The classrooms of yesteryear are distant memories. Gone are chalkboards, which have made way for smartboards. Even textbooks are slowly being phased out in deference to online curriculums. Modern classrooms are outfitted with digital devices that connect students to the internet. Each of these changes might surprise parents who haven’t stepped foot inside a classroom in decades.
A 2017 report from Common Sense Media said that children up to age eight spend an average of two hours and 19 minutes every day on screen media. Chil dren between the ages of eight and 12 spend an average of four hours and 36 minutes on screens. Much of that time is spent online.
The internet can be a useful tool for students, who can go online when working on school reports. Some students even communicate online with their teachers, while others play interactive learning games that can supplement lessons taught in the classroom.
But the internet also puts students at risk of falling victim to online predators. The internet also keeps students in constant contact with their peers, which can be troublesome for students who want to get away when they get home at night. These reasons and more are motivation enough to encourage students to prac tice good digital citizenship and follow these safety tips when online.
• Exercise caution with photos and videos posted online. These images, even when posted harmlessly, can weigh on a student’s reputation. They may even impact acceptance to schools or career opportunities in the future. Always think before posting, as content remains in cyberspace indefinitely. And remember, many schools screen for inappropriate content. Sending harassing or inappropriate material to others may result in disciplinary action.
• Recognize the threat posed by online predators. The Crimes Against Chil dren Research Center says one in five teenagers in the United States who regular ly uses the internet has received unwanted sexual solicitations through the web. In addition, 25 percent have been exposed to unwanted pornographic material online. Students need to be aware that not everyone on the internet is an up standing citizen.
• Keep personal information private at all times. The service eMarketer says that 75 percent of children are willing to share personal information online about themselves and their families in exchange for goods and services. Students need to be better educated about protecting their passwords, ages, addresses, and other personal information.
• Stop cyberbullying before it starts. Students can be educated about the correct way to use the internet and how to report cyberbullying. Students also can take pledges to never make others feel uncomfortable online. Online safety is a growing concern for students, but there are ways to keep kids safe.
Yo Felicidad Martínez, cuan do era chica vivía en la calle Zaragoza cerca del América Legin y de la iglesia San Agustín cuidaba carros y la gente me daba lo que podía, 10, 15 hasta 25 centavos. Juntaba 25c centavos e iba con “Don Panchito” que así le decían, parece que se llamaba Pete Canela, a comprar un lonche de ternera. El tenia un puestecito ambulante afuera de la iglesia San Agustín. Yo le decía que cuando fuera grande yo quería vender lonches de ternera como los que él vendía. El me decía “Te falta mucho muchachita”. Me daba el refresco y el lonche por los 25 centavos.
Después ya empezamos hac er trabajadores migrantes. En la plaza de San Agustín llegaban camionetas con lonas que traía el
Sr. Ricardo Banda y nos llevaban a trabajar a las 4 o 5 de la mañana a la pisca de cebolla y melón aquí en Laredo, Texas.
Después Ricardo Banda nos llevaba a Gibson City, Illinois a la pisca de elote, lima, frijoles y la embotadora con el. Ya después con la oficina de Manpower, nos íbamos en autobús con mas gen te, en una vez de tantas que regre samos de el norte decidí buscar trabajo aquí en Laredo. Trabaje en el Health Departament de Dental Assistant, con el Dr. McCane.
Luego encontré trabajo en Rich ter’s, pero siempre mi sueño era vender lonches de ternera como don “Panchito” ahí conocí a una amiga que su esposo tenia una lonchería un cuartito con estufa y hielera. Ella necesitaba $2000 dólares por que su esposo los
debía. Yo le dije. “Yo tengo tarje ta de crédito te los puedo prestar de ahí”. Ella aceptó para pagar su deuda con Gamez Produce. Pero el no los pago y uso el dinero para otra cosa. Para ese entonces la lonchería ya estaba cerrada. Fui con el hablar tocante el présta mo. Y me dijo que iba a vender la lonchería. Yo le pregunte, “En cuanto la vas a vender”, no vendía el local si no que nomas me esta ba vendiendo la estufa, la hielera y refrigerador, por que el local era rentado. El me dijo que me vendía el negocio en $2,500 dólares, y yo negocie con el. Quedamos en que yo le daba $500 mas y el préstamo que le había otorgado, el acepto.
