Children and the World Wide Web

   We are no stranger to the game or are we? Internet has been a breeding ground for some very questionable (to say the least) activities such as Cyberbullying, Child Predators and the all to often Porn Sites. I think it is time that we start talking about keeping our children safe from all of these.

   The Internet can be very beneficial, we can use it for communication to speak to people all over the world very inexpensively, use e-mail to send pictures, files, videos and more with a touch of a button and it is the largest encyclopedia of the world. However, there are also risks associated with the Internet such as Pornography, Cyberbullying and Predators just to name a couple.

   I am absolutely disgusted by the information I found in my research on this subject. It is so scary that this is normally passed over as not such a big deal in so many households (mine included). After reading about this I knew that I had to share it with you so that we can all spread the word out there and maybe bring these numbers down some. So here we go!!!

Did You Know
*Information gathered is from Crimes Against Children Research Center*
These statistics are based on interviews with a national representative of 1,501 youth ages 10-17 who use the Internet regularly.

• Approximately 1 in 5 had received sexual solicitation or was approached over the Internet in the last year.
• 1 in 33 had a solicitor who asked them to meet somewhere, offered or mailed them money, called them on the phone or offered to buy them gifts. These solicitors are referred to as Aggressive Solicitors.
• 1 out of 4 of these children had been exposed to unwanted pictures of naked people or people having sex in the last year.
• 1 out of 17 of these children have been threatened or harassed online.
• Less then 10% of sexual solicitations are reported to law enforcement, Internet service provider or a hotline.
• Less then 3% of unwanted exposures go reported to law enforcement, Internet service provider or a hotline.
• About 25% of the children approached or encountered by sexual solicitation told a parent about it.
• Only 17% of youth and 10% of parents could name a specific authority to which they could report the  problem to. (ie. FBI, CyberTipline or an Internet Service Provider).

A few definitions of what was just spoken about above

Sexual solicitations and approaches: Requests to engage in sexual activities or sexual

talk or give personal sexual information that were unwanted or, whether wanted or not,

made by an adult.

Aggressive sexual solicitation: Sexual solicitations involving  offline contact with the

perpetrator through regular mail, by telephone, or in person or attempts or requests for

offline contact.

Unwanted exposure to sexual material: Without seeking or expecting sexual material,

being exposed to pictures of naked people or people having sex when doing online searches,

surfing the web, opening E-mail or E-mail links.

Harassment: Threats or other offensive behavior (not sexual solicitation), sent online to the

youth or posted online about the youth for others to see.

   With the numbers provided you can see clearly that this has gotten to be really bad. We need to do something about this. Our children can be solicited many different ways online like social networking sites, giving out their email address, chat rooms etc. Lets face it we cant be with our children 24 hours a day like we would like to be but we can try to protect them the best that we can by educating ourselves and them about the potential dangers that lurk around every corner of the Internet. I will go more into how we can do this a little later in this post but for now I want to cover the other dangers.

   To help prevent some of this from happening you should instruct your child to:

NEVER arrange any face-to-face meetings with anyone they meet online, even if they think it is another child. 

NEVER upload photo's of themselves to share with anyone that they meet online. 

NEVER give out personal information like name, address, phone number or school name etc. 

NEVER download anything that is sent to them via chat, email or any other form from someone they don't know or someone they have met online. And last but not least 

NEVER respond to obscene, belligerent, suggestive or harassing messages or bulletins as whatever they are told online may or may not be true!

   What to do if your child is being solicited

   Remember when I said that; 1 out of 4 children were exposed to unwanted naked photos or people having sex? Well this is from doing simple Internet searches and having some bad results come up. Have you ever tested this? Or possibly misspelled a word (I misspell a lot, Love spell check) in a search engine and have something come up that you didn't want to see? There are words now days that growing up meant other things like "Cougar" hmmm I thought that was a Wild Cat well come to find out now its more of a sexually explicit name for an older woman. 

   The point is times have changed and the Internet cant point out exactly what you want to see when you want to see it. There is just no way that the Internet search engine can honestly protect our children as much as they would like to. Google has done a ton to try to protect our children by not letting that type of material come up in the search engine without it being searched for directly but again its not something that is 100% unfortunately. 

