Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Social Media Mania or Madness?

With summer here and most schools out of session, many youth are left to fend for themselves during the day while their parents or caregivers are at work. My husband calls it “the summer of sloth” at our house, because our kids sit around and play on their phones and computers or watch television for […]

WRITTEN BY: Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.416@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Joseph Maiorano, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Harrison County, maiorano.2@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://pixabay.com/photos/snapchat-social-media-smartphone-2480959/
  • https://pixabay.com/photos/texting-mobile-phones-hands-two-1490691/

SOURCES:

  • American Academy of Pediatrics, (2018). Children and Media Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Found at: https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/Pages/Children-and-Media-Tips.aspx
  • Anderson, M. (2018). A Majority of Teens Have Experienced Some Form of Cyberbullying. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from: https://www.pewinternet.org/2018/09/27/a-majority-of-teens-have-experienced-some-form-of-cyberbullying/
  • Digital Responsibility, (2019). Health and Technology. Found at: http://www.digitalresponsibility.org/health-and-technology
  • Hurley, K. (2019). Digital Self-Harm: Why Are Teens Cyber Bullying Themselves? Remedy Health Media, LLC. Found at: https://www.psycom.net/digital-self-harm
  • Jiang, J. (2018). How Teens and Parents Navigate Screen Time and Device Distractions. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from: https://www.pewinternet.org/2018/08/22/how-teens-and-parents-navigate-screen-time-and-device-distractions/
  • Lobb, J. (2016). Time for a Technology Break? Live Healthy Live Well Blog. Retrieved from: https://livehealthyosu.com/tag/digital-detoxing/
  • Mir, E. and Novas, C. (2019). Social Media and Adolescents’ and Young Adults’ Mental Health. National Center for Health Research. Found at: http://www.center4research.org/social-media-affects-mental-health/
  • Shafer, L., (2017). Social Media and Teen Anxiety. Harvard Graduate School of Education. Retrieved from: https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/17/12/social-media-and-teen-anxiety
  • U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2018) Health Risks of an Inactive Lifestyle. MedlinePlus. Found at: https://medlineplus.gov/healthrisksofaninactivelifestyle.html

Graduations, Money, More Graduations, and More Money

This year, the month of May is filled with several graduations and graduation parties for my family. My son graduates from a 2-year college program as well as from high school. My nephew graduates from a 4-year college, and my niece graduates from high school. With all of these milestones and celebrations comes gifts for […]

WRITTEN BY: Misty Harmon, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.417@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Joseph Maiorano, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Harrison County, maiorano.2@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://pixabay.com/en/money-donation-donate-profit-give-652560/

SOURCES:

  • Harmon, M. (2018). Mindful Parenting: Enjoy Every Moment. Live Smart Ohio. Available at http://livesmartohio.osu.edu/mind-and-body/harmon-416osu-edu/mindful-parenting-enjoy-every-moment/
  • Long, H. (2015). What I wish I knew about money on graduation day. CNN Money. Available at http://money.cnn.com/2015/05/26/investing/graduation-2015-what-i-wish-i-knew/index.html?section=money_latest
  • ProCon.org. (2016). Is College Education Worth It? Available at https://college-education.procon.org/
  • National Endowment for Financial Education. (2018). Avoid Graduation Money Mistakes. Smart About Money. Available at https://www.smartaboutmoney.org/Topics/Education-and-Career/Graduation/Avoid-Graduation-Money-Mistakes
  • HOMEROOM. (2016). 8 Things High School Grads Need to Do Before Leaving for College. The U.S. Department of Education. Available at https://blog.ed.gov/2016/07/8-things-hs-grads-need-to-do-before-college/
  • Harmon, M. (2018). How Are You Spending Your Tax Refund? Live Smart Ohio. Available at http://livesmartohio.osu.edu/money/harmon-416osu-edu/how-are-you-spending-your-tax-refund/

Are You a Helicopter Parent?

You’ve likely heard of “helicopter parenting”, a term used to describe the tendency of modern parents to hover over their children, crossing the line from being supportive and responsible into the territory of being imposing. “Imposing on my own child?” you might ask. Yes, if you’re a helicopter parent. Research suggests that heavy-handed parental involvement […]

WRITTEN BY: Joanna Fifner, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educator, Ohio State University

REVIEWED BY: Jami Dellifield, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educator, Ohio State University

SOURCES:

  • http://www.health.harvard.edu/parenting-issues/helicopter-parenting-when-too-much-help-is-no-help
  • http://news.fsu.edu/news/education-society/2016/06/28/helicopter-parents-hovering-may-effect-kids-transition-adulthood/
  • http://newsinfo.iu.edu/web/page/normal/6073.html

REFERENCES:

  • https://www.osu.edu/features/2016/parenting-research.html
  • http://counseling.uoregon.edu/Topics-Resources/Parents-Family/Helpful-Articles/Helicopter-Parents
  • http://newsinfo.iu.edu/web/page/normal/6073.html

Why won’t my Teenager just Listen?!

You have a lifetime of experience and insight, but your teen is less than eager to hear your advice. You know exactly how she can solve the problem she’s having, but in her eyes, you couldn’t possibly know what’s best. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. As a parent, it can be frustrating […]

WRITTEN BY: Joanna Fifner, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Medina County, fifner.2@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Jenny Lobb, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County, lobb.3@osu.edu

SOURCES:

  • American Academy of Pediatrics (2015). Stages of Adolescence. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/pages/Stages-of-Adolescence.aspx
  • MedlinePlus (2016). Teen Development. https://medlineplus.gov/teendevelopment.html

Sometimes Life Is Hard

Local news outlets are reporting an increase in suicide completions by young people.  Two contributing factors for this alarming increase are that more children (as early as eight years old), teens, and young adults are suffering from anxiety and depression.  Other youth and young adults are engaging in self-harming behaviors such as cutting, plucking, eating disorders, sexual promiscuity and/or binge drinking. When we […]

WRITTEN BY: Jami Dellifield, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Hardin County

REVIEWED BY: Donna Green, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Erie County, green.308@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • http://creatingcommunitysolutions.org/texttalkact
  • https://pixabay.com/en/mental-health-mental-health-cloud-1389919/

SOURCES:

  • http://www.samhsa.gov/
  • www.mentalhealth.gov
  • www.youth.gov
  • https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/cs/
  • http://creatingcommunitysolutions.org/texttalkact
  • http://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-By-the-Numbers

New Year’s Resolutions for Teens

It is the season for New Year’s resolutions and this year you might want to consider getting your teen involved! Research shows that the development of positive future orientation through goal setting among teens is linked to improved school performance, motivation, self-confidence, self-esteem, and decreased risk of engagement in harmful behaviors (Forneries, Danish, & Scott, […]

WRITTEN BY: Jamari White, MSW, LSW, Healthy Relationships Program Specialist

REVIEWED BY: Carmen Irving, M.A., CLFE, CYC-P, Extension Educator

SOURCES:

  • https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/Pages/Healthy-New-Year-Resolutions-for-Kids.aspxs:
  • http://kidshealth.org/teen/homework/goals/goals_tips.html
  • http://livesmartohio.osu.edu/family-and-relationships/laplant-8osu-edu/creating-a-winning-family-team/

REFERENCES:

  • Forneries, T., Danish, S., & Scott, D. (2007). Setting goals, solving problems, and seeking social support: Developing adolescents’ abilities through a life skills program. Adolescence, 42, 103-14.

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