causes pain and damages the skin. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) along with sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say "broad spectrum" or "UVA/UVB protection" on their labels) 30 minutes prior to going out. Continue to reapply it according to the package directions.

Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully

If you must be outdoors, try to limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours. Try to rest often in shady areas so that your body's thermostat will have a chance to recover.

Pace Yourself

If you are not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or at least into the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint.

Stay Cool Indoors

Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library—even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Call your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in your area. Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off. Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home.

Use a Buddy System

When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you. Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose consciousness. If you are 65 years of age or older, have a friend or relative call to check on you twice a day during a heat wave. If you know someone in this age group, check on them at least twice a day.

Monitor Those at High Risk

Although anyone at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others.

Infants and young children are sensitive to the effects of high temperatures and rely on others to regulate their environments and provide adequate liquids.
People 65 years of age or older may not compensate for heat stress efficiently and are less likely to sense and respond to change in temperature.
People who are overweight may be prone to heat sickness because of their tendency to retain more body heat.
People who overexert during work or exercise may become dehydrated and susceptible to heat sickness.
People who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation, may be affected by extreme heat.

Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.

Adjust to the Environment

Be aware that any sudden change in temperature, such as an early summer heat wave, will be stressful to your body. You will have a greater tolerance for heat if you limit your physical activity until you become accustomed to the heat. If you travel to a hotter climate, allow several days to become acclimated before attempting any vigorous exercise, and work up to it gradually.

Summer Fun – Keep It Safe for Kids and Swimming PoolsKymberley Page

Kymberley Page — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:02:36 +0000

When doing research for this article I found hundreds of news stories already this summer of kids drowning in pools. Some people put covers on their pools to keep their kids safe but if it rains then the cover can get flooded and create another ":pool" for a small child to get caught up in and drown in just seconds. Children need to learn how to swim and how to be safe around pools and rivers and streams. owfullscreen>

Where I live right now there are record amounts of snowfall melting at outrageous amounts, overwhelming streams and rivers all over the central valley of California. In fact we just got an Emergency Alert about flash flooding of rivers, streams and canals in several counties.

Children can be taught how to swim at a very young age but even the best swimmers are being resuced every day in the Merced River running through Yosemit due to very strong invisible currents. So you have to teach your children about the hidden dangers of swimming. There are currents, rip-tides, rocks, and much more. Even pools with covers have hidden dangers – if the cover isn't pulled back all the way during the rain it can cause puddling, if it's left open during the rain then the pool isn't secured. Having a net is another option for pool covers as seen below. This way the rain can just fall through but the babies are still protected.

It is so easy to turn your head for one minute and loose a child to drowning. Keep yourself and your children protected from dangerous situations. Educate yourself and your family at http://www.poolsafely.gov/

How Do I Teach My Child About Personal Safety?Kymberley Page

Kymberley Page — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:38:44 +0000

Here is a recent post from the National Safety Director for Missing and Exploited Children.

How Do I Teach My Child About Personal Safety?
By Nancy McBride, National Safety Director

Many parents and guardians feel challenged to keep their children safer in our fast-paced and global society. They may wonder at what age they can begin teaching their children about personal safety.

Unfortunately, “one size” doesn’t fit all. A child’s ability to understand safety skills and put them into practice is determined not just by age, but also by the child’s educational and developmental levels.To truly learn new safety skills, children need to model, rehearse and practice the skills to incorporate them into their daily lives.

Speak to your child in a calm and reassuring way. Fear is not an effective teaching tool; confidence is.

Speak openly about safety issues. If you approach child safety openly, your children will be more likely to come to you with problems or concerns.

Don’t confuse children by warning against “strangers.” Danger to children is much greater from someone you or they know than from a “stranger.”

Teach children that no one has the right to force, trick, or pressure them into doing things they don’t want to do.

Practice safety skills by creating “what if” scenarios. An outing to a mall or the park can serve as a chance for children to practice safety skills, such as checking with you before they go anywhere or do anything, and locating adults who can help if they need assistance.

Supervise your children. It is vital to their protection and safety. Children should not be put in the position of making safety choices if they are not old enough or skilled enough to make those choices.

Check out adults who have access to your children. The more involved you are in your child’s life, the less likely it is that your child will seek attention from other, potentially dangerous adults.

Simple Rules for Children When They Need Help

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) has a signature safety publication, Knowing My Rules for Safety, to help parents and guardians teach personal safety skills to children. The rules are simple and concise and provide encouragement and options for children who need an adult’s help.

Copyright © 2006 National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). All rights reserved.

15 Alarming Facts about Eating DisordersKymberley Page

Kymberley Page — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:46:20 +0000

I was invited by Online Universities to share a recent article they published on eating disorders, a frequent and dangerous by-product of low self-esteem that can quickly turn fatal if left unchecked. In reading the article, I found it to be very comprehensive and informative, indicating that college students comprise the largest demographic of this tragic condition.

