Innholdsfortegnelse for Fall 2020 i MASK The Magazine

As children return to school, it’s essential to equip them with the tools necessary to keep them healthy. One of the most important factors in staying healthy is having a strong immune system. To help strengthen your child’s immunity, make sure they’re eating a nutritious and balanced diet. Research done by Piedmont Healthcare, a hospital system based in Atlanta, found that a diet high in unhealthy sugars suppresses the immune system and can make children more vulnerable to illnesses such as cold and flu. Conversely, eating a healthy diet helps the body fight parasites, bacteria and viruses. There are a number of ways to encourage your child to eat healthier. Get them involved in cooking and exploring different foods as early as possible. Also encourage them to pack their own…

Since the onslaught of COVID-19, the U.S. has seen unprecedented changes, particularly in the rise of opioid use. At least 30 states have reported increases in opioid-related mortalities or overdoses, and the number of overdoses thus far in 2020 has already surpassed the total number of overdoses in 2019. No demographic is immune to opioid abuse, but perhaps the hardest hit is our adolescents. Although some sources indicate a five-year decline in high school seniors using opioids, initial clinical reports show a sharp increase this year. Why are our young people so susceptible to the ravages of this addiction? Adolescence is a vulnerable time in terms of growth and development of one’s identity and self-esteem. Add to that the uncertainty of COVID-19, which carries additional stressors such as social isolation…

Visitors have been sweet on Apple Annie’s Orchard for more than 30 years. Located in the quaint town of Willcox, Arizona, more than 100,000 people flock annually to the fourth-generation family-run farm. Perhaps it’s the proximity to Tucson, the warm days and cool nights compliments of the Sulphur Springs Valley, or the surrounding mountain ranges that draws visitors from across the U.S., Canada and Europe. The Holcomb family, however, believes the answer can probably be found on the visitors’ faces, especially the youngest ones. “Just standing and watching people get excited and the kids squealing because they can’t wait to come back to the farm, that’s a wonderful feeling that we provided this for them,” says co-owner Mandy Kirkendall, daughter and granddaughter, respectively, of founders John and Annie Holcomb and…

1 Build self-esteem: To develop your child’s self-esteem, make sure they recognize their strengths and weaknesses, and teach them to feel good about themselves. Self-esteem can protect against bullying because kids are less likely to pick on someone who’s self-confident and in control. 2 Foster friendships: Bullies are less likely to target kids who have a strong and supportive group of friends. Help your child develop friendships, especially when they’re young. Schedule play dates, get them involved in activities, and have conversations about what makes friendships healthy. 3 Teach assertiveness: When kids are passive or give in all the time, they may get taken advantage of or bullied. Teach your child to be assertive by encouraging them to express their thoughts and feeling, and to stand up for their rights.…

“Apologize to your little sister.” “No! I had it first!” “Sweetheart, it’s her favorite toy and I saw you grab from her—now please go say you’re sorry.” “No!” “OK, then. Go to your room until you are ready to apologize.” Parents mean well. Engaging children to formulate even a reluctant apology can be challenging. In many instances, when the child finally caves and says the magic words “I’m sorry,” the problem is solved. More parents prioritize mindful living and positive parenting, but have we underestimated the importance of guiding children toward heartfelt apologies? Teaching our children to apologize is different than teaching them to mean it. Learning to express genuine apologies as young children can lead to successful conflict resolution skills and healthier relationships in adulthood. Apologies are not all…

CHILD READING LIST ★ “It’s Okay to be Different” by Todd Parr ★ “Stick and Stone” by Beth Ferry ★ “I am Human: A Book of Empathy” by Susan Verde PARENT READING LIST ★ “The We Generation: Raising Socially Responsible Kids” by Michael Ungar ★ “The Kindness Advantage: Cultivating Compassionate and Connected Children” by Dale Atkins and Amanda Salzhauer Science shows that the earlier the accountability conversation starts, the better. When speaking with children in this age range, focus on empathy, talk about how others feel about their actions, and help them test action/reaction through actively identifying events where they made someone else feel good through their kind/empathic actions. Children in this age range begin to notice and talk about differences in physical appearance. They’ll wonder if skin color means…