   Now I want to cover Cyberbullying. Bullying has moved beyond the picking on people at school, on the playground and at the park etc. Now it is viral and is worse then ever. Bully's have taken it to Text Messaging, Social Networking sites and Chat Rooms just to name a few. We all know what Bullying is and we should stop it from happening to our kids. We can do the following:

• Block communication with he bully.
• delete messages without reading them.
• report the problem to your Internet service provider, cell phone company or website moderator. (depending on where it is happening). If it is bad then contact your local law enforcement as well.

   Now the question is what do you do if your child is a bully? Lets face it some children are bully's if they weren't we wouldn't be having this conversation. There are a few ways to help your child that is bullying and remember there is a reason for them bullying most of the time, we just need to find out why!

Listen - We should start off by talking with them and ask them why they do it. Don't judge them just listen to what they have to say and let them speak their mind honestly with you. Once you figure out why they do it try to help them with whatever the cause is if you can if not find someone who can.

Respect, Empathy and Compassion - Try to get them to understand what the victim is going through, what they might be feeling while this bullying is going on and how they would feel if it was happening to them.

Boundaries - Set consequences for your child with clear boundaries and adhere to them when these boundaries are broken. Let your child know that you will not tolerate bullying in any way shape or form. Make your child apologize with the victim face-to-face.

Lead by Example - In difficult situations keep your cool. Model nonviolent behavior and give your child positive feedback when you see they are doing the right things.

Love and Support - This should be done regardless of if our children are bullying or not. Offer and seek support for your child. Remember we cant expect anything to change overnight this will take time so be patient with them even if you are angry or upset.

   We went over a lot of information on Internet and how it can help and hurt our children. I hope that you find this information beneficial. I know that we will never be able to completely end any of this even though I would love to be able to but we can definitely put a dent in it if we stay educated in it and teach our children. We need to take safety precautions to make sure our family is protected from everything including the Internet. I would suggest getting some type of Internet protection software to help protect your child.

   I did some research on a few of the Internet protection software programs that are out there to protect our children and I found one that has some pretty good reviews. I have never used this program so I am going by the reviews that I got online from other users. I did do a lot of research on it and most of them give it 3.5 to 4 stars out of 5 so I think it would definitely be worth looking into. I can tell you that some of the reviews that didn't rate it very high was because you need to renew it every year (new charge to you). You have to do this with Internet Security Software (Virus Protection), Tax Software etc. as well. They need the extra funds to help come out with new software due to the ever changing technology. Remember there are more products out there that do this and maybe some that are better then the one I am listing here but this one had the best reviews that I could find. I hope this helps.

Here is the program that I found that might help some of us.

   This software blocks harmful content like pornography and drugs or you can set your own preferences. It tracks, blocks and records instant messaging, email, and social networking communication. It will allow you to set time limits or times to when your child can be online. Prevents attempts to access blocked websites by alerting you by email, SMS (text message) or by phone when your child does try to access the websites. It includes 3 licenses so you can install it on up to 3 computer systems (most others I found are only one license) and it is compatible with Mac and Windows.

They have earned: PC Magazine Editors Choice Award, LapTop Magazine Editors Choice Award, 

Parents' Choice Approved.

As always I would love to hear from you. Please leave your comments, suggestions and tips below. You can join this site by clicking on the "Join" button on the right of the page. Remember to share this with your friends and family so we can get all the safety tips and techniques out to everyone.
Thanks for visiting!

The Silent Safety Tip!

   Its cold out side so I think it is a good time to bring up a silent safety tip that so many of us don't even think about. Carbon Monoxide is an odorless, colorless and otherwise undetectable by human senses that you may not know you are being exposed to. Exposure to this gas can lead to sudden illness and death.  I want to go over some of the warning signs then some of the ways we can try to prevent it from happening.

Carbon Monoxide Symptoms

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Flu-Like Symptoms, Fatigue, Without the Fever
• Shortness of Breath, Exertion
• Visual Changes
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Fainting
• Memory and Walking Problems

   Carbon Monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. The Center of Disease Control estimates that it is responsible for an average of 15,000 Hospital visits and 500 deaths a year. Carbon Monoxide is produced by many common household items such as Heaters, Stoves, Water Heaters and Fireplaces etc.

