Lessons on Good Savings Habits for Children
When it comes to money, parents usually have somewhat vague advice for their children. This “wisdom” may be all your child needs, however, to learn good financial habits.
Getting Started
The first part of teaching your child good habits is to engage their interests. One good way to do this is to start giving your child an allowance; they should put part of it toward spending and part toward savings. Let your child use their own judgment on where he or she wants to spend the money. By doing this, you will give your child a sense of responsibility toward the allowance.
Lesson No. 1: Saving
The part of your child’s allowance that he or she needs to save should go into a savings account that earns interest. Take your child to the bank to open the account and involve your child in the process. Make sure your child understands why the account is there, and understands what interest means.
Your child’s involvement shouldn’t stop when that first visit to the bank is over. You should set up the bank account so the statements and the account are in your child’s name. Let your child open the envelop when the statement arrives in the mail. Go over the account balance with your child, and help him or her understand why the balance is growing. Have your child put the monthly statements in a binder; this will teach your child to be organized.
Take your child to the bank when you give him or her the allowance. Have your child deposit the money. The point of this lesson is to teach your child about saving, rather than spending, money. This will lay the basis for a lifetime habit.
Lesson No. 2: Investing
Start talking about how to make money grow faster when your child becomes older. Many teenagers are able to understand the basics of how stocks work. You should spend some time explaining to them about risk, and talking about the potential risks and rewards of investing in the stock market. If it is feasible for your family, give your child a few hundred dollars and let them invest in the stock market. Help your child research companies that are interesting to him or her, and take our child through the process of conducting research about those companies.
Help your child buy shares in the stocks they would like after completing the research. Remember: The purpose of this is not to create a stock portfolio that will fund your child for life. The purpose is to allow your child to learn about money, risk, and reward by making his or her own choices. If you truly are concerned about your child’s choices, limit investments to one or two companies for $100 each.
Don’t forget that losing money is part of the process of learning about stocks. This is a learning experience. You are not giving your 13-year-old child all of his or her savings and letting them invest in the market. You are teaching your child about the investing and the consequences of investment decisions.
Statements for the brokerage account should go to the child. Your child should put these statements in the same binder or folder he or she is using for the savings accounts. You and your child can use these statements to compare the fluctuations in each account, and talk about the differences between brokerage accounts and savings accounts.
Looking toward the Future
As your child gets older, you will be able to talk about more complex investing ideas, like diversification and different methods for savings. You may want to explain that as people accumulate money, certain types of fixed-income investments may be an appropriate item to put in a portfolio. If possible, you can use your portfolio to show your child how the portfolio changes over time based on personal needs and desires.
Things to Remember
Remember that knowledge is power. It’s important to remember that your child needs to learn about money, and that you can give them this gift and this power. You will teach your child how to become a self-sufficient adult who has confident in the ever changing financial marketplace.
Teaching your child about how to saving and handle his or her own financial situations is just as important as your saving money for your child’s college education and other activities. Teaching your children about how to handle money may in fact be even more valuable than just giving them cash or a fixed rate credit card and letting them go free. You should start early and give them these tools to last them a lifetime.
Tips On Buying Gold Body Jewelry
There are several important factors to consider when buying gold body jewelry, especially gold belly button rings. Gold is always the most popular choice for body jewelry, as gold is the most recognizable jewelry component and has a timeless appeal.
How do you know your gold body jewelry is really gold? It’s worth spending a little time to understand how you can make sure your gold body jewelry is pure, and not a substandard piece.
The first aspect to consider with body jewelry is karat content. You never want to buy body jewelry less than 18 karat gold. Lesser karat content, like 14k gold, means you’ll run the risk of a body jewelry allergy, which are discomforting at best and downright painful at worst.
Usually this occurs because the gold used for body jewelry is an alloy that contains other metals in addition to gold. Often, gold body jewelry is only plated with gold; such jewelry should never be used in piercings even if the piercing is healed.
