Teenagers Advice to their Parents
Teenagers Advice to their Parents
on Drug Prevention and How to Communicate Effectively
By Carmen Morrow, Chemical Health Prevention Specialist
Navigating the drug world can be very difficult these days. Ask any teenager and most can tell you the reasons why teens use, the availability of drugs in our community, and even rattle off the health and repercussions of use. However; if you want to see teenagers become passionate, ask them if they feel their parents talk to them about drugs in an effective manner that helps them avoid drug use. Sometimes the best advice to parents comes from their own teenagers.
When talking about drug use, teens agree that parents that initiate open conversations and listen without judgement have the best results. Conversations that place blame or shame behavior are not as effective in keeping communication lines open as talks that focus on drug use as a health issue. Tone matters when communicating and broaching addiction. Teens say they respond best to open conversations that are without threats, dire warnings and accusations. It’s important to note that teens hanging out with healthy friends are motivated to do well and stay away from drugs just to fit in with a group. Teens feel their parents should set clear boundaries and expectations. A clear and consistent message can help deter your teens drug use. Be clear what the rules are, and what’s going to happen if they break the rule. If a teen lives in two different households, parents should agree to the same rules about drugs.
Teens say parents need to understand that drug use and mental health usually go hand in hand. Anxiety and depression are two common mental health issues teens try to suppress with drugs. Drug abuse prevention can start without even mentioning drugs if you address the root of the use. They suggest parents should focus on teaching their children how to build healthy coping skills, emotional awareness and resilience. It’s about building resiliency as many teens turn to drugs to self-medicate, self-soothe or escape. Teens state they are watching and noticing how their parents deal with stress. Parents should try to set a good example of healthy coping skills and avoidance of drugs and drink in moderation. Parents should continue to be active in helping enhance positive connections to healthy peers, adults, organizations, and sports.
Most teenagers agree that the drug talk is very necessary especially in light of the confusion with CBD and potential legalization of marijuana. If a teen is caught with drugs, or even suspected of using, they recommend parents don’t wait to act. They state that while initial drug use may be a voluntary decision, it becomes less and less of a choice as addiction takes over. Parents may have the best buy in when they point out real-life examples. Parents should point out the real-world dysfunction of drug use/addiction in a neutral way, with the cause and effect. Talking openly about who they might know who may have had a problem, or who currently has a problem. Families with a history of mental issues or addiction problems should communicate to children that they are at a higher risk of developing a substance abuse problem.
There’s good news for our parents and teens that are navigating the drug world of today. The majority of teens are not using drugs or using alcohol, according to the annual 2019 Monitoring the Future Study.
Hutchinson Tiger Spirit Blanket
Hutch Tiger Blankets
Sales going fast, great holiday gift idea.
Blankets will be available for sale and/or pick-up on
December 10 at the Basketball game at HHS and December 12 at the Girls Hockey game.
Click Here to Order
Congratulations TigerBots!
Bond Referendum Election Results
The school district greatly appreciates the community support that was evident based on the positive outcome of the bond referendum election, with 1630 “yes” votes to 1512 “no” votes. This is a great day for the children of our community and the future of our school district. Our school district is committed to building school facilities that will serve our community and students into the future and will be a source of community pride.
Technology Innovation Specialist – Jocelynn Buckentin
Smartphones: Making a Case for Waiting Until 8th
Kids these days. This phrase has been uttered by each generation as they progress into adulthood and reflect back on their own childhood. When I think of my own, I remember playing outside until the streetlights came on in the summer. My neighborhood friends and I were kept busy building forts, climbing trees, and exploring the world around us. Children are growing up in a different world than the one experienced by past generations. Technology use is now a given rather than a luxury. Smartphones have become constant companions.
The full impact of being constantly connected has yet to be ascertained, but there are several distressing effects that have come to light in recent years, including the negative impact on the mental health of our children. Early social media use is a contributing factor, as it allows kids to dwell on what their friends are doing without them.
One common pressure faced by families at increasingly younger ages is the question of when to get your child their first cell phone. The day before I left for college, I purchased my first cell phone because I wanted an easy way to keep track of friends and family. Today, students as young as elementary school begin making this request of their parents. You might hear about how everyone already has one, and how your child doesn’t want to be the only one who doesn’t. The word unfair might be thrown in for good measure.
According to a recent survey given to parents of students in grades 5-12 in Hutchinson Public Schools, 81.7% of parents believe that students should receive their first smartphone between grades 6-9. Just over 31% of parents feel that it is appropriate to introduce smartphones in Grade 6, and 50% of parents wait until their student is in grades 7-9 before purchasing their child a smartphone.
The decision on when to give your child a smartphone is a deeply personal one based on many factors, but typically revolving around the need to be connected. Kids today are busy, and parents need a method for knowing both where their children are and when they might need a ride. This issue alone tips the scales in favor of a cell phone purchase for many families.
There has been a push in recent months for parents around the country to sign a pledge to “Wait Until 8th.” This grassroots movement encourages parents to band together in support of letting kids be kids by delaying the purchase of a smartphone until Grade 8. They argue that smartphone use in childhood is altering the typical childhood experience because kids are choosing to be on devices instead of hanging out with friends, playing outside, or reading.
