Innholdsfortegnelse for Fall 2021 i MASK The Magazine

MASK (Mothers Awareness on School-age Kids) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization created in 2007 by a group of dedicated mothers who recognized the need to consistently educate families on rapidly-changing issues. The MASK mission is to engage and educate parents, children and the community about the issues facing youth and to empower children to make safe, healthy choices. MASK helps children learn invaluable life skills for how to cope with a number of issues including responding to peer pressure, dealing with trauma and technology-related challenges. In today’s viral and social media world, coping skills are more necessary than ever. MASK equips students to feel confident regulating their emotions, maintaining frustration tolerance and setting healthy boundaries. MASK has served the community for over a decade, with the goal of strengthening…

On average, Americans spend more than three hours a day scrolling and swiping on their phones. All that screen time has created a myriad of unique health problems. First there’s “Text Neck,” a stress injury from prolonged forwardreaching of the head and neck that affects the cervical spine, muscles and nerves. Then there’s “Cell Phone Elbow,” which is a numbness or pain in the forearm after prolonged compression of the ulnar nerve. There’s “Texting Thumb,” aka “Gamer’s Thumb,” an inflammation at the base of the finger. And now there’s “Smartphone Pinky,” a deformation of the pinky caused by an unhealthy phone grip. The most common way for people to hold their cell phone is with one hand. Typically, the middle three fingers support the back of the phone, the thumb…

The most common hallucinogen used by teens and young adults is Acid or Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). A party drug often found at large concert events and raves; LSD is a chemical compound that produces hallucinogenic effects. Acid is typically ingested as drops, which can be taken directly or absorbed into paper tabs, gelatin squares or sugar cubes. While taking LSD in the form of paper tabs that are either swallowed or held under the tongue is the most common method, some try other methods like inhaling or injecting it. While none of these methods make the drug any safer, the raw liquid form is typically the most potent. The danger surrounding this drug stems from the fact that LSD is very hard to measure, and there is practically no…

According to UNICEF, more than 1.5 billion children worldwide were affected by school closures. For those with access, the internet has been an incredible resource in continuing their education and ability to socialize. But with more unstructured time online, kids can be prone to taking more significant risks, like sending sexualized images or being exposed to potentially harmful content. As parents, caregivers and educators, we have an essential responsibility to empower our children to be safe and secure in a world where the line between digital and real-life is virtually non-existent. We must all be vigilant to help kids mitigate the evolving risks of harm like sexual exploitation, harassment, online bullying and exposure to harmful content. + Set some boundaries: Establish ground rules about how, when, and where children can…

Q: I recently got a social media account. Some of my friends followed me, but a couple of girls who aren’t my friends followed me, too. Sometimes they leave mean comments on my posts and make fun of me for not having a ton of follo wers. They don’t usually do anything to me at school, though. If I’m being bullied online and not at school, is there still something my school can do about it? — Brianna, Grade 7, Garland, TX A: Hello Brianna! Being harassed online can be scary. If people your school are harassing you online, you can still go to your teachers, counselors or principal for help. There are federal laws against cyberbullying. Most of the time, schools do have the power to discipline students for…

To help parents and college-bound students make the transition from high school to college safely and confidently, we asked Cassandra Aska, EdD, Deputy Vice President and Dean of Students at Arizona State University, to provide some insight and advice on campus safety. Here’s what she shared. Q What can parents do to prepare their children to safely leave home and transition to campus life? Going to college is an exciting and emotional time for students, parents and their families. While some students appear fully prepared, more often than not they are also feeling nervous. Students ask themselves questions, such as: “Will I get along with my roommate?” “Will I make friends?” “Can I handle the course load?” “Will I be liked?” Less often, students ask, “Will I feel safe?” For…