After the polish goes away, the allergic risk is high, especially if the other metal used is nickel. Nickel is the most common metal used for body jewelry, particularly for white gold belly button rings. The cheaper the body jewelry, the more unlikely it has a high level of gold purity.
Since gold in its natural state is quite soft, it’s very common for body jewelry manufacturers to use other metals along with gold to formulate a piece of body jewelry. For example, 14 karat gold belly button rings are just over half gold, with other metals comprising the remainder.
To avoid potential body jewelry allergic reaction, always choose 18 karat gold body jewelry. Most body jewelry you’ll see on the market is 14 karat gold, but 18k gold is also readily available. The less gold content, the less expensive. The downside, of course, is the high chance you’ll have to return or even discard the body jewelry.
Consider these factors when buying gold body jewelry:
1. Only buy from stores that test their body jewelry for gold purity content.
2. Avoid trademark or logo body jewelry if there isn’t a license stamped on the back. Any trademark must also display licensing directly on the body jewelry.
3. Have your body jewelry tested for purity at an independent lab or dealer if the quality is in question.
4. Under a jewelers scope, take a good look at the craftmanship. Are there rough edges? Frays? Imperfections?
One last item … remember that 24 karat gold is the only pure gold. 18k, 14k, and 10k all have gold and other metals present. For reference, 18k gold is 75% pure gold, high quality, affordable, and your best choice to reduce the risk of any problems.
New innovative equipments will take care of our entire problems.
Salutations should be given to the flip side of the new age living style. Nowadays we have less time and more work to finish up. We all have to work hard for a healthy living and when we seem to have less time and more work, then we may feel constantly pressed and monitored and we can hardly have time to relax and then our sentiments will start playing with us. We will become hyper. We can ignore all this. Obviously when we have a large business to look after with no one else to take care of or help us along, then we may become hyper at times.
It is true that one person cannot be at all the places at all the times together. We need an alternative. There are alternative today which we can depend upon. We can bring changes in our life style and bring new innovative equipments which will take care of all our problems and it will also work efficiently for us. I always wanted something pioneering for my office. And as soon as I came to about the hidden cameras I decided to have a look at them and their features through the website.
My mother in law advised me to appoint a nanny for the comfort of my baby. But I was still worried as I could not trust a stranger and I was not convinced mentally and emotionally to leave my child with the baby sitter. It was not easy for me to make up my mind. And above that hiring a nanny was not an easy task. First I had to go through all the details about her behavior and then I had to decide for her. I was unable to take the decision, and then my husband’s friend convinced me with a new suggestion.
Actually I was unaware with the advantages of the spy cams or the hidden cameras. My friend has installed one in his office for the benefit and so that he could observe the staff even if he was not around in the office. When I visited his office I was inspired and influenced by every technique of it. As it is I was to renovate my office interiors and I decided to install a camera in my office along with my interiors. I thought that this would be a good combination for my office with the interiors and a good change in my business techniques too.
My neighbor was once complaining to my wife against the nanny which she had employed for the safety of her baby. She was suspecting her behavior. She was worried to how to protect her baby from the misbehavior of the nanny. Because we had already installed a hidden camera in our office, my wife knew about it. She suggested the neighbor to install a nanny cam in her house so that she could come to know about the ill treatment which the nanny was giving to her baby. She considered it and immediately her problem was solved.
Hidden Nanny Cam’s are used by parents to monitor their kid’s.
The nanny cam is becoming more and more popular everyday. That’s because they are cheap, effective and easy to install. In this article I will explain what a nanny camera is and how you can use it to protect yourself and your family; after all you deserve to be safe. Simply put a nanny cam is a hidden video camera that has been secretly installed in a common object. Nanny cams are hidden cameras that are used by parents to monitor their children. These cameras are named so because they are used by parents to identify abusive nannies and babysitters.
