technology

Why parents of Preschoolers need to learn about Cybersafety

February 12, 2013 By Martine 16 Comments

Why do parents of toddlers and preschoolers need to start learning now all they can about technology, the online world and cyber safety? Surely this is something for the tween and teen parents? Something to keep in mind for later?

When I talk about technology and cybersafety to parents of preschoolers the most common responses are along the lines of:

1) “They (our kids) will probably know much more than me so I can’t even imagine trying to keep up with them”

2) “At least I have plenty of time before they start using technology and I have to be concerned about safety etc”

I know it may not be as pressing as toilet training, tantrums or sleep and settling, but as a mother who has just packed off her baby boy to high school….that time goes so very fast, and it will be an issue before you know it. [Read more...]

Rights and Responsibilities Online: Safer Internet Day 2013

February 5, 2013 By Martine 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...]

Filed Under: Communicating and Connecting, Modern Parenting, Technology and Parenting, Teenagers Tagged With: connecting, internet, online, Parenting, social networking, technology, teenagers

Parenting with Technology: Top posts of 2012

January 15, 2013 By Martine 16 Comments

This post is dedicated to the most popular cybersafety and parenting with technology posts of 2012.

This is an area of parenting that is increasingly challenging parents as we are constantly faced with the all encompassing nature of the online world. As our children grow and develop amongst this new world, we as parents are making constant changes and adaptations to parent accordingly. We need to keep up with the changes, we need to make an attempt to understand their challenges, and we need to help each other be aware of the pitfalls they may encounter

So in case you missed them, here are some of the more popular ‘parenting with technology’ posts of 2012.

The Dilemma of Privacy issues Online: helping kids make a compromise

It’s not just about switching off: helping kids deal with cyber bullies

A summary or social networking sites for parents: how to keep kids safe

Facebook for Parents: Understanding control

More than Facebook: Helping our kids stay safe online

An Internet Contract for families: helping our kids stay safe

To friend or not to friend: should parents and their kids be Facebook friends?

The Positive role of technology: Why parents should embrace technology

Technology, Time limits and getting it right for our kids

Your digital footprint: How to preserve your kids online reputation

Public versus private: technology blurs the lines for our kids

Thanks for reading and I hope to have many more posts for you as the technology changes, new challenges arise and we learn to support ,educate and guide ourselves and our kids through this dynamic new world.

Oh and please let me know if there is something specific you would like to see covered!

Filed Under: Modern Parenting, Technology and Parenting, Teenagers Tagged With: advice, cyberworld, internet, online, Parenting, social networking, technology, teenagers

A Christmas message from The Modern Parent

December 17, 2012 By Martine 23 Comments

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers and their families a very happy and healthy Christmas. Thankyou so much for another year of support and community and I am so grateful for the many friends I have made as a result of my blog and the opportunities my blog has afforded me.

I hope you continue to join me next year as I continue to strive to provide entertaining, informative and realistic posts based on my personal experience as a mother with kids of various ages, stages and personalities! I will continue to research all I can about the changes that are happening in the world our children are living. I will continue to help parents and myself make sense of new technologies and what that means for ourselves and our families.

My family and friends sometimes have a laugh when pointing out my parenting failures or less than magical parenting moments and wonder if these moments will make it to the blog. But you should all know I do not profess to be a perfect parent. In fact I am far from it. I do however strive to give you a realistic viewpoint of how my research and years of work and study translate realistically to everyday situations.

I look forward to another great year next year and am already looking froward to some presentations I have booked in, helping parents understand the modern world of technology and cyberspace. If your school or community group would be interested in a presentation please contact me via email at info@martineoglethorpe.com.au

And lastly I would love it if you could fill in this really quick 9 question survey so I can better plan for the coming months.

The Modern Parent Survey

Once again have a wonderful festive season, enjoy your beautiful families and stay safe

Filed Under: Modern Parenting Tagged With: blogging, Parenting, technology

5 ways to keep our kids and our technology safe from each other

December 3, 2012 By Martine 26 Comments

Keeping our kids safe online is obviously a fairly high priority for me. I have written of many things we as parents can do to help as well as many of the devices we can take advantage of to help us out. But we also have technology and devices which whilst not as precious to us as our own offspring, can still be a rather expensive commodity which we sometimes need to protect from our children.

Here are 5 ways you can help keep both your kids safe online as well as keep your devices safe from your kids!

1. Cybersafe 24/7

I have written before about the benefits of Cybersafe 24/7. I use this wireless modem in my own household and I am convinced it is the best way to keep my kids from searching and stumbling upon inappropriate material whilst they are in our home. I can monitor what they are looking at with every device, including computers, iPod touches, iPads and even the Wii. I can also customise each device by blocking whatever searches I deem necessary. I can limit time allowed on certain sites and can even stipulate the hours these sites are available. So basically any device that is connected via your home wireless network can be made completely safe.

2. B-Lock Case

This B-Lock case is really an iphone cover that you can use all the time but it has a tab that can be flicked over to disable the home button. Kids are therefore able to use the apps but it prevents them from leaving the app and browsing the internet, deleting photos or making phone calls! This is a really affordable option at $14.99 and is available online with free postage.

3. Apptivity Case

These products are aimed at protecting your expensive devices whilst still letting your kids enjoy the benefits of great educational and interactive apps. The Fisher Price Apptivity Case is fantastic for my 3 year old and the 1 year old who is a little tech obsessed. The Apptivity Case allows you to put your iPad in the protective cover which not only helps prevent smashes from dropping, but is also dribble and teething proof and again has the ability to disable the home button.

4. The Laugh and Learn Apptivity Monkey

This is another Fisher Price product that safely houses the iPhone (3, 4 and 4s) or iPod Touch, and again allows them to be played whilst disabling the home button. Once again you can rest assured your device is safe from smashes, dribbles and deleting. The monkey can also be played on its own without the device as it comes with songs and early literacy language and number phrases.

Here are some photos of my boys enjoying the Fisher Price products, of which I have one of each to give away!

and you can always dance next to it without worrying about them stomping on it!

and still good for a cuddle!

5. Follow The Modern Parent!

Slightly tongue in cheek but if you continue to read I shall continue to research both personally and professionally all that I can to help us all keep our kids safe as we continue to live in an age of advancing technology. So follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or subscribe to my blog via email.

And if you would like to win one of the great Apptivity cases, either the iPad case (valued at $39.00) or the Monkey iphone case (valued at $59.00), then follow on Facebook and leave a comment below telling me how you keep your kids or your devices safe from one another!

Competition closes 5pm AEST December 14th 2012 and is open to Australian residents only.