Youth Activities

Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts

Are Your Kids Involved In Youth Activities ?

Are your kids involved in the youth activities that go on in your area each summer vacation? If not then you really need to check into the youth activities in your area whether church affiliated or rural Electric Co-ops.

You will find there will plenty of these for your kids to become involved with. I t is good for kids to become involved and also learn to shoulder some of the responsibility of the group they are involved with.

In many cases lifelong friendships are established to never be broken. Most of the youth groups here in the US usually welcome kids from ages 6 to 12. Most youth groups activities are supported to plan, implement and evaluate the projects in which they will participate, thus they organize and implement their own activities.

Some are church affiliated and others community affiliated. The main object of most all the youth groups is to furnish and have programs and activities lined out for the summer vacations. Many of the programs have dates and times published for meetings in order to establish exact times that the programs will be implemented.

It is noteworthy that these youth activities fall within the context of plans to establish a Youth Chapter and a Youth Database. Our youth activities promote our values and help build lifelong friendships.

Developing and promoting youth activities is an important part of most churches. Volunteers are central to the success of these youth activity projects. Please check the information on weekly youth activities in your area.

The Youth Activities Ministry focuses on developing the youth to be leaders, thinkers and planners. Activities range from puppet making to origami, printmaking to sand-play, face painting to paddleboats, movement activities to ethic crafts.
Youth leagues, camps & clinics, summer day camp, and more. Activities offer young people the opportunity to improve their health, become active and make a positive contribution through leadership in their community.

In most rural areas of America, and also in conjunction with some of the religious sponsored youth groups. The students in the rural areas are sponsored by electric cooperatives, cooperatives who are committed to educating Americas rural youth about America and also the role electric cooperatives play in their development of strong rural communities.

A great way to learn about this great nation is by participating in the programs sponsored by these rural electric Co-ops. The kid will learn to develop leadership skills, gain a better understanding of electric cooperatives, and make friendships that will last for years.

Youth related events take place all over the country each month. Youth cooperations within the US and with other external partners, greatly enhance the work of many National Societies. In youth activities the goal is to show the children all around the country what their potential is and then walk along beside them as they try to reach it.

Youth players, who are at least 9 and are capable of playing competitively, are eligible for the Tournament Travel Teams. Youth in grades 3 and 4 gather for youth activities once a week.

If you have a passions or hobbies that you would like to share with youth during a single event or on an ongoing basis, or share an interest in areas mentioned above, please contact the leaders.

For this purpose we also want to enhance networking among active youth groups regionally, nationally and internationally. In our interventions for youth activities we expect to have excellent results for most of these.

Group work involves discussion, healthy eating, cooking sessions, drama projects, peer mentoring sessions, dance & music. These are fundraisers and will help to support our group of students and adults. All you need to do is get involved and enjoy yourself, invite friends to go along with you also. Might just be the best summer you have ever had.

Article Source: http://www.bigfreearticles.com

Are your kids involved in the youth activities that go on each summer vacation? If not then you really need to check into the youth activities in your area whether church affiliated or rural Electric Co-ops. You will find there will plenty of these for your kids to become involved with. It is good for kids to become involved.

About the Author:
Jim Woodall has 49yrs business exp. is into niche and internet mktg. Visit his website Youth Activities at: http://jwoodl.com/youth-activities lots video and news feeds there. Also make sure you get the 3 free eBooks at http://freegiveaways.jwoodl.com/index.html

7 Signs Your Teenager is at Risk for Violent Behavior

Sphere: Related Content

In the last week alone, four shootings/murders made headlines. They shared something shocking in common ? the alleged offender was a teenager.

1. A teenager was arrested and charged with attempted murder in the shooting of five people at a club.
2. Sentencing for a 16-year-old boy who admitted stabbing his mother 111 times was postponed.
3. The first of four teenagers to be tried in the killing of a Chinese restaurant deliveryman was found guilty of first-degree murder.
4. A teen in a middle school shoots two classmates, but is stopped by hero teacher.

Dr. Kathryn Seifert a youth and family violence and trauma expert who has over 30 years of experience believes that a recent study sheds light on the issue of teen violence. While some behavioral (aggressive) disorders have a biological base, they may also have roots in childhood maltreatment and in exposure to violence. The overlap between behavioral disorders and histories of childhood trauma is greater than has been previously recognized,? said Seifert. While not all traumatized children become aggressive, there are warning signs that can help parents determine if their child needs to get professional help.