You should not take the safety of your child lightly. Many camera systems used in these applications can be hidden in small objects such as teddy bears, computer speakers, plants and smoke detectors. These cameras are especially useful because they allow you to monitor your nanny’s behaviour without them being aware they are being monitored thus allowing there true colors to show. There are many different types of nanny cams available on the market and most are small and wireless so they can be tucked away without being noticed.
You could also get a hidden camera in a teddy bear or alarm clock that shows color and is wireless for a few hundred dollars. Just place the camera in a discreet location within the recommended transmission signal range. Plug the receiver into your computer and it will lock onto the camera’s transmission signal. Video is then recorded onto the hard drive of your computer. You can also set it up with software programs that enable you to watch the video live on the internet while you’re at work. This will give you the peace of mind knowing what your caregiver is doing. As an added bonus, it keeps you in contact with the daily happenings of your child.
It is most suitable for office use. It generally has a 4-channel operational camera and 8 channels for reception. It produces a resolution of 380 lines for a color camera and 420 lines for a black and white one. You can fit these nanny cameras practically anywhere. The Boom box spy camera is very useful as the boom box is portable and can be shifted to any place in your room. Wireless cameras hidden in books are another popular option as nanny cams. The list of nanny cameras seems endless. Some other objects that can act as hidden cams are computer speakers, lamps, emergency lamps, smoke alarms, VCRs and purses.
Your choice of camera will depend on your requirements including the layout of your home, the distance at which you will be monitoring the images and whether you require recording of these images. In conclusion, Nanny Cams can provide you with a variety of options you just have to decide what’s right for you. No one can ever be one hundred percent sure that they have chosen the right childcare provider. What seems too good to be true can often be just that? However, thanks to technology, you can now put to rest the nagging fear and know for sure that your child or children are safe.
Nanny cameras have become a must in today’s new way of life.
Modern times are bringing modern equipments. Unique technologies, advanced equipments are the complete package of comfort for today. Today?s hidden cameras, spy cams, nanny cams and many more cameras come designed in several features and sizes. They are very helpful in capturing clear images. For many decades cameras were meant and used only by the experts for their particular profession. But today the spy cams are being recognized as equipments for the safety of the business, house, shops, malls, theaters, air ports and so many places. The new concealed or hidden cameras increase the efficiency for its users.
Issues concerning security of your home or office may trouble you at times. But now with the recognition of several new ideas of proper ways to safeguard our own belongings, you can relax in peace. You can take advantage of all the cameras which are manufactured for your comforts. You can finish with what you have been working on and you can look beyond the immediate situations which are being created in your surroundings with the help of the spy cams. You can make proper notes of what you need to do in the coming years at your business premises and ensure that whatever projects you take up end up successfully with the help of new equipments at your aid.
In modern days the success of business depends upon quick and effective adjustment with the latest equipments. The last few years have witnessed changes in the commercial and industry world including the dunked proposals. If we have proper management and proper equipments at our aid, then we can manage to run our business with challenge. Installing the hidden cameras at our work place can help us to a great extent. If they are installed, then we can keep an eye on the troubles which are usually made by our employees at our work place in our absence.
After the installation of the spy cams, we can relax and we can also be away from our office or any other work place for some time and in the mean time we can start a new office at some other place. This way we can manage to handle both our work places at a time. We can spy the trouble makers with the help of the spy cameras which are installed in the office. Because of the opening up of the scenario with great stress on competition and quality, there is a need for rethinking and revamping of business relation.
I really cannot afford to miss an opportunity to keep any of the children alone. For the better results and the surveillance of the people who work with me for the day care center, I have installed a spy cam in my cabin so that I can keep an eye of each and every child from there itself. Children are like the budding flowers that have to be taken care with much affection. I have given strict warning to my staff that action will be taken against the culprits if they try to harm the children. And my work has become easier with the help of the spy cam which I have installed.
Unseen check can be done with the help of the wireless spy cam.
