With the #MeToo movement all over social media and Valentine’s Day coming up, it is a good opportunity to have a discussion with your teen about relationships. February is also National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Today’s guest post comes from youth.gov and covers the characteristics healthy and unhealthy relationships. It is part of their … Continue reading Characteristics of Healthy & Unhealthy Relationships
How to Make Family Dinners Happen More Often
You’ve probably seen news stories sharing the benefits of family dinners. Maybe you’ve even made a New Year’s resolution to eat more dinners together. Perhaps you’d like to eat more family dinners, but don’t feel like you have the time to make it happen. The Family Dinner Project was created to help families take advantage … Continue reading How to Make Family Dinners Happen More Often
13 Necessary Next Steps for Parents After an Autism Diagnosis
According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), about 1 in 68 children has been identified as being autistic, with boys being approximately 4.5 times more likely to be diagnosed than girls. The latter detail is still being debated, as autism diagnosis criteria were developed primarily with data from boys, autism presents differently … Continue reading 13 Necessary Next Steps for Parents After an Autism Diagnosis
Youth Concussions: What Parents Need to Know
In 2014, Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill into law to provide new protections for high school athletes regarding concussions. A recent NPR Illinois story indicates that while reporting of student concussions has increased in recent years, not every Illinois high school has the resources to fully implement the law. What is a Concussion? A … Continue reading Youth Concussions: What Parents Need to Know
October is National Dental Hygiene Month
Did you know tooth decay (cavities) is one of the most common chronic conditions of childhood in the United States? Untreated tooth decay can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. About 1 of 5 (20%) children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated … Continue reading October is National Dental Hygiene Month
September 20 is National School Backpack Awareness Day
Backpacks that are too heavy or worn incorrectly can cause problems for children and teenagers. Improperly used backpacks may injure muscles and joints which can lead to more severe back, neck and shoulder pain as well as posture problems. However, when used correctly they are a good way to carry the necessities of the school … Continue reading September 20 is National School Backpack Awareness Day
9 Back to School Pro Tips
This article was originally published on the US Department of Education’s Home Room blog by Dorothy Amatucci. The photo is copyright 2015 by Geoff Livingston under Creative Commons license, provided and modified by Illinois PTA. Back to school time can be a hectic time for both you and the kiddos. These are some of our … Continue reading 9 Back to School Pro Tips
Helping Your Child Cope with the First Day of Kindergarten
The first day of kindergarten is a big transition for your child. Some children are excited and ready to go, perhaps because they finally get to do what their big brother or sister has been doing. Others can find it a source of worry and fear. Edutopia has an article about how to ease your … Continue reading Helping Your Child Cope with the First Day of Kindergarten
News from National Convention: Resolutions
PTA resolutions are a way for the membership of the association to express its opinion and intent to address issues affecting the lives of children and youth. They focus and formalize the position of the PTA on a variety of issues. At the 2017 National PTA convention in Las Vegas, the delegates adopted one resolution … Continue reading News from National Convention: Resolutions
Protecting Your Kids from the Sun
Summer means spending more time outside, and with that comes an increased risk of sunburns. For children, sunburns significantly increase the risk of melanoma (skin cancer) according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Even one blistering sunburn during childhood or adolescence can nearly double a person’s chance of developing melanoma. Skin cancer is the most … Continue reading Protecting Your Kids from the Sun
7 Ways to Teach Your Kids to Have Productive Screen Time
As summer begins, it may seem like your child is now staring at a screen 24/7. The Safe, Smart & Social blog had seven digital safety experts who are also parents provide their best advice for teaching kids to be productive with their online time. Those are: Teach self-moderation: Learning to control your screen time … Continue reading 7 Ways to Teach Your Kids to Have Productive Screen Time
Illinois PTA Convention Preview—Resolutions
The 115th Annual Illinois PTA Convention will be held on April 7th and 8th at the Hilton—Naperville. Convention is a great opportunity to attend interesting workshops and network with other PTA leaders, but it is also the time that the Illinois PTA conducts its business. Part of that business is directing the legislative and advocacy … Continue reading Illinois PTA Convention Preview—Resolutions
Plan Your PTA Take Your Family to School Week Event Now
Founders’ Day, February 17th, celebrates the legacy and work of Alice McLellan Birney, Phoebe Apperson Hearst, and Selena Sloan Butler to improve the lives of children. The date marks the first National Congress of Mothers, held in Washington, D.C. in 1897. As part of that celebration, National PTA designates the week that includes Founders’ Day … Continue reading Plan Your PTA Take Your Family to School Week Event Now
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week runs from January 23rd to 29th. It is a program of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to connect students with scientists and other experts to counteract the myths and misinformation about drugs and alcohol that teens get from the … Continue reading National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week
SB550 Becomes Law, Reducing Lead in School Drinking Water
Senate Bill 550 (SB550), the Preventing Lead in Drinking Water bill, was signed into law by Governor Bruce Rauner on Monday, January 16, 2017. The bill has been a key focus for Illinois PTA advocacy this past year, and its passage is a win for the children of Illinois. It is also a reminder that … Continue reading SB550 Becomes Law, Reducing Lead in School Drinking Water
Is Your Child Sleep Deprived?
Sleep is critical to healthy physical and psychological development for children. According to JAMA Pediatrics, the long-term effects of lack of sleep in children include poor diet, sedentary behavior, obesity, reduced immunity, stunted growth, mental health issues (including depression and suicidal tendencies), and substance abuse. Children ages 6 to 13 need 9 to 11 hours … Continue reading Is Your Child Sleep Deprived?
Lead in School Drinking Water—What Families Need to Know
Note: Illinois PTA has an advocacy campaign running now through January 10, 2017 to urge the Illinois House to join the Illinois Senate in passing SB550, a bill that would require testing every unique drinking water source in all Illinois schools and report high lead levels to families. If you were looking to make a … Continue reading Lead in School Drinking Water—What Families Need to Know
Illinois PTA Advocacy Day in Springfield a Big Success
It was a beautiful fall day in Springfield on Tuesday as Illinois PTA members gathered for Advocacy Day. The Illinois PTA table in the capitol rotunda welcomed advocates and greeted passersby all day. By the end of the day, 79 legislators or their staff had had face-to-face contact with Illinois PTA. If you couldn’t make … Continue reading Illinois PTA Advocacy Day in Springfield a Big Success
Helping Your Child Deal with Anxiety
Every parent has dealt with a child who is anxious about something, be it the first day of school, a piano recital, or meeting the new kid next door. Anxiety is certainly a part of every person’s life from time to time, but anxiety that is too strong or that happens a lot can become … Continue reading Helping Your Child Deal with Anxiety
Free Popular Events Idea Booklet from USDA Team Nutrition
We all want our children to be active and to make healthy food choices, and PTAs are always looking for new program ideas. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service’s Team Nutrition, which supports improving Child Nutrition Programs, has collected 20 themed events from real-life events at Team Nutrition schools in a … Continue reading Free Popular Events Idea Booklet from USDA Team Nutrition
One Voice Illinois 