Using recent studies, other scientific data, and 30 years of experience, Dr. Seifert has created 7 questions to determine if your teenager may be at risk of committing violent or aggressive behavior. The more questions to which you answer yes, the more likely it is that your child needs professional help. If the answer to 6 or 7 questions is ?yes?, then data shows that your teenager may be at risk of aggressive or violent behavior and needs immediate professional attention.

1. Has your child or teen witnessed or been a victim of violence?
2. Has the child in your care been abused, neglected or abandoned by a family member?
3. Has your child been cruel to animals?
4. Has your child had moderate to severe behavior problems (such as stealing, punching holes in walls, or staying out all night without permission) that began before the age of 13?
5. When your child hurts or injures someone does he feel sorry he/she got caught, rather than sorry for the harm caused to his/her victim.
6. In the past, has your child assaulted another person that was not in self-defense? (This is particularly important if it was a younger, weaker child or a parent, policeman, or teacher.)
7. Has you child had severe learning and/or behavior problems in school for more than a year?

Dr. Seifert warns that although these questions can be easily answered, their answers should not be taken lightly. Adults and caregivers need to take immediate action to seek help for families and teens that have experienced traumatic experiences. Without professional help, such as counseling from organizations like Dr. Seifert?s firm, Eastern Shore Psychological Services, many teens may never get the help they need. And without help, a troubled teenager could become the next headline. With the proper interventions, youth violence is preventable.

Source: Free Articles

About the Author

Dr. Kathryn Seifert has over 30 years experience in mental health, addictions, and criminal justice work. She has authored the CARE and numerous articles. Dr. Seifert has lectured internationally on youth and family violence and trauma. http://careforusall.com

WORKING WITH TEEN VOLUNTEERS IN YOUR AGENCY

Sphere: Related Content

Agency Information

â?¢ Young people need to know about your agencyâ??s mission and program.

Use this as an opportunity to educate youth and their families about
your organization and its issues.

- Give them written information to read later on that they can give to their
parents.

- Introduce them to key people in the organization, especially those with
whom they will be interacting.

- Provide a tour of your facility.

Etiquette

Do not assume that students understand appropriate conduct and etiquette in your agency.

Be sure to address the following items with your youth volunteers: (you may even want to print a short informational brochure)

- How do you, other adults in the agency, and the people that you serve like
to be addressed? (Mr., Mrs., Mrs., first names, etc.)

- Appropriate behavior

- Punctuality

- Relations with staff

- What if you are sick?

- In case of emergency

- Organizational Rules regarding:

Confidentiality (what is it and why is it important?)
Appropriate language
Time constraints

*Be sure to explain the reasons and the importance of these rules for students.

- The importance of follow-through and maintaining the agreed commitment.

- If you expect a signed commitment (contract) explain the need at this time

Information on Individuals Being Served

Service learning can bridge gaps between different generation, different ethnic groups, different income levels, and other areas of diversity in our community.

Stereotypes and gaps can widen if young people do not know what to expect or how to interact.

Take time to talk to the students about the clients that you serve.
You will create a better understanding of the needs and opportunities that exist in our community.

Problem Solving

Take time to help students with problem solving.

- Can you discuss some problems that might arise before they occur?

- What problems will students encounter when they are serving?

- Will people be uncomfortable receiving their help?

- Will they encounter opposition?

- Will tasks not go as planned?

- Will the weather interfere?

- Will they run out of supplies?

â?¢ Using case studies from your agencyâ??s experience, can be a good concrete way for the young people to practice problem solving.

Safety and Supervision

Just like the school, a volunteer agency needs to provide:

â?¢ A safe physical environment
â?¢ Adequate supervision
â?¢ Safe adult supervisors.

Consider the following questions:

- How will you assess the need for volunteers and develop volunteer job
descriptions that are appropriate for adolescent volunteers?

- How will you recruit, screen, select and train young volunteers?

- What kind of screening is appropriate for young volunteers?

- What kind of training is required for the positions in which young
volunteers will be placed?

- Who will be responsible for supervising these young volunteers?

- Does your insurance policy cover volunteer service by children and teens?

- What kind of parental permission is necessary for children and adolescents
who volunteer?

â?¢ Even when you work with a group of students, matching for a specific task is needed.

Young people should be assigned to parts of the project that best fit their interest, skills, readiness and needs.

â?¢ Even if community service is mandatory, your agency is not required to involve all young people in service.

Your primary responsibility is to provide quality service to your clients.
If a young person, or even a whole group does not meet specific needs of your organization, you are free to, and should, redirect their energies.

An effective safety management strategy is always composed of the following steps:

1) identify the risks
2) assess the risks
3) decide how to control the risks
4) implement a strategy to avoid, reduce or deal with the risks
5) Review and revise this policy periodically and as needed.

