Focus on the Family for 2019

Inside • Family time • Inspire teens • More music

Focus on the Family

A Southern Lakes Newspapers publication 2019

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FOCUS on the FAMILY 2019

How to encourage kids to love

music

STOCK PHOTO Focus on the Family

From local to global, there are many valuable paths that help spark new interests for teens while building self-knowledge, confidence and 21st century skills along the way.

Looking ahead

How to inspire your teen to expand their horizons and find their passion With mounting pressures and expectations, the high school years can feel overwhelming – for students and parents alike. Teens grapple with questions like: Which colleges should I apply to? What should I choose as a major? What do I really want to do with my life? What if I don’t have a clue?

As a parent you naturally want to give advice and steer them in the right direction, but you also know it’s a tricky balance. It’s their life, after all, as they’ll often remind you.

So how can you help? Encourage them to explore different interests, with no strings attached. Look for activities beyond the usual choices. Research extracurricular programs at your school, in your community, even overseas so they can see the breadth of what’s out there. Expose them to a range of possibilities and see what they pick.

Does your teen already have a clear focus? Look for innovative programs that allow them to dig even deeper in real-world settings. Or maybe your son or daughter is shy or stuck in a rut and needs a gentle nudge to try something new? It’s amazing how a change of scenery can inspire students and tap hidden talents. Over time they’ll gravitate toward one thing or another, and the journey will be rich with self-discovery.

Encourage global interests Most high schools offer a range of extracurricular opportunities to get involved in a topic of interest or try out something new, from sports and theater to robotics and debate.

Many offer programs with an international theme as well. After-school language clubs provide a chance to practice conversational skills in a relaxed environment while joining in cooking and other cultural activities. And bonding with other language enthusiasts inspires many to want to travel to experience different cultures first-hand.

Larger high schools offer more languages, from French, Spanish and German to Mandarin, Arabic and Japanese, while teens with more limited offerings can often find

regional programs a bus ride away.

Model UN is another valuable program that teaches students about the world around them, and builds confidence as well as leadership and communication skills. A new activity picked up on a whim may turn into a lifetime source of joy or even a career. If options are limited at school, branch out.

Urge your teen to get involved in the local community, meet new people, and bond with others who share similar interests. They’ll see what’s out there in the bigger world while demonstrating to colleges and employers that they’re engaged beyond the standard classroom requirements.

Let them serve

Music education can have a profound impact on children. According to PBS, research has found that learning music facilitates learning other subjects, enhancing skills children will inevitably use elsewhere.

The benefits of music education might be even more tangible than that. A 2004 study published in the journal Psychological Science found that six-yearolds who were given weekly voice and piano lessons benefitted from small increase in IQs. Groups that received drama lessons or no lessons at all experienced no such increases.

Additional studies have linked music education to other benefits. The Children’s Music Workshop notes that research has shown that musical training physically develops the part of the brain associated with processing language.

These are just a handful of the ways music education can positively impact young minds. Parents who want their children to reap these rewards and more can take these steps to encourage a love of music in their children.

Cut a rug with your kids Children are bundles of energy who want to expend as much of that energy as possible. Dancing along to music is a great way for kids to use it up. Kids might not be able to waltz or dance an Irish jig, but many love to jump up and down. If they begin to associate music and dancing with jumping up and down, they’re more likely to smile when mom and dad crank up the stereo.

Sing along Kids won’t know if their parents are classically trained opera singers or performers whose vocal talents are best restricted to the shower. Singing along to favorite songs may encourage kids to follow

See MUSIC, Page 5

Service programs help teens gain valuable perspective.

When teens offer their time and talent to nonprofits and worthy causes, they gain more than just real-world experience for their college resumes. They gain maturity, perspective, practical skills and a greater appreciation for what they’ve got.

Volunteering can be customized to one’s own interests, whether it means walking dogs at an animal shelter or building a website for an environmental group. Adventurous students can take it one step further by participating in service programs abroad. Whether working to raise social awareness, lending a hand with environmental and conservation project, or mentoring underprivileged youth, teens grow exponentially during a summer far away from their usual routine.