   When you breath Carbon Monoxide, the poison replaces the oxygen in your bloodstream and causes your heart, brain and body to become starved for oxygen. Symptoms vary person to person. People that are at high risk are the Elderly, persons with lung disease, smokers and young children (note: this may not be a complete list). Carbon Monoxide can harm a fetus :(.

   The good news is we can limit the chances of being exposed to Carbon Monoxide by taking some very easy safety precautions. If we follow the ones listed below it will limit the chances dramatically and could save your life one day. Realistically 500 lives a year is not much considering how many millions of people live in the United States but when this is something that can virtually be close to 0 we should error on the side of caution especially when this could be our family that is at risk.

Safety Tips To Help Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

• Generators - Never use them indoors. Even if you have your windows and doors open, it is just to dangerous. Just keep them outside.
• Heating System, Including Chimney and Vents - Have these inspected annually by a trained service technician.
• Gas Range/Oven - Never use these as a source of heat. Remember Carbon Monoxide is Odorless and Colorless so even if it is supervised you will not know that it is being emitted until you experience the symptoms and it isn't worth the risk.
• Grills - I think this one is common sense but never bring it into the house as a source of heat. Also never bbq in your garage as it could emit the gases into the home.
• Fireplace - Always make sure that you open the Damper before lighting the fire and keep it open until all of the ashes are cool.
• Carbon Monoxide Sensor - Install Carbon Monoxide Sensor's in the home.
• Symptoms - Know the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide as early detection could save your life.

(***This is not a complete list, this is just to get you started***)

    If you start experiencing any of the symptoms that I listed above you should immediately leave the home to get fresh air and call your local fire department to report your symptoms, if you don't have a cell phone use a neighbors home but do not go back into your home to use your phone. You could lose consciousness or die if you don't leave your home. It is also important to call your Dr immediately for proper diagnosis. Let your Dr know that you believe you were exposed to Carbon Monoxide and believe you could be suffering from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Prompt medical attention is very important with dealing with Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. If your Dr confirms Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, make sure a qualified service technician inspects all appliances before reusing them.

   Carbon Monoxide alarms are a great investment to detect Carbon Monoxide as they are designed to alarm you before potentially life-threatening levels of Carbon Monoxide levels are reached. You should always follow the Manufacturers instructions. Using a Test button test whether the circuit in the device is working properly, not the accuracy of the device. All alarms have a recommended age at which the battery and the device should be replaced. 

   It is recommended that Carbon Monoxide Alarms be placed in the hallways just outside of every sleeping area of the home. I will list a few of the Carbon Monoxide Alarms that I have found for your below. Keep in mind these are just a couple of items that I looked into. There are plenty more items out there that will do the same thing, some could be better then these.

Left: This device is great for everyone. It runs off of 3 AA battery's which are included. This alarm can be mounted to a wall or placed on a nightstand or end table.

Middle: This device is also great for everyone. It runs off of 3 AA battery's which are included. This alarm is to be mounted to a wall or ceiling. This alarm is is a Combo alarm meaning it detects Carbon Monoxide and Smoke. Would be a great alarm to place in the hall just outside of every sleeping area.

Right: This device is great for those with older children or grandparents houses where children aren't at all the time to unplug the unit etc. This alarm runs off of 1 nine-volt battery which is included and is also plugged into a wall outlet.

Just make sure to choose the right device for your home. Maybe a combination of devices suites your needs.
You can find more of these products at your local hardware stores, Ebay or on Amazon.

As always I appreciate your feedback or anything that you would like to add so please feel free to leave your comments below.
 Remember to join and share this with your friends and family.. Thanks for visiting.

Up Thinking About The 3 Amber Alerts Yesterday!

   So I have been up thinking about the 3 Amber Alerts that we had yesterday and how we could try to limit this number. I am so happy they all ended up being safe but I also wonder how many more kids go missing without the alerts everyday!?!? This really scared me and my son is 16 years old, so I could only imagine how it would be for those of you with younger kids with the way things are now days. I have done a lot of research all night to try to come up with as much information that I can and I want to share a few things that I did find.