To help parents and their college-aged child understand the importance of taking responsibility and being accountable, we asked Dr. Kendra Hunger, Dean of Students at ASU’s West Campus and Student Rights and Responsibilities, to provide some insight and advice. Here’s what she shared. Q Why is accountability and personal responsibility important in college? College is such a formative time for student growth, learning and development. It is during the college years that students discover who they are and who they are becoming. The life skills they develop in college will help them throughout their entire lives. Learning accountability to self and others during college helps individuals understand the impact that responsibility, behavior and decisions have on themselves and others, and teaches them critical skills for success in their careers and…

BLUEBERRY COFFEE COBBLER WITH COFFEE WHIPPED CREAM 12 oz. blueberries1 cup sugar, divided2 tsp. lemon juice3/4 cup apple, chopped1 tbsp. cornstarch1-½ cups pastry flour6 tbsp. butter, softened1/8 tsp. salt1/4 cup coffee, brewed1 tbsp. blueberry sugar1 cup heavy whipping cream2 tbsp. brewed coffee ▶ Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brew coffee and cool to room temperature; set aside. Combine blueberries, ½ cup sugar, lemon juice and apple, and cook over medium-high heat until the mixture becomes soupy. Mix in cornstarch to thicken the sauce, then pour into an 8-by-8-inch baking pan. Combine flour, butter, ½ cup sugar and salt into a mixing bowl; mix by hand until it forms a crumbly dough. Add in brewed coffee, 2 tablespoons at a time until the mixture becomes the consistency of a standard cookie…

Who knew 2020 would bring us so many challenges and reflections on life? We’re all living in an unprecedented global pandemic that will truly leave a lasting imprint on our society that generations to come will reflect on and hopefully learn from, as well. There is so much fear, hate and uncertainty being projected through communities and nations, through the Internet and social media, the global highway of our times. Because of this, parenting has never been more challenging, nor more important, than now. Our children learn from us. If we are fearful, they will be fearful. If we scream or post hateful things, they will follow suit. This isn’t about politics, who’s right or who’s wrong, who’s left or who’s right. It’s about controlling our actions, being mindful about…

To guarantee your child can effectively communicate their emotions, teach them the power of “I” statements. These statements are used to de-escalate an emotional situation and focus on the emotions being felt and what can be done to fix the issue. Most importantly, they make the child’s needs known. The earlier children are introduced to “I” statements, the more likely they are to be open about their feelings and better equipped to handle them. To start, introduce your child to simple emotions such as anger, happiness and sadness. This will allow them to recognize what they are feeling and put it into words. As they get older, expand their emotional vocabulary and ensure they know the difference between certain emotions that may be overshadowed by other emotions. For example, a…

1 VARIETY SHOW. Over 2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the U.S. Even though the crab apple is the only variety native to North America, thousands of types of apples are grown here, including Red Delicious, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Gala. 2 ACROSS THE POND. Apple pie is often associated with being American. But this delicious dessert is actually European. The first recipe for apple pie came from England hundreds of years ago. 3 SLOW AND STEADY. Depending on the planting system, a full-sized apple tree can reach full production in as little as four years or as long as 10 years. Apple trees mature very slowly, but such factors as sunshine, water and good nutrition will help them grow at a faster rate. 4 BUSHEL OF APPLES. Ever…

As kids head back to school, this is a great time to talk about the importance of digital citizenship. What children do online and how they treat others can affect them in their real life, too. Here are few ways to teach them accountability for their actions while growing up in a digital world. REMEMBER YOUR FOOTPRINT ▶ Kids often think that when they message their friends, the conversation will stay between them. In reality, there are all kinds of ways that online activities are recorded and stored forever, including activities kids might not want to have shared outside of the intended audience. Recipients can take screenshots of your child’s messages (even disappearing messages), and from there, they can do anything they want with them. Remind your child to keep…

