Summer 2014

Free Kids Meal

FREEEnhancing the parent-child connection since 1994besafe

family

Page 6

summer camp contest!

2 BeSafe Magazine Summer 2014

C ommunity Corner

SUMMER CAMP CONTEST RULES:Contest is open to second through fi fth grade. Parent/guardian is responsible for the health and safety of the child at all times.Entries must be received by June 10th, 2014.

How To Enter:-Children must write/type a letter telling us why they want to attend a summer camp at Pine Cove. -Parent or guardian (over 18) must submit entry to: BeSafe Pub-lications at summercontest@besafechild.com or mail entry to: BeSafe Publications, 1815 Everglades Drive, Tyler Texas 75703.-If selected, winner must select camp dates and parent or guard-ian must register child with Pine Cove. Additional steps may be required to ensure child safety. No purchase necessary.

QDear BeSafe, At what temperature should I consider taking my child to the pediatrician when she has

a fever? - Robin

Dear Robin, A fever is usually the body’s way of fi ghting an infection. My mother has always told me, “you should let it run it’s course”. But, when my fi rst child had his fi rst fever, I wanted to rush straight to the doctor’s offi ce. What a scary feeling! Here are a couple of rules that I follow when my child is running a fever:1. Make sure your child is drinking enough. 2. You can alternate ibuprofen and acetaminophen.3. Don’t try to make your child eat.4. Make sure they get plenty of rest.5. Keep them home from school. (please remember the usual rule is 24 hours fever free with no medicine before they can return)6. Call the nurse for a phone consult and take them in to the Doctor is the fever spikes or is prolonged.According to the Mayo Clinic, mild fevers are common and usually harmless, but keep an eye on the thermometer. If your baby is younger than age 3 months, contact the doctor for any fever. If your baby is age 3 to 6 months and has a temperature up to 102 F (38.9 C) and seems unusually irritable, lethargic or uncomfortable, or has a temperature higher than 102 F (38.9 C), contact the doctor. Also, if your baby is age 6 to 24 months and has a

temperature higher than 102 F (38.9 C) that lasts longer than one day but shows no other signs or symptoms, contact the doctor. If your baby also has other signs or symptoms, such as a cold, cough or diarrhea, you might contact the doctor sooner based on their severity. Find more information at: Mayo Clinic - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-baby/PR00022.BeSafe utilizes a variety of information resources to answer reader questions. This should not be considered medical advice. Readers are encouraged to visit with their healthcare provider.

Send your questions about family and parenting to: editor@besafechild.com.

For the For the

next generation next generation

of banking.of banking.next generation

of banking.next generation next generation

of banking.next generation www.thisismytbt.com

?

From The EditorChris Taylor editor@besafechild.com

Ready, set, summer! It’s that time again, and I can smell the grill already. Though its nice outside now, we know those Texas temps will give us a run for our money. So, enjoy the outdoors, but remember to keep you and your family safe. How you ask? Great question! Here are a few tips:Stay Hydrated - you need a bottle of water for every person that can be easily refilled. If you don’t have access to water where you are, think about bringing along at least one 12oz bottle for every hour of outside play. Dehydration and heat exhaustion can become serious issues very quickly.Protect that skin - while much discussion occurs about the required SPF, one thing that doesn’t get mentioned often enough is that sunscreen should be reapplied according to the manufacturer’s recommenda-tion. It’s a big mistake to think one application will last the whole time you are in the sun. For the top ten rated sunscreens of 2014, visit: http://top10thebe-st.com/top-10-best-sunscreens/.

Rest up - we all require a little down time. Be sure that your family knows when it’s time to get under a little shade and relax. Younger kids often want to play outside all afternoon. It may seem like their little engines can handle it, but be sure they stick to a schedule that works for you and them.Make a kit - we like to put together a few things our kids have access to when they need it. You might put an ice cooler on the front lawn that contains water, wash cloths, fruits like watermelon which contains a lot of water, and attach a bag that has sun-screen, along with a timer that signals time to come in for a break. Play hard and have fun, but Be Safe!

