At times there may be weakness in the structure, and here you will find the tools to solidify learning.
Articles are updated frequently.
These sections are organized by age level, but the information is not confined to just this age. Consider looking at other age ranges as well. Also, make sure to check out the Archives.
Articles are updated frequently.
These sections are organized by age level, but the information is not confined to just this age. Consider looking at other age ranges as well. Also, make sure to check out the Archives.
Hearing Loss--A Danger for your Pre-Teens
Are your children “wearing” ear buds? Are they using headphones? Do they like to listen to loud music? They may be in danger of losing their hearing.
The amount of noise in our world has increased over the last 20 years. Your children are growing up with earbuds in their ears. Many children use personal devices for hours every day. Young people are listening to content at 105 decibels.
Listening to loud music with earbuds or headphones can cause damage, because they are in your ear canal or adjacent to your ear. Abhita Reddy, MD
Hearing capability can impact health and the ability to learn communication skills. Unaddressed hearing loss can cause social isolation, loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Hearing loss in children can lead to poor academic performance and reduced motivation and concentration. Although it is not known yet whether hearing loss is temporary or permanent, hearing loss may depend on sound that is often too loud, too long, and how often listeners are exposed. Damage from unsafe listening can compound over life. Noise exposure early in life can make people more vulnerable to age-related hearing loss.
Noise induced hearing is preventable although it may not be reversible. Taking the following actions may help:
Take a break from exposure. Take breaks after listening for more than one hour.
Have your children wear foam ear plugs. Foam ear plugs lower the decibel level of the sound that reaches the ear drum by 31-44d.
Allow distance from the source of the sound. Three feet for normal hearing or 70-85 decibels is suggested.
Use a safe volume to reduce damage. Children should be able to hear people (especially parents) and conversation around them. Parents should not have to shout to get their children’s attention.
If you suspect a loss of hearing in your children, have them take a hearing test. Maybe hearing tests should be given to children in schools as eye tests are given to make sure they are learning at their best.
Balancing Protection and Privacy
Secrecy and privacy are part of growing independence, but your children at this age cannot assume they have a right to “privacy” or that their room is “out of bounds” to their parents. Parents need to know what their children are doing to provide the protection and guidance children need. The process of supervision never ends for a parent and is especially important with your children in this age group.
Even watchful parents will face a lot of difficult choices. Should my child have their own phone? Should they have their own email account? How much do parents need to know about their friends, and how they spend their time? How do parents respect their privacy and choices as far as their actions go? How do parents encourage their children's choice of clothing and modesty?
To supervise well is not easy for parents of pre-teens. They may find their children so difficult to understand that they become overprotective or too restrictive. They remain oblivious until problems occur. However, parents are still in charge and need to set guidelines and boundaries as well as consequences through discussion with their pre-teens. Observing and analyzing your children’s interactions with their siblings and friends helps you to make a knowing decision about how far or how strictly you should set rules. You need to stand in your kid’s shoes to see the situations they face daily. If you lose touch with your children now, the teenage years ahead will present you with even more problems.
Parents know the things their children can get involved in these days through social media. Sex, drugs and alcohol seem to be all over the internet as dangers to children. The world presents daily challenges so that your protection of your children needs your watchfulness more than ever. Children may be developing more secretive behaviors, but that doesn’t mean you should not supervise.
Parents still hold the power for children in this age group. You may have hurt feelings or go too far, but you need to know you still have influence on your children’s behavior. This is the time to stay vigilant to protect your children but to also know how much freedom and privacy they require.
Are your children “wearing” ear buds? Are they using headphones? Do they like to listen to loud music? They may be in danger of losing their hearing.
The amount of noise in our world has increased over the last 20 years. Your children are growing up with earbuds in their ears. Many children use personal devices for hours every day. Young people are listening to content at 105 decibels.
Listening to loud music with earbuds or headphones can cause damage, because they are in your ear canal or adjacent to your ear. Abhita Reddy, MD
Hearing capability can impact health and the ability to learn communication skills. Unaddressed hearing loss can cause social isolation, loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Hearing loss in children can lead to poor academic performance and reduced motivation and concentration. Although it is not known yet whether hearing loss is temporary or permanent, hearing loss may depend on sound that is often too loud, too long, and how often listeners are exposed. Damage from unsafe listening can compound over life. Noise exposure early in life can make people more vulnerable to age-related hearing loss.
Noise induced hearing is preventable although it may not be reversible. Taking the following actions may help:
Take a break from exposure. Take breaks after listening for more than one hour.
Have your children wear foam ear plugs. Foam ear plugs lower the decibel level of the sound that reaches the ear drum by 31-44d.
Allow distance from the source of the sound. Three feet for normal hearing or 70-85 decibels is suggested.
Use a safe volume to reduce damage. Children should be able to hear people (especially parents) and conversation around them. Parents should not have to shout to get their children’s attention.
If you suspect a loss of hearing in your children, have them take a hearing test. Maybe hearing tests should be given to children in schools as eye tests are given to make sure they are learning at their best.
Balancing Protection and Privacy
Secrecy and privacy are part of growing independence, but your children at this age cannot assume they have a right to “privacy” or that their room is “out of bounds” to their parents. Parents need to know what their children are doing to provide the protection and guidance children need. The process of supervision never ends for a parent and is especially important with your children in this age group.
Even watchful parents will face a lot of difficult choices. Should my child have their own phone? Should they have their own email account? How much do parents need to know about their friends, and how they spend their time? How do parents respect their privacy and choices as far as their actions go? How do parents encourage their children's choice of clothing and modesty?
To supervise well is not easy for parents of pre-teens. They may find their children so difficult to understand that they become overprotective or too restrictive. They remain oblivious until problems occur. However, parents are still in charge and need to set guidelines and boundaries as well as consequences through discussion with their pre-teens. Observing and analyzing your children’s interactions with their siblings and friends helps you to make a knowing decision about how far or how strictly you should set rules. You need to stand in your kid’s shoes to see the situations they face daily. If you lose touch with your children now, the teenage years ahead will present you with even more problems.
Parents know the things their children can get involved in these days through social media. Sex, drugs and alcohol seem to be all over the internet as dangers to children. The world presents daily challenges so that your protection of your children needs your watchfulness more than ever. Children may be developing more secretive behaviors, but that doesn’t mean you should not supervise.
Parents still hold the power for children in this age group. You may have hurt feelings or go too far, but you need to know you still have influence on your children’s behavior. This is the time to stay vigilant to protect your children but to also know how much freedom and privacy they require.