25 PERCENT SCHOOL-BASED BULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAMS DECREASE BULLYING BY UP TO 25 PERCENT 90 PERCENT OF KIDS WHO KNOW SOMEONE WHO’S BEING CYBERBULLIED IGNORE IT! 25 PERCENT OF STUDENTS TELL AUTHORITIES OR ADULTS WHEN THEY ARE BEING BULLIED 60 PERCENT CHILDREN WHO WERE BULLIES IN GRADES SIX TO NINE ARE 60 PERCENT MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A CRIMINAL CONVICTION BY THE AGE OF 24 BY THE AGE OF 24 10 SECONDS WHEN BYSTANDERS INTERVENE, BULLYING STOPS WITHIN 10 SECONDS 57 PERCENT OF THE TIME 57 PERCENT 85 PERCENT OF BULLYING CASES, NO INTERVENTION OR EFFORT IS MADE BY A TEACHER OR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR TO STOP IT FROM HAPPENING 90 PERCENT OF CYBERBULLYING VICTIMS ARE ALSO VICTIMS OF FACE-TO-FACE BULLYING…

Q: So my friend sent me a screenshot of a friend of ours and made fun of what she posted. She tends to do this a lot, mostly because I think she is just really jealous of our friend. I didn’t respond, but I know it’s not right. What should I do? – Lilia, 8th grade, Newport, California A: Not responding was the right response. And we love that you trust your gut! Joining in on negative behavior is never OK. Speak up in a respectful way and explain to your friend that you really don’t feel that it’s right for her to make fun of your friend since you’re all in the same group. If it continues, maybe sit down with her and ask her why she feels she…

For Joey Bauer, accountability started with the whiteboard hanging on the wall of his residence hall room at ASU’s Polytechnic campus in Mesa. With a glance in the morning, Joey would be reminded of his daily to-do list: everything from class projects to club meetings and campus job shifts. Balancing his studies as an engineering student in Barrett, the Honors College with a full plate of activities outside the classroom, he found writing upcoming tasks and deadlines on a dry-erase board worked best. “It sounds really simple, but it helped me keep track of my school work and extracurricular activities, since I could easily look at it every day,” Joey says. “A lot of people recommend planners, but personally, those never really worked for me. So I experimented with different…

Empathy is at the heart of what it means to be human—it’s a foundation for acting ethically, for good relationships, for loving well, and for professional success. Here are seven ways to model and develop empathy in our kids. SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1|GOLDEN RULE TREAT OTHERS THE WAY YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO TREAT OTHERS A recent study showed that when parents talk to their kids about other people’s feelings, the kids had better perspective-taking abilities (the ability to see a situation from another person’s point of view). This is the basis of many emotional skills, especially empathy. Just by talking about another person’s feelings, kids begin to develop those crucial brain connections that help them develop empathy. 2|DON’T FUEL THE FIRE STAY CALM IN AN…

Another day has begun, and I start my morning. The process of getting ready to go to the place I dread most is not the slightest bit enjoyable. There is no place I hate more than my middle school, even though there used to be nothing more I loved than learning there, but it became a place where I was bullied for months on end, with no resolutions coming anytime soon. It’s funny how something so small can sprout into something so substantial and unmanageable. One person’s jealousy can spread rapidly like a disease. Anyways, I have no choice. I have to go to that awful school. My parents are aware that I do not want to go to school; they are more in touch with the situation than you’d…

TABLE TALK PAGE 68 WHAT’S FOR DINNER? TOP WEBSITE RECIPES TO REDUCE WEEKNIGHT DINNER STRESS PAGE 69 TIME TO PICK APPLES AT THE ORCHARD [PAGE 30] GET THE APP! (PAGE 12) MASK'S NEED-TO-KNOW TIPS (PAGE 21) LISTEN TO MASK+LIVE ON THE MASKMATTERS APP (PAGE 23) Making the Grade (PAGE 52) TAKE 5: Five Things to Know about Language-Based Learning (PAGE 20) SUPERCHARGE YOUR CHILD’S IMMUNITY! (PAGE 20) Seven ways to model and develop empathy kids in our kids (PAGE 70) CAR CONVO PAGE 28 TOP TEEN DRIVING RISKS AND WHAT YOU CAN DO [PAGE 28]…

DRUG Teens will oftentimes vape at school because of the discrete device and limited amount of smoke. Recognize signs of addiction to vaping such as having a hard time breathing, excessive coughing, constantly leaving the room, spending lots of time in the bathroom and irritability. BULLY While we typically associate bullying and school or online, it can just as easily be happening at home. When an older sibling bullies a younger sibling, it can have negative effects. The younger sibling may disengage from their relationship with their older sibling, or develop feelings of anxiety and low self-esteem. TECH What your child posts now may resurface as they get older, leading to severe consequences such as loss of scholarships or college admissions. Explain what could happen if they leave a negative…