With their permission, I’m sharing this article below, with the intention to bring awareness to parents of tweens/teens in the hopes of them taking a more preventative role in building the self-esteem in their children before they are faced with the consequences of not doing so.

Despite the bounty of information at it's disposal,

Mainstream society still doesn't exactly undersantd mental Illnes

Eating disorders especially end up on the receiving end of frequent stereotyping and misunderstanding — a very dangerous phenomenon, considering how they can quickly turn fatal when left unchecked. College students comprise the condition’s largest demographic, so educating both students and the society they inhabit is crucial for their health, happiness and safety. By no means should one take this article as anything even remotely approaching medical advice. Rather, use it as an introduction to a few facts about bulimia, anorexia, binge eating disorder and EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified). From here, make further inquiries into the realities faced by sufferers and the people who love them. Making an effort to empathize with their plight might very well save lives someday.

It’s not just women who suffer: Eating disorders are often stereotyped as the exclusive realm of the ladyfolk — a dangerous mindset preventing male victims from receiving necessary psychotherapy. In reality, between 1% and 7% of college-age men suffer from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder or EDNOS. But the numbers might actually sit higher than that, as stigmas unfairly painting the diseases as inherently feminine prevent them from admitting the problem and seeking out the mental help needed to survive.
The staggering majority of female college students diet: Ninety-one percent in fact, regardless of whether or not they genuinely need to be concerned about their weight. Not all diets are eating disorders, nor do all eating disorders manifest themselves as extreme dieting. Such conditions don’t always necessarily stem from a desire to be thin, of course, but overlap does occur. Some cases — though in no way every — do begin life as obsessive dieting, so it is relevant to look at statistics reflecting this.
College women are even more vulnerable to eating disorders than one would think: By this point, most people are aware that women between the ages of 17 and 24 are the most likely to be treated for and diagnosed with an eating disorder. In the general public, the statistic posits about 15% of this demographic suffers. But once college factors into the equation, it shoots up to 40%. Hardly surprising, considering the significant amount of stress involved — especially in cases where eating disorders manifest as a coping mechanism.
It’s often comorbid with other disorders: In college and the real world alike, eating disorders rarely wreak havoc alone. Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and EDNOS usually co-exist with depression, anxiety, substance abuse and/or compulsive issues. Oftentimes, the symptoms associated with these conditions are signs of something larger and more serious at play than just problems with diet and nutrition. Social stigmas against anything above a size 6 are only a very minute facet of a far more complex mental health problem.
Relationships impact eating disorders: And not just those where one or more partners spout off abusive rhetoric about body shape and size, either. Individuals in unhealthy relationships, whether they be overly clingy or outright physically traumatic, run a much higher risk of suffering from eating disorders than their peers enjoying more stable ones. The depression and anxiety associated with such unfortunate arrangements can trigger these conditions as a means of calming and forgetting the issue at hand.
Sexual assault and rape victims are more likely to develop eating disorders: This correlation exists outside of college campuses, however, but the demographic most vulnerable to eating disorders also happens to be more likely to end up sexually assaulted and raped. Thanks to an unforgiving society that shames and guilt trips female and male victims alike, anxiety and depression run rampant. So it makes sense that eating disorders would also plague them at a higher rate, as bulimia, anorexia and the like provide immediate (albeit unhealthy and nonviable) comfort for a persistent problem.
Binging and purging may correlate with previous suicide attempts: At least one study suggests that eating disorder victims engaging in a binge-and-purge pattern are more likely to have previously attempted suicide. Those with anorexia are more likely to suffer from suicidal thoughts. Again, a broader study sheds considerable light on the experiences of a smaller demographic. Because of the staggering amount of college students crushed beneath eating disorders, it makes sense that many of them would suffer from the accompanying suicidal ideas and behaviors as well.
Nutrition facts can actually trigger victims: Newsweek ran an article about eating disorders on campus in 2009, opening with a particularly poignant perspective most people — in college or otherwise — might never consider. For the eating disordered, seeing campuses publicly display nutrition facts run the risk of triggering trauma during the recovery period. Those whose conditions manifest themselves as obsessive dieting and calorie-counting are especially vulnerable, as exposure to such information reminds them of their destructive obsession. Harvard University removed calorie count cards from its dining halls out of respect for its disordered students.
A staggering amount of victims vomit, resort to extreme diets and/or use laxatives: Whether suffering from bulimia, anorexia, EDNOS or some combination thereof, 38% of college students (both male and female) have forced vomiting, used laxatives and/or extreme vomiting in order to lose weight. Researchers think an increased emphasis on combating obesity might influence their harsh decisions, although plenty of other issues — such as the previously-mentioned depression, anxiety and sexual violence victimhood factor into it as well.
A fringe eating disorder movement actively encourages the disease: Neither the Pro-Ana nor Pro-Mia movements typically go out and recruit members, but they do dangerously encourage disordered eating habits. Most — but not all — adherents are either in college or of college age, and the philosophy paints the truly horrifying disease as a lifestyle choice to be accepted rather than a mental illness to be treated. Communities both online and off trade “thinspiration” pictures, advice and encouragement for the fastest (and oftentimes most devastating) weight loss tips. It’s an extremely destructive mindset, one colleges must take more seriously and address more often.
Binge eating disorder is a real thing: Most individuals and organizations typically think of bulimia and anorexia when the subject of eating disorders crop up. But binge eating disorder — an often overlooked member of the family — can also cause serious problems during the college years (and beyond). Stemming from the exact same anxiety, depression and stress as conditions seeking thinness, BED instead involves taking in too much food as a coping mechanism.
Twenty is the most common age of onset: Around 86% of bulimics estimate they first experienced symptoms at age 20. Between the ages of 16 and 20, the number drops to 43%. By freshmen year, between 4.5% and 18% of female and .4% of male students start classes with a history of bulimia, compared to 1% for women with anorexia. Once again, the reasons behind why this happens are as varied as the victims themselves, though the dangers remain the same.
Anorexia and bulimia kill more than people realize: Between 10% and 25% of anorexia patients die because of complications arising from the condition. The full recovery rate of eating disorders in general sits at a sadly low 60%, with 20% only partially coming back and 20% never healing at all — or making only negligible progress.
Race might have an effect on how eating disorders manifest: Research published in theInternational Journal of Eating Disorders noted at least one difference in the way weight loss-related eating disorders occur in white and African-American female college students. Many members of the latter demographic typically struggled with real weight and size problems and suffered worse the more they absorbed themselves in mainstream society. Their Caucasian counterparts rarely experienced onset because of a preexisting weight condition. Both, however, frequently exhibited the signs and symptoms of depressive, anxiety or compulsive issues alongside their eating disorders.
Online intervention might be a valid prevention option: For the harried, college-aged eating disordered, an online psychiatric regimen might very well pique their recovery. Developed at Stanford University, the online program sought out high-risk women — specifically, college-aged women — and effectively prevented many from slipping into anorexia, bulimia or EDNOS. Participants with a BMI at 25 or over did not develop any eating disorder symptoms after 2 years, compared to 11.9% of their peers. Amongst women already suffering the early stages, 14% ended up diagnosed with an eating disorder within 2 years, compared to 30% of nonparticipants. The program, consisting of reading materials, moderated discussions and daily journals, might very well fulfill a valuable role on college campuses and beyond.

