34 THE QUEENS COURIER • WELLNESS • DECEMBER 20, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
wellness
Is your child being bullied? Things to know
According to StopBullying.gov, between
1 in 4 and 1 in 3 U.S. students say they
have been bullied at school. While the
term “bullying” has become a buzzword,
it’s also important to understand what it
means. Th e Centers for Disease Control
and U.S. Department of Education defi ne
it as a pattern of unwanted aggressive
behavior that causes physical or psychological
harm.
“As a high school counselor for over
10 years, I’ve witnessed bullying and its
impacts in diff erent ways - from working
with administrators and teachers to
put a stop to it in classrooms, to supporting
parents and students as they attempt
to heal and fi nd the best path forward,”
said Carol Heavin, a school counselor for
Arkansas Virtual Academy who has been
in education for 28 years.
One of the best ways to help prevent
bullying is to empower parents with useful
advice, including warning signs to
watch for, tips on how to talk to your
kids about bullying and information on
where to go for help. Because the longterm
eff ects of bullying can be serious
for a child, a parent’s actions and support
can help protect them from harm.
Heavin off ers the following warning signs
and tips:
Warning signs
As a parent, you know your children
well and what to expect from them. While
some changes in behavior can be noticeable
or sudden, others can be hard to spot.
If you suspect your child is a victim of
bullying, watch for these warning signs:
• Change in your child’s attitude or visible
loss of confi dence; this includes
nonverbal and verbal changes, from
how they carry themselves (dejected,
slumped posture) to expressing suicidal
thoughts
• Any unexplained, physical bruising or
injuries
• Withdrawing from usual hobbies and
interests
• Change in dress
• Change in friend group or sudden loss
of friends
How to talk to your kids
If you notice these warning signs and
suspect your child could be a victim of
bullying, talking to your child is a critical
step to understanding what is happening
and building trust. Keep these things
in mind as you decide how and when to
talk to your child:
• Be available to your child and schedule
at least one weekly family dinner or outing
to connect and check in
• Ask your child about their day, every
day, to keep the lines of communication
open
• Find a time to talk to your child in a
relaxing environment, such as listening
to music, watching a sports game or
doing an art project together
• Start the conversation with your child
with topics that interest and build a rapport
with them
• As hard as it may be, don’t push them to
share something they may not be ready
to share; consistent reminders that you
are available to talk are important cues
What to do
Aft er you’ve identifi ed warning signs,
and you believe that your child is a victim
of bullying at school, there are a few
things you should consider and keep top
of mind.
• Take a deep breath and stay as calm as
possible
• Document as many details as you can
from your child, including what is being
said or done to them, who may have
witnessed the repeated behavior, etc.
• Speak to the school administration,
sharing as many documented details
as you can
• Ensure your child is a part of an environment
that uplift s them (i.e., church
events, sports, other clubs)
• If possible, remove them from the bullying
situation and consider other academic
opportunities, such as a tuition
free online public school
Children can be cruel, and adults can’t
chaperone 24-7. For this reason, many
times schools don’t fi nd out about bullying
until it’s been taking place for a long time.
Students are embarrassed and uncomfortable
speaking freely about what’s been
happening to them. By following this
advice, you’re already helping to stop bullying
and protect your child. For more
information, visit www.stopbullying.gov.
For more information on tuition-free,
online public schools, visit: www.k12.
com.
Courtesy BPT
Simple health tips for busy moms
Mothers are the CEO of the home.
Organizing schedules, paying the bills,
doing food shopping, managing pick-ups
and drop-off s, and making sure everyone
is healthy is just part of the job.
Unfortunately, because they are so busy
taking care of others, many moms oft en
put off taking care of themselves or scheduling
their own health appointments.
Making your health a priority can help
you stay healthy and keep illnesses at bay.
Here are a few tips to help:
Sleep consistency
You harp on the kids about the importance
of a good night’s sleep, but when
it comes to your own sleep, it’s oft en the
fi rst thing that’s sacrifi ced. Sleep deprivation
is common among moms for a variety
of reasons. Make it a priority to get
7 or 8 hours of quality rest each night.
Keeping the bedroom quiet, cool, dark
and free from the distractions of devices
such as cell phones and tablets can help
you relax and sleep.
Annual physicals
Just like with your kids, proactively
seeing a doctor every year can help you
tackle health issues head on rather than
putting them off until they become a
bigger problem. During wellness visits,
your doctor will use health indicators like
weight, blood pressure and heart rate to
screen for common conditions such as
diabetes and heart disease. Doctors can
then recommend treatments to help you
stay healthy and feel your best.
Fill prescriptions
Your doctor’s treatment plan may
include a prescription medication.
Doctors advise that it’s important to fi ll
and use the medication as prescribed.
If you are not insured, or if your health
insurance plan doesn’t cover the medication
you were prescribed, you can check
a free prescription savings program called
Inside Rx which can help save an average
of 40 percent off brand-name and 80
percent off retail on generic medications.
Eligibility requirements and a complete
list of the medications off ered through
the program can be found at InsideRx.
com.
Boost nutrition
You meticulously pack your kids’
lunches, but when it comes to your own,
sometimes you eat whatever you can
grab. Eating well helps fuel the body
and mind, so skip the junk and instead
eat wholesome meals three times a day
with healthy snacks in between. Stock the
fridge and pantry with healthy foods that
are easy to eat on the go and always have
nutrient-packed snacks, such as dried
fruit or nuts. Meal planning can help
everyone enjoy healthy homemade foods
throughout the week.
Th ese simple tips will help you prioritize
health as you take care of your family,
so you can feel your best today and in
the future!
November is National Family
Caregivers Month.
Courtesy BPT
/www.stopbullying.gov
/www.k12
