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'Help Me Grow' A second TV season is set for 0-5-year-olds KOCE, in conjunction with the Children & Families Commission of Orange County, will launch its second season of "Help Me Grow," a 13-part series that begins in January. The program will be heavily focused on advice, tips and counseling for very young children and their families. Sandra Robbie, an Emmy Award-winner from other work who hosted the first season this year, will be back. The commission also is promoting its efforts to reach the 0- to 5-year-old generation through an agreement with the Orange County Register to print related topics in the Sunday newspaper. The 16-week series, also called "Help Me Grow," ends Sept. 19. Also, the commission is preparing to publish a "Help Me Grow" activities booklet in 2005. The nonprofit handed out thousands of coloring books to young children at the recent Orange County Fair. KOCE's first season is currently being re-run at noon Fridays. Its second season will be taped and be more of a "60 Minutes" format, a commission spokeswoman said. There will be two air times per week, she said. The first season was shot live. The Children & Families Commission of Orange County was created in 1998 as a result of Proposition 10, the 50-cent sales tax applied to tobacco products. The funds are used to support education, health and child-care programs promoting early childhood development from prenatal care through age 5. Information on the commission: www.occhildrenandfamilies.org. For information on Help Me Grow: www.helpmegrowonline.org. Family Finance : Mental Math By Jonathan Fagan Examine two financial 'blind spots' Most people are unknowingly misbehaving when it comes to our finances, which can cost us hundreds, even thousands of dollars, annually. Mental accounting and framing are two key "blind spots" that may keep you from reaching your financial goals. Let's look at mental accounting. Research shows that we tend to create "mental accounts" to categorize spending on things like food, clothing or entertainment. Even though all money "spends" the same, people tend to treat birthday or gift money differently from earned money. In a 2003 study conducted by Synovate for the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, two-thirds of the respondents said they would drive 20 minutes to save $8 on an alarm clock, but almost 75 percent would not drive the same distance to save $8 on a new TV. Note how the same amount of money can be regarded so differently - all depending on our mental view of the situation. This is what prompts people to spend more when they use credit cards, even though all money "spends" the same. Another common blind spot is framing, or making financial decisions on how the choices are presented. In the survey, respondents were asked the same question in two different ways to determine if they were susceptible to framing. Roughly half said they could not comfortably save 20 percent of their household's income. Yet, 7-in-10 said they could live on 80 percent of their income. The lesson here is to objectively evaluate financial decisions and compare the best option next to the worst one. The financial behavior study included doctors, attorneys and CPAs, and suggests that people from all walks of life are prone to misbehaviors. Learning about your potential blind spots is the first step toward correcting them. Talking with a qualified financial professional is a good way to understand these misbehaviors and improve financial decision-making skills. Jonathan Fagan is a financial representative with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network/The Waltos Group in Newport Beach. Information: 949.863.5800 or www.nmfn.com/waltosgroup.com Grades Matter The middle years stress the young student The next time your 9- to 13-year-old exclaims, "I don't care!" when a questionable grade appears on the report card, don't believe him. A recent survey shows that this age group thinks deeply about doing well in school. Of the top eight causes of worry or stress of those surveyed, the top reason, given by 53% of respondents, was school grades. The KidsHealth KidsPoll survey also listed the other seven reasons of stress, with the percentage representing areas that cause daily or weekly worry: • Looks or appearance (43%) • Problems at home (39%) • Being liked (33%) • Being out of shape or overweight (32%) • Your future (30%) • Being a failure by disappointing loved ones (29%) • Your friends and their problems (27%) When asked, "When stressed or worried about something, what do you usually do?," the answers broke down this way: 25% talk to parents or friends; 24% keep the issue to themselves; 17% do none of the above; and 9% do something about the cause of the worry. Some 42% of respondents go to their parents to "learn more about a topic that is worrying them." Surprisingly, and potentially troubling, some 24% go to the Internet to find the answer. The KidsHealth KidsPoll is a project of the National Association of Health Education Centers, the Nemours Center for Children's Health Media, and the Department of Health Education and Recreation at Southern Illinois University Cardondale. For more information: nahec.org/KidsPoll. Helping Hand By Sandy Bennett A Little Voice New coaching program assists parents Imagine having a little voice whisper some advice on how to handle those difficult parenting moments: temper tantrums, sibling fights or the strong-willed child who refuses to budge. Such assistance will become a reality for local