Behaviour
One minute conversations to help kids listen and learn
Ever had what you believe to be a really important conversation with your child only to watch their eyes wander vacantly away from yours as
March 24, 2014 32 Comments
Online Behaviour
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Online Behaviour
Picking on the younger generation? Havn’t we always done that?
When I was growing up, the Generation X’s as my lot were known, were living in a world of fun, frivolity and in my part
March 3, 2014 8 Comments
Digital Trends
Understanding kids and social media: are we to blame?
One of the major gripes parents have with technology today is the time their kids spend on social media. The hours they see wasted updating,
February 24, 2014 4 Comments
Digital Footprint
How do I ask my parents to let me on Instagram?
How do I ask my parents to let me on Instagram? That phrase has actually been a consistent search for people who have found my
February 17, 2014 16 Comments
Digital Footprint
Be Creative and Be Kind Online: SID2014
Today is Safer Internet Day (SID2014) across the world. It started as an initiative in the UK but is fast gaining momentum in other parts
February 9, 2014 9 Comments
Online Behaviour
2 Things Parents must do to Effectively Parent with Technology and the Online World
The rapid advances in technology have meant rapid changes to the way our children live their lives, and subsequently to the way we must parent.
February 3, 2014 27 Comments
Behaviour
Listening when others speak about our children: use it to teach and guide
Depending on second hand informaiton about our kids has now more than ever become a parenting tool we need to start taking notice of and
January 20, 2014 6 Comments
Online Behaviour
3 mistakes parents make with Technology and Online Safety
There are many many things we can do to help keep our kids safe online and there are many ways we can help them get
January 13, 2014 23 Comments
Online Behaviour
Top 20 posts on digital parenting for 2013
This past year I have written numerous posts on what it means for our kids to live in a world that is largely online, and
January 6, 2014 6 Comments
Contracts / Tips
10 ways to keep your kids and their mobile devices safe
Keeping our kids safe with technology, new devices and the online world must be a conscious set of practises, teaching and monitoring relying on boundaries,
December 24, 2013 2 Comments
Contracts / Tips
A letter from Santa for your new technology, games and devices
If your kids are getting some new technology this year, a game, iPod, ipod touch, phone , ipad or tablet, then here is a letter
December 19, 2013 6 Comments
Digital Trends
Social Media and Teens: their thoughts on staying safe and responsible online
Keeping our kids safe on social media and encouraging responsible online behaviour can only be effective if we truly understand how kids are using the
December 2, 2013 6 Comments
Digital Trends
An Interview with a teenager: what do they really think about online safety?
To advise parents of the best way to help raise kids who will be responsible and safe users of technology and the online world, one
November 18, 2013 13 Comments
Critical Thinking
Interact and role play to help kids with their online behaviour
Teaching our kids how to be safe online and instilling good habits and behaviours, is an ongoing process. It is not a one off lecture
November 5, 2013 7 Comments
Hanging out online? Grow some thick skin and build on that resilience
Hanging out online, putting forth your ideas, sharing your thoughts, opinions and emotions for the whole world to view and digest, has become one of
October 28, 2013 14 Comments
Online Behaviour
Adolescents, Cavemen and the Teenage Brain
I have written before about the teenage brain and the changes that are going on in those strangely wired little heads. I watched this week
October 21, 2013 16 Comments
Online Behaviour
The selfie kids: Is this the best we can do to build self-esteem?
Are todays kids all about selfie poses and narcissistic self gratification? One only needs to scroll through an Instagram feed or check out the Facebook
October 14, 2013 12 Comments
Digital Footprint
The very best way to protect our children’s digital footprint
There is lots we can do to help keep our children safe online. But the very best way for them to show respect for their
October 7, 2013 9 Comments
Building Resilience
Should we teach our kids to be tough or kind?
Should we be teaching our kids to be kind or to be tough? Do we need to focus on stopping our kids being nasty, or
September 20, 2013 14 Comments
Digital Trends
Can socialising online with your kids improve your relationship
Does socialising online with your kids improve your relationship with them? Does hanging out on social networking sites with mum or dad strengthen the connections
September 9, 2013 8 Comments
Online Safety
Lets look again at an internet filtering system
For a few brief hours yesterday I had hoped that some of our children may just be saved from viewing some of the obscene, degrading
September 6, 2013 1 Comment
BYOD
Who is responsible for keeping our kids safe online?
Who is responsible for keeping our kids safe online? I posed this question on my Facebook page and most tended to agree that whilst there
September 2, 2013 21 Comments
Cyberbullying
Digital Self-harm: what parents need to know
Is Digital self-harm the new buzz affliction plaguing our youth? Is it a genuine cry for attention from our angst ridden teens? Or is it
August 26, 2013 20 Comments
Digital Footprint
Teach your kids to be safe on social networks: don’t rely on safe sites, settings, banning and blocking
Teaching kids to be safe on social networks is something that all parents need to start doing as soon as their kids show an interest
August 12, 2013 36 Comments
Digital Footprint
Sexting and the law: why we are all confused
When it comes to sexting and the law, it seems our families, schools and the law enforcers themselves are increasingly concerned, confused and frustrated. With
July 22, 2013 13 Comments
Online Behaviour
Toddlers and technology: are we exposing them to the screens too early?
Are we exposing our toddlers to the technology too early? Does it matter that they can find their way around a touchscreen before they can
July 9, 2013 22 Comments
Cyberbullying
Chain mail: harmless fun or harassment?
To some they are seen as a bit of harmless fun. A spreading of quaint little dittys, quotes and stories. To some they are an
June 20, 2013 13 Comments
Whats normal for today’s kids? Is your child average?
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
April 15, 2013 14 Comments
Teaching kids empathy in order to tackle the bully
There was a documentary we sat down to watch with the 10 and 12 year old last week about a football team from America in
April 2, 2013 15 Comments
4 things I do everyday to keep my kids safe online
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
March 25, 2013 17 Comments
4 things parents shouldn’t do with their kids online
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
March 13, 2013 12 Comments
Teaching the social and emotional skills needed to be cyber safe
Do you know what your kids are being taught about cyber safety at school? Do you think it is adequate? Do you know the sorts
March 4, 2013 12 Comments
Why parents of Preschoolers need to learn about Cybersafety
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
February 12, 2013 17 Comments
Rights and Responsibilities Online: Safer Internet Day 2013
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
February 5, 2013 12 Comments
Parenting with Technology: Top posts of 2012
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
January 15, 2013 16 Comments
Online Behaviour
The Dilemma of Privacy Issues Online: helping kids make a compromise
This week I had a great conversation with my son about privacy and the online world. Well OK, it started off as more of an
November 13, 2012 19 Comments
It’s not just about switching off: helping kids deal with Cyber Bullies
When we hear reports in the media of cyber bullies and trolls harassing, stalking and abusing others, the immediate reaction for many has been “Why
November 5, 2012 17 Comments
More than Facebook: Helping our kids stay safe online
Keeping an eye on all that our children are doing online is not only time consuming and tedious, but it is almost impossible. We can
September 11, 2012 28 Comments
Overparenting or a sign of the times? Why we need to educate and be educated
Is our use of parenting books, blogs, parent educators, forums and parenting seminars an indication we are overparenting or a sign of the times? I
August 21, 2012 14 Comments
To friend or not to friend: should parents and their kids be Facebook friends?
To friend or not to friend….is this a facebook dilemma for parents…or is it a no brainer? Many people ask me whether they should insist
July 16, 2012 32 Comments