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2018

Colorful high $5 graphic with two hands clapping
Beech Acres, Donate, National Parents' Day, Parents

National Parents’ Day is NEXT SUNDAY!

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Parenting is challenging. Parents told us so in a recent survey. But it’s also very rewarding. They told us that too. July 22nd is National Parents’ Day. This year we’re raising money to help support our mission of inspiring and equipping today’s parents, families, and communities to raise capable, caring, contributing children. Do you know another parent that’s doing a great job? Give them a “high five” on Facebook or Twitter and let them know you helped another parent be awesome by donating $5 to Beech Acres Parenting Center. If every parent shared with five other parents we would be even closer to our vision of a world where all children are nurtured to discover, cultivate and apply their natural gifts.  Share this on Facebook or Twitter: “High five! You’re doing a great job as a parent! I gave $5 to Beech Acres Parenting Center so they can help other parents be awesome just like you! Please give 5 other moms and dads a “high five” by sharing this post and letting them know you appreciate them!”   

White equip a kid 2018 graphic with a blue backpack full of school supplies
Beech Acres, Equip-a-Kid

Send a Kid Back to School Prepared for Success. Equip-a-Kid 2018 is live!

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Can you believe it is already time to start thinking about heading back to school? Many of the parents we serve are focused on strengthening their families this summer and may not have the time or resources to adequately prepare their kids for the upcoming school year. Equip-A-Kid helps you take that worry away. Your gift will inspire hope and gratitude in the family that receives your generous donation. To learn more, download a shopping list, or make a donation visit our website https://beechacres.org/donate/seasonal-giving-opportunities/

Photo of a young girl looking shocked as she looks down at a laptop screen
Beech Acres, Online Safety, Parenting Tips, Parents

Monitoring Your Child’s Online Activity

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It is important to monitor your children’s online activity and be prepared to talk to them about things they may see on the internet. Establish Ground Rules According to the National Cyber Security Alliance’s 2017 survey Keeping Up with Generation App: NCSA Parent/Teen Online Safety Survey, “28% of teens report that their household has no rules about their use of devices”. Of those families that do have rules in place over 70% of teens feel that those rules are effective. Be open about your concerns about your child’s online activity and work with them to establish rules. These rules should extend beyond just not using their devices at dinnertime and should include fair consequences for not following them. Make sure your rules are fair, based on your family’s values, and are focused on your child’s well-being. Here are some common ground rules. Make sure to work together to establish rules that reflect your own family’s values: Create specific times for screen time use. After school, after homework, and after dinner are good times for kids to unwind. Agree on times to put the phone down. During dinner, before homework is complete, right before bedtime are good times to put the screen down and spend some face to face time as a family. Reserve the right to pick up and review your children’s phones. You want to respect their privacy, but make sure they understand you want to be involved and understand what is happening in their digital life. Review search history. Kids can be quick to understand how to clear their history and cache. Use this as an opportunity to not only teach about online safety but to also build trust. Monitor Their Activity This one may get some pushback from your teens as an invasion of privacy. Be clear about your concerns. Make sure they understand the things you are looking for (inappropriate content, cyberbullying) and why you are concerned. Look for social media and messaging apps and understand how your child is using those apps. Look through their YouTube and browser history with them and discuss any concerns that may arise. Develop Their Strengths Use this as an opportunity to develop your child’s strengths. Social intelligence, honesty, and perspective are important when being an online citizen. Being aware of the motives of others can be difficult to determine over the internet. Make sure your child is nimble with their thinking when engaging people online. Being open and honest about what they are doing online can help open communication with you. Explain that they are likely to encounter things online that they may disagree with or are not in line with their own values. Being able to look at different perspectives can help them be safer. Talk To Them Rules and monitoring can only go so far. Make sure you are listening to your children and talking to them.  They may encounter videos, memes, photos, and other content online that can be disturbing and confusing. Be open about topics that may come up and assure your children you are there for them. Seek Help When Necessary https://staysafeonline.org has some great tips for helping your teens stay safe online. Beech Acres Parenting Center offers Parent Coaching to help you deal with various parenting challenges. Your first visit is FREE!

