By Jason McConnell

Our language is ever-changing, yet there are some words that should never have come into existence. Bullycide is certainly one of them. It's bad enough that our culture has made bullying ok and brushes it off as a "right of passage" or "just something that kids go through". In fact, according to a study done in 2007, approximately 13% of staff agreed that "bullying is just a part of life that everyone has to go through" (Bradshaw et al., 2007)... and now we have a new word to describe bullying a child to the point of suicide.

According to another study, the top reasons why many teachers ignore bullying include (Newman-Carlson & Horne, 2004):

    The belief that they lack adequate skills or training to intervene
    They fear intervening will only add fuel to the fire
    They fear that the problem will go "underground"

This same study found that the Department of Justice and National Association of School Psychologists estimate that about 160,000 kids miss school every day because of fear, and bullying is often the main cause of that fear (Newman-Carlson & Horne, 2004). This is the same fear that, over time, can cause serious psychological damage both short- and long-term including anxiety, loneliness, poor academic performance, depression, poor self-esteem and even suicide ideation (Margie, 2007). There are harmful effects on the bully as well that lead to delinquency and criminality.

I guess the bottom line is simple... ignoring acts of bullying hurt everyone: the school, victim or target, parents, even the bully. This is not a problem we can ignore and hope it goes away. Bullies and victims have profiles that have been found through research and observation; we can help the school systems intervene and prevent bullying the right way. Beat The Bully is designed to help children, parents, educators, and even bullies. We want our kids to know that they have options and that help is available if they can't handle the problem themselves, we want them to feel safe and to enjoy their childhood.

So where do it start? At home! Spend just 15 minutes with your kids just listening to them. Set up a special time where you and your children sit and talk one-on-one. If you start listening to the small stuff, they will tell you about the big stuff. Know your child's habits and watch for any changes that might indicate there is a problem outside of the house. What they may not be able or willing to tell you in words, they will tell you non-verbally. The most important piece of advice is to NEVER be your child's friend, always be a parent first and they will see you as an authority (even if they don't like some of your decisions) which will give them confidence that YOU can solve their problems.

Imagine how horrible it would feel to lose a child because of bullying or hazing that might be going on at school. Teach your children that it's NOT okay to hurt others for sport or initiations. Teach your children to identify bullying and report it. Teach your children to be strong, and we will have far fewer tragedies in the news.

Sources:

Bradshaw, C. P., Sawyer, A. L., & OBrennan, L.,M. (2007). Bullying and peer victimization at school: Perceptual differences between students and school staff.School Psychology Review, 36(3), 361-382.

Margie, N. R. G. (2007). Bullying and exclusion in intergroup contexts: The relation between social reasoning, social information processing, and personal experience. University of Maryland, College Park). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, , n/a.

Newman-Carlson, D., & Horne, A. M. (2004). Bully busters: A psychoeducational intervention for reducing bullying behavior in middle school students.Journal of Counseling and Development: JCD, 82(3), 259-267.

With nearly two decades of experience, and a 4th Degree Black Belt, Master Jason T. McConnell is dedicated to minimizing bullying, hazing, and harassment in our schools. Log on to http://www.beatthebully.org/ to gain access to FREE information about bullying.

By Anubhooti Keshav Bijlani

The basic essentials of baby care includes having the right baby diapers, baby bibs, skin care and getting toys for kids to keep them engaged. A newborn cannot do anything on its own, so as parents it is important to remember the necessity of cleanliness. An infant is not just sensitive but lacks basic immunity to fight against infection.

An ideal diaper is the one where the baby enjoys freedom of movement he is able to crawl. One of the best options for the kid is P&G's created Pampers Active Fit with Comfort Stretch. It is a diaper that flexes to fit where your baby needs it most. It features a magic core for great absorption of liquid and prevention of leakage. On the top of it, the soft cotton-like outer cover of these diapers is for great breathability to help prevent skin irritation. The balloon stretch tapes which expand and contracts for a good fit around the waist for your babies comfort and to help the baby move freely and easily. If all this is not out impressive enough, Hypoallergic lotion with aloevera extract will help to gently protect baby's skin and reduce chances of the diaper rash.

