Senator Barrios' Resources for Kids

| Internet Safety & Bullying  | Nutrition| Youth Programs|
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Internet Safety & Bullying

To visit Senator Barrios online or for more tips check out Senator Barrios’ MySpace page.

• Never give out personal information online. This includes your name, age, location and any contact information, like your phone number.

• Remember that those who you talk to may not be who they say they are. Information is easy to fake online, and it’s difficult to distinguish between truth and lies.

• Do not open or download any files unless you know exactly what they are and where you are downloading them from. Make sure to keep antivirus software and internet security software up to date. Virus’s can damage or destroy your computer and its files, or allow others to access confidential information.

• Before posting anything online, remember that this information will be made public and will probably be permanently stored. Do not put anything on your MySpace, Facebook, Friendster or other accounts that you would not want your parents or teachers to see. Even after a site is taken down, the information is stored and can still be accessed by anyone. Whenever you post anything online, remember that people many years from now will be able to see it, imagine what could come up when your grandchildren search your name on the internet!

• If somebody you know is being a bully online, do not respond in anger. Step away from your computer and calm down before you do anything else. It’s important not to lose your temper and become a bully yourself.

• If anybody does make any threats or inappropriate comments, or has any information that they should not have, immediately tell an adult. Do not hesitate to contact your internet service provider or the police if you need to.

• In order to keep yourself safe from bullying, it’s important not be a bully yourself. Don’t say anything to people online that you wouldn’t say in real life. To see if you’re being a bully and where you can improve, take a test here: http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/kids/are_you_a_cyberbully.html.

• Check out www.netsmartzkids.com for fun online games and more information about net safety and protecting yourself online.
  
   

Nutrition

It is important to eat healthy foods and get plenty of exercise.  The Food Pyramid will show you which foods are too to eat and which foods you should try not to eat too often:

The lunches you can get at school are made to fit federal health guidelines. You can read more about the National School Lunch Program. For more information, check out the National School Lunch Program website.

Even though school lunches provide the vitamins and nutrients your body needs to stay healthy, it is important to remember some simple rules you can follow during snack times and when you’re not at school:

• Drink lots of milk. It will help your bones grow strong.

• Don’t drink sodas and drinks with lots of sugar in them. If you are thirsty, try drinking water instead.

• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.

• It’s ok to have a sweet treat every now and then, but it’s not good to eat too many cookies and candies.

• Remember to get lots of exercise. This can include walking to school, playing sports, jumping rope, going to the playground, and taking your dog for a walk.