Photo of a book called The Yes Brain
Beech Acres, Natural Strength Parenting™

The Yes Brain Book Review

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Guest blogger, Nikki Zellen, Director of Marketing Beech Acres Parenting Center “There’s so much I want for my kids: happiness, emotional strength, academic success, social skills, a strong sense of self, and more.  It’s hard to know where to even start. What characteristics are important to focus on to help them live happy, meaningful lives?”  This is the opening line of The Yes Brain by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. and Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D. How do you NOT keep reading? Who doesn’t want those things? Heard in the Hallways The Yes Brain was mentioned by a few of our parenting specialists after they had met Dr. Siegel at a recent conference in California. As a working mom, but by no means an expert on parenting, my ears perked up. The Yes Brain is: Recommended by our team of parenting experts Aligned with Beech Acres Parenting Center’s Natural Strength Parenting™ Approachable & readable Written for parents, but includes 2 pages within each section with comics to share with kids; putting you LITERALLY on the same page as your child. Under 200 pages & a sunny, hopeful jacket cover (I know, I know… don’t judge a book by its cover.) What Did I Learn The Yes Brain combines brain science with realistic scenarios and simple tools to start to implement with your family. The four sections:  Balance, Resiliency, Insightful & Empathetic are like moons orbiting Natural Strength Parenting™; similar but bring their own spin to parenting. Few standouts included the consequences of overscheduling… which can happen so fast each season and understanding the power of play & boredom. My son and I are practicing the ‘power of the pause’ and feeling when we are moving from the green zone to the red zone. I emphasize practicing because right now we are raising our voices and saying ‘I’M PAUSING.’ And walking away to take a few deep breaths before moving forward.  And I loved the modeling ideas to teach empathy… so important and so easy to forget!  We will be making homemade cards vs. visiting Hallmark for my Mom’s upcoming birthday. Who knew that simple task teaches empathy?  (Aside from Dr. Siegel and Beech Acres Parenting Specialists.) Final thoughts I highly recommend The Yes Brain! I am always excited to hear things in the hallways at work that can make me a better parent and this was a great one. As always, if you don’t have time to sit down and focus on a book… we are right in your neighborhood. Schedule a parent coaching session to learn Natural Strength Parenting™. We believe in the framework so much, the first session is free! Get started by completing the VIA Character Strength Survey and discovering your top strengths as well as your child’s today!  

Photo of a young girl rolling her eyes as her mom speaks to her while holding a phone
Beech Acres, Cyberbullying, Screen Time, Social Media, Strengths

But Mom, ALL Of My Friends Are On Snapchat!

