Fraud Awareness: Play it Safe

With more consumers at this time of the year, Black Friday and Cyber-Monday approaching, it is a perfect time to remind your adult teens as well as yourself about the high risks of fraud and scams that exist.

Warning Signs:

• If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
• People, sales reps, online pressure: Anyone or anything that pressures you to act “right away,” stop and think.  Do your due diligence – it could save you money and grief at the end.
• Guarantees of success.  In life there are two main guarantees: Death and taxes.  After that – use caution.
• Requires an upfront investment, even if it is for a free nothing.  Run, and don’t look back.  A perfect example is when an adult will approach a vulunerable teen and tell them they have the look of a model – but they need a portfolio.  Unless they are providing you the necessary means to get one (which could be nearly $1000.00 or more), don’t believe it.  If an honest modeling agency wants you – they will pay to get your portfolio completed.
• Buyers want to overpay you for an item and have you send them the difference.
• Doesn’t have the look or the feel of a real business.
• Something just doesn’t seem or feel right.  Your gut is telling you to run.

Play it Safe:

• Never click on a link inside an email to visit a website.  Type the address into your browser instead.
• It’s easy for a business to look legitimate online.  If you have doubts, verify the company with the Better Business Bureau.
• Only 2% of reported identity theft occurs through the mail. Report online fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/complaint.
• Retain your receipts, statements, and packing slips.  Review them for accuracy.
• Shred confidential documents instead of simply discarding them in the trash.

The FTC, the nation’s consumer protection agency, works hard to prevent fraud and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid it.  To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free 1-877-FTC-HELP.
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Teens and Brain Games

Are Brain Games Addictive or Healthy?
 
Today, technology is being used not just for work, but for entertainment purposes as well. People not only surf the net and do other things online to while away their time, most of them also play games with virtual strangers (friends?) too. Most of these games are so addictive that people end up playing them all day long. You may ask, if the games are mentally stimulating and improve your coordination and response time, why are they considered detrimental? If something is good for you, why should it not be addictive? Are all addictions unhealthy?

Now I’m not addicted to Facebook by any length; what I am addicted to is the game of Scrabble that you can play with other online gamers. To me, it’s not a waste of time if I spend a few hours a day playing this word game, simply because I’m using my brains and playing with letters, something that is right up my alley because of the nature of my job. Even so, there are others who would consider my addiction unhealthy, simply because they feel that I could be more productive at work if I did not waste so much time on Scrabble. It may help sharpen my mind no doubt, but the addiction is also taking me away from my job and lowering my efficiency and dedication to my job.

Therefore, if we’re analyzing whether brain games are healthy or addictive, we must draw a line that demarcates the boundary between the point where it’s healthy and the instant that it crosses over to becoming an addiction. Remember, an addiction is something you have no control over, and even if it’s a good thing, when you cannot control it, it stands to reason that it controls you.

Look how addictive technology has become today – we can see how children, teens and adults are becoming addicted to Facebook and other social networking sites. It’s true that we spend more time in our virtual space than in the real world; we interact more with people who are online than with people who we can see and touch; and we’re so addicted to technology that it’s impossible to imagine our world without it today. But if we look at technology through different eyes, we see that it is highly advantageous too – information is available in an instant, we’re able to keep in touch with loved ones who live afar, and we’re able to boost our knowledge and widen our experiences even if we’re constrained by location and other factors.

So how then do we classify technology? Is it healthy or addictive? Again, it’s the crossover from healthy to addictive that we must be aware of and enforce self restraint. It’s the same with brain games too – no doubt they’re good for you, but when they cross that line and start to become addictive, they’re more detrimental than advantageous.

By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Patricia Duggan, who has completed her Bachelors in Psychology and now pursuing her Masters of Science in Psychology.  She is the co-founder of the website PsychologyDegree.com and she like to write on the topic of Psychology Degree . She welcomes your comments and suggestions at her email id: patricia.duggan70<@>gmail<.>com.

Teen Depression: When it returns, be ready

Teen depression is a serious concern that can lead to tragic results if not treated.  According to a new study from Duke/John Hopkins University, nearly half of teens who suffer a severe episode are back in depression within a few years of their initial recovery.  Also noted in this new study finds that depression affects an estimated 6 percent of U.S. teen girls and nearly as many teen boys.

Nearly all (96 percent) of the 196 teenagers in the study either improved or fully recovered after an initial depressive episode, but 47 percent had one or more subsequent depressive episodes in an average of two years.