While you are busy thinking about summer plans, don’t forget to enter our annual BeSafe - Pine Cove Summer Contest! One lucky kiddo will win a whole week over-night camp at Pine Cove this summer. This is an incredible expe-rience. Over the past few years, we have shared photos and stories of our past win-ners. Often they send us a letter or email reminding us how much they loved the

experience and how grateful they were. It makes our family very happy to be able to make that happen. But we couldn’t do it without our reader’s support and our special relationship with Pine Cove and their awesome staff.Contest rules are only a few pag-es away - so go ahead and flip to it and get registered to win right now! Okay, you can wait until I finish my two cents and then head that direction.As always, I encourage you to use this summer to make a memory with your children. Whether you take a vacation or create an elabo-rate staycation, the important thing is to make a memory that everyone can cherish.This last year, we took our children to Colorado and had the most amazing experience hik-ing and biking - simply living an amazing outdoor experience. We made a video using the pictures we took during the trip. My kids have watched it countless times since last summer - which tells me that the memory stuck with them. It doesn’t really matter where you go or how much you spend - make it a point to spend time and be present with your children. The year is so full of sports, concerts, activities, home-work, and rushing around - use the summer as a time to catch up and give your family undivided attention. Everything else will still be there when you get back.

4 BeSafe Magazine Summer 2014

BeSafe Magazine Summer 2014 5

besafefeature story

12 Co-Pilot to Auto-Pilot How to build self-esteem that will help him soar.

6 Summer Contest Your child could go to Pine Cove for a week!

14 FREE Kids Draw! Draw the picture on this page and you can eat free at Smash burger! See rules for details

sections

7 BeSafe & Healthy This recipe will thrill them

8 BeSafe @ Home New wheels? Our tips will make it easy to buy the right bike for your kid.

9 BeSafe @ School School’s almost out. But watch for these new signs to keep kids safe. 10 BeSafe & Happy Use this technique to quickly reduce stress

don’t miss this

16 Let His Little Light Shine Can BrainGym help with learn ing challenges?

19 Choose the right school to fi t your child

We tell you how

18 Read Like This Let technology help her overcome reading trouble.

www.besafechild.com 15 No More Skeletons See how to get those closets organized this summer.

Contest

6 BeSafe Magazine Summer 2014

Its our annual summer contest! BeSafe and Pine Cove have teamed up again to send one lucky child

to Pine Cove for a one week, overnight camp this summer! See Page 3 for contest rules and to learn

how to enter.

bleed right and top only

Easy to Make Banana Pops

besafe & healthy

Healthy Eating

Get your child on the path to healthy eating.

Focus on the meal and each other. Your child learns by watching you. Children are likely to copy your table manners, your likes and dislikes, and your willingness to try new foods.

Offer a variety of healthy foods. Let your child choose how much to eat. Children aremore likely to enjoy a food when eating it is their own choice.

Be patient with your child. Sometimes new foods take time. Give children a taste at first and be patient with them. O�er new foods many times.

Let your children serve themselves. Teach your children to take small amounts at first. Let them know they can get more if they are still hungry.

Cook together. Eat together. Talk together. Make meal time family time.

U.S. Department of AgricultureFood and Nutrition Service

FNS-451October 2012

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Ingredients:2 "ready to eat" bananas (not too green and not too brown)1 6-8 oz. container low-fat vanilla yogurt

Utensils:4 popsicle sticks1 sheet of wax paper1 plateblunt knife

Directions:Place wax paper on plate.Peel both bananas and cut in half.Put one popsicle stick in the fl at end of each banana half so they look like banana popsicles.Open container of vanilla yogurt and stir to mix well.Dip each banana into yogurt and turn back and forth a couple of times.Remove and place on wax paper on plate.Once all four banana-pops are dipped, place plate with bananas in freezer.

Let freeze for 2 or more hours.Makes: 4Serving size: 1 banana pop

Nutrition analysis (per serving):

75 calories1 g protein0 g fat16 g carbohydrates1 g fi ber0 mg cholesterol10 mg sodium50 mg calcium.3 mg iron

Reviewed by: Jessica Donze Black, RD, CDE, MPH, and Steven Dowshen, MD

© 1995- 2014 . The Nemours Foundation/Kid-sHealth®. Reprinted with permission.

What’cha waitin’ for?

OPEN 24 HOURSACROSS FROM

BROADWAY SQUARE MALLGresham - Old Jacksonville Hwy

561-2025137 WSW LOOP 323, TYLER

903.561.7334

besa

fe @

hom

eNAPSI)—When it comes to buying your youngster a new bike, AAA’s Rhonda Shah says it’s vital that you fi nd one that’s the proper size.

How To Size A Bike

You’ll know the bike fi ts the child when he or she can sit on the seat and balance the bicycle with the balls of both feet touching the ground and without leaning to one side or the other. If the bicycle seat is in the low-est position and the child cannot touch both feet to the ground, the bike is too large to be ridden safely.

“If you want to give the bike as a surprise present,” says Shah, “you’d be wise to go to the bike shop with the child’s measurements and a tape measure in hand.”