When identifying potential risks, take into account:

â?¢ Age of the young people participating
â?¢ Are there any legal duties imposed on your organization to care for these
young people?
â?¢ Review your premises, location, adult staff and the activity in
which students will participate.
â?¢ Make yourself aware of the potential hazards that student participation
may pose.

4 Tools to Help You Control Risks:

1) Avoidance â?? Choose not to offer a service opportunity that presents too great
a risk.
2) Modification â?? Adjust your policies, plans and procedures to reduce the
chance that harm may occur.
3) Transfer â?? Shift at least the financial aspect of the risk through
contractual agreements and insurance.
4) Retention â?? Accept the risk and prepare for the consequences.

Some service opportunities may be appropriate if they are modified to meet the needs and capabilities of young volunteers.

â?¢ Children may need to have tasks broken down into their individual
components, or into shorter time spans.

â?¢ Children should not be expected to work for periods longer than 60-90
minutes, and should complete their assignments during the daytime.
Adolescents may be able to handle longer periods and later hours of service.

When writing job descriptions:

â?¢ Use language that young volunteers will understand.
â?¢ State exactly what tasks the volunteer will be performing.
â?¢ Who will supervise these volunteers?
â?¢ Are there any tasks, locations or activities that a young volunteer will
not be allowed to participate in?

Agency Contact with School and Parents

Be sure to maintain contact with the Volunteer Center, school and parents.

â?¢ Parents can provide you with helpful information about their youngsterâ??s
abilities, limitations, physical and emotional development.

â?¢ Parents who are made aware of their childrenâ??s activities, and who are
asked to contribute, tend to feel better about the organization at which
their child volunteers.

â?¢ If the student is involved in an activity that has a potential risk,
inform parents and request their permission for their child to
participate in this activity. Make sure that forms/permission slips sent
to parents are clear and precise.

Source: Free Articles

Autor: devorah

What Defines An At Risk Youth?

Sphere: Related Content

Have you ever wondered which teenagers are at high risk for such behaviors as drug or alcohol use? How about which ones are susceptible to dropping out of school, becoming sexually promiscuous or even getting pregnant?

Or how about which ones will turn to violence, gangs, running away or suicide? And maybe you have even wondered which teens really do need help for their rebellious or disturbing adolescent behavior?

If you're a parent of a teen in our society today, then you're well aware of the fact that a major difficulty all parents of teens face is how to recognize the more subtle indicators of these types of behavioral problems and when and how to intervene. It's a known fact that one of the obstacles that can cause parents to delay getting help for their struggling adolescent is their confusion about the answer to this question... "What truly defines an at risk youth and when does a parent really need to seek intervention?"

This can be a troubling dilemma so many parents find themselves comparing their child to other children. Parents often vacillate between, "My kid isn't as bad as their kid!" and "Why can't my teen act like that so-and-so's child?"

Although it's tempting to compare your child to other adolescents or even to your own behavior when you were a teen in an attempt to measure the seriousness of the situation, this is not truly indicative of a teen's need for outside intervention. As parents of an adolescent you will be better off looking at your particular family's situation and actually deciding for yourself if your teenager is on a self-destructive path or just going through a phase.

This tactic can be most effective if you have the ability to be brutally honest with yourself and you're truly willing to pay attention to your youngster's behavior. In other words, you can't just bury your head in the sand or run from the disruptive situations. Or say things like "What problem? I don't see any problem."

This is not to say that parents should not avail themselves of support groups or other sources of information that might guide them in their choices. In fact, you definitely should use all the information and support available to you. It simply means that you know if your child is in trouble. Remember the saying "If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't right." Although simple it actually is quite useful in these situations.

Now your next question just might be "What do I need to know so that I can pay attentions to my child's behavior? I don't have a clue where to begin" To actually pay attention to your teenager's behavior you need to know what the signs and symptoms are for these particularly disturbing behaviors. Knowing what to look for before a problem reaches the crisis point will give you a good chance of recognizing the problems before things get out of control.

So remember, get the facts for yourself. Trust your instincts and take action before the situation deteriorates and spirals out of control.

Source: Free Articles
Autor: marbes

What Defines An At Risk Youth?

Sphere: Related Content

Source: Free Articles

Author: marbes

Youth Activities – Weight Loss Camp

Sphere: Related Content

Do you want to encourage your youngsters to achieve wellness and health? If you do, then why don’t you let them join a weight loss camp? This is one of the youth activities that your kid can greatly benefit from.

