Think you have your child’s Internet usage under control? It’s a mistake many parents make these days, and it’s no surprise. After all, most of us grew up without even knowing what a computer was, and now our children have the ability to talk to whomever they wish whenever they wish, no matter where they are in the world, and they can do so at the touch of a button. This capability is awesome in its implications and certainly has its benefits, but if misused, can put your child’s safety and well being at risk. Rethinking whether you truly know who your kids are talking to online? Here are some warning signs that you may not know as much as you think you do about your child’s online activities: Read more

As parents in a high-tech society, we face issues that our grandparents and even our own parents never gave a second thought to. One such issue is the “problem” of video games, specifically how much is too much and what types of games our kids should be playing. As the sheer number of games and consoles increase at a seemingly exponential rate, these questions are becoming more and more important. With techno-phobes from the older generation balking at “kids these days” and pressure from schools and fellow parents to set limits on video game time, it can be easy to forget that these types of games do have some value and can even be educational. We’re not talking about Mortal Kombat or Dead Space, two of the worst games you could buy for your kids according to Parenting.com. No, what we’re referring to are games that either teach kids something new, allow them to practice learned skills, or encourage their natural curiosity and creativity. While these types of games may not be the ones your kids are begging for, they’re certainly the ones you should be offering them since they can actually increase grades and overall school performance. Here’s how: Read more

Is the thought of your tech-savvy kids coming into contact with something harmful online keeping you up at night? We understand. Keeping your kids safe from outside threats used to be simple. Back then, it was common practice among responsible parents to get to know their kids friends’ and their parents, create a network of people looking out for one another’s children, and set limits as to when and where the kids could play. But for better or for worse, times have changed. In the vast sea of the interwebs, it’s become much more challenging to keep our children safe from predators and negative influences. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done, however. To help you sleep better at night, here are seven best practices that can greatly reduce the risk of your child coming into contact with something (or someone) nefarious online: Read more