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“But mom, all of my friends are on Snapchat…”  You may have heard this familiar counter-argument coming from your pre-teen daughter or son recently. Or you heard it in the past. Or you’re about to hear it in a few years. Replace Snapchat with Musical.ly, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, AOL, Dungeons & Dragons. The more things change, the more they stay the same it seems. And of course, this conversation is happening right after work, while your busy making dinner/cleaning the house/helping with homework/making a grocery list/paying bills/a million other parenting things that don’t involve a glass of wine and a relaxing book.  The thing is, you don’t even know what Snapchat is. You’ve got a Facebook account you never have time to check and you may have signed up for Twitter before it became a platform for politicians to shout from their digital soapbox. You’re not entirely sure you want your kids sending snaps or ‘gramming. Don’t worry. You’re not alone and unfortunately, there is no right answer. Just because your kid’s friends have their own vlog or their music on Bandcamp doesn’t mean its right for your child or your family.  First, you should know that the “but everyone else…” argument is a timeless parenting dilemma. Take refuge in knowing that the parents next door, down the road, and around the world have heard it time and time again. While the proliferation of the smartphone and access to broadband have modernized this age-old challenge, it’s something that every parent faces. It’s natural and normal for your kid to challenge you and use this common counter. If it’s not the internet, it’s dating, curfew, driving, spring break; you know, all of those other things you’re going to have to deal with in addition to Snapchat.  You can talk to other parents, even get some advice from one of our parent coaches in a parent coaching session (the first one is FREE), but ultimately this decision is going to be yours to make.  You must first decide if you are even going to let your child on to the social platform they are asking to be on. This is a great time to work on your family’s strengths of teamwork and judgment. Have a conversation! Find out why your kid wants to post lip-sync videos to musical.ly or live stream their Destiny campaigns. Look up these things together. Make sure you listen to your kid and do not quickly dismiss their request. They may not even know why they want to tweet. They just know all their friends are doing it. Remember everything in the world is the most important thing in the world to them. Figure out what appeals to them and what you’re willing to allow. Show compassion and a willingness to listen, talk and learn together. This is how you build trust.  Once you’ve decided they can sign up for a service, do it together. Make sure you understand what it is exactly a platform is doing. It may take you a while to sort out the difference between Swarm and Periscope, but knowing the basics will help you establish rules for use. Basic rules for using social media should be governed by your family’s values, routines, and already established ground rules for screen time and internet use. Don’t have ground rules yet? Check out our six tips for online bliss. In addition to those rules make sure you create rules specific to the platform they are using. For example, no inappropriate content on YouTube, no anonymous group chats on WeChat, no Snapchats after 9:00, and the phone is on the charger in the kitchen or living room overnight. Know their friend list and look through those DMs (that’s a direct message and almost all of these platforms have them).  Great! We’re on Twitch, now what? Let them have fun. Make sure they follow the rules you’ve established and make sure to check in on them from time to time. Once you’ve established trust these periodic check-ins should not be a surprise. Also, take this opportunity to build their strength of social intelligence. Make sure they understand to watch out for and report cyberbullying, messages from people they don’t know, and anything weird, inappropriate, or scary they may see online.  Now, let’s figure out where all the vowels are in Flickr and Tumblr togethr. 

Photo of a group of young children on their phones
Beech Acres, Natural Strength Parenting™, Parenting Tips, Parents, Screen Time

Messenger Kids. Is My Kid Ready For Facebook Messenger?

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Late last year, Facebook, Inc. rolled out a new messaging platform aimed at children ages 4-13. Messenger Kids is available for iOS and Android and promises safer video calls and texting for kids. Facebook describes the app as such: “Messenger Kids is a free video calling and messaging app designed for kids to connect with close friends and family from their tablet or smartphone. Kids can only connect with parent-approved contacts, which creates a more controlled environment. Group or one-on-one video calls with loved ones are more fun with interactive masks, reactions, and sound effects.” Unlike other messaging apps, Messenger Kids requires authentication with a parent’s Facebook account giving parents full control over the app. You have control of the app’s contacts so you can decide who you allow your children to message with. Also, messages have permanence meaning they do not disappear after a period of time like Snapchat. Messenger Kids promises ease of use and fun ways for kids to interact through photos, videos, and gifs. The app does not employ ads, nor does it offer in-app purchases. The promise of security and the high level of parental controls may be a good way to ease your child into messaging. However, with any interactions, it is important to talk to your children about the technology, establish clear rules and boundaries and also monitor their online interactions. Even with the high level of controls offered to parents, there is no way to control the actual content being transmitted. Bullying and sharing of inappropriate content are still possible through the app, though Facebook allows kids to block other users and report online bullying. Facebook seems committed to the idea of this app despite recent problems they have had with online privacy. They have recently pushed an update to the app that included a new “sleep mode”. This setting allows parents to set an off time in the app after which their children can no longer interact with their friends and family online. If you’re an active Facebook user and have tech-savvy kids looking for ways to interact with their friends online, Messenger Kids might be a good place to start. Remember to talk to them about online safety, and make sure they feel comfortable telling you about anything inappropriate they may encounter when online. Common Sense Media offers a review of Messenger Kids focusing on items that matter most to parents as well some other tips for talking to your kids about online safety. For more information on Messenger Kids from Facebook visit https://messengerkids.com

