SOCIAL HOSTING LAWS IN LAWRENCE

The recent KU parent newsletter included a small article about our city's social hosting ordinance. Click the link below to read it. Please share this with your child whether they are under 21 or over 21, it is against the law to host underage drinking.

http://www.vpss.ku.edu/Parent_enews/1109/#Party

KU SURVEY CONFIRMS DRINKING PROBLEMS

Here are 3 articles from the "University Daily Kansan" chronicling the information KU is gathering to delve into the world of student alcohol abuse in our community.

www.kansan.com/search/?q=alcoholedu

BOOK REVIEWS

We have added some more books to our Helpful Reading Material Section on the right. Here is a synopsis of each new selection:

The Primal Teen, What discoveries about the teenage brain tell us about our kids. Strauch is the medical science and health editor at the "New York Times".

Why Do They Act That Way, A survival guide to the adolescent brain for you and your teen. Factual, funny, readable and helpful.

The Second Family, deals with peer power, pop culture, the wall of silence and other challenges of raising today's teens.

Smashed, is a story of a drunken girlhood.

Happy Reading!

HELPFUL WEB SITES

Here are some great web sites to pass on to your teen. They are for teens with great information about alcohol, drug use, eating disorders, dating, bullying and depression. It will help you and your child understand themselves or their friends through the candid testimonials from the courageous teens who tell their video stories. They offer solutions to those teens and families who don't know how to turn the tide in their home. Check them out and pass them on to those you know who may benefit.

http://www.clearchoices.org/

http://www.notmykid.org/

TEENAGERS ARE CHANGING THE WORLD

Guest author Susan M. Heim, formally Senior Editor for the bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul series and author, has written about a wonderful experience her son had with volunteering, and what you and your teen can learn from it. So many teenagers are looking for adventure and risk taking activities. Here is a way to get both and the "ultimate high" of knowing you helped someone who needs it. Please share this article when discusses plans for school breaks.

www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?AuthorID=54542

The Holiday Mail for Heroes program is underway. Encourage your community of kids and teens to participate in service work and make some holiday cards for our soldiers. Visit http://www.redcross.org/ for more details.