The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

Source: ADDitude Magazine Every child is born with gifts. A child who has the fascinating trait called attention deficit disorder (ADHD) possesses extraordinary ones, but they may be hidden. And if they’re found, they can be tough to unwrap. I hear from parents who say they need a plan to help them do that. Well, your wish has been granted. I have a five-step plan, called the cycle of excellence, which will reveal your ADHD child's gifts for all to see. The plan works best if you love your child in the right way . First, try to catch her spirit and essence. Watch, listen, and interact with her, and don’t direct or worry about getting things done. Just hang out with her. You’ll come to see who your child is. Before she gets labeled smart or stupid, hardworking or lazy, athletic or klutzy, friendly or taciturn, engaging or standoffish, before she gets labeled ADD or XYZ, a parent usually senses the beginnings of who her child is. Hold on to that! Second, don’t listen much to the dia

Next Generation Parenting offers a vast amount of information for parents of all ages of children. Take a moment to get informed and learn new parenting skills as well as their Blog that brings you up to date parenting ideas! Source: Next Generation Parenting Research by University of Kentucky, USA, provides the following guidelines to establish Innovative Parenting Techniques in this 6 areas. Care for Self • Establish habits of healthy eating, rest and relaxation, sleep, and physical activity • Stay away from harmful influences; i.e., substances, people, activities • Keep adult relationships healthy • Demonstrate a realistic balance between their own needs and the needs of their children • Celebrate what they do well • Share strong feelings with other trusted people • Show ability to cope with three major stressors in their lives • Identify and make a plan for managing anger triggers • Demonstrate two ways to express anger that are self-satisfying, acceptable to others, and help ccom

Source: TeensHealth These days, drugs can be found everywhere, and it may seem like everyone's doing them. Many teens are tempted by the excitement or escape that drugs seem to offer. But learning the facts about drugs can help you see the risks of chasing this excitement or escape. Here's what you need to know. The Deal on Substances Thanks to medical and drug research, there are thousands of drugs that help people. Antibiotics and vaccines have revolutionized the treatment of infections. Medicines can lower blood pressure , treat diabetes , and reduce the body's rejection of new organs. Medicines can cure, slow, or prevent disease, helping us to lead healthier and happier lives. But there are also lots of illegal, harmful drugs that people take to help them feel good or have a good time. How do drugs work? Drugs are chemicals or substances that change the way our bodies work. When you put them into your body (often by swallowing, inhaling, or injecting them), drugs find

Study, study, study - college applications, campus tours and major decisions! What do I want to be when I grow up? What do I want to study? Do I want a large campus, small? Close to home or out of state? Choices, choices, choices - but most will begin with your SAT scores. Be prepared, no one says you have to know what you want to be, but what you do need to know is you have to do your best on your test scores. With this, many doors will be open for you and chances are greater will find what will be your brightest future. Source: Connect with Kids SAT PREP: DO YOUR HOMEWORK “Some students will see huge differences. [Some] students don’t improve at all. Students get out of it what they put into it.” – Wendi Deen Johnson, Kaplan Score Prep In just a few weeks 17-year old Caroline will take the SAT for the first time. “Well I know it’s like a really important test and I am really kind of concerned about that because I want to go to a really good college,” says Caroline. To prepare for t

Source: Safe Teen Driving Club Parenting: How to Keep Them Safe - by: Staff Writers Parents: as your teen begins driving, you are entering the most dangerous phase of your entire child-rearing career. You might have seen that comment elsewhere on our site. It bears repeating. Teens are under the control and influence of parents. There is no more important factor that affects a teen's driving behavior than parents. Here are some excellent insights into parenting issues that we hope you'll find helpful. Honoring Ashley - The Art of Driving (by Ashley's Mom, Robin Thompson) Why Teenagers Act Weird [Article by Sharon Mahoney, originally published in Prevention magazine.] When Parents Take Control, Teens Drive More Safely What 1,000 Parents Said About Teen Driving What You Can Do to Keep Your Teen Safe How Parental Involvement Affects Risky Driving Driver's Ed Effectiveness is Questioned Brain Development - What It Means for Parents Boys in Passenger Seat = Riskier Driving

As summer is approaching, truancy (skipping school) can be on the rise. Teens are anxious to start their summer break a bit early without realizing the consequences. Take time to learn more about Teen Truancy . Truancy is a term used to describe any intentional unauthorized absence from compulsory schooling. Children in America today lose over five million days of their education each year through truancy. Often times they do this without the knowledge of their parents or school officials. In common usage the term typically refers to absences caused by students of their own free will, and usually does not refer to legitimate "excused" absences, such as ones related to a medical condition. It may also refer to students who attend school but do not go to classes. Because of this confusion many schools have their own definitions, and as such the exact meaning of the term itself will differ from school to school and district to district. In order to avoid or diminish confusion,

