Leading Hands Through Technology » Parenting http://leadinghands.org/blog Keeping families in sync with technology Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:03:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Parents Poll: Your Kids Internet Usage http://leadinghands.org/blog/parents-poll-your-kids-internet-usage/ http://leadinghands.org/blog/parents-poll-your-kids-internet-usage/#comments Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:22:39 +0000 Marc Majers http://leadinghands.org/blog/?p=3111 How involved are you with your children’s online viewing habits? Are you engaged when it comes to their Internet activity? Are you checking their smart phones routinely? Are you monitoring what sites they are surfing? Are you intimated and don’t know where to start? Do you not feel you need to review their usage? How can you turn over a new leaf in 2012?

]]> http://leadinghands.org/blog/parents-poll-your-kids-internet-usage/feed/ 1 Social Networking Safety Tips http://leadinghands.org/blog/social-networking-safety-tips/ http://leadinghands.org/blog/social-networking-safety-tips/#comments Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:46:02 +0000 Marc Majers http://leadinghands.org/blog/?p=2612 I stumbled upon this site the other day and discovered some sound tips. Here are tips for helping your kids use social networking sites safely:

  • Understand what information should be private.
  • Only post information you are comfortable others seeing.
  • Use privacy settings to restrict who can access info.
  • Once information is online it can not be erased.
  • Avoid sex talk online.
  • Trust their gut if they have suspicions. Tell you if something online is uncomfortable.

http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/social-networking-sites.aspx

]]> http://leadinghands.org/blog/social-networking-safety-tips/feed/ 0 Tools for Texting Teens and their Parents http://leadinghands.org/blog/tools-for-texting-teens-and-their-parents/ http://leadinghands.org/blog/tools-for-texting-teens-and-their-parents/#comments Sat, 01 Jan 2011 04:50:42 +0000 Marc Majers http://leadinghands.org/blog/?p=2309 Families.com blogger Stephanie Romero recently did an in depth report on “Tools for Texting Teens and Their Parents” with celebrity, author, and psychiatrist Dr. Charles Sophy. He articulates that, “Parenting begins with you. Not your child. You.”

When it comes to teens and texting, be aware of your parental responsibilities:
1. Keep tabs on their behavior.
2. Educate yourself about the risks.
3. Set limits with your teens.
4. Keep an open dialogue with your teen.

Watch the interview

]]> http://leadinghands.org/blog/tools-for-texting-teens-and-their-parents/feed/ 0 Parry Aftab Privacy Lawyer http://leadinghands.org/blog/parry-aftab-privacy-lawyer/ http://leadinghands.org/blog/parry-aftab-privacy-lawyer/#comments Wed, 10 Nov 2010 09:50:34 +0000 Marc Majers http://leadinghands.org/blog/?p=2028 According to her website, “Parry Aftab is one of the leading experts, worldwide, on cybercrime, internet privacy and cyber-abuse issues. Kids used to pass notes around the class, now they are putting it on pages with 500 million users.” I have been following Parry for a few weeks and her insight into online self-defense is honest and professional.

http://www.aftab.com/

]]> http://leadinghands.org/blog/parry-aftab-privacy-lawyer/feed/ 1 Risks of Parenting While Online http://leadinghands.org/blog/risks-of-parenting-while-online/ http://leadinghands.org/blog/risks-of-parenting-while-online/#comments Sat, 24 Jul 2010 07:41:58 +0000 Marc Majers http://leadinghands.org/blog/?p=1681 I just read a recent New York Times article by Julie Scelfo discussed how adults” use of technology is affecting their children. The concern for years has been centered on the fact that technology is negatively impacting children because of their use, but what about their parents use?

Parents that are constantly online while at home are talking to their children less. Parents attention spans are furthermore reduced. These factors plus a few others are impacting their children negatively, so as parent you need to make a decision.

I just recently heard a woman call in a radio show and say that she is addicted to a game on the iPhone called “Angry Birds”. It really looks like fun, but even I was hesitant to download it so I don”t fall into this pattern. Is there a balance or do you need to quit being online for long periods of time while your kids are up?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/garden/10childtech.html

]]> http://leadinghands.org/blog/risks-of-parenting-while-online/feed/ 0 Are You A Rookie Mom? http://leadinghands.org/blog/are-you-a-rookie-mom/ http://leadinghands.org/blog/are-you-a-rookie-mom/#comments Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:07:24 +0000 Marc Majers http://leadinghands.org/blog/?p=470 The other day I came across a website that offers parenting advice from a mother’s perspective. The site features two spunky moms that share their real life experiences with you.