“Did you bring my mask, Mom?” My 9-year-old is still buckled in, one hand hovering over the button to release her seat belt. I look out the window at the playground. The scene is like a scrapbook of memories from the past 18 months; all rolled into one moment. The temporary sign declaring “PLAYGROUND CLOSED” still stands, but it has been pushed aside. Another sign detailing mask requirements has been amended with reflective tape; the resulting message is mangled and confusing. For what felt like a long time, the answer to this question was always “yes.” For so many months, my daughter didn’t ask to go to places like playgrounds because she knew they were closed. The early months of the pandemic were a lot like caring for a newborn:…

Emergencies come without warning. Which is why preparing an emergency plan is key to ensuring your family knows exactly what to do when disaster strikes. To start, educate your family about what kind of emergencies could happen at home, depending on where you live. Earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes are regional in nature. Emergencies like fires, home invasions, or accidents can happen anywhere, and every family should have a plan in place for these scenarios. When educating your children on basic fire safety, familiarize them with the sound of your fire alarm, show them how to feel their door to check for heat and remind them to stay low to the ground. Your fire emergency plan should include the location of fire extinguishers in the home, multiple exit routes, and a…

The four words a parent dreads most: There’s been an accident. But if your teen driver calls to tell you that they’ve crashed, they’re doing exactly what they should. While we all hope that our children will never have one, the reality is that crashes are common, and it’s important to talk to your teen well before they take off in the car alone about exactly how to proceed should a collision occur. Roz Thompson, who works with teen drivers and their families in her role as Public Affairs Specialist for AAA Northeast, explains that auto safety experts have moved away from using the word accident to talk about collisions, as “most of them are 100 percent preventable.” You’ll want to make sure your teen gets comprehensive driver’s safety education,…

From that very first moment your child looks at you, you know you will do everything in your power to keep them safe. Our instinct to protect our kids is perhaps the most powerful and surprising part of new parenthood. And once they start tottering around, those tiny humans we swore to keep safe seem to be on a constant quest to test our capacity to keep that promise. But in the blink of an eye, they’re off to school and there’s a whole other part of their lives that we can’t put safety locks on. WHEN SCHOOL ISN’T SAFE Outside of our homes, school is the place our children spend most of their time. In addition to academics, schools provide children with structure and guidance and promote important life…

Kindness and compassion come naturally to children, from sharing a little bite to offering a hug when their friend needs it most. One of our many jobs as parents is to nurture that instinct. One of the easiest ways to foster kindness in children is to model kind behavior ourselves. There are hundreds of simple acts of kindness that you and your kids can do any day or every day. Here are five effective ways to model and practice kindness: 1) USE YOUR WORDS. Saying things like “please” and “thank you” might be the simplest way to show gratitude and kindness. Remember to say it loud and proud: to the mail carrier, the server, the school administrator, and most especially each other. 2) PAY IT FORWARD. Take the time to…

A s parents, our job is to keep our children safe and teach them how to keep themselves safe. And when young people have the knowledge and skills to make safe choices, they feel empowered and confident in the world around them. Dr. Shefali Gandhi, a licensed psychologist in Scottsdale, Arizona, recommends integrating developmentally appropriate knowledge with practical skills to help children grow into resilient and healthy adults who know how to make safe choices. “Addressing safety topics from an empowerment perspective can be more effective than approaching safety training from a fear-based approach,” she says. “Keeping child development at the forefront of how you teach will help you to structure safety training for your children more easily.” Whether you have a Pre-K, elementary, junior high, high school, or college…

One of Ben Bethke’s favorite things about the Arizona State University campus is the opportunity to get outdoors in the nice weather and enjoy what he describes as a “walking arboretum.” Anyone who has spent time on the Tempe campus knows the ASU senior isn’t exaggerating. A wide variety of flower gardens, desert succulents, cactuses, date palms and other types of trees greet you at every turn. But while you may catch Ben enjoying the Memorial Union’s outdoor space, his favorite hangout, or exploring the beautiful Tempe campus grounds, there’s one thing you won’t see him doing — walking alone with earbuds in and staring down at his phone, especially after dark. The native of suburban Chicago has spent the last three years being very passionate about safety, and he…