   According to The U.S. Department of Justice there is an estimated 797,500 children (under 18 years old) reported missing in one year. In an average of 2,185 children being reported everyday. 203,900 children were victims of family abductions. 58,200 children were the victims of non-family abductions and 115 were victims of stereotypical kidnappings (Someone the child doesn't know who keeps the child overnight, transports the child 50 miles or more, demands ransom, intends to keep the child permanently or ends up killing the child). The rest were mainly run aways or at a friends house etc.

   I found a couple of videos in my research that I will share with you. I don't do these to scare you (well I kinda do) but I want you to understand how important it is for us to really teach our children how to be safe at all times. John Walsh says it best when he says "I think child safety programs should be mandatory on the school curriculum, I think the safety of children should be as important as health care I really do, I think it is time to educate the children and parents in the schools". I couldn't agree with him more. I think we need to talk to our children about safety every day. I think there is always an opportunity that comes up that will let us throw in a safety tip to our children.

   Both of these videos share the sad reality of the world we live in and the dangers that our children face. We need to find things that we can do to try to prevent this from happening. We can teach our children all of the stranger danger tips/techniques, practice and role play with them and this will help a ton. We need to teach our children that just because they might have seen someone around the neighborhood or maybe even in the house a couple times that they are still strangers and they are still dangerous. Even if they were nice to our children we need to let our children know that its not ok to be around certain people without the presence of their parents. Please remember to take a look at the Stranger Danger Page that I posted as it has a lot of very valuable information in it that could help you in your teaching of Stranger Danger.

   I also found a few things that might help you with your child and keeping an eye on them. I will post them here with a description of what it is. Keep in mind these are just a couple of items that I looked into. There are plenty more items out there that will do the same thing, some could be better then these. I do research what I list and list only the ones that I find with the best reviews by other customers since I myself have never used them.

Mommy I'm Here

This device is for those of you that have younger children that aren't worried about your child walking to and from school as much as you are about them getting out of your line of site at a park or a play area at a restaurant. This device will sound an alarm if your child goes more then 25 feet away from you and works up to 150 feet. The way that it works is one piece fits on Mom/Dads key-chain and the other piece can be attached to the child's shoe/belt/backpack etc. Don't worry if you put it on the child's shoes as it is water resistant and long lasting. The link below is for a blue one but it does come in pink and brown as well.

Spot Satellite GPS Messenger UnitThis device is for those of us that have children that we cant be with at all times. This device is great it will track every move you do. It has special features on it such as a check in button and a 911 button. Its GPS makes it easy to track down your loved one using Google Maps. It is very resistant to most weather conditions and is waterproof. *Note* According to some of the reviews the 911 and check in buttons don't always work and the device is best used outdoors for those options to function. I also am not sure if there is a monthly charge or how much it would be but most GPS devices do carry a monthly plan. This is one of the lower cost GPS devices that are small enough to fit in your pocket or in a backpack making it easy to have on you at all times.

Cell PhonesOne of the cheapest ways for an older child would probably be their cell phone if they have one. A lot of cell phones now days have GPS on them that you can have activated so that you can keep up to speed on where your child is.
   The reason I bring up the GPS systems is not to necessarily spy on your child as much as to find them if something does happen. If they can have something like the SPOT or a Cell phone tucked into their pocket when they are taken away they can easily reach into their pocket and activate it or if it is already activated like the spot you can hone in on where they are for a speedy recovery of your child. 
   If your child has a cell phone you can have a police speed dial number that they can use and if they can reach it while the phone is in their pocket, they can call the police and start screaming about where they are like "Why are you driving my past Delta Bowling Lanes on 1600 Street?" and keep saying where they are even if GPS Is not active on the phone. All of these options can be valuable if used properly. Please if you take anything away from this blog at all, teach your kids the safety tips, techniques and practice, role play with them all the time as it is very important. 
   Please share your thoughts and opinions on this as well. I am sure there is so much more that can be added that I don't know, forgot or couldn't find. Thank you so much for reading. Take care.
 Remember to join the site by using the "Join" button on the right and invite your friends and family. The more people we reach the more lives we can possibly save. Thanks again everyone!!!