Studying abroad Study abroad transforms the way a teen looks at fields of study – and life. Studying abroad is not just for college.

More and more high school students are making the leap

See LOOKING AHEAD, Page 5

STOCK PHOTO Focus on the Family

Music can enrich kids’ lives in various ways, and it’s never too early for parents to encourage a love of music in their children.

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FOCUS on the FAMILY 2019

STOCK PHOTO Focus on the Family

Family time is something that takes work, but making it a priority can offer real benefits.

Simple ways to make more time for family For the majority of working professionals, finding quality time to spend with loved ones can be a delicate balancing act. But working parents do not have to wait until retirement to enjoy being in the company of their families.

With some fine tuning, anyone can find ways to spend more time with their children, spouse, extended families, and friends.

kids’ academic performance, lower their risk of substance abuse and provide an opportunity for parents to gauge the emotional and physical well-being of their children. Avoid activities that cut into dinner time and rearrange work schedules to accommodate nightly meals with the family.

Eat dinner together every night

Many employers understand the benefits of flex time. If possible, leave the office at 4 p.m. to make it home for family time, and then log back on remotely at 7 p.m. to finish the day’s work. Working from home also reduces commute time, which can free up more time to spend with loved ones.

Eating dinner as a family enables everyone to be a part of one another’s day and discuss important issues facing the family.

According to The Family Dinner Project, eating as a family can boost

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Switch work hours

See FAMILY, Page 5

3 fun ways families can have fun and get fit together The buddy system is widely used to help men and women get in shape.

Friends can encourage their workout partners to get off the couch on days when their motivation might be waning, and partners can return that favor when the roles are reversed. And the benefits of the buddy system are not exclusive to adults, as families can rely on it to make sure moms, dads and kids each get the exercise they need.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ongoing exercise can help people of all ages control their weight, improve their mental health and mood and reduce their risk for various diseases, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes. And the benefits may go beyond those normally associated with exercise, particularly for young people.

A 2009 analysis of the fitness records of 1.2 See FUN, Page 5 million Swedish men born between 1950 and

2019 Focus on the Family

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FOCUS on the FAMILY 2019

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• Looking ahead

(Continued from page 2)

overseas for summer programs or for a semester or gap year.

As many students, parents and guidance counselors have discovered, this is an opportune time to develop valuable lifelong skills, learn a new language and discover career interests in a way that is not possible in an everyday classroom environment. Perhaps the ultimate opportunity for personal growth, studying abroad also expands communication skills and helps students understand different cultures and ways of living.

Not sure study abroad has crossed your teen’s mind? Surf the web together for resources and get on mailing lists for brochures. CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange), a nonprofit that operates high school study abroad programs in more than 30 global destinations, is a good place to start.

Transported to a world far different from

• Music

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their own, teens find themselves fully immersed in a new topic and a foreign culture. Programs range from three weeks in the summer to a full semester or academic year.

Planning ahead is key. By involving a teacher or counselor in the discussion early on, you’ll ensure a smooth transition to and from the study abroad experience. It also gives you more time to plan finances and research scholarships to make the opportunity possible. Do your research sooner rather than later – organizations like CIEE offer scholarships based on merit and financial considerations, but be sure to check the application deadlines so you don’t miss out.

To learn more about CIEE’s Global Navigator High School Study Abroad program and available scholarships, visit ciee.org/globalnavigators.

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(Continued from page 2)

suit, allowing them to learn words and language. Singing also is a fun activity kids are sure to embrace, making them look forward to daily music sessions.

Let kids be the DJ When you start playing music, keep a close eye on children to see how they react to different types of music. If they seem to favor one style over another, play that favorite style more often. If they tend to like it all, continue to expand their horizons, which many even open your eyes to musical styles and acts you’d never consider otherwise.