Measure the child’s inseam to the ground. The distance from the top of the bike’s hori-zontal bar (or where it would be on a girl’s bike) to the ground should be an inch or two shorter than that.

Other Safety Suggestions

• Consider brake design. Children’s bicycles typically have either hand brakes or coaster brakes, which engage when pedaling back-wards. Keep in mind that hand brakes can be dangerous for younger children, who have smal_ler hands and less strength in the wrists.

• Everyone, regardless of age or skill level, should wear a bicycle helmet on every ride. Head injuries are the leading cause of death in bicycle crashes but wearing a properly fi tted bicycle helmet has been shown to reduce the risk by up to 85 percent, accord-ing to the National Highway Traffi c Safety

Administration.

Just as a bike must be sized correctly, so should helmets. It’s best to try on a helmet, but if that’s not possible, measure around the recipient’s head at the forehead to de-termine which size to purchase. Make sure the helmet meets safety standards by look-ing for a sticker on the inside from the Snell Memorial Foundation, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), ASTM Interna-tional, or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

• Before taking a spin on a new bike, check that it’s put to_gether securely and that ad-ditional safety equipment, such as horns or lights, have been installed correctly. Wear brightly colored or refl ective clothing and learn all safety rules.

• For more safe bicycling tips, go to ShareTheRoad.AAA.com.

Courtesy of North American Precis Syndicate

8 BeSafe Magazine Summer 2014

RIDE SAFE! THE RIGHT BIKE MEANS EVERYTHING

besafe @ school

Please watch out for me this summer, while I am out of school…just in case I am not watching for you. Please look for signs that indicate a No Cell Phone Zone and do not use your phone around schools and daycares. Help keep children safe. Drive safe. Save Lives. Pay Attention East Texas!

Hi, my name is Sarah.

www.payattentioneasttexas.org

besa

fe &

hap

py

10 BeSafe Magazine Summer 2014

Toys That TeachThomas The Tank

Cash RegisterPhonics Readers &

FlashcardsFloor Puzzles & Games

Butterfl y GardensGrow-A-Frog

And Much, Much More

Home ofHand Cut Steaks

&Fall Off The Bone Ribs2101 E.S.E. Loop 323

509-0053www.TexasRoadhouse.com*Contact sponsor for details

Kids Eat Free on Tuesdays!*

www.adventuresinlearning-tx.com

Helping Young Minds Soar!

The practice of mindfulness has been around longer than Willie Nelson’s beard. In fact it’s becoming more and more mainstream every day as a tactic for reducing stress, blood pressure, and improving mental acuity and a sense of calmness. According to WebMd (www.webmd.com), mindfulness can help you cope with illness, pain and stress. But can it work for kids too? Karen Hooker P.S.Y., D and Iris Fodor Ph.D., think so. Their work at www.mindfuleducation.org details how the practice of focus and calm can work on adults - and children. In fact, the researchers claim, children are better able to exeprience minfulness than adults. Simply observe your toddler the next time she sticks her fi nger in the cookie mix. They live in the moment. That starts to wane over time and as children grow into adults, they begin to spend less and less time being mindful. Hooker and Fodor conclude, much like WebMD, that mind-fulness is particularly helpful with anxi-ety, depression, lack of focus and other similar challenges. The trick, both women claim, is to identify what is causing the child’s change in emotion and behavior, and work to create a sense of situational awareness so they that they can more easily identify what might be causing the negative emotion, face that threat and

create a different response when it recurrs. So how do you become mindful? We didn’t have enough space for all the advice we received. One simple experience is to eat something you love. While eat-ing it, take your time. Smell it, taste it. Let the food stay in your mouth until you can identify some of the ingredients. You might close your eyes even. You were just mindful! To fi nd out how to introduce mindfulness, visit http://www.webmd.com/balance/tc/mindfulness-based-stress-reduction-topic-over-view.

is your mind full?

4538 S. Broadway . Tyler, TX . 903-509-9205Monday - Thursday 9:30-8:00 . Friday & Saturday 9:30-6:00

Locally Owned!

by Melinda Prince

PUBLISHERChristopher and Stephanie Taylor

EDITORChristopher Tayloreditor@besafechild.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSJackie Cannon

ADVERTISING/SALESStephanie Taylorstephanie@besafechild.com

BeSafe is published quarterly and printed by the Longview News Journal

Letters to the Editor:

©Copyright 2014 BESAFE PublicationsWe make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information within these pages, however Be-Safe Publications assumes no liability for infor-mation provided by its sponsors. Content does not necessarily indicate the views and opinions

of BeSafe Publications or its staff. While we retain our copyright position, we do

grant permission to individuals and organizations for educational purposes.