Time has without a doubt become elegant using latest tools to go along our life style today and they are quite affordable too. Contemporary machinery has advanced to the spot where the abode of the expectations has become a practical option for today’s home owners and businessmen. Elegant creations have made possible for every individual to take care of his/her own belongings without any doubt. In this sharp time, the manufactured product can be customized to meet the needs of a single home maker. Intelligent home systems depend upon the electronic devices we buy and how accurately they perform their task.
We can feel safe and secure after the installation of the spy cam. If you are the one who cares much about your house, then definitely a hidden camera will be the best option for the safety of the house. After using the hidden camera I ensure that your life will become easier. By using proper gadgets you will be drawn by tasks that bring out creativity and originality. This way you can take a break from your household tasks and spend time engaging in activities that help you to relax.
We can also use them for various purposes. Moreover its installation is very easy. We can install it with our VCR or the Television set also. We only have to plug it in the receiver and the camera will start with its wonders. There are so many online portals where we can have a look to the various cameras and we can order them on the website itself through the internet and our product will be shipped to our place within a few days.
After installing the spy cam in our business premises, we will find that everything is focused in a proper manner and the determination to get things done will be an asset, especially if we are dealing with complicated or cumbersome tasks. I had already installed the spy cam in my office to avoid any disturbances in the working hours. My staff knew that there was a hidden camera installed in the office and so would never dare to create any trouble during the office hours. Everything was perfectly planned in my office.
Assignments and delegating tasks will ease your workload and allow you to focus on a bigger picture and a better environment if every thing is working in an appropriate manner. A determined attitude will ensure that we can find a way around obstacles. The miracle which is made with the help of the camera cannot be denied. The vision and innovation of the latest cameras really work wonders for its users. A great invention indeed!
The best way to make out about nanny’s career is with a Nanny Cam
Many among us have to entrust our babies in hands of a nanny as we have work to attend to then we as parents constantly worry as to if the babies are safe. As an employer if your worry is that your employees are up to no good when you are going out. In both the scenarios it becomes of prime importance to install a spy camera that will keep an eye on both of them and will end all mishandling if any. If you are thinking of getting yourself a hidden camera in your office or home, then you will have to choose from wireless or wired options. The wireless however as the name implies will have no physical wire between the VCR and the gadget.
No matter how well you feel that you know your babysitter, or how long they have been working for you, you should never feel safe not knowing exactly what is going on. To serve this purpose many people purchase nanny cams. Nanny Cams can come in all different types of shapes and sizes ranging from teddy bears to books to mirrors. All of these cameras are items that are not out of the ordinary and will not stand out. You can find hidden cameras in almost anything these days. Hidden cameras are so small they are virtually invisible to a naked eye.
When buying a nanny cam, or hidden camera, you need to keep in mind what it is that you want to accomplish with it, and you need to keep it what it is, a hidden camera. If your child never plays with stuffed animals then chances are you do not want a stuffed animal hidden camera. This is especially true if your babysitter or nanny would have the desire to play with it and move it, therefore taking it out of position. The nanny hidden spy cameras are manufactured and disguised in the form of stuffed animals, soda cans, wall clocks, radios, mirrors, vases, and even picture frames.
The distance between the receiving unit that could be a monitor or a TV set should be within 150 feet radius for it to operate efficiently. You can supervise anyone with this high tech and innovative designed camera. The output that one receives in colour mode is remarkable, the picture quality is clear and so is the video. The best part is that these nanny cams don’t cost a fortune too you can find one that will fit your needs. Now you can be rest assured that yr child is in safe monitoring in the supervision of the nanny.
Remember, for anything kind of charges to be pursued against a babysitter, nanny, or unruly family member for hurting a child like this, proof is needed. Proof is needed in every case that goes on trial, and word of mouth or a verbal accusation will almost never hold up. Undeniable proof lays in the video, and only you, the parent or guardian, can provide that. So, as a favor to your innocent children who are just trying to learn how the world works, please consider the use of a nanny cam so we do not have to hear about your child on the news.