Let kids participate in music Especially young children might not be able to pick up a guitar and make it sing, but that doesn’t mean they can’t participate. Purchase age-appropriate instruments for your children the moment they start playing with toys. Their curiosity might compel them to embrace musical lessons as they grow older. In addition, look for children’s musical events in your community, whether it’s a sing-along at the local library or an introduction to musical instruments at a nearby community center.

STOCK PHOTO Focus on the Family

Getting fit as a family can be fun and pay long-term dividends for parents and children alike.

• Fun

(Continued from page 3) 1976 found that the more exercise they had during adolescence, the more likely they were to be professionally successful as adults.

Getting fit as a family can be easy. The following are just a few ways parents and their children can get in shape together.

Start dancing

Dancing isn’t just a fun activity, it’s also a very healthy one. While dancing might often be categorized as a recreational activity, such a categorization overlooks the many health benefits of cutting a rug.

Dancing is a great cardiovascular exercise that works multiple parts of the body. Routine cardiovascular exercise has been linked to reduced risk for heart disease and other ailments. In addition, a 2009 study from researchers in South Korea found that hip hop dancing can boost mood and lower stress.

Schedule daily exercise

Parents and their children are as busy as ever, so it makes sense to schedule family exercise time just like you schedule family meals or outings to the museum. Kids who compete in sports

• Family

Walk after dinner

Families who routinely dine together can delay doing the dishes to walk off their meals. A walk around the neighborhood after dinner provides solid family time, but it’s also a great way to stay healthy.

A 2017 study from researchers at the University of Warwick that was published in the International Journal of Obesity found that people who took 15,000 or more steps each day tended to have healthy body mass indexes, or BMIs. That’s an important benefit, as an unhealthy BMI is often a characteristic of obesity.

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Put it on the calendar

Many families have to abide by a calendar to stay organized. Family time may fall by the wayside unless it is scheduled. Treat it as any important event so it becomes a priority.

Work together 271494

may already get enough physical activity each day.

The CDC recommends children participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, so kids who aren’t playing sports can spend an hour each day sweating alongside mom and dad.

Don’t let the cold weather stop you from getting those exercise minutes in.

Family friendly activities like sledding, skiing, tubing and playing in the snow are great ways to stay active in the winter.

Family time need not be limited to recreation or leisure. Get the entire family involved in a chore or project so you can work together toward a common goal.

Landscaping, painting a room in the house or even grocery shopping are some examples of chores that can be turned into family time.

Enjoy family media

Instead of retiring to separate corners of the house with tablets or mobile phones in tow, find a TV series everyone can enjoy together. Spend some binge-worthy hours seeing how stories unfold, taking time to discuss each episode when it ends.

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FOCUS on the FAMILY 2019

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Know what they’re doing online How to set up parental controls on children’s tablets

The internet is a valuable tool that can benefit kids in the classroom and beyond. But as parents know, the internet also can be a danger to youngsters.

As hard as parents may try to govern their children’s internet usage, kids’ curiosity often compels them to go online when parents aren’t keeping watch. Parental controls are a great way to protect youngsters while they’re online. Setting up such controls may vary depending on the type of devices kids use, and the following guide can help parents whose children use popular Android, Amazon Fire and iOS devices.

STOCK PHOTO Focus on the Family

When choosing a summer camp for your child, make sure to involve them in the decision. Kids who have a say in where they go and what they will be doing are happier at camp.

A camping we will go…

5 things parents should know before choosing a summer camp

Looking for a cure for the winter blues? Start making plans for the summer. Having something fun to look forward to – such as days off and family trips – can make those dreary days more bearable. One thing you’ll want to add to your summer planning list is finding a great summer camp or two for your kids.

Even before leaves start appearing on the trees, many organizations begin announcing dates and enrollment for summer camp sessions. Get a jumpstart on the process with this guide to choosing an enriching summer activity, where your child will also have a blast.