Lots of individuals often mistake a weight loss camp for a boot camp. The main difference is that the former is less harsh and fun. In a weight loss camp, the youth will be taught the importance of self discipline, proper nutrition, and health.

If your kid is having problems with losing weight, this is the best time to join the camp. Losing weight can put a lot of pressure to your kid but in the camp, you can remove the pressure. Your kid will surely lose weight without any pressure and in a fun way. Aside from losing weight, a youngsterwill also be taught how to improve their self-image and self-esteem. The eating habits will also be changed to a healthier one.

Kids who have an inactive lifestyle will soon be springing in action when they are in the camp. What about duration? The duration varies. There are camps that last for a week or for even 4-6 weeks. You can try out the shortest camp duration as a beginner. During school vacations, let your kid join the month long weight loss camp. But of course, there are some expenses to be paid. Weight loss camps are available in special packages and if you’re quite lucky, you can even get discounts. After the camp, your kid will learn a lot about wellness and health.

The camps are held in attractive locations and not in buildings. Don’t worry if your kid is going to stay long in the camp because it is equipped with up to date facilities. It will also be supervised by a trained staff and expert instructors. A nutritionist will be joining the camp and he or she will be in charge of preparing healthy meals for the campers. The various activities and programs during the camp can truly inspire your kid to change his or her current lifestyle as well as gaining enhanced self-worth.

Before you sign up your kid for a weight loss camp, you have to visit a doctor first. The doctor will assess if your kid is fit to join a weight loss camp. Even when your kid is already in the camp, his or her health will be monitored strictly. You see, the camp is supposed to make your kid healthier and so all the precautionary measures will be undertaken.

The activities and exercises included in the camp program will be carried out by expert instructors. You can be sure that the activities are safe and will not lead to accidents or problems. Even if the camp is far from home, your kid will not get homesick because all the important facilities are there.

So if your kids have weight problems, set an appointment with the doctor and ask if they can join youth activities like a weight loss camp. Don’t forget to prepare a budget for the youth camp because you will be spending some money.

The camp is a worthy investment because it can help your kid lose weight and improve his self confidence, self esteem, and self worth. Find a good weight loss camp now.

Fun Youth Activities

Sphere: Related Content

Being a kid is so much fun. You can play as long as you want, eat as many foods as you like, sleep longer hours, and doing many other kiddy things. When you reach adolescence, things will be a lot different. You will often find yourself stressed out and once you’re in this situation, you should do some fun youth activities.

Most youth are not into stress-relieving activities because they find it really boring. They often conjure images of someone meditating for many hours, sitting with a lotus pose, or doing Tai Chi activities. These activities are suited for older individuals but for the youth, you can always do simple and fun activities that can relieve stress. Soon, you will feel better and you get to enjoy your teenage days.

Being a teenager is not about suffering stress, fear, or anxiety. You can enjoy your teenage life if you allow yourself to proactively care for your body, as well as your mind. Here are some of those fun youth activities that you can do:

1. Spend some time playing with your smaller brothers and sisters. Stress can be beaten when you play with smaller kids. Exuberance and joy are contagious, so you can immediately forget your worries about growing up. If you’ve forgotten how to be a small child, try to play monopoly, charades, or even hide-and-seek. These games are fun and while you’re playing games, do it off the couch. Passive activities like watching TV can’t help you relieve stress.

2. Fly kites. When was the last time you flew a kite? You can invite your peer group if you like. Go to a store and then choose the kite that you like. You can fly the kite at the local park together with your peers. Running around on an empty lot and watching your kites dance in the air can truly relieve stress.

3. Beach vacations. Have you ever considered going on a beach vacation? Again, you can invite your peers so that you can do activities together like building castles in the sand, throwing Frisbees, playing beach volleyball, and many others. You can loosen those tight muscles and even lighten your dull mood. The heat of the sun can also help in curbing the effects of stress.

4. Play with your family. At dinner when all the family members are around, you can each decorate the plates and then awards will be given to the most artistic dinner plate, most gourmets, and other great awards. You can create lasting memories and at the same time, ease the stress.

5. Paint. Have you ever tried painting? You can do abstract painting if you like so that you can express your feelings. You can do this in the basement or in the garage. Don’t forget to wear a good outfit.

As a teenager, you need to be happy at all times. This is the way to living a healthy and peaceful life. Fun youth activities can definitely add some spice to your life. Try these activities and soon you’re stress will be eased.

You’re never too old to do fun youth activities. Besides, you shouldn’t forget the child inside you. This is the secret to staying and looking young. Despite your problems as a teenager, you should still find time to have some fun.