Poor body image runs rampant in our society today ? especially in youth. More than 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time during their lives according to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).
Eating disorders are serious. Results of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating range from pancreatitis, hair loss, tooth decay, high cholesterol levels, heart disease, gallbladder disease and more. NEDA also notes that eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder, so early intervention means saving lives.
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week takes place Feb. 21 ? 27 to spotlight eating disorders and improve public understanding of their causes, dangers and treatments. This year’s focus is on early intervention via a 3-minute confidential, on-line screening which can help determine if professional help is needed. Generally, signs of eating disorders can vary from person to person.
Common signs include:
? Drastic diet changes, including binge eating or purging behaviors.
? Sudden uptick in body-conscious commentary.
? Skipping meals.
? Obsessive exercising.
? Withdrawal from friends and activities.
Bottom line: if you notice any of the signs above in children or teens in your life, please seek professional help immediately. It’s also important to practice good eating habits/attitudes yourself and act as a positive role model.
Visit nationaleatingdisorders.org. To take a free, confidential screening, visit screening.mentalhealthscreening.org/NEDA.

November marks runaway prevention month, an opportune time to address an issue that is prevalent nationwide.
One in seven young people between the ages of 10 and 18 will run away, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
When youth runaway they are faced with homelessness or are often times placed in shelters.
Sadly, over 50 percent of young people in shelters and on the streets report that their parents told them to leave or knew they were leaving and didn’t care, according to DoSomething.org.
That’s why is so important every day to strive to teach our kids their value and to learn how special, unique and cared for they are.
It is also realistic to recognize that some kids and families might be going through some difficult times.
There are resources available through the local schools, faith based organizations and counseling organizations.
The key is to provide opportunities to express their feelings and to find solutions so that running away is not something that’s on their mind.
Warning signs that a child is considering running away include but aren’t limited to, according to kidsinthehouse.com, :
? A change in energy ? if a child is more sluggish when he or she used to be quite active
? Rebellion ? acting out in school or regarding at-home responsibilities
? Excessive saving ? if you sense your child is saving money to get away
I’m sure at some point we’ve all thought about how nice it might be to get out of dodge and ‘skip life? for a bit, but it’s important to teach youths that there are better ways to go about problem solving. Importantly, children need to feel that they’re in an environment where they’re cared for and have people ? guardians, parents and mentors ? that they can confide in.
With children we need to model healthy behavior and teach them to handle stress through time management, relationships with mentors and positive responses to negative events.
We all want to believe that our communities are safe all the time, and most of the time they are, but no one can control the environments they are in one hundred percent of the time.
Sitting down and having honest conversations with youth about the dangers of running away may keep them safe.
The best way to prevent a child from running away is to have the kind of relationship where they know that no matter how upset they may feel, or even after an argument, it’s always going to be ok/safe to come and talk to you or another adult.
It’s normal for parents/guardians and kids to argue or to see things from a different perspective, but it’s crucial for children to know that nothing is worth taking off and putting themselves at risk.

Let’s face it, most of us get a little anxious when potentially dangerous storms blow through our communities.
Recently, Lake Orion and Oxford were hard hit by a fast moving storm that uprooted trees and destroyed houses.
Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.
But, now that we are entering the summer season, our chances of experiencing destructive weather will increase.
Storms are a common fear for a lot of kids.
Parents must equip children with knowledge on what to do when storms are approaching.
They should know to always take weather warnings very seriously.
Explain to your children the importance of taking shelter and paying attention to all signs of impending dangerous weather.
If the skies look threatening, but warning sirens are not going off, it’s still better to follow your instincts and seek protection from the elements.
In order to prevent anxiety in children, adults often have a tendency to tell them not to worry because it’s just a storm.
But, in reality, we shouldn’t say that, because storms can be deadly.
It’s important not to minimize their fears or the potential danger associated with thunder, lightning, and high winds.
There’s a reason why we have a natural fear of storms.
It’s an instinctive way to keep us safe.
Although some storms can be destructive, kids should also be aware of how such events build a sense of community.
They may see light poles taken down by high winds and vehicles damaged by hail or downed trees.
But, they also will witness how local businesses, neighbors and friends work together to clean up the aftermath in the neighborhood.
Eventually, all will go back to normal.
The bottom line is storms are going to occur.
Teach your family how to take precautions and protect themselves in case of destructive weather.
Never think it won’t happen to you.