BeSafe Publications is not responsible for any damages arising from typographical or mechani-

cal errors beyond the cost of the ad placed.

1815 Everglades Drive www.besafechild.comTyler, Texas 75703 info@besafechild.com www.facebook.com/besafepub

Subsribe to BeSafe for your home, offi ce, waiting room, or lobby for a low yearly fee. Contact us today to fi nd out how.

Your link to health and community services.

§ Free help line answered 24 hours/day, 7 days/week

§ We’re here to listen – in more than 90 languages § Whether by phone or internet, trained specialists

will help you find answers and connect you to available resources in your community.

Dial 2-1-1 or 1-877-541-7905

www.211texas.org

www.unitedwaysmithcounty.org

East Texas Area Information Center is a part of the Texas Information and Referral Network, a program of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and United Way of Smith County.

Kids Eat Free on Tuesdays!*

Locally Owned!

215 Winchester Dr #100Tyler, TX 75701

Phone: 903.534.6000http://wwwmadd.org/local-offi ces/tx/

east-texas/

12 BeSafe Magazine Summer 2014

themselves: "I'm stupid," "I'll never learn how to do this," or "What's the point? Nobody cares about me anyway." They may exhibit a low tolerance for frustration, giving up easily or waiting for somebody else to take over. They tend to be overly critical of and easily disap-pointed in themselves.

Kids with low self-esteem see temporary setbacks as permanent, intolerable conditions, and a sense of pessimism prevails. This can place kids at risk for stress and mental health problems, as well as real diffi culties solving different kinds of problems and challenges they encounter.

Kids with healthy self-esteem tend to enjoy interacting with others. They're comfortable in social set-tings and enjoys group activities as well as independent pursuits. When challenges arise, they can work toward fi nding solutions and voice discontent without belittling themselves or others. For example, rather than saying, "I'm an idiot," a child with healthy self-esteem says, "I don't understand this." They know their strengths and weaknesses, and accept them. A sense of optimism prevails.

kids try, fail, try again, fail again, and then fi nally succeed, they develop ideas about their own capabilities. At the same time, they're creating a self-concept based on interactions with other people. This is why parental involvement is key to helping kids form accurate, healthy self-perceptions.

Parents and caregivers can promote healthy self-esteem by showing encouragement and enjoyment in many areas. Avoid focusing on one specifi c area; for example, success on a spell-ing test, which can lead to kids feeling that they're only as valu-able as their test scores.

Signs of Unhealthy and Healthy Self-EsteemSelf-esteem fl uctuates as kids grow. It's frequently changed and fi ne-tuned, because it is af-fected by a child's experiences and new perceptions. So it helps to be aware of the signs of both healthy and unhealthy self-es-teem.

Kids with low self-esteem may not want to try new things and may speak negatively about

What Is Self-Esteem?Self-esteem is similar to self-worth (how much a person values himself or herself). This can change from day to day or from year to year, but overall self-esteem tends to develop from infancy and keep going until we are adults.

Self-esteem also can be de-fi ned as feeling capable while also feeling loved. A child who is happy with an achievement but does not feel loved may eventually experience low self-esteem. Likewise, a child who feels loved but is hesitant about his or her own abilities can also develop low self-esteem. Healthy self-esteem comes when a good balance is maintained.

Patterns of self-esteem start very early in life. The concept of success following effort and persistence starts early. Once people reach adulthood, it's harder to make changes to how they see and defi ne them-selves.

So, it's wise to think about developing and promoting self-esteem during childhood. As

GIVE HIM HIS WINGS BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM IS KEY

Tyler Water Utilities511 W. Locust Tyler, Texas 75710

Offi ce: 903-531-1230Fax: 903-531-1259

Email Water Utilities: WaterUtilities@tylertexas.com

How Parents Can HelpHow can a parent help to foster healthy self-esteem in a child? These tips can make a big difference:

Be careful what you say. Kids can be sensitive to parents’ and others’ words. Remember to praise your child not only for a job well done, but also for ef-fort. But be truthful. For example, if your child doesn’t make the soccer team, avoid saying something like, “Well, next time you’ll work harder and make it.” Instead, try “Well, you didn’t make the team, but I’m really proud of the effort you put into it.” Reward effort and completion instead of outcome.

Sometimes, a child’s skill level is just not there — so helping kids overcome disap-pointments can really help them learn what they’re good at and what they’re not so good at. As adults, it’s OK to say “I can’t carry a tune” or “I couldn’t kick a ball to save my life,” so use warmth and humor to help your kids learn about themselves and to appreciate what makes them unique.

