#parentingunplugged by Joanna

Bullying affects the majority of Canadian children, at least once, throughout their childhood. For some kids, bullying is a daily reality. The effects of bullying are immediate and long-lasting, putting our children at risk for a number of physical, social and mental health problems. As parents, these risks should not be acceptable. Adult intervention stops bullying - it is our responsibility.

Parents are responsible for creating positive environments that promote children’s ability to create and maintain healthy relationships. By helping children develop the essential social skills to navigate peer conflicts and by minimizing opportunities for negative peer interactions, parents can help adjust the imbalance of power inherent in a bullying relationship.

Oftentimes parents avoid talking about addiction and substance abuse with their kids under the presumption that it won’t happen to their kid. Listen to Joanna Conrad, Executive Director of Youth Diversion and Mike Brown, Founder of Spiritual Soldiers, attempt to open the dialogue about mental health and addiction on a more personal level, discussing stigmas associated with substance abuse and discussing possible strategies for parents to use to have open dialogue about potential challenges their children may encounter and how to handle those situations should they arise to prevent them from making poor choices that may lead them down the path of addiction.

In yet another twist for worried parents: learn about vooping, cloud chasing cold-boxing and vapourhood – i.e. vaping. Join Joanna Conrad, Executive Director of Youth Diversion and Staff Sergeant Jason Woods of the LaSalle Police Service as they discuss vaping devices, ready to deliver a puff of nicotine (or marijuana) anywhere, anytime, Including in the classroom.