The Challenges Facing The 21st Century Parent
We all remember being children, looking at our parents in disbelief at the oversights, misunderstandings and plain daft ways they behaved towards us. At the time we promised ourselves that one day we’d show them just how it should be done. So here we all are, wondering where on earth it all went wrong. Our children are now shaking their heads at us whilst looking sadly at their pitiful parents, almost certainly promising themselves that one day they’d show us how it should be done. Such is the comedy of life. The truth is that being a parent is never easy, and there have always been dangers, traditions, expectations, risks and issues that have had to be tackled. However, the biggest challenge parents have always faced is that the world into which they bring their children is not the same as the familiar world of their own childhood, and this is where the problems start.
Of course, today the world in which our children are growing up is a very different one to our own childhood experiences. With computer technology and the rapid development and integration of the internet into daily life, our children are placed in situations far removed from anything we could have imagined. With friends on the other side of the planet that they have never met, but know intimate secrets about, and evenings spent in front of their monitor, in rapt attention, attempting to rescue the Lost Artefact from the Tomb of Al’Kqaar, or chatting away to the other members of their guild in order to bring down the mighty Fargore, we as parents can only sit back and wonder. And don’t worry - you’re not the only parent to scratch their head and wonder what it’s all about.
Of course, no one is going to suggest that simply because we are the generation of parents that we somehow lost all ability to cope with life in the 21st century - we can, most of us, use a computer perfectly well, and see it as a handy tool for sending emails, looking stuff up on the internet, maybe even creating letters or a graph. But perhaps it’s simply who we are as a generation, but the appeal of posting our intimate secrets on the internet for the whole globe to see is lost on us. We shred any personal documents or bank statements before burying them deep within the depths of our bins, and hate the idea of photographs of us being owned by anyone. Yet our children seem quite happy to publish embarrassing photographs and stories for all to see. They talk about friends, but have never met them, and this even challenges our definition of friend. To us, a friend is someone we are close to, hang out with, and spend time with. Our children’s friends seem to be distant, with the only interaction taking place in a virtual world.
Few of us can have missed the numerous stories on the news about children who go missing after meeting up with someone on the internet. The statistics are grim, and the reality is clearly that there are predators who use the internet as a way of accessing children. It’s easy to view the computer as the problem, as the cause of danger, and the temptation is to remove its presence from the home entirely.
Of course, the truth is that computers, and the internet, are no more dangerous than any other aspect of our lives. Yes, we could easily get knocked down and killed crossing the road, a tree might fall over and crush us, or we might go on holiday and get killed by a falling coconut, but we stand more chance of being killed in any of these ways than of any harm coming to us using a computer or the internet. It’s simply a matter of common sense. After all, crossing the road is a fairly straightforward and relatively safe procedure, but lying down in the middle of the motorway is clearly being ludicrously cavalier with our safety. Similarly, using the internet safely is fine, but there are stupid things that we, or our children, can do which we need to be aware of.
What are the dangers or risks involved in using the internet, or computers, and exactly what can we as parents do to try to ensure that our children can enjoy using this amazing resource, whilst at the same time staying as safe as possible? The key to safety is understanding - whatever it is you’re doing. Whether it’s driving on the motorway, parachuting or flying to the moon, the more you understand the risks, the less risk you’ll be taking. By understanding what it is that your children are doing, and knowing what they mean by avatars, profiles, chat rooms, messenger programs and online games, you will be able to share your child’s experiences much more, and help them to use the internet more safely. The more we can work with our children to encourage them to use the technology in a positive way, but understanding the dangers and risks, the more chance we have of helping to ensure their safety, enabling them to decide themselves on the level of risk.
In just the same way that we tell children not to talk to strangers, not to accept sweets from people they don’t know, not to go out alone, but to stay with a friend, to report anyone acting strangely, and other basics to help them stay safe when out and about in our own neighbourhoods, making sure that they realise that people they communicate with on the internet have the advantage of anonymity and can disguise themselves far more easily online than they could in real life. A 12 year old boy your child bumps into at the park is clearly exactly that - he needs no further proof to back up his claim, and is therefore probably quite safe as a friend. However, someone online who claims to be a 12 year old boy has only words to prove it, and a photo which could easily be lifted from any of the billions of sources on the internet.