families beginning in October when the Child Guidance Center in Santa Ana launches a "coaching" program for parents. Developed by the Department of Pediatrics at UC Davis Medical Center, the approach calls for the parent and child to be seen together in specially designed observation and treatment rooms, each which have a 2-way mirror and a remote-controlled video camera. The parent wears an electronic device in his or her ear and is coached by a therapist from behind the mirror who whispers words of support and tips on how to handle given situations. "It's a different approach. It's very behavioral and it gives you concrete skills in what to do with your child," says Lori Pack, director of child abuse prevention and treatment programs at Child Guidance Center. "So often when our kids go into a screaming- or temper-tantrum (mode), parents give into the child. So the nice thing about this is you're getting a lot of support." Parent Child Interaction Therapy, the first outpatient program of its kind in Orange County, will initially be offered to at-risk families in areas of Santa Ana who have children between the ages of 2 and 8 and have issues of domestic violence and/or child abuse. Next year, the center hopes to expand the program to include other populations. In addition to weekly, 1-hour, "coaching" sessions, which last between 14 to 20 weeks, therapists also visit each family's home to further assist with parenting skills. Daily homework is assigned as well and families report back to a therapist via the phone for about 5 minutes each day. The Child Guidance Center, Inc. was founded in 1967 by a group of concerned parents and mental health professionals. The nonprofit agency serves more than 3,100 children and families living in Orange County each year. For more information, visit www.cgcoc.org or call 714.953.4455. Sandy Bennett is associate editor at OC Family Magazine. We like them! U.S. adults go easier on their perception of children A new study shows that in the past nine years, the American public has gone from general negative thoughts about children to a much more beautific viewpoint. Twice as many adults (43%) use positive terms such as "wonderful" and "great" when describing children than in 1995. And when asked about their own children or those they know well, that number jumps to 78% of parents and 71% of non-parents, according to the Advertising Council. Many more adults today (72%) than in the mid-90s believe that raising children is the responsibility of parents as well as a supportive community. Almost all those polled (97%) believe that one person can make a difference in the life of a child, and that a majority (78%) would like to help. Had a drink? Many ages 9-13 are at least offered one Some 29% of 9- to 13-year-olds polled about alcohol consumption say they have been offered a drink at least once. A KidsPoll by KidsHealth this year indicates that of those youngsters, 34% had been offered alcohol by "adults I know" and 29% by "older kids." Some 3% of respondents say they drink alcohol every week; 3% say at least once a month; 4% say they drink once in awhile. Some 72% of those surveyed say they have never tried alcohol and 18% said they've tried it once. The poll reached 700 respondents throughout the U.S.; KidsHealth KidsPoll is a project of the National Association of Health Education Centers, the Nemours Center for Children's Health Media, and the Department of Health Education and Recreation, Southern Illinois University Cardondale. Information: nahec.org/KidsPoll. Beware, Sex Offenders The Supreme Court rules on registration The California Supreme Court has ruled that a person convicted of possessing child pornography must be registered with the state as a sex offender. Leon Casey Alva was convicted of the misdemeanor of possessing child pornography in 1999 in a Municipal Court trial. Alva appealed on the grounds that requiring him to register as a sex offender violated the "cruel and unusual punishment" clause of the California Constitution, citing the 1983 decision In re Reed in which it was decided that requiring lifelong registration as a sex offender should not apply to one convicted of engaging in, or soliciting, lewd or dissolute conduct in a public place. The court, however, found that Reed was incorrectly decided. By a unanimous vote, the court ruled that registration is a legitimate regulatory measure designed to assist law enforcement and protect the public, and is not a punitive measure. The ruling has been met with both praise and criticism. Although pundits in favor argue that it's a necessary tool and will keep children safer from sexual predators, critics insist that it's ignorant and unnecessary to track those convicted of minor offenses. For instance, a psychiatrist found that Alva represented no danger to children, though he must now register with the local police department at any location where he spends more than five days. Advocates of enforcement believe registration is a deterrent and simply reinforces the need to protect children. Registration is now required for not only possession of child pornography, but indecent exposure, pimping, and pandering as well. -By Matt Susson Lunch at School Parents pack 'em, and students trade/trash 'em Does your child eat, trash or trade the carefully packed, nutritionally balanced lunch you've put into a brown bag for school? Sandwiches, fruit, chips and juice boxes are the top four items found most often in school lunches. But what matters to the young student is taste and having fun, says a survey