The Preteen Digest
The Preteen Digest is a summary of recent news and research about
preteens.
April 2005
Topics:
News & Research
Assessing
Social Factors that Influence Children of Color, Immigrant Children
New strategies are needed to ensure that children of color, as well as
those from immigrant families, achieve academic and emotional success,
according to an article in The Future of Children that focuses on children
ages 6-12. The article notes how a child’s development is affected
not only by his/her family, but also by social position, culture, the
media, and other societal factors. Recommendations for policies, programs,
and future research are provided.
New
Data on Safety, Theft, and Bullying in Schools
Data about preteens regarding weapons at school, bullying, and perceptions
of school safety, among other topics, are available in a report from the
National Center for Education Statistics. Highlights include:
-
4 percent of sixth graders and 6 percent of seventh graders were
victims of theft or violence in schools in 2003.
-
14 percent of sixth graders said they had been bullied at school
in 2003.
-
In 2003, one in 10 sixth graders feared for their safety either at
school or going to and from school.
See Also:
http://youthviolence.edschool.virginia.edu/violence-in-schools/national-statistics.html
More About Bullying:
http://www.healthinschools.org/focus/2004/no2.htm
Resources for Parents/School Personnel:
http://www.nonamecallingweek.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/resources/index.html
Poll:
Well Being of Children Tops Californians' Concerns
Californians rate "the well being of children" as their chief
concern, outranking the cost of living, taxes, the war in Iraq, terrorism,
and eight other issues, according to a poll conducted by the Field Research
Corporation for the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health. The
poll, in which individuals also rated their level of concern about 21
issues specific to children, found that Latinos generally expressed higher
levels of concern about children than white non-Hispanics, particularly
regarding emotional health issues, such as self esteem, bullying, stress,
and peer pressure.
See Also:
http://www.kidsdata.org/topicbar.jsp?t=18&i=6&ra=2_1&sort=a&va=null&vb=a&yr=1&o_id=0&m=4&sh=&nf=
County Children's Reports Include Preteen Data
In 2003, slightly more than 70 percent of San Mateo County fifth and seventh
graders did not meet state physical fitness standards. In 2004, more than
12 percent of Santa Clara County seventh graders said they had seriously
considered suicide in the last year. These are among the preteen-related
findings available in two county reports on children's health and well
being released in March. The reports cover children of all ages, but include
some specific findings about preteens.
Santa Clara County:
http://www.kidsincommon.org/childrens_report.html
San Mateo County: http://www.pcf.org/peninsula_partnership/child_report.html
Study:
Some After-School Programs Can Reduce Delinquency
After-school programs that help develop students' social skills and character
had the most positive results in reducing delinquent behavior for middle
school students, according to findings published in the journal Prevention
Science. The study suggests that the reduction was achieved by increasing
positive peer interactions and decreasing students' intentions to use
drugs, rather than by simply reducing the number of unsupervised hours
for children or providing constructive activities.
See Also:
Promising Program Approaches for Children Ages 10-15:
http://www.sierrahealth.org/pdf/Exemplary_Practices_in_Adolescent_Development.pdf
Effective Prevention Strategies for Middle and Elementary Schoolers:
http://www.gettingresults.org/c/@q2y80iKi60shI/Pages/factsheets.html
Facts & Figures
Survey:
Positive Feelings Decline Between Middle Childhood, Adolescence
Students’ feelings of self esteem and their sense of being supported
by their families and communities both declined markedly between elementary
school and the middle and high school years, according to a new survey
of nearly 14,000 Santa Clara County public school students. Sixty-five
percent of students in fourth to sixth grade reported having high self-esteem,
compared to 42 percent of older students in middle and high school, according
to the Project Cornerstone survey. The survey also found that 62 percent
of students in fourth to sixth grade said that school provides a caring,
encouraging environment, compared to only 25 percent of older students.
Events
Growing
a Girl: Strategies for Raising Strong Daughters
Psychologist and author Barbara Mackoff will offer tools to help cultivate
girls' independence and raise their confidence. The lecture, sponsored
by Bay Area Parent, takes place Wednesday, April 27, in Campbell.
'Heart
to Heart Talk' for Preteens, Parents
Body changes, what to know about the opposite sex, and other issues affecting
adolescents are on the agenda for Lucile Packard Children's Hospital's
"Heart to Heart Talk on Growing Up" for preteens and parents/guardians,
which is offered regularly throughout the year.
The Preteen Alliance
The community-based Preteen Alliance, formed by the Lucile Packard Foundation
for Children's Health, seeks to promote the emotional and behavioral health
of preteens in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Membership is open
to all. Alliance members will be kept informed of news and data related
to preteens, and will have opportunities to participate and share information
at periodic convenings.
Join
the Preteen Alliance
More
about the Preteen Alliance
|