Bibs are a necessary part of a baby's wardrobe. There's a huge variety of bibs available today - frombasic snap on types to sculpted full-coverage styles. A design that really looks appealing is the Mod mealtime bib as it has multiple texture and crinkle to discover. Interestingly, it wraps around closure and with soft cotton ribbed neck it is comfortable for your small one. As feeding the little one can be messy it has a terry cloth backing that helps soak up spills. This bib is machine washable and has assorted designs for both boys and girls. Even the EZ- Clean Pocketed Feeding bibs are a good choice as they have a less mess pocket which unfolds for easy-wipe cleaning. Again this Feeding bib has soft, terry cloth backing. The ribbed neck with velcro closure is also very baby friendly.

Another must have for any parents of the tiny tots is the Pigeon Hand and mouth wipes, these specially formulated wipes with completely safe ingredients is effective in cleaning all kinds of food stains on hand, face or mouth. Also it is gentle and safe to be used on babies, toddlers.

But all parents cannot think of rearing up the kids without toys though there are plenty of toys available but today we will talk about a toy, from Wow's Flip 'n' Tip Fred. It is a friendly recycling truck. An educational toy that tells the small babies about the recycling of wastes. There is a bucket to tip waste into the truck also there are bins at the rear of this truck. One can drive off this toy using its powerful motor with realistic engine sounds. It can be real fun to watch the automatic 'waste crusher' spin then slide open the clicking door to empty the truck. So just enjoy parenting with our advices follow our articles that will enlighten you about different challenges that you may face while bringing up your little one.

BabyOye.com is the most popular portal for purchasing toys for kids and baby diapers at a very attractive price.

By Lynn M Brigham

What is an affirmation? Simply put it is a statement of something that is true. People use affirmations in their life to replace negative and untrue beliefs and feelings that they have about themselves. Two of my favorite sayings about the power of affirmations and our thoughts are: "as the mind perceives the body achieves"- Napolean Hill. One of my other favorites is a Proverb that reads "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."We have started recognizing the power of positive affirmation in adults but little is said about how children can benefit from affirmations. What a better time to start teaching kids the power of positive thinking and that they can control their mind while they are still young and their brain is still working on programming its way of thinking for the rest of their life.

It seems like negative statements that people say about us stick so much longer and seem more powerful than when someone says something good about us. We need to affirm our kids everyday! Take a moment before they go to bed and tell them "You are loved, you are special, you are helpful, you are caring, you are growing up to be an incredible boy/girl, or whatever other affirmation you can give them that might be especially relevant to what happened that day. Help your child develop the confidence and give enough affirmations that when those mean and negative comments do come they are so filled with positive ones that they don't stick as much! Help your child learn to love himself/herself.

How to write affirmations:

1. Write in the present tense

I am statements are very powerful. Phrase this statement as if it already exists

2. Positive statements

Someone once told me that the brain does not recognize the word not. She said if you use not in a statement your brain doesn't hear that and only focuses on what you don't want. A perfect example of this is when you tell someone "don't look at this." The first thing they do is look at it. Or if you tell someone "don't think about a pink elephant." They of course picture a pink elephant. The same can be said of affirmations. Focus on what you want not on what you don't want.

3. Short and simple

They should be easy to remember. This is especially important when writing affirmations for kids. Most of them can just be 3 word sentences. "I am..."

4. Very Specific

Be as specific as you can and make them your child's own. Also use words that they are familiar with and currently use.

Here are a few fun and practical ways to incorporate affirmations into your child's day.

Mirror Messages:

Every night before bed have the child write one affirmation on the mirror with a dry erase marker. What kid doesn't love the opportunity to get to write on a mirror?! Make this part of the bedtime ritual; it really would fit in nicely after brushing teeth. If the child is very young and can't understand the concept of affirmation or can't write yet have them tell you one good thing about themselves and you write it on the mirror. Have the child draw a small picture illustrating it.