The 2014 Winter Olympics are history now, but for 16 days people everywhere were talking about this major international event in Sochi, Russia.
There’s a lot of excitement leading up to the event, and the athletes have trained for several years. There are valuable life lessons that children and teens can take away from the Olympic Winter Games.
Don’t Give up in the Face of Defeat
U.S. figure skater Jeremy Abbott proved you should never give up.
He fell hard during the short program competition ? crashing into the barriers surrounding the ice rink. After staying down for several seconds, Abbott got up and finished his routine.
That in itself was very impressive. Other skaters may have given up and left the rink, thinking there was no way they could win a medal. Not only did Abbott resume skating, but he went on to get a cheering ovation from the crowd and a high score from the judges after flawlessly performing some very difficult jumps.
Celebrate Diversity and Tolerance
The Winter Olympics remind us how wonderful it is to have a multitude of countries coming together for one spectacular sporting event. Athletes representing diverse ethnicities, religions and cultures lived together in the Olympic Village. It was important for the athletes to put aside any conflicts, embrace diversity, and practice acceptance during those two weeks.
Always Give Your Best
The Olympic Games are more than a competition. While it brings together the ‘best of the best? for an amazing display of athleticism, everyone doesn’t go home with a medal. And, sometimes it is an extremely small difference in scoring or time that separates the first place winner from the second and third place contestants. It’s all about the effort that has gone into preparing and participating in the games. That counts more than the results.
Afterwards, most of the athletes return home to their ‘normal? lives as students, parents, or employees. They may not have a medal, but they can certainly consider themselves among the best of the best.
Stay Motivated and Determined
The same skills that make the Olympic athletes good at their sport are what make them good at the other things that matter in life. Stamina, determination, and motivation are a few of these attributes.
You have to believe that skater Jeremy Abbott makes choices in his life that show his resolve and strong character. He could have left the rink after falling, but instead he decided to finish what he started.
When the Summer Olympics arrive in 2016, families should watch the competition together and look for the inspirational moments and lessons for their kids.

The New Year is here and many families are focusing on what they can do to make 2014 a prosperous year. Your teenager may be thinking about how he or she can earn money this year for clothing, leisure activities, electronics, spring break, or college tuition. Holding a job teaches independence and gives teens control over how they can spend their money.
As a parent, you may wonder if it is a good idea to let your teen work. For example, ‘Will it interfere with homework time?? ‘Will they be safe in the workplace?? ‘Will they have to give up sports and other afterschool activities?? These are all good questions. But don’t let your concerns overshadow the benefits of a teenager getting real world work experience.
Employment opportunities provide great lessons for kids. Depending upon the type of job they land, teens can learn how to deal with the public, strengthen their teamwork and communication skills, develop a good work ethic, and add valuable experience to their resumes and college applications. They are able to gain valuable feedback from their bosses and customers. This represents a departure from their usual sources of feedback: parents and teachers. Additionally, by working in a particular industry, kids may discover the type of career they want to pursue.
Granted, there are some downsides to teens entering the work world. Parents need to be aware of the hours their teenager will be spending on the job and make sure it doesn’t violate the number of work hours permitted by law. They should also make sure their teen is receiving a legitimate paycheck, instead of getting paid cash ‘under the table.?
The reality is that it can be difficult for teens to find jobs due to limitations on the type of work they are allowed to do, and in some cases the teens are competing with adults for the same job openings. So, it may take some creative thinking to find the right job. For instance, check out employment opportunities at local businesses, golf courses, museums, parks, libraries, daycare centers, summer camps, grocery stores, and senior citizens homes. Whatever the choice, encourage your teenager to start looking for employment early.
The bottom line: Teens who are employed learn how to balance school and work time ? a skill that will come in handy later in life when they are balancing competing commitments. Additionally, teens who hold jobs have less idle time and are less likely to get into trouble.
All in all, part-time employment can help your teen mature, become more reliable, and gain valuable skills.