On any given day, the average American drives about 25 miles and spends an average of one hour driving. Whether it’s driving to work, going to the grocery store, or chauffeuring the kids around, parents are true road warriors. While teen drivers may not spend as much time behind the wheel as their adult counterparts, they’re still subject to the same risks, including aggressive drivers. These are people who: • Won’t let you in when you turn your signal on to merge into a lane; • Moves over into your lane without any warning; • Weaves in and out of traffic to gain a few car lengths; • Drives in the HOV lane during rush hour without any passengers in their car; • Cuts you off; • Takes a parking…

“Sticks and stones…” We all learned the phrase when we were younger and were taught, to some extent, that words are not as powerful as they can be. It was at a time that we, as a society, pretended words couldn’t cause harm, that they weren’t daggers that could change someone’s life entirely. Even now, with society taking bullying more seriously, the power of words seems to be underestimated. “You’re fat.” “You’re stupid.” “Stop being so sensitive.” Step into the lives of a teen in middle school or high school and it’s likely you’ll be bombarded with these words, which can cause fear and hurt. The scars may not be visible, like the ones caused by physical violence, but, in some ways, they’re even more impactful, especially for today’s youth.…

As teachers and parents, we’ve heard the dreaded cry, “But they are bullying me!” It’s important that we take these cries seriously. In 2019, the National Center for Educational Statistics announced that one out of five students are bullied. So when does simple teasing, like name calling, become bullying? When I was younger, I was known as “Babbling Brooke.” I was followed home daily by a group of girls and shunned on the playground because no one else wanted to deal with the wrath of these girls if they spoke to me. I dreaded my walks home and as their comments became more vicious and dangerous, I felt they were going to physically hurt me. This experience left me feeling as if something was wrong with me and I began…

Bullying has taken on such a strong label. When I was a kid, it was just kids being mean to each other. The difference is that back when we were kids, we had consequences. At school, you either got a swat or beat up. At home, you got spanked or hit. Consequences instilled fear in us. It kept us in line and set boundaries for us. It definitely made me think twice. Sadly, many children these days don’t have set boundaries or even have a fear of consequence. Now, most schools don’t have consequences to reprimand the behavior that causes fear. This isn’t all their fault. It’s us, as a whole, who are to be blamed. We’ve created this. If there is no fear of getting in trouble, then why…

Addressing acts of racism, prejudice, hate and intolerance can be a daunting task for anyone raising a child. Start by opening up conversations about acceptance, inclusivity, tolerance, prejudice, self-awareness and privilege. Doing so can open their (and your) worldview to become an ally for targeted individuals, communities and populations. “Changing how we see, deal and cope with racism, hate and intolerance can instill values in our children that can eradicate acts of prejudice against others,” says Dr. Shefali Gandhi, a licensed psychologist in Scottsdale, Arizona. “When talking to your children about racism, teach them to be accountable for their actions and to become a true ally to all individuals, communities and populations.” Whether you have an Pre-K, elementary, junior high, high school or college student, Dr. Gandhi offers an age-appropriate…

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of accountability is “an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions. When parents teach their child to take responsibility for their decisions and actions, they help them become conscientious and responsible citizens of the community. Instilling accountability isn’t an easy task. It’s a long process that requires patience and diplomacy. Here are effective ways to instill accountability in your young adult. ⍟ Demonstrate personal responsibility. Role modeling is the most effective tool parents have for teaching their children anything. Any value you want your child to have, demonstrate it in your everyday life. If you want your child to take responsibility for their actions, you should do the same. Avoid blaming others, follow rules and don’t avoid the consequences if…

COVID concerns and limited restaurant capacities mean that many moms are just plain fed up with cooking. Thankfully, weary range warriors can find welcome kitchen assistance in a growing number of informative and entertaining food blogs. Generally created by home cooks with a real passion for food and family, food bloggers cater to all types, from the true gourmand to those simply trying to fight recipe repetition and enhance their nightly meal appeal. The best news is, whether you follow a special diet, have a household of picky eaters, or are looking for new ways to use your instant pot or air fryer, food bloggers do much of the work for you, and this kitchen inspiration is just a mouse click away. Here are some faves. ▶ THE DINNER BELL…