The website says, “This website attempts to answer the question of what to do with a new baby (and what to do with your SELF) every day. For those days when you have trouble dragging your butt out of bed because you don’t know what you’d do, we have ideas. We started this site to share our own good new mommy ideas with each other and our friends. We invite you to share your ideas with us too.”

http://www.rookiemoms.com/

]]> http://leadinghands.org/blog/are-you-a-rookie-mom/feed/ 1 Online College Courses for Half Price http://leadinghands.org/blog/online-college-courses-for-half-price/ http://leadinghands.org/blog/online-college-courses-for-half-price/#comments Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:50:35 +0000 Marc Majers http://leadinghands.org/blog/?p=444 Thinking of going to college, but you can’t afford it? In the olden days you would go to your local community college, take a few courses and then later transfer to a state school. Buruck Smith wanted to offer college students an affordable, easy online alternative to taking required classes. Now you can take a handful of classes online at Straighterline for as little as $399 a class.

What is it?
StraighterLine provides high quality, better supported, and lower cost required college courses – online, on your schedule. You can knock out your required courses and earn real college credits that give you a head start on your degree.

What are the drawbacks?

  • Learning online is a different animal
  • Class content could vary
  • Need online access

Why not take your introductory classes online for a fraction of the cost?
http://straighterline.com/

]]> http://leadinghands.org/blog/online-college-courses-for-half-price/feed/ 0 4 Parents http://leadinghands.org/blog/4-parents/ http://leadinghands.org/blog/4-parents/#comments Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:08:42 +0000 Marc Majers http://leadinghands.org/blog/?p=423 The U.S. government recently launched a new website geared toward advising parents on sex education for preteens. Uncle Sam’s message is to openly talk to tweens about sex and not to avoid the topic. It seems as though the core of the effort is to preach abstinence.

How do you feel about this campaign?

http://4parents.gov

]]> http://leadinghands.org/blog/4-parents/feed/ 0 Are You a Safe Cyber Surfer? http://leadinghands.org/blog/are-you-a-safe-cyber-surfer/ http://leadinghands.org/blog/are-you-a-safe-cyber-surfer/#comments Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:00:56 +0000 Marc Majers http://leadinghands.org/blog/?p=377 The National Criminal Justice Reference Service publishes many articles on Internet safety. The website sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice features articles and tips on how to stay on the safe side of the Internet Super Highway. Download articles from “How to Bank Securely Online” to “What to do to Avoid an Internet Scam”.

7 Tips to Stay Safe Online

  1. Protect your personal information
  2. Know who you’re dealing with
  3. Use anti-virus and anti-spyware
  4. Update your web browser and system frequently
  5. Protect your passwords
  6. Backup important files
  7. Know who to contact if something goes wrong

How many of these seven do you do?
http://www.ncjrs.gov/internetsafety/general.html

]]> http://leadinghands.org/blog/are-you-a-safe-cyber-surfer/feed/ 0 Upromise Toolbar http://leadinghands.org/blog/upromise-toolbar/ http://leadinghands.org/blog/upromise-toolbar/#comments Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:00:50 +0000 David Bardwell http://leadinghands.org/blog/?p=362

Do you have a AAA card–or an Entertainment Book?  I’ve got one of each and between the two of them, I could be getting discounts all over town.  But for some reason, I don’t take advantage of them anywhere near as much as I could.  My habits are no different online.  That’s why I give the Upromise toolbar two thumbs up.  It makes sure that you take advantage of any available savings whenever you happen upon one of their affiliated shopping sites.  (Not familiar with Upromise?)

If you or someone you know is using Upromise to save money for their kids’ college education, you’ll appreciate the value in this toolbar.  Of course you could go shopping through the Upromise shopping site directly—but who bothers to think of that?  Not me.  Just install the toolbar in your browser and you will be prompted whenever you reach a shopping site affiliated with Upromise.  Their site claims that members who use the toolbar save more than 5x more than members who don’t.

If you shop online—and you use Upromise, this free tool is a must.

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