The news has been filled lately with stories of violence. The Boston Marathon bombing, Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, and Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooting are just a few examples. Incidents like these cause us to wonder whether we are becoming a more violent society. And if so, what impact is it having on our children and teens?
In addition to real-life violent behavior, we are bombarded with violent messages in entertainment and sports. A recent article published in The National Psychologist titled, ‘The Carousel of Violence in Society,? noted that the Connecticut school shooting last December is representative of what is happening in our culture. Author Stephen A. Ragusea, Psy.D. wrote that more than 50 years of research supports that our culture not only encourages violence through expectations of increased physicality in sports such as boxing, hockey and ‘extreme? sports, but that we inundate adults and kids with television programs, movies and video games that all contain excessive amounts of violent language and acts.
Studies show long term viewing of violence on TV can cause children to become less sensitive to the pain of others, more fearful of the world around them, and more likely to use aggressive behavior toward others.
Although an increased exposure to violence has a negative impact on some kids, it doesn’t affect all kids. Research by the American Psychological Association shows there is clearly an increase in violent thoughts and feelings among children and teens. However, these feelings don’t necessarily translate into actions. Some kids are able to handle the feelings without it affecting their behavior. Others can’t.
Parents need to keep a close watch on the types of music, TV programs, movies and video games that occupy their children’s time.
You should also keep an eye on the clock. The amount of time children spend viewing, listening to or playing violent media matters, because it is time spent away from other activities.
Interactive video games have the strongest impact because they hold the child’s attention for long periods of time.
There are several other factors that influence the impact violence has on a child, including intelligence, family and community values, other violent and non-violent occurrences in his or her life, and overall character development.
In addition to introducing children to the types of media that better reflect your personal values, parents should take the time to talk about the consequences of violent behavior. Remind your kids that violence rarely goes unpunished.
It’s also a good idea to teach your child conflict resolution and discourage any kind of physical or verbal violence toward others.
By communicating, exercising moderate censorship and setting a positive example with your own choice of television programs, your child is likely to grow up more adjusted and considerate toward others.

It is a common sight these days to see teens and pre-teens using cell phones and electronic tablets.
In fact, many of them are better at operating these devices than adults. But does that mean every child is entitled to have an iPhone or an iPad? Of course not.
We are living in a world where many children have developed a false sense of entitlement. We constantly hear: ‘I want that.? Or ‘If I want it, I should have it.? Whether it’s getting the latest electronic gadget or making the sports team or buying fashionable UGG boots, children tend to have an ‘I want it now? attitude. Kids feel they are entitled to receive.
As parents, it is important not to always give in to the pressure when your child says everyone else has a particular item and he or she won’t be cool if they don’t get one too. It is your job to challenge your child’s false sense of entitlement. You should never feel obligated to buy children everything they want, because it may not be something they need or your family may not be able to afford it.
This false sense of entitlement also extends to competitive activities. Children who aren’t picked to play on a sports team or who don’t win a talent contest may respond: ‘It couldn’t be me.? Or they allege favoritism and unfairness. Kids need to learn to accept that sometimes they are not going to be the best in an activity, game or sport.
As parents, you may wonder why your child is thinking he or she is entitled to everything. Is it something you’ve done? Or are they under a lot of peer pressure at school? The pressure to be the best is certainly everywhere, as seen in the plethora of TV reality competition shows such as American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, and Survivor.
Developmentally, it takes a long time for humans to reach a point of maturity where we recognize that ‘things? don’t matter and it is not all about having the latest innovation or always being first. Help your kids realize we are not entitled to anything. Life is really about figuring out what is important enough to work for and spend money on.
Parents can lead the way by answering these questions for themselves and then raising their children within that same value system.