As the holidays approach, it is a time that suicides among adults and teens will increase.

It is critical to be aware of your teenagers feelings and activities. 


For reasons that are not clearly understood, girls were more likely to have repeated bouts of depression, with nearly 60 percent of them suffering subsequent depressive episodes after recovery, compared to 33 percent of the boys.

Some common warning signs of teen depression:

• Changes in eating and sleeping habits (eating and sleeping too much or too little)
• Significant change in weight (loss or gain)
• Often misses school and/or shows bad school performance
• Reclusive, withdrawing from friends or family members
• Quick to show anger/rage
• General restlessness or anxiety
• Overreacts to criticism, even constructive
• Seems very self conscious, guilty
• Unusual problems with authority
• No longer partakes in or enjoys activities and events they once loved
• Indecision, lack of concentration, or forgetfulness
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Frequent health complaints despite being healthy
• Lack of motivation and enthusiasm for every day life
• Drug/alcohol abuse
• Mentions or thoughts of suicide

Some common causes of teen depression:

• Significant life events like the death of a family member or close friend, parents divorce or split, breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, or moving to a new school/area.
• Emotional/Physical neglect, being separated from a nurturer, abuse, damage to self esteem.
• Many changes happening too quickly can cause depression. For some teens, any major change at one time can trigger symptoms.
• Stress, especially in cases where the teen has little or no emotional support from parents, other family members, or friends.
• Past traumatic events or experiences like sexual abuse, general abuse, or other major experiences often harbor deep within a child and emerge in the teen years. Most children are unable to process these types of events when they happen, but of course, they remember them. As they age, the events/experiences become clearer and they gain new understanding.
• Changes associated with puberty often cause emotions labeled as depression.
• Abuse of drugs or other substances can cause changes in the brainÕs chemistry, in many cases, causing some types of depression.
• Some medical conditions such as hypothyroidism are believed to affect hormone and mood balance. Physical pain that is chronic can also trigger depression. In many cases, depression caused by medical conditions disappears when medical attention is sought and treatment occurs.
• Depression is a genetic disorder, and teens with family members who have suffered from depression have a higher chance of developing it themselves.

If you suspect your teen is suffering with saddness and depression, reach out and get help.  Don't ignore the signs or just brush it off as typical teenage phase, which it could be, but your teens safety and health come first.  Broward Prevention offers a vast amount of resources to assist you further.  If your teens has escalated to a point that their life or your family is at-risk, you may need to consider residential therapy.  Visit www.helpyourteens.com for more information.

Be an educated parent, you will have safer and healthier teens.

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Bullying: Stop the Hate

Yes, normal and acceptable, tolerance is taught at home and reaches into our communities.  South Florida has been the battleground of bullying and school violence and it has to stop.

For many years, kids were bullied because their behavior or appearance was perceived by the bully to be different. Now, bullying children who are gay, lesbian, trans-gender or bi-sexual has become more flagrant. The National Center for Transgender Equality reports that of 6,500 people surveyed, 51 percent attempted suicide because of bullying.

Currently, approximately 160,000 children stay at home from school each day because of bullying. It also seems to be socially acceptable to bully anyone who is different, and that includes children who are overweight, underweight or disabled.

Bullying has also encroached on the Internet. 

According to Pacer's National Center for Bullying Prevention:

• 42 percent of children and teens have been bullied on line, one in four more than once;
• 35 percent of children have been threatened on line, one in five more than once; and
• 58 percent of children admit someone has said mean or hurtful things on line, four out of ten more than once.

Things we can do to stop bullying:

1.  Facebook has a “Report” button so you can report bullying. You can also block the sender. Don't add a friend you don't know.
2.  Report bullying. Telling is not tattling. If the teacher does not listen, go to the principal, the district, etc. until you are heard. Remember, the bully relies on fear and intimidation to keep his threats secretive.
3.  Keep a record of the bullying, including the location, the bully's name, and any witnesses.
4.  Some great resources are:

• Teens Against Bullying
• The Bully Police
• Pacer National Center for Bullying Prevention,
• GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network
• National Center for Transgender Equality
• PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends & Lesbians and Gays

If you have seen bullying or have been bullied, you can e-mail bullying411@pacer.org.
5.  The American Civil Liberties Union can also address the rights of a child or teen who has been bullied.
6.  If you are feeling suicidal, call:

• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-TALK (8256) (24-hours)
• The Gay Lesbian Bi-Sexual & Transgender National Hotline: (888) THE-GLNA
• The Trevor Project: (866) 488-7386 (24-hours)

Common sayings: “Boys will be boys,” “Girls aren't bullies,” “Words can never hurt,” “It's only teasing,” “Kids deserve bullying,” or “Kids need to toughen up,” are not true. Billy Lucas, age 15, Justin Aaberg, age 15, Tyler Clementi, age 18, Asher Brown, age 13, and Seth Walsh, age 13, recently killed themselves because of bullying. No one deserves to be bullied.