Be a positive role model. If you’re exces-sively harsh on yourself, pessimistic, or unrealistic about your abilities and limita-tions, your kids might eventually mirror you. Nurture your own self-esteem and they’ll have a great role model.Identify and redirect inaccurate beliefs. It’s important for parents to identify kids’ irrational beliefs about themselves, whether they’re about perfection, at-tractiveness, ability, or anything else. Helping kids set more accurate stan-dards and be more realistic in evaluating themselves will help them have a healthy self-concept.

Inaccurate perceptions of self can take root and become reality to kids. For

example, a child who does very well in school but struggles with math may say, “I can’t do math. I’m a bad student.” Not only is this a false gener-alization, it’s also a belief that can set a child up for failure. Encourage kids to see a situation in a more objec-

tive way. A helpful response might be: “You are a good student. You do great in school. Math is a subject that you need to spend more time on. We’ll work on it together.”Be spontaneous and affectionate. Your love will help boost your child’s

self-esteem. Give hugs and tell kids you’re proud of them when you can see them putting effort toward some-thing or trying something at which they previously failed. Put notes in your child’s lunchbox with messages like “I think you’re terrifi c!”

Give praise often and honestly, but without overdoing it. Having an infl ated sense of self can lead kids and teens to put others down or feel that they’re better than everyone else, which can be socially isolating.Give positive, accurate feedback. Comments like “You always work your-self up into such a frenzy!” will make kids feel like they have no control over their outbursts. A better statement is, “I can see you were very angry with your brother, but it was nice that you were able to talk about it instead of yelling or hitting.” This acknowledges a child’s feelings, rewards the choice made, and encourages the child to make the right choice again next time.

Create a safe, loving home environ-ment. Kids who don’t feel safe or are abused at home are at greatest risk for developing poor self-esteem. A child who is exposed to parents who fi ght and argue repeatedly may feel they have no control over their environment and become helpless or depressed.

Also watch for signs of abuse by others, problems in school, trouble with peers, and other factors that may affect kids’ self-esteem. En-courage your kids to talk to you or other trusted adults about solving problems that are too big to solve by themselves.Help kids become involved in constructive experiences. Activities that encourage cooperation rather than competition are especially helpful in fostering self-esteem. For example, mentoring programs in which an older child helps a younger one learn to read can do wonders for both kids. Volunteering and contributing to your local com-munity can have positive effects on self-esteem for everyone involved.When promoting healthy self-es-teem, it’s important to not have too much or too little but “just enough.” Make sure your kids don’t end up feeling that if they’re average or normal at something, it’s the same as not being good or special.

If you suspect your child has low self-esteem, consider getting pro-fessional help. Child and adoles-cent therapists and counselors can help identify coping strategies to help deal with problems at school or home in ways that help kids feel better about themselves.

Therapy can help kids learn to view themselves and the world more realistically and help with problem-solving. Developing the confi dence to understand when you can deal with a problem and when to ask for help is vital to positive self esteem.Taking responsibility and pride in who you are is a sure sign of healthy self-esteem and the great-est gift parents can give to their child.

Reviewed by: Michelle New, PhDFor the full article, visit: http://kid-shealth.org/parent/emotions/feelings/self_esteem.html#© 1995- 2014 . The Nemours Foun-dation/KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission.

“I can see you were very angry with your brother, but it was nice that you

were able to talk about it in-stead of yelling or hitting.”

WIN

* FUN

& W

IN * FU

N &

WIN

* FUN

& W

IN * FU

N &

WIN

* FUN

& W

IN * FU

N &

* FUN & WIN * FUN & WIN * FUN & WIN * FUN & WIN * FUN & FUN & WIN * FUN & WIN * FUN & WIN * FUN & WIN * FUN &

FREE Smashburger Kid’s Meal with Purchase of Any Entree

Just Bring Us a Drawing of You Eating Your Favorite Smashburger!

All Participating Locations in Tyler or Longview. Must Be 12 Years Old or Younger

EVERY KID IS A WINNER AT

W

IN

*

FUN

& W

IN

*

FUN

& W

IN

*

FUN

& W

IN

*

FUN

& W

IN

* F

UN

& W

IN *

FU

N &

LIKE THE OLD-TIME DOCTOR, WE MAKE

HOUSECALLS . . .FOR BOTH ADULT ANDPEDIATRIC PATIENTS

WE PROVIDE INFUSIONS FOR:

GOOD SHEPARD MEDICAL CENTER

LONGVIEW REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

(ANTI-BIOTIC, CHEMO, PAIN MANAGMENT, NUTRITIONAL AND HYDRATION THERAPIES)

PHARMACY SOLUTIONSKEVIN DOBBS, R.Ph.

