Jan. 11th, 2017
Weekly Chatter
National Stalking Awareness Month
About 15% of children in grades 6-9 have been stalking victims, according to the results of one study; and 14% of girls and 13% of boys are victims of stalking, according to another study.

Although, 3 out of 10 teens in the US have been stalked by complete strangers on Facebook and 76% of the perpetrators are 26 years old and older, teens are perpetrators, too. Research shows that teen perpetrators are often insecure and use social media to harass or threaten their dating partners and monitor their partner's whereabouts and activities. 

One recent study showed that 15% of 6th grade students commit cyber abuse and another study showed that 20% of high school girls in a relationship have been subject to physical or sexual abuse  in any recent 12-month period.



Teen victims of stalking and other forms of dating abuse are more likely to view abuse as a normal part of a relationship and as evidence of love, continuing to feel attached to their partners. They are also more likely to report symptoms linked to depression, as well as risky behaviors including binge drinking, substance abuse and sexting.

What Parents Can Do
  • Talk to your kids about healthy & acceptable dating behaviors and to always avoid alcohol and drugs
  • Teach your teen to analyze media and recognize dangerous messages.
  • Discuss privacy settings & disable location sharing on social media. Make all adolescent accounts "private" or "friends only"
  • Practice ways to refuse unwanted sexual advances with your teen
  • Monitor your teen's activities (online and in person) and have a plan for rescue should they find themselves in a dangerous situation.
  • Encourage your teen to come to you or another trusted adult if anyone's conduct (sexual, physical or even verbal) makes them feel uncomfortable.
If your teen is dealing with a stalker, contact the proper authorities, whether they are school officials or law enforcement, and let your teen know that you are there to help every step of the way

For more information
Dating - ACPeds blog post
Advertisements Depict Unsafe Sleep Environments
According to recent research, 40% of current national magazine advertisements and manufacturers of infant cribs continue to depict unsafe sleep environments, despite long established guidelines for protecting against SIDS and other sleep-related deaths.

Most of the crib displays that depicted unsafe sleep environments showed bumper pads and/or soft bedding, both of which have been associated with sudden infant death syndrome or other sleep-related deaths.



Expert recommendations for safe sleep
  • Infants should not sleep on a couch or in a chair with an adult or alone
  • Clothing should fit the baby and should not be too loose or baggy
  • Refrain from using any extra bedding, blankets, bumpers and pillows in the crib; a tight, fitted sheet is all that is needed
  • Toys and stuffed animals should not be in the baby's sleep area
  • Use a firm safety-approved crib mattress with a fitted sheet
  • The baby's head should never be covered
  • Always place an infant on his or her back to sleep
  • Do not smoke or let anyone smoke around the baby
For more information
Helping Your Baby Sleep Safely - A handout that an ACPeds' member shared
Drafting a Family Mission Statement          #WeeklyBlogPost
A family mission statement encapsulates the rights, roles and responsibilities of each family member. Drafting a family mission statement gives parents an opportunity to explain and explore values with their children. .

Family mission statements can also foster connectedness between family members, a primary factor in keeping teens from at-risk behaviors.

For the research and more helpful information,  CLICK HERE  and 
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