What can Parents do about Cyber Bullying VictimsKymberley Page

Kymberley Page — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:18:38 +0000

Parents can help stop cyberbullying. You can start by talking to kids about the issue.

Parents can help stop cyberbullying. You can start by talking to kids about the issue and teaching them the rules below that will help prevent cyberbullying from happening to them or someone they know.

What Kids Need to Know:

Never give out personal information online, whether in instant message profiles, chat rooms, blogs, or personal websites.
Never tell anyone but your parents your password, even friends.
If someone sends a mean or threatening message, don't respond. Save it or print it out and show it to an adult.
Never open emails from someone you don't know or from someone you know is a bully.
Don't put anything online that you wouldn't want your classmates to see, even in email.
Don't send messages when you're angry. Before clicking "send," ask yourself how you would feel if received the message.
Help kids who are bullied online by not joining in and showing bullying messages to an adult.
Always be as polite online as you are in person.

Since most cyberbullying takes place at home, it's important that parents know about cyberbullying and that they get involved in preventing it. Just like parents help their kids avoid inappropriate websites, they can protect them from cyberbullying.

What Parents Can Do

Keep your home computer is a busy area of your house.
Set up email and chat accounts with your children. Make sure that you know their screen names and passwords and that they don't include any personal information in their online profiles.
Regularly go over their instant messenger "buddy list" with them. Ask who each person is and how your children know him or her.
Print this list of commonly used acronyms in instant messenger and chat rooms from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and post it by your computer.
Discuss cyberbullying with your children and ask if they have ever experienced it or seen it happen to someone.
Tell your children that you won't blame them if they are cyberbullied. Emphasize that you won't take away their computer privileges – this is the main reason kids don't tell adults when they are cyberbullied.

This article is from the National Crime Prevention Council, which we have partnered with to create a Kid Safe and Kid Fun Browser that you have complete control over sites that available but also who can contact your child. We based this on an include list – with thousands of parent approved sites which you can add to or delete at any time.

New Reports for Current News on CyberbullyingKymberley Page

Kymberley Page — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 21:44:18 +0000

The Cyberbullying Research Center is dedicated to providing up-to-date information about the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of cyberbullying among adolescents. Cyberbullying can be defined as "willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices."

"Well i always get bullied and i hate it i feel like killing myself sometimes." (13 year-old girl from Victoria, Australia)

We have included some new reports on Electronic Dating Violence: A Guide for Educators and Parents and Cyberbullying Fact Sheet: Cyberbullying and Sexual Orientation.

Summary Fact Sheet - Cyberbullying: Identification, Prevention, and Response. If you only have time to read one of our pages on Cyberbullying to get up-to-speed about the problem and what you can do, read this one!