Connect with Kids “They end up experimenting in such a way that the use of that [extra] income is not really going toward beneficial things for them.” – Dr. Richard Winer, Psychiatrist For just seventeen, Adam Shapiro’s work experience is impressive. “I have worked at my synagogue… like three hours a week probably on a Sunday. I was assistant teacher. I’ve ref’d soccer before,” he says. But with major exams this week, the jobs will have to wait. “Are you studying the rest of the week?” his mom, Karen, asks him,“Yeah,” says Adam. “The number one priority for us is his studies. So, if he wanted to work and make extra money that was great, as long as it did not interfere with his studies,” explains his mom, Karen. Previous studies have found that kids who work just ten hours a week admit to cheating more often in school and taking less challenging courses. And a new survey by the Rand Corporation finds that kids who work are also more likely to use drugs and alcohol and smoke cigarettes.

Source: StopMedicineAbuse Welcome to the Five Moms : Stopping Cough Medicine Abuse Campaign Learn about teen cough medicine abuse.Share information about abuse. First launched in May 2007, the Five Moms Campaign has reached over 24 million parents with these basic messages to parents about preventing teen cough medicine abuse. When the campaign launched, teen cough medicine abuse was on the increase. Now, nationwide statistics point to a slight decrease. That’s great news, but more work has to be done to eliminate this type of substance abuse behavior among teens. CHPA brought together five moms—a pediatric nurse practitioner, an accountant, a D.A.R.E. officer, an educator, and an author—from different backgrounds and from all over the country to encourage parents to get involved in stopping cough medicine abuse . And now Five Moms is part of the StopMedicineAbuse.org effort. Join the campaign . Membership is free and entitles you to the monthly e-newsletter and occasional e-mail updat

It seems today economy will soon effect the summer jobs our teens look forward to. Well, most teens look forward to. Connect with Kids offers some great tips to start looking for your summer employment. Parents, take a moment to read and learn how your teen can get a jump this summer. Having a summer job can help build self esteem, learn responsibility and accountability. No matter what your financial status is, a sense of self worth that job can bring a teenage can be so important in building their maturity and giving them a good foundation in life. Source: Connect with Kids “It’s a difficult job market, but don’t give up. Look longer and work harder to find [a job]. There are some, but you’re going to have to commit yourself in a much more focused way than maybe in the past.” – Michael Thurmond, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Labor They look through newspapers, scan the Internet, and drive around looking for “Help Wanted” signs. There aren ’t many out there. “I looked for a s

As with my organization, Parents’ Universal Resource Experts , I created it to help other parents that are struggling with today’s teens. After going through a difficult time with my own teenage daughter, I made some major mistakes, however I wanted others to learn from my mistakes: more important - gain from my knowledge. I firmly believe that parents helping parents and parents learning from other parents firsthand - can be priceless! Rhonda Spellman is a proud mother of a beautiful son - who happens to have autism. She has made it her mission in life to share with other parents and expanded her information into wonderful children’s books . Here are some of her parenting tips and please take a moment to visit her website . Quick tips: 9 Keys of Parenting Children with Asperger’s Syndrome benefit from an environment that helps to build upon their strengths and builds their confidence and self esteem. What interests them? Help them to gain greater knowledge about their areas of abili

Dr. Susan Lipkins is a leading expert on preventing hazing and helping people understand the dangers of this type of violence. After watching her on What Would You Do last night, I was shocked at how some people felt this behavior was amusing. I think parents need to learn more about this horrible behavior and learn how it can potentially effect someone you love. Visit Dr. Susan Lipkins website and learn more. Visit the warning signs here . What is Hazing? Source: Inside Hazing What: The Basics WHAT IS HAZING? Hazing is a process, based on a tradition that is used by groups to discipline and to maintain a hierarchy (i.e., a pecking order). Regardless of consent, the rituals require individuals to engage in activities that are physically and psychologically stressful. These activities can be humiliating, demeaning, intimidating, and exhausting, all of which results in physical and/or emotional discomfort. Hazing is about group dynamics and proving one's worthiness to become a me

Vanessa Van Petten is always keeping parents up to date through her valuable website called OnTeensToday . I love getting her latest articles, they always educate us as to what our kids may be going through in today’s generation of life as they live it. Here is this week’s blast of news for you - and the topic is one that every parent needs to take the time to learn about. Digital Kids! 5 Code Cracking Perspectives on Digital Kids I post a lot about kids online and Growing Up On line Series. Recently, after going on my media tour with Symantec on their new Parental Control Software , my mind was opened to a bunch of new issues and their solutions…please read on: 1) Curiosity vs. Obsession Many parents have found their kids on a porn website and pro-anorexia site and has freaked out. Before breaking out the handcuffs and throwing the computer out the window, I think there needs to be a distinction between what is simple adolescent curiosity and what is a real problem. I am just going t