conducted by KRC Research of 1,000 moms and 1,000 students ages 8-12. And having fun most often means hanging out with friends during the lunch break. Only 17% of respondents said that eating lunch was fun. The students say they are trashing (73%) and trading (36%) parts of their school lunch at least once a week. In order of preference, students most likely swap for chips, sweets or candy; other snacks such as cookies; or anything they like better than what's in their own sad sack. The trick is to pack something the child likes that also is nutritionally sound, say 52% of moms. And nearly all mothers (97%) say that nutritional value is important. However, nearly one-third admit to sacrificing nutritional content for convenience. "Well-balanced lunches containing foods from the major food groups don't have to be boring," advises Dr. Jodie Shield, mother and co-author of a book on healthy eating. The Lunchroom Monitor Survey was developed by LUNCHABLES. At the Mission Gala planned in San Juan Capistrano It's a cause worth celebrating: a long-neglected Orange County jewel has been given a new life. Mission San Juan Capistrano's Great Stone Church, constructed in 1806, lies at the heart of the mission. The mission itself, founded in the late 1700s, is regarded as the birthplace of modern Orange County. But toppled by an 1812 earthquake, the church lay where it fell, battered by the elements, for nearly two centuries. The once-majestic edifice's future looked bleak. But in recent decades, as archaeological preservation went from fad to necessity worldwide, the church began receiving more attention. Its 1996 placement on the world's Top 100 Endangered Historic Sites list brought American Express to the project with financial support. The Mission Preservation Foundation, comprised of local movers and shakers, was conceived to oversee the fundraising and construction process. Some 13 years and $9.6 million later, major work on the church is complete. Preserved in time - the church and its 125-foot bell tower have not been restored, but are protected against further damage - the mission's Great Stone Church is assured of greeting generations of visitors to come. To celebrate the project's completion, the Foundation and the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel present "Romance of the Great Stone Church," a commemorative gala, on Sept. 17. The evening will begin at 7 p.m. with tenor Michael Amante singing under the arches of the Great Stone Church, followed by hors d'oeuvres and tapas dinner in the inner courtyard. All are welcome to this magical night to celebrate the revitalization of the historical birthplace of Orange County. Information, 949.234.1300, Ext. 318. - By Jeremy Beecher Family News Bites AT THE MISSION Mission San Juan Capistrano hosts "Saturday's Fun with Clay" from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. each Saturday. A hands-on activity teaches students an appreciation for art and handcrafts by bringing the past alive. Instruction is given on the Mission's earliest pottery. Cost is $2 for an ornament; $4 for a pressed mold tile. Information: 949.234.1300, Ext. 316 or 318, or www.missionsjc.com SERVITE HIRES AN ALUM Peter Bowen is returning to Servite High School. The Anaheim school alum has been hired as president. Bowen continued his education at Notre Dame and received a master's degree from Duke University. Most recently, he worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District as ethics officer and crated the first public education ethics program. In private industry, he had been an executive in the information technology field. LOCAL ART SCHOOL HONORED The Orange County High School of the Arts' chamber orchestra has received the Youth Orchestra Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music, presented by the American Society of Contemporary Music. This marks the sixth time the group has received this honor as well as the fourth consecutive year the orchestra placed first in national competition. The honor included $500, which the Santa Ana-based school used to purchase new instruments. HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA TO PERFORM AT CARNEGIE HALL The Tustin High School Chamber Orchestra will perform at New York City's historic Carnegie Hall next spring, under the direction of Jim Kolias. The school was invited as a result of the CD recording the group sent as part of the application process. They were selected from among high schools nationwide and will perform a 35-minute program. FASTRACKIDS LEARNING CENTER COMES TO IRVINE Woodbridge Village Center in Irvine is home to a new concept in enrichment education for children ages 3 to 6, FASTRACKIDS. The center uses the most technologically advanced educational tools to encourage children from preschool through kindergarten to think creatively and develop communication and leadership skills. Information: 949.250.9555. COMMUNITY RAISES FUNDS FOR CHOC A miniature golf tournament and silent auction, hosted by Alissa's Angels and sponsored by Yamaha, raised more than $10,000 for Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). The event netted 30% more charitable donations than in previous years. The fundraising group was named after Alissa Head, a young cancer patient who was given less than a 10% chance of survival. Her parents credit CHOC's technology and staff for treatment that has their daughter doing well and racing around in her purple wheelchair. - Reported and compiled by OC Family Magazine staff |
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