Contributor:  Kim A. Tennant, author of  Thin Club and The Ordinary Extraordinary Boy

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Overweight Teens: Support for Parent with Teens That are Being Bullied

Bullying is one of today's growing and serious trends in our country today.  Whether a student has a sexual preference that you don't agree with, or a child that is overweight, bullying is becoming a way to harass and harm kids.  School violence is being used as kids are being hurt.

Promoting health, wellness and good eating habits is sometimes difficult for busy parents.  According to a recent Harris Interactive poll, 30% of us who are overweight or obese think that we are just fine, thanks, and 70% of us who are obese think that we are merely overweight.  Our self-esteem, in other words, hasn't skipped a beat.  Some have even surmised that "fat is the new norm," our perceptions gradually adapting to the sight of our heavier friends, neighbors, and acquaintances around us.

Weight discrimination has increased a whopping 66% over the past decade, and is "comparable to rates of racial discrimination, especially among women."  Weight bias affects the workplace, media, healthcare, schools, and yes, family life.  A recent study reveals that parents discriminate againsttheir own overweight kids by being less willing to help pay for college or buy them a car.

Sadly, weight bias is no joke, but like any form of bullying, a potentially deadly affair.  Overweight kids and teens are often physically bullied, taunted, and excluded by peers, family members, teachers, and other authority figures.  Not only does criticism and public pressure about one's weight tend to increase eating disorders, comfort-eating, reduced physical activity, and weight gain, but it contributes to depression, damaged self-esteem, poor body image, and even suicidality.

So what can parents do?  Get educated.  Watch three fantastic videos on weight bias and kids from Yale University's Rudd Center and share them with your family, your PTO or PTA, your school principal, your friends.  Read posts on Fitsmi from a teen who was bullied for her weight; a girl who suffered drive-by insults; a teen teased by her brother and his friend; a Mom reflecting on the importance of praising a daughter's beauty, at any size.  Increase sensitivity to weight bias in your home, raise awareness at your local schools, and make sure that in a tough world, your child at least has one person he or she can turn to:  you.

Visit FitsmiForMoms.com for more valuable and educational information.  Watch video on sidebar to learn more about how Fitsmi can fit into your parenting!

Source: Fitsmi.com

Be an educated parent, you will have healthier teens.

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Teen Drinking: Drunkorexia

Between the expanding technology, learning about Internet safety, texting and cellphone use, bullying, drug use, huffing, inhalants, rainbow parties, choking game, learning the teen lingo etc.... Parents can add one more worry to their list of raising teenagers:

'DRUNKOREXIA'


What is Drunkorexia?  It is the term used to describe a mixture of alcoholism, bulimia and anorexia.  Schools and universities are dealing with a new student issue and it is an concern for counselors and parents.
In 2008 the New York Times was one of the first times we heard about this issue that is becoming a trend. The Denver Post just ran a recent article, "Drunkorexia" act swaps food calories for alcohol.  ABC News Health also just posted Drunkorexia: Alcohol Mixes With Eating Disorders.

Health workers warn drunkorexia is a serious medical condition that can harm the body. It is also often coupled with other psychological disorders. Statistics suggest that 30% of 18-24 year olds skip food in order to drink more according to Diet-Blog.com.

What can you do if you suspect your teen is substituting alcohol for food?

Communication and education is the key to prevention.  However most parents know that talking to our teens can be difficult.  Getting them to actually listen is even harder.  But you can't stop talking about it - you can't stop sharing with them the harm it does to their health and body.

Drinking alcohol and body image is part of life for today's teenager. As the parent of a teenager you have a responsibility to educate your child in order to ensure that he or she has a healthy relationship with alcohol and self-confidence to feel good about how she looks. Get educated and get talking; don't let your child be another teen drinking statistic.

For more information, go to nationaleatingdisorders.org, or call the toll-free helpline, 800-931-2237.

 

For more information on your local services contact PACT in St. Augustine at 904-829-6261.