Photo of various books on a wooden table
Beech Acres, Every Child Succeeds

Every Child Succeeds Book Fair

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“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go,” Dr. Suess, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!  Every Child Succeeds at Beech Acres Parenting Center recently wrapped up a campaign to promote literacy and to encourage families participating in the program to read together. The campaign gave families the opportunity to earn books by intentionally taking time to read together. The campaign launched, appropriately enough, on Dr. Suess’ birthday and ran through the spring. For every book a family read together, they earned a “book buck”. The accumulated “book bucks” could then be redeemed for brand new books at a special book fair event held at our Beechmont campus. “We want to encourage families to read to their children as much as possible,” Lisa Haverkamp, ECS Program Manager at Beech Acres said. The book fair featured a short presentation on dialogic reading and reinforced the importance of reading to your child every day. The parents and their children then had the opportunity to shop for books together. “Just so Dr. Suess knows…our babies are going places!” Lisa said. To learn more about Every Child Succeeds visit our website.

13 reasons why television series graphic
Mental Health, Screen Time, Social Media, Suicide

13 Things To Know About 13 Reasons Why Season 2

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Netflix recently released season 2 of the popular and controversial series, ’13 Reasons Why’. The show is based on a 2007 young adult novel by Jay Asher. Here are 13 things you need to know about ’13 Reasons Why’. The Show Deals With A Wide Range Of Issues Teens Face Today Bullying, depression, sexual assault, drug and alcohol abuse, academic pressure, self-harm, and other contemporary issues facing teens today are addressed in the show, often with graphic detail. These are real issues that kids are facing every day. While ’13 Reasons Why’ is a work of fiction that dramatizes these situations, it is based on the reality that exists in today’s rapidly changing world. Netflix Provides Resources To Help Watch This Show Netflix has created this site with resources to help viewers unpack the difficult issues addressed in the show. They even include a discussion guide and provide a video if you choose to watch the show with your kids. Many mental health professionals including those at Beech Acres Parenting Center caution parents against letting their children watch this show. There is an excellent online toolkit created by various professional available online to help navigate the issues addressed in the show. After Season 1 There Was a Rise in Google Searches Related To ‘Suicide’ In the 19 days following the release of the first season of the show, Google inquiries for “suicide” increased by nearly 20%. Mature Audiences Only ’13 Reasons Why’ is rated TV-MA. TV-MA is defined as “This program is specifically designed to be viewed by adults and therefore may be unsuitable for children under 17. This program may contain one or more of the following: crude indecent language (L), explicit sexual activity (S), or graphic violence (V).” It’s Trending On Twitter The show received over 11 million tweets after its 2017 debut, making it the most tweeted about show ever. The level of attention and coverage of the show has created curiosity about the show for younger viewers. 1 in 5 Youth Between 13 and 18 Years Old Have or Will Have a Serious Mental Illness. Mental illness is a serious epidemic. Talk to your children. Know the warning signs of depression. These signs can include fatigue, loss of appetite, irritability, persistent sad thoughts, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Seek help if you have concerns about yourself or a loved one. Suicide is the 10th Leading Cause of Death in the United States It’s even higher for teens. According to the CDC, suicide is the #3 cause of death for ages 10-24. There Is Stigma Associated With Mental Health Issues Despite recent strides in removing this stigma, there is still much to be done. Organizations like Bring Change To Mind are working to eliminate this stigma. 16% Of Youth Consider Suicide A survey of high school students in the United States yielded some sobering results. 16% of the students surveyed seriously considered suicide and 13% had created a plan. 8% had attempted to take their own life in the previous 12 months. Many Teens Don’t Receive Help Suicide is mostly associated with depression but can be related to a diverse range of other mental health problems. Unfortunately, most teens in the United States with suicidal ideation did not receive any specialized mental health treatment. Reasons for this include a lack of awareness and understanding of the signs and symptoms, the stigma associated with mental illness, and lack of access to treatment resources. There Are Concerns The Show Romanticizes Suicide and Other Serious Issues Since the show deals with very real issues adolescents face, there is concern that vulnerable teens may identify with the characters, powerful storytelling, and sensationalized portrayal of these topics leading them to romanticize the decisions and actions made by characters on the show. Hannah’s Suicide Is Graphic To bring authenticity and elevate the drama portrayed in the show, many of the topics are presented in very graphic scenes. This includes the portrayal of the main character’s (Hannah Baker) suicide in season 1. The scene is detailed and lasts for nearly 4 minutes. Despite the warnings, this scene may come as a shock to young and old alike. Help Is Always Available Talk to someone. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255. Educators can find guidance on addressing the show in school here. Additional information can be found here.