Call us for information903.295.3338800.280.3338

913 NW Loop 281 #117Longview, Texas

www.pharmacyivsolutions.com

HOSPITAL STAYSCAN BE SHORTENED -

HERE’S HOW . . .

BeSafe Magazine Summer 2014 15

Summer May Be Perfect Time to Clean Out Kids’

Closets(NAPSI)—Any time of year can be the right time to give your closets the once-over. A well-organized closet space offers several benefi ts. For starters, you can save time when you can fi nd the items you are looking for. That can also mean less stress and more time to enjoy with family and friends.

To help, here are some tips from EasyClosets—an online provider of do-it-yourself custom organization systems for all areas of the home.

• Closets can be easily overrun with clothes, shoes and jackets that you no longer wear or are out of season and are taking up valuable space. Rotating your wardrobe with the season and purging items keeps everything organized and gives your closet some space to breathe.• When it comes to the closet space itself, create dedi-cated areas for specifi c types of items so you will know where to fi nd them—and where to put them away—every time.• Position shelves, hanging rods and drawers in a conve-nient location that makes it simple to get to items that are used frequently.• Then use your closet’s top shelves to store off-season or seldom-used items, including hats, luggage and extra bedding.• In the master bedroom closet, organize your belts, ties or scarves with pull-out racks that keep items separated and accessible.• In your kids’ closets, you can make it easier to keep things orderly with baskets and shelves placed within their reach. Wire baskets will let your little ones see what’s inside.Double up on hanging rods to maximize space and make clothing items more visible. As they grow, you can move or remove the adjustable rods.• To organize your entryway closet, create zones by dedi-cating baskets, hooks and shelves to each family member. Use them to store jackets, shoes, hats, bags, the dog’s leash and seasonal items.

continued on page 19 . . .

18 BeSafe Child Magazine Smith County Winter 2011

We Are Funded By The Texas Department of Family And Protective Services.

What does NETWORKS STAR have to offer? In home family counseling, free of charge. Around the clock crisis intervention. Conflict resolution. Links to community education and outreach. Professional, courteous staff who provide timely access to services through intake, assessment and case follow-up.

We serve Smith, Wood, Hender-son, Van Zandt, Kaufman, Na-varro, & Ellis Counties

The NETWORKS STAR Program Serves Youth Ages: 0 - 17.

UNIVERSAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTIONUCAP

What is UCAP?Universal Child Abuse Prevention, or UCAP, is a program funded by the Texas Department of Family Protective Services that is designed to provide information and activi-ties to all members of the community in an effort to prevent child abuse and neglect.

WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU SUSPECT CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT?Do listen to the childDon’t walk awayDon’t try to investigate on your ownDo report reasonable suspicions by calling the 24-hour Abuse Hotline, 1-800-374-6058 or your local law enforcement agency.Que puede usted hacer si sospecha de abuso o neglicencia infantil?Escuche al menor.No le de la espalda.No trate de investigar solo.Reporte sospechas razonables liamando a la linea telefonica de 24 horas, 1-800-374-6058 o bien a la agencia policial local.

The STAR program offers free, preventive, short-term services for youth and their families. In additon to as-sisting youth and their families in mastering new skills through skills based training, our staff helps to reduce the occurrence of truancy, runaways, family conflict and delinquent behavior. The program helps families resolve problems within the home.Anyone can make a referral to the NETWORKS STAR Program and the process is easy.Phone: (903) 581-2835Fax: (903) 581-281024Hour Line: 1-866-630-3551Mail: NETWORKS STAR 2624 Kensington Dr. Ste 113 Tyler, TX 75703Cualquier persona puede referir a otra al programa Es-trella (Start Program), el proceso es muy sencillo.Numero telefonico: (903) 581-2835Numero de FAX: (903) 581-281024Hour Line: 1-866-630-3551Mail: NETWORKS STAR 2624 Kensington Dr. Ste 113 Tyler, TX 75703

What Is NETWORKS STAR?