Know the best places to look

You may not be aware of the number of great summer day camps taking place around your community. Start with college campuses, parks and recreation departments, local school districts and churches.

Be sure to tune in to nonprofits, like performing arts centers, museums and your local animal shelter or zoo.

Finally, ask the other adults in your child’s life for the inside scoop. The art teacher, soccer coach and scout leader may be in the know about the best camps in town.

Look for the immersive experience When you think about it, “camp” is an odd word choice. But look at what sleep-away camp means to kids, and it makes sense. Yes, it’s fun to sleep in a cabin and spend all day sailing, swimming and climbing.

What’s key is that these kids are immersed in a new reality that’s different from the usual home and school routines.

So when a local organization bills an activity a “camp,” they promise an experience that lets your kid jump in and become a part of something. When choosing the right camp, look for that quality. Is there a clear theme or topic? Will kids be active and involved?

Or is the “camp” just made up of a series of talks led by adults?

Make sure your child is on board

Consider your child’s interests and how camp can make them stronger. Your play-acting child with a flair for drama will probably thrive and bloom at theater camp.

However, if camp is a strategy to help them improve at something they struggle with, make sure the program is designed for these kids, or you’re setting them up for a session of misery. After all, you wouldn’t send your sports-loathing child to, say, a high-intensity wrestling camp, to make them more athletic.

Don’t forget the fun factor

What makes camp truly memorable is having fun, so make sure the camp you’re looking at takes fun seriously. For example, Blake Furlow, CEO of Bricks 4 Kidz, says kids keep coming back to their camps partly because these sessions bring building with LEGO Bricks to the next level of fun and exciting.

But watching their enjoyment unfold during the camp is also massively rewarding. “Seeing the kids light up, get excited and make new connections during a Bricks 4 Kidz class is a heart-warming experience,” Furlow says.

Android The parental controls on Android devices allow moms and dads to restrict access to various types of content, including television shows and movies, games and apps.

The Family Link app, which can be downloaded through the Google Play store, enables parents to track their kids’ online usage and even set up limits on how much time they can spend online each day, as well as monitor the location of the device and when it is on.

When using the Family Link app, parents will need to create a separate Google account for their children.

Amazon Fire Amazon Fire is another popular, user-friendly tablet that many children use. Each Fire device comes with FreeTime built-in. FreeTime bans advertisements and restricts purchases so kids cannot spend mom and dad’s money without permission.

In addition, FreeTime allows parents to restrict content, ensuring kids will only be able to see content approved by their parents. Adults also can set up time restrictions to limit the amount of time their kids spend online, and they can even prevent access to certain activities, including video games. iOS The iOS is an operating system for mobile devices manufactured by Apple. The Screen Time function on iOS devices allows parents to restrict the use of and downloading of certain apps, including those built-in on iOS devices.

Parents can specify which websites their children are allowed to visit, preventing them from visiting sites that kids should not see. Screen Time also allows parents to block purchases made through iTunes, ensuring kids won’t run rampant spending money on television shows and music.

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Consider longevity

When looking at various programs, a good question to ask is how long the camp has been around. New summer camp themes and programs can sound exciting and fresh, but it takes a few rounds to work out the kinks with any new organization.

Choosing well-established programs with experienced leaders is one way to ensure that your child will get that worthwhile and fun experience with a new activity.

If you’re looking for a camp experience from a trusted provider that fosters learning in STEM subjects, look for a Bricks 4 Kidz franchise in your community.

Bricks 4 Kidz is celebrating its 10th anniversary of providing fun and enrichment for kids in schools and communities across the United States and beyond.

At these camps, kids get to use LEGO Bricks along with specialized LEGO Technic pieces like gears, axles and electric motors to build unique and exciting models to help kids explore engineering and architecture – while having a blast doing it.

To discover camps taking place in your area, visit Bricks4Kidz.com.

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STOCK PHOTO Focus on the Family

Parental controls can help parents’ monitor their youngsters’ tablet usage and protect them from visiting websites designed for adults.

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