I feel this topic is so important, that I am posting another Blog Post on it with a bit more information. Many parents fear their teens are involved in substance abuse (whether it is pot or crack) - but what you need to remember is many of the drugs can be located in your own home. Cough medicine, sleeping pills, prescription drugs (meant for other family members, etc). Take the time to learn more. Source: StopMedicineAbuse Recent studies among middle and high school aged kids across the country show a disturbing form of substance abuse among teens: the intentional abuse of otherwise beneficial medications, both prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC), to get high. Teens who learn a lot about the dangers of drugs from their parents are half as likely to abuse drugs. According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, one in five teens reports having abused a prescription drug to get high. Where OTC medicines are concerned, data from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America indica

Doesn’t this sound familiar? I always remember when my kids were teens my friend would say to me, you have to pick and choose your battles - some issues are just not worth the battle. Years later, Connect with Kids offers some great parenting tips on doing exactly that! Source: Connect with Kids “I love shocking [people], because I’m something somebody will remember.” – Sara Jackson, 16 years old Teenagers are freedom seekers, risk-takers and rule breakers. Pushing limits is just what teenagers do. “I love the rush. I love the freedom,” says 17-year-old Alan Oliver. Sixteen-year-old Sara Jackson agrees that breaking rules and taking chances is a rush. “It’s something I take great pride in. I love shocking [people], because I’m something somebody will remember.” When kids become teens, they start breaking away, trying new things and taking chances. For Sara, that means wearing funky clothes and crazy hairdos. People, especially adults, notice Sara’s wild style. “They come up to me and s

As a parent advocate , I continually receive information from a wide range of resources. Educating parents today about what our teens and pre-teens are facing is critical to raising our children. Today, as in many generations before, there are new concerns and challenges that parents face. Whether it is social networking, peer pressure, or substance abuse - parents need to stay in touch. Communication should be a parent number 1 priority with today’s teens and pre-teens. The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), founded in 1881, is a member-based association representing the leading manufacturers and distributors of nonprescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and nutritional supplements. Many CHPA member products provide millions of Americans with safe, effective, and convenient therapies for the treatment and prevention of many common ailments and diseases. Studies and common sense tell us that parents play a critical role in preventing substance abuse among teens by

One of the best things about being an active parent advocate is when other parents email me different parenting websites, links, articles, Blogs and more that they would like me to share with others. Just yesterday I was forwarded this website that can help you better educate your child. Check out http://www.enotes.com/ and see how they can assist you! The students can get free homework help in the Q and A area from real teachers, and the literature resources are great for getting in-depth help. What is eNotes.com? eNotes.com is a comprehensive online educational resource. Used daily by thousands of students, teachers, professors, and researchers, eNotes combines the highest-quality educational content with innovative services in order to provide an online learning environment unlike any other. Our Content Our content is all fact-checked, edited, and written by professionals who are experts in their field. It comes from our in-house publishing unit or from Academic Publishers, inclu

Oh yes, it is almost here, my second book! This time around, I am honored to have co-author and Internet Specialist Attorney , John Dozier . As my story of my landmark case of $ 11.3M jury verdict for damages unravels - many questions answers, John Dozier will bring us the legal landscape of today's Cyber World - how to protect your online image and maintain a profile you are proud of! To compound our dynamic and explosive upcoming best seller - Michael Fertik , CEO and Founder of ReputationDefender will be writing the foreword! ReputationDefender is one of the pioneers in managing online reputations and helping keep your kids privacy safe online. This timely book will offer you tools and remedies as well as a very compelling story that will keep you turning those pages! Remember, a 20 year reputation today can be destroyed within 20 minutes of vicious keystrokes. Have you thought about Internet Gossip vs Internet Fact? How do you know the difference? Don’t get caught in

Camp Finders® is a free service which matches children ages 6-18 with appropriate overnight summer camps and teen programs. Since 1994, Camp Finders® has personally visited approximately 175 sleepaway camps and various teen programs. During this time period, Camp Finders™ has been placing children in overnight camps and in the following teen programs: teen tours; wilderness camps & outdoor adventure; college enrichment; community service; sailing, SCUBA, & marine biology programs; foreign language programs and more… Overnight camps (all visited by Camp Finders) - these are generally on the East Coast of the USA, in states such as Pennsylvania, New York, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina & Florida. Camp Finders® has also visited sleepaway camps in other areas - N. Wisconsin & Colorado. Teen programs - these are located all over the USA, as well as in Canada, Europe, Australia, Central Ame