STACY BARRY // Writer Stacy Barry is a former public relations/marketing executive for the hospitality industry, and is currently a freelance writer in Houston, Texas. She received her degree in journalism from Texas Tech University and worked as a broadcast journalist for KAMC-TV in Lubbock, Texas. For the past 15 years she has done freelance and contract work from her home, while raising two children in the ’burbs. SHEFALI GANDHI, Psy.D. PLLC // Contributor Dr. Shefali Gandhi is a licensed psychologist at Shefali Gandhi, PsyD, PLLC. She focuses on healing and empowering children and families coping with such issues as anxiety, depression, ADHD, defiant behavior disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Gandhi is passionate about working with children to prevent and heal mental illness, provide education to the public, and…

DRUG Teach your child the importance of warning labels. Read the warnings on bleach, cleaning products, or other harmful chemicals aloud so that children understand the dangers of misusing them. Starting this practice young will give them the idea to always read warning signs. BULLYING Most bullying occurs between peers, but sibling and familial bullying can also damage a child’s self-esteem. Some children may even think it is appropriate to bully others because that’s how they treat their siblings. Foster a positive home environment and put an end to any overly aggressive behavior. TECH: Inform your children about the discounts they can get by using their student ID. Many businesses provide student discounts with the use of a school ID or schoolbased email address. They could get deals at the…

A rizona may be famous for hosting one of the Seven Wonders of the World, but The Grand Canyon State has so much more natural beauty to behold than just its namesake. Whether you’re an avid hiker, canyonbound camper, equestrian sightseer, or photographer in search of the perfect shot, outdoor adventures abound in Arizona’s inimitable landscape. And when the sun sets, relax and recharge by taking advantage of Arizona’s spa scene. As home to the country’s highest concentration of fourand five-star resorts, there’s no shortage of high-end restaurants and soothing spa treatments to choose from after a long day of hiking. When it comes to taking in Arizona’s natural beauty, heed Sierra Club founder John Muir’s words of wisdom – don’t hike, saunter. And whatever you do, don’t miss out…

Parents often report that their children have difficulty regulating their emotions (e.g., sad, embarrassed, confident, excited, etc.) in their school environment. Whether it be an unexpected fire drill, an argument during recess, or just the typical hustle and bustle down the hallway, school can be overwhelming. Learning to identify and appropriately express emotions in response to events is one of the many tasks of child development. As adults, we automatically employ emotion regulation techniques every day to keep ourselves grounded. As parents and educators, we strive to initiate conversations and help school-aged children develop the necessary skills to consciously regulate their emotions. The Five Senses exercise is an easy and tangible way to guide children through the process of grounding themselves to the present moment. To do this, children are…

The transition from high school to college is a huge milestone for young adults. Leaving home is exciting and scary; saying goodbye to childhood friends—if only for a few months—can be hard, and then there are the million minute details of college life to prepare. While worries of dorm assignments, move-in dates, class enrollment, and navigating the campus may be taking center stage in your student’s priority list, students shouldn’t leave home without a reminder about the importance of protecting themselves and ensuring their safety. Beautiful brochures and idyllic campus tours may lull parents and students into a false sense of security about life on campus. The reality is that college campuses reflect the real world, primarily safe but bad things can happen anywhere. Here are some suggestions of ways…

Summer’s over, school is starting and all systems are go, go, GO! After the forced slowdown of quarantine, many of us feel busier than we have in a long time as the kids head back to the classroom and beforeand after-school activities, lessons, games and practices. Whether your hectic time is AM or PM, the trickiest part of most days is ensuring your family eats and snacks well when on the move. Don’t worry if you feel out of practice; the right combination of planning and creativity means backseat eats will be yummy, healthy and fun. PREP LIKE A PRO A little prep work always makes providing nutritious family meals easier, especially when on the go. Whether field trip or road trip, use the day (or even the weekend before)…