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Whats normal for today’s kids? Is your child average?

April 15, 2013 By 14 Comments

When it comes to the common behaviours, beliefs and values of today’s kids, we are often hearing sweeping statements such as “kids of today…”, “”we didn’t have to….when I was young”, “they don’t know how good they’ve got it” etc etc

So what are kids really like today? Well in reality they are probably no different to the kids that I hung out with or my parents hung out with. What is different however, is the world in which they are growing up in. I am often reading and researching different statistics as well as interviewing and counselling children on their behaviours and thoughts and so I thought I would compile for you some of the major recurring themes of what the ‘average’ kid is doing and thinking today.  (All stats are from my own surveys with teens and from McAfees recent survey)

 

They want to be private

They want to be private, but mostly they are not. Or at least they want privacy from ‘oldies’ but forget they are hanging out in a public playground that allows viewing by all ages. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Modern Parenting, Technology and Parenting, Teenagers Tagged With: , , , ,

4 things I do everyday to keep my kids safe online

March 25, 2013 By 16 Comments

Despite being a cyber safety consultant and counsellor of many families that have struggled with online safety issues, my most important job is as a mother to 5 boys. There is no greater motivation for me to research the best ways to ensure responsible online use than the social, emotional and physical safety of my own children.

As a result there are many different ways I advocate for this to happen. There are many strategies, settings and skills that parents and kids need to understand. A few weeks ago I told you about the 4 things parents shouldn’t do with their kids online. Today, I am am reversing this to share with you the 4 things that I am doing everyday to help keep my kids safe online.

 

1. Remain a step ahead

From the toddler to the teen we always need to be a step ahead. Many parents believe this is nigh on impossible as our kids know so much. This is true. But we are the wise ones (or supposed to be) so use those understandings of human nature, cause and effect and consequence to keep ahead of our kids, even if they are a step ahead in the technology. Don’t fall into the trap of feeling left behind and thus refuse to attempt to understand. I may not know every app my kids are on but I am aware of what is out there, the skills they need to handle certain online interactions and I am constantly reminding them of the traps that others fall into. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Communicating and Connecting, Modern Parenting, Technology and Parenting, Teenagers Tagged With: , , , , , ,

4 things parents shouldn’t do with their kids online

March 13, 2013 By 11 Comments

We are often talking about all the things parents should be doing to help keep their kids safe online. We encourage parents to actively learn about the technology. We insist on privacy settings, security software and password protection. We insist on time limits, we prevent them from opening accounts on certain sites and we take devices at night to encourage disconnection.

All of these things are useful strategies to help make our kids responsible online citizens and to stay safe and healthy, both physically, emotionally and socially.

But what about the things we shouldnt be doing as parents? Here is my list of things to avoid doing with your kids online for reasons of safety, privacy or simply to save you both from embarrassment.

1. Do not comment on everything

Every time you child puts up an update or uploads a picture you do not have to comment every single time. Sure there is nothing wrong with letting them know you are present, but just as you don’t sit in their room and ‘hang out’ with their friends when they come for a play, you don’t need to hangout with them all the time online either. [Read more...]

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The downside to being socially switched on…all the time

February 25, 2013 By 19 Comments

The cyber world and the advancements in technology have resulted in many changes to the way we connect with others. Whilst many of the changes have meant greater ease and access to our connections, we know too, that our kids are susceptible to some of the downfalls. One of which, I believe, is the need to be ‘switched on’ socially……all the time.

With a vast majority of our kids’ socialising occurring online via social networks, it would seem that this constant contact allows for very little downtime. Very little time to ‘not care’ what they are doing or saying, who they are hanging out with, or what they are listening to or watching. [Read more...]

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Rights and Responsibilities Online: Safer Internet Day 2013

February 5, 2013 By 8 Comments

Its been a few years now since the internet waltzed into our lounge rooms and more recently into our pockets.  Nearly 20 years in fact (wow, that makes me feel old). I think it is fair to say it’s influence on our daily lives has evolved at lightning speed. It is this online world where we seek information, we seek entertainment and we seek connection. It is no longer however, just about researching, shopping, banking, booking flights and diagnosing our own ailments. Now we are meeting, reconnecting, dating, and in constant contact with friends as Social Networking Sites begin to take on face to face interaction.

Despite the challenges and potential dangers of life online, it really is a great time to live. The internet provides us with so many opportunities for work, for support, for connecting and for learning. But just as the offline world  bequeaths us certain rights and responsibilities, so too must the online world. If much of our living and the living of our kids is to be done online, it is imperative that we as parents help to ensure our kids have both of these under control.

The United Nations outlines some basic human rights that should be afforded every child. Whilst we know this is way too often not the case, theoretically, every child has the right to knowledge, to protection, to participation, to justice, to education and to health.  These rights must extend to life online. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Communicating and Connecting, Modern Parenting, Technology and Parenting, Teenagers Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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