No matter what each family decides, it is important to weigh all options and avoid the early purchase of a smartphone due to the convenience of adding a child to the family plan. It’s more work to find a flip phone than it is to take advantage of a free smartphone offer, which may be what’s best for the wireless provider but not the child. To sign the pledge and learn more about the potential negative effects of smartphone use in children, visit www.waituntil8th.org.
It Is About You!
At Parks, Recreation and Community Education, It Is About You
By Dolf Moon, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Education
Even with cool temperatures, summer is right around the corner. The PRCE brochure is out and has plenty of opportunities for you and your family. We look forward to seeing your family at the Hutchinson Aquatic Center this summer. Your kids may be interested in the four free Passport to the Parks opportunities included in our brochure. We also have a variety of sports camp offerings led by the Tiger Coaching Staff.
This summer you will want to take advantage of our many community playgrounds. We encourage you check out our parks, trails and fitness park information at www.ci.hutchinson.mn.us or maybe even try geocaching. Perhaps consider registering for our new Youth Camps located at Rotary Park.
The PRCE Department offers a wide variety of educational and recreational opportunities to district residents. The uniqueness of the program starts with you. If you have an interest and do not see a program that meets your needs, let us know. We will try to arrange a program. If you have a skill, you would like to share with others, give us a call. We are currently putting together the fall/winter brochure
PRCE reaches out to the entire community whether you are a parent with a preschool child (Early Childhood Family Education), a student taking a program after school, participating in Middle School athletics, an adult in a class or league, a senior citizen dropping by our center there’s something for all ages. PRCE also provides Adult Basic Education opportunities. Whether you dropped out of high school, are looking for a new job or trying to receive your GED, we can help. If you are looking to use a facility, a park shelter or a ball field, we can help.
Parks, Recreation and Community Education understand that “community” extends from neighborhoods to the world. We are flexible enough to meet the needs of a fast-changing society. We can extend the reach of education and bring people together in a common purpose. We like getting people involved in our schools. We can become partners in addressing community needs. We do this by offering a scope of activities and services that evolve with new generations of people and technologies, making the community a learning center open for people of all ages.
Parks, Recreation and Community Education reaches out to be inclusive. Every day it proves that the community and our schools, working together, can be greater than the sum of their individual parts.
2019-2020 Academic School Calendar
The 2019-2020 Academic School Calendar was approved by the Board of Education on April 8, 2019.
Click Here for the 2019-2020 Academic School Calendar
Help Your Children Branch Out
By Dan Olberg, Park Elementary Principal
One of the beliefs we have at Park Elementary is that everyone is a scientist. We are trying to break the stereotypical image that our students have regarding scientists. Scientists are not just those who dress up in a white lab coats and wear safety glasses all day. Scientists are farmers, cooks, hairdressers, construction workers, and much more. So when a student brought up the fact that moms and dads are scientists, I started to think about how true that statement is – especially as we know more about the brain and how it functions early in life.
Scientifically speaking, if there was one part of the brain that is more important to the intelligence of a child it would have to be the cerebral cortex. That’s where higher cognitive processing occurs. As children learn new things they are essentially changing those neurons, or nerve cells, their structure, and the chemistry in their cerebral cortices.
Human beings get an explosive growth of dendrites in the cerebral cortex, like branches, in their first 8 to 10 years of life. These branches link knowledge and experiences together. Think of it as a tree with branches and leaves. The leaves hold pieces of information and the branches link the information together. As long as new experiences and knowledge continues to filter in, the branches grow and sprout new leaves. Naturally, there is a rapid growth of branches in these early years and it peaks at about the age of 10 when it slowly starts to decrease. At this point the branches that haven’t made connections die off. This process is called pruning. That’s why there’s so much interest today in those first 10 years of life.
So we need to ask ourselves as scientists some very important questions. How can we give children the best experiences for maximum growth? What activities are our children doing that foster brain growth? What activities are our children doing to stifle or limit the growth? What are we doing as parents to engage our children in life experiences? Those questions are not hard to answer; however, acting on them can be more than difficult at times.
So the students had it right, parenting is part science. Our guidance through these important years is scientifically important. The most exciting discovery about all this research is that education should continue for a lifetime. The brain’s capacity for learning and change is limitless, depending on our willingness to seek new experiences and opportunities. Our “trees,” as well as our children’s can continue to fill out and expand with a wide variety of real-world and academic activities. “Branch out” and support children’s continued brain growth.
Online Videos – What Parents Need to Know
You may have heard about issues surrounding YouTube and challenges targeting young children. We wanted to take a moment to share some important child safety information with you through the image linked below. While the “Momo Challenge” has been unverifiable, it is important to be aware of what children are watching through video apps, and nothing is ever guaranteed to be safe. If you have any concerns regarding internet safety for your children, contact the District’s Technology Innovation Specialist Jocelynn Buckentin at 320-234-2716 or [email protected].
What Parents Need to Know about Online Videos