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From the official news magazine of the American Academy of Pediatrics
reports that a 3-year National Television Violence Study not only
found that nearly two-thirds of all TV programming contains violence, and children's
shows contain the most violence, but also that portrayals of
violence are usually glamorized and perpetrators often go
unpunished. That's something for parents to think about before they
put their kids in front of the TV -- more violence than adults' shows!! That's scary.
One in 12 high
schoolers is threatened or injured with a weapon each year -- if you're
between the ages of 12 and 24, you gave the highest risk of being
victimized. The American Psychological Association offers an outstanding
youth anti-violence guide with help recognizing violence warning
signs, what to do, how to deal with anger and more.
The APA's brochure, "Raising
Children to Resist Violence: What You Can Do", is designed to
help parents work within the family, school and community to prevent and
reduce youth violence. Violent or aggressive behavior is often learned
early in life, and this brochure includes helpful suggestions,
warning signs, and more for parents who want to take steps to reduce
or minimize violence.
The National Funding Collaborative on Violence Prevention was
developed to address the
effects of escalating violence on the lives of children and their
families. Their goal is to raise public awareness and help empower
citizens to tackle violence in their communities.
Psych-Net Mental Health's pages on childhood anger discuss the
effects of anger on children and how we are creating
angry children.
Parents and students who want to help reduce or prevent violence in schools will find helpful advice and resources at the
National Crime Prevention Council’s site. Kids need help with managing anger and conflicts, and parents will find signs to look for, plus
resources so they can take action. Any constructive action will help.
YouthNoise
invites you to be part of the youth violence solution.
Working to boost awareness, reduce youth violence in America, and help
teens stay our of trouble, YouthNoise offers opportunities to volunteer,
impact public policy, raise or donate funds, and help promote
understanding between teens of different racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Amidst all the rudeness and aggressive behavior exhibited by young people
today, one author and consultant, Dr. Michele Borba offers parents six ways to help their
kids handle anger.
One lesson still rings true: parents really do make a difference.
Also, actions speak louder than words! Parental role modeling can help teach children to be caring and
kind. Some studies show that children can show signs of empathy and
concern from a very early age. In other words, parents have the
power to nurture, guide, show and instill -- to teach
kindness, responsibility, and gentleness in a rude and angry
world.
Athletes have been our popular heroes. But athletes are losing
ground because of greed, scandals, rudeness, lawlessness, and some fans,
coaches and parents aren't far behind. "Because I have the
opportunity and responsibility to make a difference in others, I commit to
the following Code for Living..." Athletes for a Better World is all
about positive mentoring for young persons to help change the
perception and reality of sports.
Connect for Kids
is an award-winning project that helps adults make their
communities better places for families and children. It's
a place for parents, grandparents, educators, policymakers and others who
want to become more active citizens -- from volunteering to voting
with kids in mind. From prevention and intervention, to an
incredible list of organizations and reports, this phenomenal site helps
grownups help future grownups.
Circumstances like seeing excessive fighting at home, seeing
parents lose their tempers easily, and being exposed to violence in
the neighborhood are harmful to children -- witnessing
violence in youth can lead to violence in adulthood.
Studies show that
kids' TV shows contain about 20 violent acts each hour. Children who watch violence on television behave differently
and are negatively impacted in ways that shape their later lives. A steady diet of
violence has many repercussions but parents can maintain some
control.
Children exposed to TV violence tend to show a higher level of
aggression as teenagers, and are more likely to be arrested and
prosecuted for criminal acts as adults. The APA's brochure covers
what children learn, what the research shows, and what
parents can do about violence on television.
With sensory overload of
violent images, lyrics, news stories and games, an increase in aggression
and anger in children is a growing trend, and foster children are
amongst the highest at risk. Dr. Michele Borba offers 6 ways to help
foster kids express anger constructively.
What's "the helicopter parent?" Or "the
emotionally absent parent?" It's the shortest distance between
surly teens and parents who react badly to them. Experts say empathy
is better than anger.
Youth violence is learned and practiced behavior and a generation of
Americans is at risk. Here's
a call to arms for us all to make a legislative and social
commitment to the reduction of aggression and violence in society.
Everyone who comes in contact with youth has the potential to mitigate a
child's involvement with violent behavior. Every institution that
touches a child can teach and demonstrate peaceful, effective coping
alternatives to violence.
Kids need a future, not funerals...the National PTA Violence
Prevention Kit provides parents and communities with the resources
to organize and create community environments that help keep our
children safe.
Teen Advice
Online has a wealth of articles written by TAO counselors, a team
of volunteers from a vast array of countries, who cover all sorts of life
experiences and relationships, including depression and disorders -- ages
13 and beyond, volunteers are devoted to helping teens sort things out.
According to the US Dept. of Justice, the participation of youth in
positive activities and the formation of close attachments to
family, school, and community have been linked to positive outcomes in
youth at risk and youth violence research studies. For communities that want to prevent and control youth violence,
the Blueprints for Violence Prevention Initiative of the Office of
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention provides information on a
broad array of violence
prevention and intervention programs that have been proven to be
effective in reducing adolescent violent crime, aggressive delinquency,
aggression, and conduct disorders.
SADD, Students Against Destructive Decisions, is all about helping
students resist the consequences of destructive decisions. Their
Contract for Life, with a young person and a parent or caring adult,
together with school- and community-wide activities and campaigns, help
young people handle destructive attitudes and behaviors such as violence,
underage drinking, substance abuse, impaired driving and suicide.
Amazing Kids celebrates the achievements of kids -- a non-profit
educational organization dedicated to helping kids realize their amazing
potential, uncover and nurture their unique talents and inspire them to
pursue excellence.
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