Su esposa quería los $500 pero el me dijo que si no se los daba a el no había trato. Entonces acepte el trato.
Después de eso deje de traba jar en Richter’s y me dedique a la lonchería de lleno. Empecé haci endo tortillas de harina -chuecas y todo- Luego pinte y arregle el puestecito. Como no me iba muy bien trabaje de noche como palo mita y en el día en la lonchería. Fui con Willie García que trabajaba en Laredo National Bank para pedirle un préstamo de $2,500 dólares. El me dijo “Que mala compra hi ciste. Es mucho dinero”. Pero de todos modos me los presto. Le puse muchas ganas al negocio y hasta hacia entregas a domicilio en bicicleta. Cuando yo compre el negocio se llamaba “Las Palmas” y hasta hoy en día agradezco a to dos mis clientes que siempre me apoyaron. Me decían que “Nomas que estén bien cocidas las tortillas, no importa si están chuecas.” Y así es como empezó Retama Burger. Y hoy ya cumplí 36 años de exis tencia. Gracias a Dios y mis clien tes que me apoyan.
“Gracias a Dios y mis clientes que me apoyan.”
As many experts have pointed out, swimming lessons often give parents a false sense of security.
So, you’re considering signing up your child for their first swimming lessons? Learning to swim not only provides kids the opportunity to enjoy lots of water-filled fun. It’s essential to their safety. It also helps kids build strength and endurance, is an excellent form of exercise, and builds kids’ confidence.
But at what age should they begin taking lessons? Little research has been done on the safety and effectiveness of swimming lessons before the age of four or five. Still, one small study, “Association between swimming lessons and drowning in childhood: a case-control study,” by R.A. Brenner, et al., has been conducted. It found kids between the ages of one and four had an 88% reduced risk of drowning if they had taken swimming lessons.
In light of this information, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated its recommendations. AAP News staff writer, Trisha Korioth, explains in, “Some kids have higher drowning risk: Swim lessons add layer of protection for all:”
“All parents and children over 1 year old should learn to swim, accord ing to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). This is especially import ant if your child is at a high risk of drowning.”
Korioth explains that children need to learn at least basic swimming skills. These include how to enter the water, turn around, come up to the surface, propel forward a minimum of 25 yards, and climb out of the water.
That said, parents must be mindful that while this reduces the risk for drowning, it doesn’t make children drown-proof. As many experts have pointed out, swimming lessons often give parents a false sense of security. This actually increases kids’ risk for drowning. As it turns out, a substantial percentage of drownings occur in good swimmers and even under par ents’ supervision. That’s because parents often let their guard down when their child knows how to swim.
As for the age to begin swimming lessons, many medical experts rec ommend against it for babies under the age of one. Infants are more sus ceptible to skin irritation from pool chemicals, swimmer’s ear, and hypo thermia when water temperatures dip below 85°F. Also, leaky diapers in the pool increase the risk of contracting a parasite not only to your baby but to all the other swimmers. The nasty Cryptosporidium parasite causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and weight loss.
As young children grow, they usually come to love bath time. But, as many parents can attest, getting splashed in the face is a whole different ball game. Add to that, a shallow bathtub is far less threatening than a huge, seemingly-bottomless pool. New environments, in general, can also be stressful for children. Some kids are even fearful of water. When kids sense their own parent’s fear of the water, or if the child has had a negative experience with water, this can also add to a child’s fear.
Provide your child with a variety of water experiences and opportunities to get used to getting their face wet. Let your child wet and wash their own hair. Also, have your child try the shower with you. In warm weather, give your youngster a kiddie pool to splash around in and a sprinkler to run through.
Don’t force your fearful little one into the pool. It can ultimately increase your child’s fears. At the same time, don’t make a big todo about your child’s fearfulness either. Instead, offer encouragement and allow your kid time to warm up to the pool.
Offer praise for each step of progress your child makes, even if it’s just dipping their feet in the water. Look for ways to make being in the water a pleasurable experience.