Eligibility:Youth, ages 0-17RunawayTruancyFamily ConflictSchool GroupsCourt Ordered Youth

Services:Intake and screeningCrisis interventionFamily counselingSkills trainingLinking with resourcesYouth skills training in school

NETWORKS/STAR PROGRAMWhat is Brain Gym®?Brain Gym® consists of 26 easy and enjoyable targeted activities that bring about rapid and often dra-matic improvements in self-esteem, self-control, communication, com-prehension, concentration, memory, reading, writing, organizing, listen-ing, physical activity, and coordina-tion. Brain Gym® movements help integrate the brain. Brain Gym® is used in more than 80 countries and is taught in thousands of public and private schools worldwide and in corporate, performing arts, and athletic training programs.Brain Gym® Movement Improves:• Test Scores• Reading and comprehension• Math, spelling, and writing• Fine and gross motor abilities• Ability to focus • Communication skills• Positive attitudes• Confi dence and self-esteem• Organizational skills• Productivity

Let Your Little Light Shine!

(903) 592-1454 www.championsforchildren.org

“The improvement (using Brain Gym®) is incredible and I as a relieved parent learn so much to help my special needs child,” a parent exclaims. Champions for Children offers classes to parents who want to help their children succeed, especially when other methods have failed. To learn more, or to sign up for the next available class, call 903-592-1454 today.

• Organizational skills• ProductivityLooking for Help with ADD/ADHD? Brain Gym Might

Be The Answer

Call today to register for this month’s seminar!

BeSafe Magazine Summer 2014 1718 BeSafe Child Magazine Smith County Winter 2011

We Are Funded By The Texas Department of Family And Protective Services.

What does NETWORKS STAR have to offer? In home family counseling, free of charge. Around the clock crisis intervention. Conflict resolution. Links to community education and outreach. Professional, courteous staff who provide timely access to services through intake, assessment and case follow-up.

We serve Smith, Wood, Hender-son, Van Zandt, Kaufman, Na-varro, & Ellis Counties

The NETWORKS STAR Program Serves Youth Ages: 0 - 17.

UNIVERSAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTIONUCAP

What is UCAP?Universal Child Abuse Prevention, or UCAP, is a program funded by the Texas Department of Family Protective Services that is designed to provide information and activi-ties to all members of the community in an effort to prevent child abuse and neglect.

WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU SUSPECT CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT?Do listen to the childDon’t walk awayDon’t try to investigate on your ownDo report reasonable suspicions by calling the 24-hour Abuse Hotline, 1-800-374-6058 or your local law enforcement agency.Que puede usted hacer si sospecha de abuso o neglicencia infantil?Escuche al menor.No le de la espalda.No trate de investigar solo.Reporte sospechas razonables liamando a la linea telefonica de 24 horas, 1-800-374-6058 o bien a la agencia policial local.

The STAR program offers free, preventive, short-term services for youth and their families. In additon to as-sisting youth and their families in mastering new skills through skills based training, our staff helps to reduce the occurrence of truancy, runaways, family conflict and delinquent behavior. The program helps families resolve problems within the home.Anyone can make a referral to the NETWORKS STAR Program and the process is easy.Phone: (903) 581-2835Fax: (903) 581-281024Hour Line: 1-866-630-3551Mail: NETWORKS STAR 2624 Kensington Dr. Ste 113 Tyler, TX 75703Cualquier persona puede referir a otra al programa Es-trella (Start Program), el proceso es muy sencillo.Numero telefonico: (903) 581-2835Numero de FAX: (903) 581-281024Hour Line: 1-866-630-3551Mail: NETWORKS STAR 2624 Kensington Dr. Ste 113 Tyler, TX 75703

What Is NETWORKS STAR?

Eligibility:Youth, ages 0-17RunawayTruancyFamily ConflictSchool GroupsCourt Ordered Youth

Services:Intake and screeningCrisis interventionFamily counselingSkills trainingLinking with resourcesYouth skills training in school

NETWORKS/STAR PROGRAM

Kick Back and Relax for Lunch or Dinner!

Now Open Every Day at 11am!

5704 S. BroadwayTyler, Texas

509-8193

“Combining human speech with synchronized text in an audiobook is ideal for many students’ particular learning profi le,” says Dr. Yellin. “And by using narrators who provide ac-curate tone and infl ection throughout the book, Learning Ally audiobooks can improve understanding for the reader.”

For information, visit www.Learnin-gAlly.org/Join. Courtesy of North American Precis Syn-dicate.

(NAPSI)—For millions of students with learning disabilities like dys-lexia, reading is often greatly improved when they can hear and see the printed word at the same time.

Specialists report that listening to audiobooks while following the printed text allows many of these readers to take in information and enjoy learning without struggling over each word.

Paul B. Yellin, M.D., founder of The Yellin Center for Mind, Brain, and Education, describes the process: “Many children understand language that they hear at a higher level than language they read on their own. Audiobooks allow children to access information at this higher level. And very often, reading skills are best improved if the listener follows along with the written text.”