There are other methods besides education which can be used, such as filtering software, monitoring software to record all chat logs, and software that can limit or restrict either the websites accessed or the times at which they can be accessed. Not allowing computers in the bedroom is another good tactic - if the computer is somewhere public, such as the living room, then it is less likely that your child will take risks, and it gives you the parent the chance to have a look at what they’re doing, express an interest, and learn more about the world they live in. Your child is more likely to talk to you about what they’re doing if you seem interested. Whilst restrictions, software and spy-like monitoring can help, at the end of the day, it has to be about your relationship with them, and the real world communication that takes place.
A nanny cam, for a safer future of your kids.
Times have changed and we cannot be ignorant about how life around has taken a different setting altogether. The news stories that were all around the major channels make it difficult to trust any nanny. There have been stories where the children are often neglected as the nanny is busy watching T.V. Another worse scenario is that a nanny brings home a friend in your absence and is misusing the expensive gadgets at your home.
If you thought you were helpless and could not do anything about it then you are wrong as getting home a nanny cam will put an end to all your worries. Now not only can you be sure that your nanny is the right one but also that she is taking good care of your precious little one. There are many among us who still are not keen to the whole idea of a nanny cam. But there is nothing in this world that you would not do to ensure the safety of your children.
Both my aunt and uncles are working full time and are doctors by profession. They were blessed with a little one just about six months ago. They decided to hire themselves a nanny, as they thought that it would be in the best interest of the baby to be around familiar surroundings. However choosing one is passing one hurdle but can you trust them with the toddler is the bigger question. Nannies are the most affordable option for many among us but you cannot be sure now can you with a stranger. With a nanny cam you will put an end to all your whims.
The online site www.my-spycam.com has so many options that will suit your needs and taste. If you are looking for a teddy bear or a piece of furniture or even baby wipes they have one built with a hidden camera in them. The manual is so easy to follow and install that it will be up and working in no time. The most distinguishing feature that puts them a class apart is that they are hidden so neatly and have no cluttered wires. If you were planning for getting yourself a nanny cam then shopping it on the internet is a hassle free and easy option. Shopping online not only reduces the time to just a few minutes, but also is so simple to follow.
Online shopping is so simple and within a few mouse clicks you can make the purchase. The online site is so easy and very easy to follow; now you can put an end to all the hassles of traditional queues. Remember the traffic jams and managing the kids while shopping they seem like a thing of the past. My aunt was so happy with the prompt shipment by the portal; the delivery was made right at her home. There are many things that money can buy but the feeling of security can never be beaten. This is all you need to rebuild your trust in nanny care; you don’t have to have any doubt anymore. The spy cam portal is sure to have the model and colour you always wanted for your home or business.
The Place Of A Parent Is In The Wrong
Being a parent has to be one of the hardest jobs in the world. When we were children it all looked so easy, and we constantly criticised our own parents for making disastrous mistakes, all of which we swore we’d never make if and when we ever got to be parents ourselves. So here we are, making whole reams of mistakes of our own, and finding that whatever we think is the right thing to do, our children, or our children’s friends have other ideas. We look at other parents, who seem to manage fine, and then we look at our own mess and wonder what went wrong. Being a parent is very much like being up a creek without a paddle, and the boat’s leaking. Each day seems another battle has to be won.
The biggest change in the world which we as parents can see is the introduction and proliferation of computer equipment and technology. As young children ourselves, some of us would have had some experience of innocent little units that could do relatively little, others of us had no experience at all - it was another world. Today, we are bringing our children up in a world we could not possibly have imagined, and seems as far removed from our own childhood as is possible to conceive. Whereas we spent hours riding round on empty streets on our bikes, our children are stuck indoors mesmerised by the images on their computer screen. Our challenges involved cycling all the way down the hill as fast as we could, our children’s seems to be to unlock the secrets of the Shrine of D’Gaarn or kill as many Wailing Jarpees as possible in the hope of a good drop. If this leaves you cold, or dazed, then welcome to the club.