Affirmation Box:

Use index cards and write different affirmations on them then decorate the cards. The child can write these or just help decorate them depending on their age. Next, decorate a small box or use one you already have and put the cards in it. Each day pull one card out and have that be the affirmation for the day. This could be used at dinner time and can serve as a good conversation piece during the meal.

Vision Board:

Vision Boards can be so much fun! Practice cutting, pasting, and coloring while developing a vision board with your child. One side can include things that they currently have and are grateful for or like about themselves and the other side can be things they are working on or dream of having/being etc.

Lynn Brigham is a figure competitor, fitness enthusiast and blogger. Her blog can be found at http://www.lynnbrigham.blogspot.com

By Tommy O Coffler

The food industry is always changing. It is an industry that is subject to tendencies, one that has to adjust to the wants and needs of its consumers, who on their part often dictate the direction in which the industry will go. Among the major consumers that are quite influential are children. New food trends for kids are things that can make or break companies. In the last decade, two major new food trends have emerged. These were direct effects of scientific studies and the economy.

Recent scientific studies and medical findings have encouraged a wave of healthy eating all over the world. This is the first major change of the past decade. Parents have started to buy healthy food for their homes as well as educate their children about the choices they make while at school or whenever they find themselves outside of the home.

To meet the need, companies and restaurants have began revamping their products and changing their menus. Formerly unhealthy products are turning over a healthy leaf, adding vitamins, minerals and other good things for kids in the mix. Cheerios are a good example. Similarly, many restaurants have started to feature healthy kids meals along with gluten-free and allergy conscious meals, geared towards showing their customers that they too care about their health.

Another popular movement restaurants have adopted is that of creating their meals from locally sourced ingredients or even hyper-local ingredients, which means ingredients that are produced by the restaurant. This allows the establishments to guarantee freshness, which is something customers love. However, it is also directly related to the other of the major new food trends, that which was an effect of the economy.

By sourcing local ingredients, restaurants can support local businesses. This really helps the economy during these trying times. Local ingredients also often means cheaper prices, which encourages families that have chosen to eat in to eat out more often. This also helps address the other trend of feeding children instant foods, like pancake mix, frozen pizzas, and mac and cheese, all of which aren't entirely healthy options. Due to hard economic times, some parents have taken to feeding their kids these quick easy meals that the kids themselves can prepare while parents focus on other things. Locally sourced ingredients, however, can change all that.

Undoubtedly, there are many more changes set to happen in the food industry. These two new movements really look like they are here to stay, though, as they have taken root in both developed and developing countries.

To learn more about food for your child, what your child should be eating and how to get them to eat it, check out KidsFoodSecrets today.

By Laura P Dudley

Startup day care businesses have many obstacles to overcome, from getting new clients to designing their building. There are strict guidelines each state has in order to protect the organization and children from potential danger. There is a simple course of action that any company can take to gain some revenue initially and prevent future difficulties.

As with any startup business, advertising is something that needs to be done regularly at first. Investing in the business in the future is much easier when business is good right from inception. All new businesses run into their fair share of terrible employees and troubles with operation in their first couple years, and they must quickly make changes to build a strong reputation at the start. Recommendations are one of the most vital things to a day care business, and it is vital to keep the issues to a minimum as much as possible.

It is important that a day care business creates a strong online presence from the beginning. Reaching potential customers is done on a constant basis, and developing a reputation now will keep people coming through the doors of the organization. The longer a web page is online, the easier it is for users to locate, and getting people to visit the site is the best way to provide part of the experience before visiting the building.

If constructing a building from scratch, it is a great idea to check with the local regulations well in advance of drawing up the plans to be sure everything is accounted for. Small buildings are harder to implement these features in, and it can be very costly if things have to be corrected later. As a result, many extremely specific rules apply to keep the kids and staff safe should anything dangerous happen. Failing to meet the correct guidelines can end up with lost customers and a waste of money.

