Plugged in Parent

20 Ways to Keep Kids Safe Online

 

Three year olds online?  You bet.  The Internet truly has something for everyone, and kids as young as three years old are finding games, coloring pages and music online.

 

 

More than half of the homes in the U.S. that have high speed Internet access with an “always on” connection, which means that kids can get online with just a click of the mouse.  But bad news can be just a link away, and kids can connect to material that is inappropriate, obscene and down right disturbing in less than one second.

 

Practicing Internet safety and teaching kids good surfing habits at an early age is the best way to lay a solid foundation for safety as they grow.  Keep all the kids in your family safe by following these tips for making your family’s online experiences good ones:

 

1)      Place the computer in plain sight. Bedrooms and basements are big no-no’s when it comes to finding the right spot for your family Internet connection.

 

2)  Use a parental control. Young children can misspell words and accidently stumble upon something they don’t want to see.  Software can block, filter, even record online activity.

 

3)  Block specific websites. Set boundaries for sites that may not match your definition of family friendly.

 

4)  Go with your child.  Spend time surfing together exploring some age appropriate sites and watch your child play.  This will give you a good read on their ability to navigate the mouse, read directions and handle frustration.

 

5)  Make a family only policy. It’s tough enough to be responsible for your own child online, let alone someone else’s.  When friends come for a play date, turn the computer off and go outside, pull out a board game or play dress up..

 

6)  Don’t allow surfing when a parent is gone.  This simple rule can help head off the temptation for kids to press the boundaries or family rules when Mom and Dad are out.  Let babysitters, caregivers and grandparents know that the computer stays off when parents are out of the house.

 

7) Set online time limits.  A time limit not only helps kids balance their activities, but allows the whole family to take turns.  Use a kitchen timer or travel alarm clock to mark the time online.

 

8) Talk to other parents. It takes a village to raise a child, and some of your best defenses can come from joining forces with other parents.  Broaden your experience and knowledge by sharing what you’ve learned and listening to fellow parents.

 

9)  Use review sites.  Organizations like Commonsensemedia.com reviews and rates websites and video games and can be a great resource for finding age appropriate game and website suggestions. 

 

10) Dialogue with your kids.  As new websites are created kids are the first to hear about them.  Even if you’ve layed down ground rules, continue and ongoing discussion with your kids about online activities, ask about e-mail, new websites, and the buddies on their IM list.

 

11) Create a rule about downloads.  Ask first, it’s as simple as that.  Remind young kids that if they can’t read something, they need to call for Mom or Dad before hitting the yes button.

 

12) Choose a kid-friendly search engine. If you child is interested in surfing for information on dragons or roller blades, consider using a search engine specifically designed to screen out the bad stuff.

 

14) Check surfing history. A quick punk of the Ctrl and H buttons, and you can see where your kids have surfed and if they’ve accidentally found an inappropriate site.  Check history regularly to monitor online activity.

 

15) Require clean hands. That’s right – the keyboard is a breeding ground for germs! Post a reminder right on the keyboard and keep anti-bacterial wipes nearby to minimize germs.

 

16) Stick to sites by trusted hosts. PBS.  Discovery Kids.  Disney.  Visiting sites sponsored by familiar organizations you trust is a great way to get started online.

 

17) Post family rules nearby.  Write ‘em down and stick ‘em up for all to see.  Visual reminders will help younger kids remember the rules.

 

18) Don’t panic.   If something inappropriate does manage to break through your defenses, an over reaction can scare kids and discourage them reporting future incidents.  Instead, use it as a teaching opportunity to back up the need for family rules and boundaries.  Encourage kids to let you know if it happens again and remind them not to be afraid to tell you.

 

19) Update your software. New viruses and spyware are created every day, so make sure to regularly update your anti-virus, firewall and anti-spyware programs.

 

20)  Set a good example. Don’t spend hours surfing or plugged into an online chat session.  Limiting your own time online will make you a role model for you kids.

Teach kids good e-mail habits

Parents do it.  Kids do it.  Even grandparents do it.  It’s e-mail, and it has changed the world, expanding our communities offering the opportunities to connect with family across the street, the country – even across the world. 