Rewards can help. Offer your child an ice cream cone, trip to the park, or small prize on the way home for taking a big step.
TRAINED INSTRUCTORS. Claire McCarthy, MD, in “Swimming lessons: 10 things parents should know,” at Harvard Health Publishing, says to look for swim instructors trained and evaluated under the guidelines of a rep utable agency. She includes examples such as the YMCA or Red Cross.
INSTRUCTOR’S STYLE. Also, make sure the instructor is child-centered. Teaching kids to swim is different from teaching adults. It requires pa tience, understanding, and positive reinforcement.
A WARM POOL. Getting into a cold pool isn’t a pleasant experience at any age. It also makes it harder to focus on learning and get comfortable in the water. Make sure the pool is heated to at least 84°F degrees for chil dren over 6. If under 3, the temperature should be at least 87°F.
SAFETY. Find out the class size and ratio of students to instructors. If you won’t be in the pool with your kid, ask about lifeguards, particularly if it’s a larger class. Also, do instructors get in the pool with the kids, or do they in struct from the deck? Here are some good guidelines for student-teacher ratios based on the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program.
• Children up to 4-years-old and attended in the pool by their par ent, 12:1 ratio
• Ages 3-5, with a buoyancy device, 6:1
• Kids 6 and up, 8:1; for advanced classes, 10:1
CHLORINE LEVELS. Ask if the pool chlorine and PH levels are tested regularly. Low PH causes eye irritation. Low chlorine can be a health risk. If you’re in doubt, pick up a test kit at a hardware store.
OPEN DOOR POLICY. Make sure parents are allowed some ability to observe if they choose. It can be through a window or at the start or end of classes. When parents can attend the entire class, having additional eyes on the kids adds an extra layer of safety. The problem, though, is it some times reduces kids’ cooperation. So decide what you’re comfortable with and what’s best for your child.
Avacation from school is no excuse for a vacation from thinking. Not only can learning be made fun, but you can avoid a rusty return to school in the fall by keeping kids’ minds ac
tive all summer long.
Here are a few fun ways to make thinking and learning a priority, while not detracting from the fun of summer days:
• Make the Most of a Trip: From the lifecycle of local wildlife to the accomplishments of a great figure hailing from your destina tion, there is always an opportu nity to learn about science, art, history and more on a trip out of town. Whether you are going on a beach getaway or visiting a major city, ask your kids to research the destination before departure. Not only will this help add meaning to the trip, it’s a fun way for kids to stay intellectually occupied. Then, once you are there, look for ed ucational opportunities like mu seums, historic sites and guided
Learn an Instrument: The summer vacation is the perfect time to delve into the world of music. And new technologies can make the process of learning en joyable and exciting, as well as help beginners learn to play at their own pace. For example, the CT-X700, a portable keyboard with features that are tailored to casual or beginning players, comes with hundreds of built-in rhythms that span both time and the globe. Young musicians can learn not only how to play an instrument, but also get acquainted with the history of music. The Step-Up Les son system, which displays proper fingering and notation, is a great way to easily learn songs, while its
six-track recorder can quickly cap ture sudden inspiration.
• Play: Whether kids are playing a formal team sport or just going outside and running around, stay ing active is good for the brain. Indeed, evidence supports that exercise can make people more creative, improve concentration and boost memory. Take advan tage of the season and hit up the pool, baseball diamond, play ground and more.
• Puzzle it Out: Use new tech like ClassPad.net, to give kids the functionality necessary to tackle any math puzzle -- from geome try to graphing to statistics and beyond. A free, all-in-one webbased mathematics creation and discovery resource, kids can use it to catch up this summer or work ahead.
With so many ways to make learning fun, you can avoid brain drain in your household this sum mer for a smoother transition back to school in the fall.
Source: StatePoint
Many adults lament that even if they were solid sleepers in their younger years, by the age of 50, their quality of sleep has unraveled. Some cling to the wisdom that people simply do not need as much sleep as they get older. Even though that is partly true, sufficient sleep is still a vital component of a healthy life.
The National Sleep Foundation recently updated its sleep recom mendations per age group to in clude categories “may be appro priate” and “not recommended.”
