Parenting+School+Aged+Children

__The Effects of Bullying on School Age Children__
Bullying among children in their school-age years is growing at an alarming rate. It is alarming due to the fact that bullying is detrimental to both the victims of bullies and the bullies themselves. The victims have a higher likelihood of developing depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem, according to our book. Our book also says that bullies have a higher likelihood of turning to crime, delinquency, and alcohol abuse as teenagers. It is important that parents and professionals do all that they can to prevent bullies and their victims from experiencing the negative repercussions of bullying.

All of us should know that parent-child relationships can influence both bullying tendencies and the victimization of children. Our book offers data that show bullies often come from families where physical discipline is favored and childhood aggression is accepted. It also shows the victims may be overprotected by their mothers if they are males or have poor identification with their mothers if they are female. It is recommended that parents use an authoritative parenting style and talk with their children about the rules and consequences of the house. This means that the importance of all the rules and punishments should be explained to the children. Not only should parents set rules and consequences, but they should also learn to listen to their children—this includes knowing about their activities and where they are going to be. In my opinion, ideal children would also have a positive identity with both their mother and father, or mother- and father-figures. In fostering positive relationships, parents can help prevent their children from becoming bullies or the victims of bullies.

Heath, Phyllis. (2009). //Parent-Child Relations Context, Research, and Application//. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.


 * Importance of Nutrition and the Growing Problem of Children Being Overweight:**

Children at the middle school age are at the time in their lives where they are at their healthiest and really need to begin to make good eating choices. Obesity and being overweight is growing due to the fact that children are eating larger portions and not getting as much physical activity as they need to get. Studies have shown that overweight children intake more nonnutritous choices then other children that have the same amount of food intake. Respiratory problems and Type II diabetes are just a couple of the problems that is growing. Children today are very influenced by the media as well. The media not only influences unhealthy eating choices but it also get children involved in being inactive. Overall I have mentioned a few of the many ways our lifestyle choices maybe hurting our children but by learning about this we can start making better choices for ourselves and our family to live longer and healthier lives.

As parents and professionals working with children we need to model good food choices and keep children physically active because we are setting their lifestyle. Professionals need to teach and offer information of good eating choices and the benefits of getting physically active in their curriculum. Children may not like physical activity so making activities fun and interesting gets everyone involved. As a family maybe instead of going to a movie, they could go to the recreational center for an afternoon and continue that tradition once a weekend or every other weekend or even participate in being more active together. Encouraging positive food choices and being active is a great way to start getting your family to be healthier.

Heath, Phyllis. (2009). Parent-Child Relations Context, Research, and Application. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.

__**The Overbooked Child**__

When thinking about what it means to be an overbooked child you might want to think about all the activities that one child might be involved in. An overbooked child is on that goes from one activity to another almost if not every day of the week. A parent may force their child to participate in multiple activities to show that they are not a bad parent. This as become more of a problem recently as back in the day the child would me required to come home and work where as no the child is never home because of all of the activities that the child is involved in. Rosenfield and Wise suggested that parents of children avoid the "hyperparenting trap" of over scheduling their children with activities to feel like they are a good parent.

It is important to educate parents that to have their child involved in activities is fine but there is a limit. Every child need time to express themselves such as playing with friends at home and also being involved in family activities even if it is only dinner every night or a family game. Parents need to be aware of some of the issues that their child may experience if they are overbooked such as depression, tired all the time, lack of concentration and sleeping problems. Parents need to encourage their child to be involved know that there are limits and also to encourage time to express themselves whether with friends, family or even on their own. Professionals if seen need to look into what the child is involved in and explain to the parents that extra circular activities are fine but that they need to avoid the thoughts, feelings and pressures of more is better when there may be a limit to what the child can do and what the child may need to succeed later in life. At the end parents need to except that their child need time to be a kid and not be overbooked all the time and promote a more positive attitude no matter what their child is involved in whether away form the home or in the home.

Heath, Phyllis. (2009). Parent-Child Relations Context, Research, and Application. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.