 

 

 

E-mail is casual – spelling and grammar take the back seat to content and speed, especially when it’s from the kids.  But, despite its handy nature, there are certain rules that should be followed to protect the security and privacy of your family and those you are e-mailing. 

 

 

 

It’s up to us, parents, to teach our kids good net habits, so start by getting your kids to practice these basics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delete other e-mails listed.  If an e-mail has been forwarded, make sure to delete any other e-mail addresses listed in those forwards.  If you’re sending an e-mail to a group of folks who don’t know each other, use your blind copy function to list the e-mails in order to protect your recipient’s privacy.

 

 

 

Weigh the worth. E-mails that contain promises of good luck, fun animation or even jokes might motivate some folks, but to most busy families, they are annoyances and attachments may contain harmful viruses or spyware.  Before passing along an e-mail, make sure it will be of value to the recipient and comes from a safe, reliable source.

 

 

 

Check it out before passing it on.  Families may be especially tempted to pass along the mass e-mails they receive about a lost child or information about medical warnings.  Before you do, make sure to check out the validity of the claims in the message.  Snopes.com is a good place to validate facts or bust urban myths.  www.snopes.com

 

 

 

Describe your attachment.  With all those viruses floating around, folks can get leery about opening attached documents. Cut and paste documents or photos you want to include below your e-mail note.  If you must send an attachment, make sure to acknowledge the attachment in your e-mail and describe the content.  And teach kids never to open an attachment without your permission.

 

 

 

Pick up the phone or write a note.  Kids still need to practice the classics – like making a phone call and writing a letter. A phone call connects your voice with your words and shows that you’re making the time and effort to communicate, as does a hand written note.  Make sure kids balance their e-communication with the personal touch of an occasional phone call or written postcard.

A parent's favorite back-to-school gadget - the cell phone

Sure, you can make a call to the pediatrician from your mobile phone.  But your cell phone can also help you manage your family’s schedule, save time and keep your to-do lists organized. See how your cell phone can be a parent’s best back-to-school gadget this fall by rediscovering these handy features included on even the most basic of cell phones.

 

 

 

Use the calendar!

Use the scheduler on your cell phone as your family calendar.  With a little practice texting, you can plug in the play practices, piano lessons and playdates.  Coordinate with the family calendar, then avoid toting a giant planner around – just use the phone!

 

 

 

Discover the digital memo pad.

With a little practice using the keypad, you can record a sudden inspiration (drop off Jr.’s backpack) on the memo pad.  Need groceries?  School supplies?  Some ibuprofen?  Instead of scribbling your list on the back of the electric bill, make a digital list of goods before you head out for the day – you’ll be able to reference it from the phone at a touch of the button.

 

 

 

Set off the alarm.

Trying to keep track of time?  Whether you’re setting a limit on TV time or giving kids some extra playtime on the playground, setting the alarm can help you keep track of time and on schedule.

 

 

 

Do the math.

Don’t forget about the handy calculator built into most cell phones.  These can help you figure out how many hotdogs you’ll need for the scout cookout or help your kids do their math homework on the go.

 

 

 

Smile, you’re on my camera phone.

If you have a built in camera, use the feature to take photos on the first day of school and zapping them directly to grammy and gramps. 

 

 

 

Look at the clock.

Most phones have an automatic clock and date display at the bottom of the screen – a great asset when you’re one the go – especially for folks who don’t wear a watch.

A Family Back Up Plan

CRASH!  It’s the virtual sound of disaster as the family computer system bugs out, burns out or goes kablooey.  Losing digital photos, music files and software programs can be a devastating to a family.

 

 

 

The good news?  A regular computer backup plan can give you the extra insurance you need to recover when disaster strikes.  Utilize one of these digital backup techniques at least once a week to save your family’s most important files and give you a piece of mind.

 

 

 

A CD or DVD:

If you want to do a backup on the same disc each week, you’ll need a CD-RW or DVD-RW (a rewritable disc). Once you’ve done it, store your disc in a safe place, like a fire safe.

 

A USB flash drive:

Flash storage drives, like a Memory stick, plug directly into your USB port.  While they are generally much more expensive than a CD, they offer more storage space on an even smaller device.  Find out more here http://www.usbflashdrive.org/usbfd_faq.html

 

 

 

An online server:

An online server allows you to save your backup files securely online. These services often require a monthly fee, however you can retrieve your data from any Internet access point.  Check out Xdrive.com and DataDepositBox.com.