Kids should always be on top quality commercial playground equipment if they have any type of outdoor play area. The business has liability complications, and play equipment should be top notch to avoid any injury to the children. Taking ideas from the layout and brand name of equipment of a local school playground is a good way to get a start. Simple setups are usually forgotten about by kids after a small amount of time, but kids will find the high quality structures more enjoyable for an extended period of time.

ParknPool's goal is to provide unparalleled integrity and competence throughout the entire purchasing and installation process. Our mission is simple, but powerful - to create happy clients. Our unique "Power Promise" ensures that we accomplish this. We promise that we will provide you with consistently high-quality commercial furnishings like commercial playground and school playground. We will identify your needs and match them with relevant products. We will create realistic expectations - and then we will exceed them!

By Ryan P Jones

It seems that all young people today are attached to an electronic device most of their waking hours. This is a growing trend and goes along with the rise of smartphones, iPods, tablet computers and the like. Cyberbulling is the dark side of this technological trend, and affects nearly half the young people aged 10-24. That's a lot of kids falling victim to this growing epidemic. With that large number of victims, it stands to reason that there are a lot of perpetrators. If you are not familiar with this growing problem, this is a very good time to learn what it is all about to enable you to recognise if someone you know is a victim of this growing trend.

If you suspect that your child might be a cyberbully what should you do? You should make sure of your facts and sit down with your young person and have a heart to heart talk about what it means and the extreme negative effect it can have on the victims. If your young person is going through difficulties and is acting out aggressively due to this problem, some counseling may be in order. Get your child the help he or she needs to control his or her anger issues and resolve them in a positive and benign way. Share with your young person the statistics on cyberbullying and its relationship to teen suicide attempts and other negative connotations of his actions. Let your young person know that he/she is harming someone emotionally and that they could face dire consequences if they are found to be a culprit. He could be banned from all social networks, email accounts and worse. If your child is convicted of cyberbullying, he could face legal ramifications, fines and even imprisonment depending upon the severity of his or her actions.

This activity of bullying others is harmful and negative, and if you find your child involved in it, take care to put a stop to it before someone is harmed beyond repair. A cyberbully should always be taken seriously and dealt with sternly and swiftly. Do not turn away if you think your young person may be a bully. As a parent, it is your responsibility to protect your child, but it is also your responsibility to teach them right from wrong.

the act of bullying of any form should be taken very seriously before it escalates to doing someone permanent psychological or physical harm.

Checkout chatsec's child protection Facebook app http://www.chatsec.com that protects your child from cyber bullying, sexual predators, abductions and much more. Chatsec uses a complex algorithm that monitors your child's account so no one except you, the parent, can see what is going on. No more sorting through your child's Facebook content and wondering who they are talking to online. Chatsec's child protection Facebook app displays all concerning content on an easy to read platform for your convenience. Chatsec puts parental control back in your busy life at the click of a button.

Get this app now by visiting http://www.chatsec.com.

By Wagdi Kaddis

At the time this great hobby started, they didn't have the modern communication systems we have today, but they had plenty of goodwill. The toy manufacturer of the nineteenth century followed the same pattern of the real railways by manufacturing their toy trains with different scales as the actual railway trains themselves had different dimensions. The actual gauge dimensions in- France measures 60 cm, the British track measures four feet eight and a half inches (1.435 m) in Spain the gauge is 1.676 m and in Russia 1.524 m. So many dimensions and so many complications! To try to see clearly, know that there are about fifteen different spacing between the railway channels but not all are measured the same way. Some are measured between the axes of the rails and other are measured between the inside faces of the rails. It is true that the railway scales are directly proportional to the size of engines, locomotives and wagons.

