MASK The Magazine Winter 2020

To do and not to do. That is the question… Technology has surely shown us all the good and not-so-good sides of it. There is no doubt technology has helped us as a society, especially during COVID-19. Americans who once commuted to office buildings can now log in from the comfort of their own homes and perform business as usual. Students who have been taken out of their classrooms can join virtually to continue to learn from their teachers. With technology, we can stay connected to the world through a simple click anytime of the day or night. There has never been a time when we have relied on technology more than we do now. There also has never been a time where there has been so much fuel on the fire to…

Do you want to be well-equipped with the appropriate knowledge, resources and tools that will empower you to make healthy and informed decisions for your family? If so, subscribe to MASK The Magazine today For only $24 a year, you’ll receive four issues of the award-winning MASK The Magazine delivered conveniently to your door. Or, for only $12 a year, download MASK The Magazine to your iPad or iPhone. For information: visit maskmatters.org or call 480-502-5337 MASK + ON THE GO Download our digital edition to your iPad or iPhone. Visit zinio.com to subscribe today! PLEASE MAIL COMPLETED FORM TO: MASK 8937 E. Bell Road Suite 202 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 SUBSCRIBE ONLINE: maskmatters.org MASK will contact you via email regarding MASK subscriptions, promotions, and events. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of your first issue.…

MASK (Mothers Awareness on School-age Kids) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization created in 2007 by a group of dedicated mothers who recognized the need to consistently educate families on rapidly-changing issues. The MASK mission is to engage and educate parents, children and the community about the issues facing youth and to empower children to make safe, healthy choices. MASK strives to help children learn invaluable life skills for how to cope with a number of issues. In today’s viral and social media world, coping skills are more necessary than ever. MASK gives students tools for how to handle many issues, including responding to peer pressure, technology-related challenges, refusal skills, emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, self-esteem and setting boundaries. Today, suicide rates are at an all-time high and social media is influencing our…

As the use of technology becomes more prevalent in all aspects of our lives, it’s essential to educate ourselves on the dangers lurking behind the screens. While we may be aware of the potential dangers online, there are also negative physical effects our bodies are being exposed to from using technology so often. One of those dangers is the damaging effect of blue light emission from our computers, phones and any other screens. When it comes to blue light emission, our children are at a higher risk. Some exposure to blue light can be healthy, such as when it comes from the sun, because it can increase attention span, reaction time and positive mood. However, too much exposure can cause negative effects such as digital eye strain or retina damage, both…

Did you know your child’s identity could be a target for fraudsters? If an identity thief steals your child’s identity, you may not discover the crime for years—until, for example, your child applies for a job or tries to open a credit card. Can you imagine having to clean up such a mess if your child’s identity was stolen? And how would your child feel upon learning someone had negatively affected her credit history? Here are five steps you can take to help protect your children from becoming victims of identity theft. 1 Look for red flags. Learning how to recognize that your child’s identity has been compromised is key. The Identity Theft Resource Center offers a helpful list of warning signs that include bills or credit cards addressed to your…

DRUG Prevention can never start too early. If your child is curious about the medicine they see you take or that is in the house, rather than tell them it’s bad, explain why it’s useful for some people, but can be dangerous to children or if used improperly. BULLY Always keep a record of bullying instances in order to have concrete proof of the attacks. If it happens in person, make note of the time and day, where it happened and who else was around to see it. If it happens online, always take screenshots before deleting the post or blocking the person. TECH As YouTube becomes more appealing to a younger audience, it’s more crucial than ever to monitor the content your child is watching and uploading. Create a family account so you can…