Virtual Space

Alkohol

2006-10-17T21:31:00.000+02:00

64% of high school students drinks alcohol, more than 40% of people who began drinking under 15 years old become eventually alcoholics

Peer Preasure

2006-10-14T20:36:00.000+02:00

"...Some kids give in to peer pressure because they want to be liked, to fit in, or because they worry that other kids may make fun of them if they don't go along with the group. Others may go along because they are curious to try something new that others are doing. The idea that "everyone's doing it" may influence some kids to leave their better judgment, or their common sense, behind. "
Quoted from:http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/friend/peer_pressure.html

Smoking

2006-10-12T20:47:00.000+02:00

"Smoking is one of the worst things kids or adults can do to their bodies. Yet every single day nearly 4,400 kids between the ages 12 and 17 start smoking. Why? There's more than just one simple answer. Some kids may start smoking just because they're curious. Others may like the idea of doing something dangerous - something grown-ups don't want them to do. Still others might have grown up around lots of people who smoke and they might think it's the way to act like an adult...
If you have a friend who smokes or uses tobacco, you can help him or her by encouraging the person to quit. Here are some reasons you can mention:
It will hurt his or her health.
It will make his or her breath stinky.
It will turn his or her teeth yellow.
It will give him or her less endurance when running or playing sports.
It's expensive.
It's illegal to buy cigarettes when you're underage."
Quoted from:http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/watch/house/smoking.html

Ways to pay pocket money

2006-10-09T22:01:00.000+02:00

"At first, when amounts are small, pocket money will be paid out in cash. You should fix the “pay day” and stick to it to reduce the inevitable arguments about whether the pocket money has been paid or not this week. You should provide your children with somewhere to keep their money. In the Netherlands it was the custom to give children a ceramic piggy bank. There was a slot in the top for the money but no way to get the money out without breaking the pig. The idea was to encourage the child to save most of their pocket money. Of course it is just possible to use a knife to tease the money out in an emergency!...

...As they get older still you might want to change to paying pocket money monthly. This becomes almost essential when pocket money includes an allowance for buying clothes.

In their teens your children naturally want to be more independent. At this stage you should open a bank pocket money account such as the one mentioned above. You can now set up a standing order to pay the regular pocket money into their account. That will really help them to feel they are in control of their money..."

Quoted from: http://www.bpic.co.uk/bookrevs/pocket_money.htm

Internet as a source of information and guide for parents

2006-09-26T21:27:00.000+02:00

"How much pocket money do we give to our child?
1. What you can afford.
2. What the pocket money is expected to cover.
3. The ‘going rate’ among other families in similar circumstances to yours. If your child has a lot less than the going rate she may feel hard done by and be tempted to steal. If she has a lot more it can cause resentment and jealousy amongst her friends. However at some stage, children need to learn that all families are different in how much money they have and how they decide it will be spent.
4. They can also learn that there will always be other people who have more money or more ‘things’ than them and many others who have less.
5. It helps children to hear from parents that lots of money does not always mean lots of happiness.
6. The amount of pocket money a child receives usually increases as the child gets older and takes more personal responsibility.

Reminders
1. Pocket money can be a valuable way of teaching your child responsibility.
2. Get an idea about the ‘going rate’ from friends’ parents and work out whether this would work in your family.
3. Make sure that you are consistent and reliable about ‘pay days’.
4. Work out with your child what the pocket money will cover. Include an amount for him to do whatever he chooses.
5. Allow your child to make some mistakes.
6. Encourage your child to save part of his pocket money each week.
7. Give approval or maybe a bonus for successful managing"

Quoted from:http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=122&id=1694

Virtual Space

2006-09-26T20:51:00.000+02:00