Model railway scales

The words railway scales and gauges seem at first interchangeable but their meanings are different. Scale is the model's measurement as a proportion to the original, while gauge is the measurement between the rails. At first, model railways were properly scaled. Manufacturers and hobbyists soon arrived at the fact that they need standards for interchange ability, such as gauge, but trains were only a rough approximation to the real thing. Official railway scale for the gauges were drawn up but not correctly proportioned for the gauge chosen. O (zero) gauge trains, for instance, operate on track too widely spaced in the United States as the scale is accepted as 1:48 whereas in Britain O gauge uses a ratio of 43.5:1 or 7 mm/1 foot and the gauge is near to correct. British OO standards operate on track significantly too narrow. Railway Scale modeling could be a very easy task if we use the same manufacturing facilities for all our needs from track, locomotives or scenery.

In Model Railway, the HO scale or (half-O) 3.5 mm/1 foot or 1:87 is the most popular model and the most common model railroad scale, with models 1/87 scale the size of the real trains. N scale models are 1/160 scale, or 1/160 the size of a real train, S scale is 1/64, and G scales models are 1/32, 1/29, 1/24, 1/22.5, or 1/20.3 scale, depending on the manufacturer. To enjoy modeling throw the years, you need to decide first on the scale of your choice for your exciting hobby.

By Rebecca Winkler

In recent years, ads on TV are promoting families should spend quality time at home playing games, talking, and doing just about anything instead of watching TV. While there are board games, Wii games, and other types of games to play there is also another idea that should take root. What if there was a way you could spend time with your kids where they could learn without even realizing they are learning... would that be something you would be interested in? What if you could be ensured that your child could build something unsupervised without worrying about them burning themselves... would you want to learn what that is? Well the answer to both questions is to build robots, but not just any type of robot. You and your kids could use Non-Soldering Robot Kits for building those lasting family memories.

Building robots allows your kids to use math, writing, and science skills they learned in school and not even realize they are applying these skills. For instance, if your child has begun to learn basic geometry in school this could easily be applied when trying to get the robots to move the way you want. Some of the non-soldering robot kits on the market today will also show your children about the use of alternative fuel sources like water and solar powered. This is a great way for kids to get involved in the environment. Wouldn't it be a wonderful family memory if some day your child became the person to discover the best new fuel source to save our environment and you could look back to the day you spent with them building a robot that was powered by one of these sources?

Last school year, my nephew entered a school science fair with a robot built from a non-soldering robot kit, and received one of the highest scores at the fair as well as being the only one to build a robot. My brother has always wanted to build robots since he was a young boy, so this gave him an opportunity to live out a life-long dream and create great wonderful memories with his oldest child. My nephew did most of the building and my brother assisted with the more complex concepts in getting a robot to move using different types of legs. Did I mention that my nephew was only 12 years old at the time? They bonded during this project, and eventually took a day long class on a Saturday to further their skills. This class was after the science fair. As my brother's other two kids have gotten older, they are starting become more interested in robots and maybe one day they too will want to build a robot from a new and different non-soldering robot kit.

Rebecca Winkler is the owner of http://www.yourrobotkits.com/ and she loves seeing young people learn and grow. She believes that non-soldering robot kits will help children learn about electronics and the world. America needs to have more engineers in the future and she hopes to inspire children.

By Jay Foster

As many as 77 percent of children experience some bullying, from occasional to frequent. About 20 percent of kids admit to having bullied others. In one study, 6.3 percent of those interviewed had both been bullied and bullied others in turn. It was not clear which situation came first, and further studies of this group may be revealing.

Kids who are being bullied are often reluctant to tell an adult. They may fear reprisal from the bully, or may worry that they'll be somehow blamed or be a disappointment to their parents. This is quite unfortunate, because it compounds the feeling of being victimized and contributes to the emotional and psychological effects, which can be quite serious.

Therefore, parents and teachers, as well as school administrators, bus drivers, and others who work with children, need to be alert to the signs that suggest a child might be a bully or victim. They must also make it clear that bully behavior won't be tolerated. This creates the environment in which kids can feel comfortable reporting incidents to adults.