Dr. Yellin points to new formats like VOICEtext from Learning Ally, which highlights each sentence on-screen as a human narrator reads it, making it easier for readers to follow along.

“Having the ability to actually see a word highlighted while hearing it read allows a child to access content by reinforcing the linkage between ‘how a word looks’ with ‘how a word sounds’ and supports the development of independent reading skills,” he says.

Whitney D. Hall, Ph.D., a psychologist specializing in cognitive assessment, agrees, saying, “The benefi t of adding on-screen text that is highlighted in synch with the narration is that this more closely simulates the act of reading. Following along while hearing the material narrated allows a child to practice using their reading skills.”

How Text Synched with Audio Improves Reading

• Improves skills for decoding each sound in a word

• Enforces letter-sound associations

• Improves sight word recognition

• Enhances vocabulary

• Increases comprehension

Learning Ally, a national nonprofi t, maintains the world’s largest library of human-narrated audio textbooks for students with dis-abilities. More than 80,000 titles (including almost 2,000 of its most popular selections in the new VOICEtext format) are downloadable to smartphones, tablets and computers that students use every day.

This May Help Your Young Reader

18 BeSafe Magazine Summer 2014

BeSafe Magazine Winter 2014 19

Choose The Right School for Your Child

• If you want to get your closets or-ganized right away, EasyClosets of-fers products that are custom made in one business day and shipped to your home. The company even has an intuitive online design tool to make space planning quick and easy for homeowners.

Complimentary design service is also available, allowing customers to have an expert review their plan or create it for them.

Upgrading to a custom closet can in-crease the quality and value of your home. Plus, you can save up to 50 percent by designing and installing the organizers yourself.

To learn more, visit www.easyclo-sets.comCourtesy of North American Precis Syndicate

. . . continued from page 15(NAPSI)—While choosing a new school for your son or daughter is an intensely personal experience, here are a few ideas for starting the school selection process.

1) Start right now. Seats in great schools are already fi lling up for next year. Ask yourself what matters most to you in a school. Is it academ-ics, school safety, an educational theme, a specifi c style of instruction, the qualifi cations of teachers, the size of classes, or other factors?

2) Research your options. Make a list of the choices you have. Some states let parents send their children to schools in different districts. Some have charter and magnet schools. You may be able to get a scholarship to send your children to a private or faith-based school. In addition, there are full-time, online schools in many states.

3) Visit the schools you’re considering with your children. While there, ask lots of questions. Talk to principals and teachers and make sure that you’re comfortable with the answers you receive. Consider sitting in on classes, too.

4) Talk to other parents—and to your children. Before making your decision, ask parents of other students who attend your target schools about their experiences. Ask your children about their impressions and their concerns. You can learn more at www.schoolchoiceweek.com. Courtesy of North American Precis Syndicate.

2014Children’s swim lessons

Youth summer fitness camp for children ages 8-12

Kids in Motion is a fun-filled, week-long camp aimed at helping children exercise in a fun environment while learning about healthy lifestyle choices and improving their fitness.

Activities will include:• Rope challenge course • Pilates• Self defense • Water activities• Fitness-oriented games • Bike safety seminar• Fitness and nutrition education

Session 1: June 16-20Session 2: July 14-18Session 3: August 4-8

Camp is 8 a.m.-noon

Cost is $99 for ETMC Olympic Center members and ETMC team members and $109 for non-members.

Call 903-596-3150 for more information.

www.etmc.org/fitness

Children’s swim lessons at the ETMC Olympic Center at Tyler safely introduce children to the water environment and help them learn swimming techniques. Classes are held in our indoor pools and are led by Gay Tyra, BS, a certified water fitness instructor with over 15 years experience teaching children how to swim.

Splash Babies (6 months to 2 1/2 yrs)This class allows infants and toddlers to explore their surroundings and become comfortable in the water. Parent or guardian participation is required.

Aqua Ducks (3 to 5 yrs)This class is structured to build on previous skills and water experiences. The child learns about balance, buoyancy and controlled swimming movements and can take part in group lessons without parent support.

TurtlesIn this class the child begins to develop swimming strokes, survival abilities and safety awareness. Children also begin to practice more recognized swimming styles and concepts of moving through the water.

DolphinsThis course emphasizes further development of stroke skills and endurance. There is continued refinement of safety and survival skills.

SharksThis course teaches advanced stroke techniques and concepts. All the recognized swimming strokes are refined. The child is taught appreciation of swimming efficiency and fluid movements.

Visit etmc.org/kidswimming for schedule and fees.