Parents aren’t idiots - we’re most of us quite capable of working a computer, typing up a letter, creating a graph and sending off some emails, but computers seem to have a whole other world built in to them that leaves many of our generation reeling at the prospect. For those of us who shred our telephone and gas bills before binning them, and always ask to see the identity card of the man standing at our doorstep wanting to read our meter, the idea of happily posting your most intimate details on a worldwide system for the entire world to see and do what they like with is awful. Whilst having friends all over the world sounds appealing, having friends we have never met and are never likely to challenges our understanding of what friends are. Just because you hang out in Doom Forest killing dwarves from the opposite faction each evening doesn’t, in our traditional book, constitute a friendship.
Then of course there are our worries and concerns regarding the dubious people online that are simply there to lure our children to some dark alley and do what they will with them. We hear the statistics and see the news stories of yet another child who met up with some stranger from the internet and was never seen again, and it’s easy to be tempted to unplug the computer and throw it on the bonfire as though tainted in some evil way.
Most of us realise, however, that it isn’t the computers which are evil, and the vast majority of people on the internet are perfectly decent individuals. Yes, it’s true that there are risks associated with using the internet, but then there are dangers associated with almost everything in life. We could go down to the shopping mall and be blown up by terrorists, or we could take a plane on our next holiday and die in a horrendous crash, or we be knocked down and trampled by a donkey. Every day we take risks, and yet most of us seem to survive them. Clearly this is because we take calculated risks, and use common sense to judge the dangers, and act accordingly. Clearly getting in to a plane held together by sticky tape would be absurd, and crossing the road blindfolded would also be liable to come with far greater risk. Similarly, using the internet is only a danger if you either have no idea what the risks are, or simply ignore them and effectively cross the road blindfold every time you log on, or allow your children to.
So what are the main problems with using the internet, and what can we as parents do to help increase the safety of our children whilst they are enjoying this resource? The most important, and ultimately effective method of helping to support our children is education. This means education of ourselves, and education of our children. The more that you know and understand what is meant by messenger software, chat rooms, online games, profiles and avatars, the more you’ll be able to help your child understand the dangers, and the benefits of using the internet in a safe way. Remember, we’re not trying to scare our children away from the internet - it’s always going to be around and we’re not going to be able to stop them in the end, but we can help make them aware of the issues and help them make educated decisions themselves.
We spend time as parents teaching our children about ’stranger danger’, and make sure they understand not to interact with anyone they don’t know. They have it drummed in to them from an early age that they should not talk to strangers, go off with them, accept lifts or sweets or invitations, and that if they suspect anything is wrong, run back home or to safety straight away and tell someone. This same policy and understanding is often lacking online. The strangers are still there, most of whom are perfectly decent, but many are sadly using the anonymity of the internet to hide behind fake profiles. Our children understand about strangers in the street or park. But online, people aren’t strangers. They have photos, names, hobbies, backgrounds, families and favourite music. The fact that these profiles may be entirely fake seems to pass our children by.
Possibly you may already be aware of the fact that there is a wealth of security software available for parents. These enable you to lock down and protect your computer, installing filters and logs, restrictions and blocking tools, guards and scanners, but to be honest most of this will simply cause our children to be ever more curious about what really is on the other side of the wall you’ve built. We were children once, and we know that the first thing you want to do if told not to look over the wall, is to look over the wall, and most children are smart enough to work out a way of getting past the security. A far more effective way of supporting and protecting them is to communicate with them. To have the computer somewhere publically visible so that you can see what they’re doing, share an interest, and talk with them, is far better than trying to lock everything down and then running away to pretend the dangers will go away.