Parents who suspect their child is a victim should avoid asking directly, as embarrassment may lead the child to lie or minimize the situation. It is better to ask more general questions about school life, such as asking if there are any bullies, without making it personal.

Bullies engage in intimidating behavior by using their physical size or a perceived position of power. Their goal is to humiliate or harm the victim; bullies do not engage in lighthearted teasing. Their demeanor is most often somewhat casual during an attack. They do not behave as if angry or upset in any way. Girls who bully most frequently use cruel words and the spreading of rumors, while boys are more likely to threaten or carry out physical violence.

Victims tend to be those kids who have few friends. They may have physical or learning disabilities. They often become reluctant to go to school. Symptoms of stress are common, including difficulty sleeping, stomach ache and headache. Signs of depression very often appear. Parents can also watch for clothing and backpacks that are damaged or dirtied to an unusual extent.

A bully's success depends on the support of others in his or her peer group. The bully may have "henchmen" who actively participate. Bystanders fall into two main groups: those who choose not to get involved, and those who encourage the behavior by laughing, cheering, or drawing attention to the situation. Both of these groups facilitate continued bully behavior.

Bullying can only be successfully diminished through a comprehensive approach which includes students, parents, teachers, school staff, and the community at large. It begins with education about the consequences and impact of bully behavior. Kids need to be able to feel safe about reporting incidents and speaking up in support of victims, rather than enabling the bully through doing nothing. In addition, victims need to be given the confidence they need in order to defend themselves effectively.

Are you looking for more information regarding bullying? Visit http://www.mississippibjj.com today!

By Jay Foster

Bullying takes place all over the world. One study estimated that 200 million children across the globe are affected. School districts and governments are taking steps to educate the public and to enforce policy for the purposes of reducing the incidence of bully behavior in children. A quick look at some of the statistics reveals why this is so important.

It has been estimated that, in the United States, as many as half of all kids are bullied at some time, with about ten percent being regularly picked on. In Australia, it's one in four. A Canadian study found instances of being bullied in children as young as three years old. The age group from 11 to 14 is most affected, according to statistics from several countries.

While the incidence of schoolyard bully behavior is not increasing, the use of text messaging, internet chat room, and e-mail in a threatening or abusive way is on the rise. The number of victims of cyberbullies may be as high as 20 percent. In one study, one in five kids admitted to bullying by text message.

Being bullied has serious emotional consequences. A study in the UK found that victims were more likely to develop psychotic symptoms. Other studies showed that they're three times more likely to become depressed, and nine times more likely to have suicidal thoughts. 160,000 American kids every day skip school because of fear of being bullied. Physical manifestations of stress are common, including stomach aches, headaches, and trouble sleeping.

25 percent of UK victims surveyed said that the psychological effects of having been bullied persisted into adulthood. Women, in particular, were more likely to continue to be victims of verbal or physical abuse. Both genders often develop drug or alcohol dependencies.

Another top reason that it is so vital to put an end to bully behavior is that it doesn't end with graduation. One in four bullies has a criminal record by the age of 30, and they are more likely to abuse romantic partners and children. Bullies are more likely to be the victims of physical or emotional abuse at home. They are often lonely and doing poorly in school, characteristics that are seen in victims as well. About six percent of children interviewed for one study were both victims and bullies.

These statistics provide evidence for the seriousness of the problem. Creating an environment in which kids feel safe to report bullies, or to speak up when witnessing a situation, is critical. Programs should involve students, parents, teachers, administrators, school bus drivers, and the community at large.

The most vital element is to empower kids, giving them the tools and skills to stand up for themselves and for others when bullying situations arise. Bullies are looking for approval and status from their peers, and when it is refused to them, the behavior will cease. This principle, known as "operant conditioning," is more effective than punishment-based methods in changing behaviors. Of course, children who bully must be disciplined as well.

Are you looking for more information regarding bullying? Visit http://www.mississippibjj.com today!