 

 

 

Web-mail:

Just modified an important document, but don’t want to do an entire system back up?  If you have a web e-mail account, like hotmail, send yourself an e-mail with the new document attached – in essence turning your e-mail into an mini-online backup. Sign up for a free e-mail account at Hotmail.com, Google.com, or Yahoo.com.

 

 

 

Your iPod? You bet.  If you’re a Mac user, your iPod (which is actually a flash drive) can store your documents.   For instructions, check out details at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61131

Exergaming wins over families!

This year, as swim suit season approached, I decided to invest in a personal trainer.  A virtual personal trainer, that is, for the one time price of $34.99.

 

 

 

Maya, the hostess of a video game called YourselfFitness, has created an individual exercise routine for me, complete with a meal plan and tracking log to monitor my anticipated progress.  The software was published by responDESIGN, whose slogan, “games that are healthy for you,” may seem to contradict the traditional couch-potato reputation of popular video games.

 

 

 

Exercise and video games?  Apparently opposites do attract, and “exergaming” is the hot new buzz work in the technology industry. The current trend connects large motor movement with video gaming to offer physical activity beyond the trigger finger on the joystick and is getting even serious gamers off the couch.

 

 

 

Dance, Dance Revolution, originally a dance step arcade game introduced in 1998, was one of the first video games to rely largely on a player’s physical movement to play the game.  Since then, versions of DDR for home gaming consoles have been created, worldwide tournaments have been organized,

Norway

has accepted it as an official sport and schools have reported using the program to promote physical activity.

 

 

 

 

According to the American Council on Exercise, inactivity is the most common cause of obesity in children, and the number of obese kids in the

U.S.

has doubled in the last decade.  If you invest a bit of time and effort into figuring out which games might get your clan moving, however, chances are they’ll come off the couch and catch the exergaming wave.

 

 

 

 

Finding ways to incorporate routine exercise into your family’s life style can boost self esteem, endurance and overall health. Check out these techie ideas to get your family plugged into to some physical activity. 

 

 

 

Get your body in motion.  Whether it’s an electronic dance pad that gets your family’s feet stomping to the beat or a golf match that has you taking real swings at a virtual course, choose video games that require large motor skills to move the game forward.  Don’t have a gaming console?  No problem.  Some TV plug-in games replace a joystick with an electronic snowboard or special baseball bat – player movements directly affect the action in the game.

 

 

 

Smile (and sweat) for the camera.  Games that utilize mini cameras can put you in the virtual game.  The Eye Toy, for instance, works with a Playstation 2 to create fun physical games for kids, as well as a new exercise instruction program for adults featuring a personalized fitness routine.

 

 

 

Replace your joystick with exercise equipment.  Into biking?  The Cateye Gamebike can connect to your video game console, allowing you to put the pedal to the metal to join a virtual motorcycle race or speed boat competition.  If you’re in the market for a treadmill, pace yourself with the Gamerunner, a treadmill that connects through your computer USB port and allows you to play games or surf the Net.

 

 

 

Encourage games with active themes.  Games featuring sports are a great way to peak your family’s interest in real life activities.  Look for sporting or dancing games with an instructional component where kids can benefit from learning the rules or get physical tips while playing. Encourage players to try out these pointers on the real field after the electronic game play is over.

 

Generate energy. The GamerCycle connects to the TV, allowing cyclers to create the screen power for video games or watching TV. Stop pedaling and the screen will go blank.

 

 

 

Create your own exergaming routine. Try incorporating activity into your family’s gaming activities by requiring it before game playing.  Encourage kids to run 5 laps around the yard or make 20 lay ups before they sit down to play a 30 minute game.  Trade game minutes for active play minutes or set a timer for 15 minute breaks where kids have to perform a physical activity from a pre-set list before they return to their game.

 

Try before you buy. Before you invest, check your local electronic and video game stores to see if there is a demo or rental equipment available for a trial run.  Also, research products and read comprehensive game reviews at www. ign.com.

Understand rating systems...then do research

While watching television one night, a small box in the upper corner of the screen displayed the letters “TV PG DVS”. The “TV” part was pretty obvious, but what did the other secret code mean?