This includes a range of hours that may be adequate for certain adults. Adults between the ages of 26 and 65 are advised to get seven to nine hours of sleep per evening. How ever, six hours or 10 hours also may be acceptable. People over the age of 65 need roughly seven to eight hours of sleep each night, though between five and six hours also may be fine. Generally speak ing, anything under five hours is not recommended based on data reviewed by sleep experts.
Many older adults do not get enough sleep due to insomnia, states Jack Gardner, MD, a neurol ogist certified in sleep medicine. They’re concerned about health issues, may have sleep apnea, can experience pain or frequent urina tion, or may be taking medication that impedes sleep. Dr. Leila Khei randish-Gozal, director of clinical sleep research at the University of Chicago, says that, over time, in sufficient sleep can impact metab olism, mood, memory, and heart function. Various strategies can help people get more sleep and enjoy better sleep quality.
• CREATE A LUXURY BED ENVI RONMENT. Splurge on the largest mattress you can afford and one that is comfortable for both parties (if married/coupled). A roomy bed routinely invites sleep. If you have a restless partner, try two separate beds pushed against each other.
• CONSIDER WHITE NOISE. The sounds of the house or outdoors may be keeping you up. Many people find that the gentle hum of a fan or a white-noise machine with a calming sound effect makes it easier for them to dose off than complete quiet. It can also block out extraneous noises.
• KEEP ELECTRONICS OUT OF THE BEDROOM. It can be chal lenging to disconnect from elec tronics, but it is essential to falling asleep. Even a back-lit text com ing through in the wee hours can be enough illumination to disrupt sleep.
• SEE YOUR DOCTOR. If med ications or illnesses are keeping you up, a change in regimen may provide the relief you need.
Older adults can learn the steps to sleeping more soundly and easily.
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Earning a driver’s license is a milestone in a young person’s life. Teen agers typically take to the open road without adults riding shotgun between the ages of 16 and 18, depending on where kids live. Al though this can be an exciting time for them, it’s also a time that can change the family dynamic.
Parents may have mixed feelings about their children getting their drivers’ licenses. Although many parents recognize the convenience of having another licensed driver in the house, it’s understandable if moms and dads are weary about inexperienced children behind the wheel.
Such fears are not unfounded, as vehicular fatalities remain the lead ing cause of death for many teenagers. In the United States, teens are three times more likely to crash per mile driven than adults, according to data from Allstate. The Canadian Automobile Association states that drivers in Canada between the ages 16 and 19 years have a fatality rate that is more than four times as high as that of drivers between the ages of 25 and 34 and nine times as high as that of drivers between the ages
45 and 54. To help reduce the propensity for crashes, injury and death, families can work together to focus on safe driving tips.
• Take a safe-driving course. Any licensed driver can benefit from a safe-driving course. Check with the department of motor vehicles to find an approved list of driving courses available. In addition to providing valuable safety tips, enrollment in these courses may entitle people to discounts on auto insurance.
• Stay off of the phone. Texting and making phone calls reduces alertness on the road. That loss of focus, even if only for a few seconds, can result in drivers driving the equivalent of an entire football field with out having their eyes on the road. Avoid mobile devices while driving. Pull over to make a call if there is an emergency; otherwise, leave the phone out of reach in a backseat.
• Use the headlights. Many cars now feature daytime running lights. For those that don’t, engage the headlights when driving. Using head lights increases visibility and helps other drivers see approaching vehi cles, even during the daytime.
• Leave plenty of time. Rushing around to make it to class or other appointments can lead to speeding and other dangerous driving habits. By leaving extra time, drivers will not feel stressed or rushed.
• Limit distractions behind the wheel. Novice drivers may be come easily distracted by the radio or even other passengers. Until they gain ample experience, teen drivers should keep passengers and noises to a minimum.
• Stick to easy parking for now. New drivers can opt to park in spaces that have plenty of room or allow for pulling out (rather than backing out). This can improve visibility and reduce the risk of hitting other vehicles.
is exciting for newly licensed teens. but parents must empha size the importance of defensive driving to their young drivers.