Illinois PTA has posted about e-cigarettes and “vaping” previously. Among middle and high school students, use of e-cigarettes has surpassed use of traditional cigarettes according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The perception most people have is that e-cigarettes are less harmful than regular cigarettes. A new study in the American Journal of … Continue reading New Study Shows Even Nicotine-Free E-Cigarette Vapor Damages Lung Cells
Teen Suicide in Illinois
Today marks World Suicide Prevention Day. In Illinois, suicide is the third leading cause of death for young adults ages 15 to 34. Suicide deaths are only part of the problem. In Illinois, for every adolescent suicide there are an estimated 100 adolescent suicide attempts. Unsuccessful suicide attempts increase the risk of future suicide attempts. While … Continue reading Teen Suicide in Illinois
A Summer of Legislative Success for the Children of Illinois
The Illinois PTA is pleased to announce another success on Illinois PTA-supported legislation: Senate Bill 1793, Suicide Awareness Policy, was signed into law by Governor Rauner on August 21, 2015. Now known as Public Act 99-0443 or Ann Marie’s Law, requires that the State Board of Education: Develop a model youth suicide awareness and prevention … Continue reading A Summer of Legislative Success for the Children of Illinois
Three Key Things Parents Need to Know This Back-to-School Season
As kids head back to school, here are three key things that parents need to know. Family Engagement is the Key to Student Success Years of research shows that family engagement is crucial to children’s success in school and beyond. When families are engaged by reading together, monitoring homework, ensuring attendance, working with teachers, asking … Continue reading Three Key Things Parents Need to Know This Back-to-School Season
10 Tips to Get You Ready for Back to School
from kids.gov Back to school time can be both exciting and stressful for students and parents alike. Getting ready for the first day of classes is family effort. These tips from Kids.gov may help parents make this year’s back to school time easier: Schedule time with teachers. Keep an open dialog with school staff to … Continue reading 10 Tips to Get You Ready for Back to School
How to Talk About Bullying
from StopBullying.gov Parents, school staff, and other caring adults have a role to play in preventing bullying. They can: Help kids understand bullying. Talk about what bullying is and how to stand up to it safely. Tell kids bullying is unacceptable. Make sure kids know how to get help. Keep the lines of communication open. Check … Continue reading How to Talk About Bullying
Governor Signs Two More Illinois PTA-Supported Bills
Governor Rauner continues to take action on bills that were passed by the legislature this past spring, including two more that were supported by the Illinois PTA. Multiple Measure Index Bill House Bill 2683, the Multiple Measure Index Bill, now known as Public Act 99-0193, was signed into law on July 30, 2015 by Governor Rauner. … Continue reading Governor Signs Two More Illinois PTA-Supported Bills
Advocacy in Action—Legislative Update
Every Child Achieves Act Thank you to those in our membership who took action on the Every Child Achieves Act and the proposed Family Engagement Amendments to that bill. With our combined advocacy efforts, the Every Child Achieves Act (previously known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA/No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)) has … Continue reading Advocacy in Action—Legislative Update
News from National Convention—Resolutions
One of the important business items at the National PTA Convention is adoption of resolutions. PTA resolutions and position statements are official documents outlining the opinion, will, or intent of the association to address national problems, situations, or concerns that affect children and youth and require national action to seek resolution on the issue. They … Continue reading News from National Convention—Resolutions
Spider Bite Do’s and Don’ts
Arachnophobia—fear of spiders—is pretty common, but spiders generally avoid humans unless threatened. As a result, most spider bites happen when webs are disturbed or torn down or when the spider is about to be crushed such as when it is trapped in a glove or boot. While most spiders in Illinois have bites that only … Continue reading Spider Bite Do’s and Don’ts
Building Relationships Between Families and Schools
Research has shown that engaged families play a crucial role in student success, and today’s schools are reaching out to families more than ever for that support. Whether it is e-mail lists, robo-calls, Facebook, Twitter, websites, or the good old “backpack express,” schools are trying to provide families with more information about their child’s school … Continue reading Building Relationships Between Families and Schools
Engaging Teens to Start an Emotion Revolution
A recent article in the Harvard Business Review indicates that today’s teenagers may not be ready to become tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, and educators—not because they lack technical skills, but because they are emotionally unprepared. The results come from work done by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence focused on the future workforce. Teens in the … Continue reading Engaging Teens to Start an Emotion Revolution
Health and Relationship Information for Girls Ages 10 to 16
The ages of 10 to 16 can be difficult ones for girls and their parents. It’s an exciting time, but also a time often filled with worry, concerns, doubts, and struggles. The US Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health created the girlshealth.gov website to promote healthy, positive behaviors in girls by … Continue reading Health and Relationship Information for Girls Ages 10 to 16
Starting a Run, Walk, or Bike Club
Many schools in Illinois participated in Bike to School Day on May 6th. Others participated in Walk to School Day back in October. But being active on theway to school shouldn’t be limited to one or two days a year. Action for Healthy Kids, an Illinois PTA partner, has a Game On! program designed to … Continue reading Starting a Run, Walk, or Bike Club
May is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month: Focus on Trauma and Violence and Their Effect on Children’s Mental Health and Behavior
In honor of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Illinois PTA would like to bring awareness to the importance of the mental well-being of our children. Trauma and violence are widespread, harmful, and costly public health concerns. They have no boundaries with regard to age, gender, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. … Continue reading May is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month: Focus on Trauma and Violence and Their Effect on Children’s Mental Health and Behavior
Time to Get Active for National Physical Fitness and Sports Month!
As the weather warms up, it’s important for all of us to get outside and be active, and May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. If your kids aren’t involved in soccer, baseball, softball, or some other warm-weather sport, here are some resources to help you get them off the couch and moving. The … Continue reading Time to Get Active for National Physical Fitness and Sports Month!
School Nurse’s Guide Helps Keep Our Children Healthy and Safe—And Helps Parents Do the Same
Children spend most of their waking hours in school, which means that school nurses and teachers are on the front lines in the battle to keep kids healthy. In order to help nurses and teachers combat misinformation about children's safety and health, the team at RNtoBSN.org has created an online guide that includes: More than 15 … Continue reading School Nurse’s Guide Helps Keep Our Children Healthy and Safe—And Helps Parents Do the Same
New Energy Balance 101 Enrichment Zone Program from National PTA
The key to maintaining a healthy weight is pretty simple—burn at least as many calories as you eat. National PTA has partnered with Together Counts to incorporate this simple rule into a program for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Energy Balance 101 is a collection of interactive lesson plans designed for teachers to use in the … Continue reading New Energy Balance 101 Enrichment Zone Program from National PTA
Don’t Let Spring Break Be a Break from Healthy Activities for Your Kids (or You)
The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children be physically active for 60 minutes each day. During the school year, many get that exercise time in during PE class or recess. Don’t let Spring Break be a break from those healthy habits, though. Action for Healthy Kids, an Illinois PTA cooperating agency, … Continue reading Don’t Let Spring Break Be a Break from Healthy Activities for Your Kids (or You)
Protect Your Family—Check Your Smoke Alarms
It’s important to have enough smoke alarms in your home. Fire research has demonstrated that with today’s modern furnishings, fires can spread much more rapidly than in the past when more natural materials were used. Because of this, having a sufficient number of properly located smoke alarms is essential to maximize the amount of available … Continue reading Protect Your Family—Check Your Smoke Alarms
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