 

 

 

While most viewers understand the “G” rating for major motion pictures, many viewers are less familiar with other media ratings – even ones displayed regularly on television.   In a survey done by the Kaiser Family Foundation, only 12% of parents with children ages 2-6  recognized the TV rating “FV” as “Fantasy Violence” while another 8% thought it stood for “Family Viewing.”

 

 

 

Interpreting ratings for a specific audience can also be tricky.  Media rating systems can be a starting point for families, there’s more to consider.  Industry rating systems don’t take into account individual differences in a child’s age, maturity level, or a family’s household values.

 

 

 

Understand media rating systems – from movies to video games to TV – and you’ll help your family find a good entertainment match.

 

 

 

Movies

The Motion Picture Association of America rates the movies we see in theaters, as well as many of those available as rentals.  Mpaa.org.

 

 

 

G: All Ages Admitted.  May contain minimal violence, no nudity, sex scenes, strong language or drug use.

 

 

 

PG: Some Material May Not Be Suitable for Children – Brief nudity, profanity or violence may be presented, but no drug use.

 

 

 

PG-13: Some Material May Be Inappropriate for Children Under 13  - May present stronger themes, language, sexuality, drug use or violence that in a PG rated film.

 

 

 

R : Under 17 Requires Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian –Contain adult material.

 

 

 

NC-17: No One 17 or Under Admitted.  May contain excessive violence, sex, aberrational behavior or drug use.

 

You should know: The PG-13 rating was created in 1984, so movies rated PG before this time may contain more intense material than today’s PG rated movies.  Movies that eventually run on television are usually cut and edited, and their TV rating may not match their movie rating.  Finally, although movie theaters are encouraged to enforce age restrictions when admitting viewers, movies rented through video rental programs rarely do. 

 

 

 

Television Shows

The TV Parental Monitoring Board has created TV Parental Guidelines to help audiences with their viewing decisions.  Tvguidelines.org

 

TV Y – Appropriate for all children

 

 

 

TV Y7 – Viewing for children ages 7 and older

 

 

 

TV Y7 FV – May be appropriate for children who understand the difference between real life and cartoon violence.

 

 

 

TV G – Appropriate for a general audience and contains little or no violence, sex or strong language.

 

 

 

TV PG – Parental guidance is suggested.  Descriptors may include (V) moderate violence, (S) some sexual situations, (L) infrequent coarse language, or (D) suggestive dialogue.

 

 

 

TV PG 14 – Parents are strongly urged to exercise great supervision and cautioned against allowing viewers under the age of 14. Descriptors may indicate (V) intense violence, (S) some sexual situations, (L) strong coarse language, or intensely suggestive dialogue.

 

 

 

TV MA – Created for adults only. Descriptors include (V) intense violence, (S) explicit sexual activity, and (L) crude indecent language

 

 

 

What you should know:  Television shows are rated by episode, so the ratings on a weekly series can vary with each episode’s content. Commercials and network promotions are not rated.  Also, every television set produced after January 2000 has a V-Chip – built in technology that can be set to block programs based on TV ratings.  Your cable or satellite service may also provide parental control and channel locking options.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Video Games

Most retail video games are rated by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) and have two parts: a rating scale for age group and a content descriptor.    The rating scale for age includes the following categories:

 

EC – Early Childhood

E – Everyone 

E10+ - Everyone 10 years old and older

T – Teen – May be suitable for players 13 and older

M – Mature – May be suitable for players 17 and older

AO – Adults Only – Should only be played by adults 18 years and older

 

 

 

The ESRB also has 32 content descriptors that indicate the nature of potentially objectionable material. These descriptors accompany an age rating and can range from “Blood” to “Lyrics”. Review the complete list at esrb.org .

 

 

 

 

 

 

What you should know:  Games available online or as downloads to a cell phone or computer are often not rated.  Online game sites that appear to be kid friendly may contain advertising that is not appropriate or links to other websites displaying objectionable material. 

 

 

 

Find some neutral ground…

Although the entertainment industry has attempted to provide objective rating systems, check out these alternative resources when making a media choice for your family.

 

 

 

Moviemom.com

 

 

 

Commonsensemedia.org

 

 

 

Familymediaguide.com