 

Be an educated parent, you will have healthier teens.

Good Grades Can Save You Money

There can only be one answer for this, unless you are not concerned about saving money, YES - good student discounts are worth it and for two reasons.

Teens that are now taking the wheel or even getting their first car, will be able to qualify for a discount on their automobile insurance, so first, saving money is great reason.  Second, it is an incentive to your teen to keep their grades up!

In Florida it is the law that all automobiles and drivers have insurance.  Here is a quick glance from the official website of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles:

I am registering a vehicle for the first time in Florida. Is automobile insurance mandatory?

Yes. If you own a vehicle with at least four wheels and are registering it, you must have Florida insurance.

What type of insurance is required to purchase and maintain a Florida license plate and registration?

Florida's minimum coverage is $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 property damage liability (PDL) as long as you have a valid Florida license plate.

With today's struggling economy, parents are looking for ways to cut corners financially and since insurance is a must when you have  teenager driving in the household or at college, finding auto insurance that offer good student discounts can save you quite a bit of money.

Here is a few examples of Good Student Discount qualifications from three major insurance companies:

State Farm Good Student Discount


All male and unmarried female drivers under 25 who are full-time students in high school or at a college or university, and the scholastic records for the immediately preceding school semester show that this student meets at least one of the following:

• Ranked scholastically in the upper 20% of his or her class.
• Had a grade average of B or higher.
• Had a grade point average of 3.0 (out of 4.0) or higher.
• Was included in the Dean's List or Honor Roll.

Allstate Good Student Discount

• Your teen driver can save you money before they even get behind the wheel with the Good Student Discount. The better they are in the classroom, the bigger the discount you’ll get. Add a good student to your policy and you'll earn extra credit-up to 10-20 percent, depending on your state.

American Family Insurance

• If you're a good student or your household includes a good student who's an insured driver.  Click here for more information.

No matter who insurance carrier your family has, be sure to inquire about good student discounts.  They could save you a substantial amount of money as well as encourage your teen or college student to keep their grades up.  It is a win-win situation!

Call your insurance representative today to find out exactly what your savings could be.

On a personal note, I saved over $300.00 a year with my college student's good student discount.  It's real!

Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens - and maybe have more money in your pocket!

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Parenting Teens: Monitoring Your Teens

When safety trumps privacy - is when invasion of privacy is thrown out the window.

As a parent keeping our children safe, especially our new young teen drivers is a priority. Many teens believe they are invincible and accidents only happen to other people.  Sort of like those other people are the only ones that get STD's or have bad things happen.

Newsflash - bad things can happen to good people.


NBC's Kevin Tibbles had an interesting segment today on TODAY about how parents are taking back technology, that their kids are so far advanced in, and using it to protect their teens and children.  The question is, how much parental monitoring is too much? (Watch segment on sidebar.)
The three resources of advanced technology that were discussed are as follows:

1. ZPass | Ridership Tracking:   For Student TrackingZPass was designed specifically for pupil transportation to monitor student ridership in a safe and non-intrusive way.  Knowing if and when a student got on or off the bus accounts for a significant portion of calls parents make to schools and is information that schools need to know.  ZPass provides accurate and immediate answers. Learn more at http://www.zonarsystems.com/products/zpass/
2. All Track USA: Receive notification via e-mail or text message when your child arrives at school, pulls into your driveway, goes over a pre-determined speed limit & more. And all speed alerts and Electric Fences changeable on-the-fly on the internet any time!! Learn more at http://www.alltrackusa.com/
3. My Mobil Watchdog: My Mobile Watchdog monitors your child's cell phone use and instantly alerts you if he or she receives unapproved email, text messages or phone calls. Learn more at http://www.mymobilewatchdog.com/

This is not an endorsement of these products, however an example of technology that is available to help protect and secure the safety of your teens.

The statistics are clear: Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers who drive. Drivers who are 16 years old are more than 20 times likely to have an accident as are other drivers. And teenage drivers have the highest crash risk of any age group, and 16-year-olds are the worst.

As  a parent we have a right and a responsibility to take control of the safety of our teenage drivers, you could be saving a life.  If the teen wants to view it as an invasion of privacy, that is something we can live with.  Afterall, they are alive to view it at all.

With the increase of predators online, your child's cell phone is another way these predators can invade their private lives.  Again, as a parent, we can and will do all we can to protect our children.  It is not about being nosy, it is about safety.  We live in a different world today.

Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens.

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