Photo of three young girls look menacingly at another young girl with her head down
Beech Acres, Bullying, Cyberbullying, Parenting Tips

My Kid May Be A Cyberbully! What Should I Do?

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You recently discovered some inappropriate, mean, or hurtful comments directed at other children on your child’s phone. What will you say? Cyberbullying, a form of bullying or harassment using digital contacts such as texts, email, or social media, is a growing concern for parents. The influence of technology on our culture has never been greater. Kids are using digital devices at an earlier age and are spending much more time in front of them. The ubiquitous use of digital technologies has made them an easy platform for bullying to thrive. According to Stopbullying.org, 15% of all U.S. high school students were cyberbullied last year. Sadly, that number is dramatically higher, a staggering 55%, among LGBTQ students. Last year we explored ways to address bullying when your child is the victim, but what if your child is the bully? First, take a few moments to collect your thoughts. Make sure you are prepared to intentionally approach the subject. When you are ready to address this issue here are some things to ask if you have discovered inappropriate treatment of other children on one of your child’s devices. Ask your child if she knows what can happen to kids that are cyberbullied. They can get depressed, become anxious, or worse. Ask your child what her intention was. What were they hoping to accomplish? Ask your child what the other child did to prompt their behavior.  Ask your child how else she can manage her feelings towards other children in acceptable ways. Listening to your child and understanding their behavior and their motivations are key to addressing this issue. Working through intention and consequences can lead to better decision making in the future.

Photo of a group of people standing around a man holding the Top Workplaces award
Beech Acres, Jim Mason, Top Workplaces

Beech Acres Parenting Center Named Top Workplace In Cincinnati For Fifth Straight Year!

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Beech Acres Parenting Center is thrilled to be named one of Enquirer Media’s Top Workplaces in Cincinnati for a fifth consecutive year! Last year Beech Acres ranked 11th out of 40 companies and organizations recognized in the midsize category. This year we were pleased to be ranked 3rd in midsize organizations receiving special recognition at an event last week at Rhinegeist Brewery!  “Our employees live our values every day; values of Collaboration, Growth, Inclusion, Integrity, and Quality….. and in so doing, they create a workplace culture that earned us a well-deserved place on this prestigious list!” -Jim Mason, Beech Acres Parenting Center President & CEO At Beech Acres Parenting Center we focus not only on the strengths of parents and families but on the strengths of our own workforce. We’re a spirited team who supports each other and has a lot of fun while doing a lot of good. “I feel I am truly changing the lives of the families I work with. … The work environment is very positive and helps motivate my passion for the work I do.” -A Beech Acres Employee Beech Acres was also honored as a ‘Best in Show” award winner for Work/Life Flexibility. This award was based on strong employee sentiment that Beech Acres provides employees with the flexibility to maintain a balance between personal life and work life.  “They understand the importance of being a parent and taking care of yourself while doing a job of taking care of others.” -A Beech Acres Employee Our mission to inspire and equip today’s parents, families, and communities to raise capable, caring and contributing children can only be achieved by our amazing employees. We strive to provide the best environment possible for our employees and continue to improve where we can. Thank you to all of our wonderful employees!  “I have the flexibility I need to balance my work and personal life.” -A Beech Acres Employee Learn more about joining our team and search available positions at Beech Acres Parenting Center here.   

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