Child Protection Tips

Keep the following child protection tips in mind as you attempt to protect your child or children.
* Keep your computer in a well-used area of the house, such as the kitchen, den, or living room, so that you can easily monitor your child's activity on a consistent basis.
* Periodically check the history of your computer to view your child's activities online.
* Make use of the parental controls and filters that are offered by your Internet service provider.
* Teach your children to never give out personal information over the Internet.
* Block instant messaging from people whom your child doesn't know.
* Caution your children about the risk of chat rooms, and limit or deny their access.

Children's Access to the Internet

When should I begin letting my child have access to the Internet? This is a common question that many parents ask. What is the right answer? Actually, the right answer depends on a lot of factors, and the most important goal is protecting children online.

* Where is your computer located?
* What is the age of your child?
* What will your child be using the computer for?
* How much are you willing to supervise your child?
* How much does your child know about surfing the Web?

If your child is a pre-schooler to early elementary age, probably the only reason for him to use the computer is to take advantage of educational software. This means that Internet access probably isn't necessary. As your child reaches the pre-teen ages of eight to twelve however, the pressure to communicate with friends and the necessity to do certain amounts of research for school will inevitably raise the need for online access.

Recognizing these needs, parents should continue to monitor their children's online activities, whether they are eight or 18 years of age. Parents should also continuously talk with their children about their online activities and Internet hazards.

Posted By Lifetips Team

Child Safety Resources

Today, the Internet offers parents, guardians, educators, and law enforcement a wide range of child safety resources that they can use to educate and keep children safe. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children gives some of the most thorough and comprehensive information.

This Website offers links to other sites, such as NetSmartz and gives safety tips for children and teens. This child safety resource also offers safety publications for parents to use in educating their children, as well as information regarding Code Adam and Amber Alerts.

Posted By Lifetips Team

Teaching Children To Talk With Respectful

Children need to learn respect and one way they learn to be respectful is by watching how their parents interact with one another. If you and your spouse yell a lot, your children will also be yellers. If you constantly confront each other when you disagree, your children will learn to do the same. Teaching your children to respect your husband is going to take time. Start by giving them a time out every time they begin to yell at your husband. Once the time out is over, ask your children why they felt it was necessary to yell and talk back. Don't judge, but listen to their concerns and feelings. Then discuss the matter and come to a calm, rational solution. In time, your children will stop going to the time out area and begin speaking with respect

posted by Patricia Walters-Fischer

Tote Baby Food Safely

Carrying home a plastic bag full of baby food jars can be very troublesome and wasteful if the jars bang against each other and break. To prevent this, bring along a cardboard six-pack container. Slide the jars into the container, and it easily and safely holds up to 18 jars. As an extra bonus, it comes with its´ own handle.

posted by Patricia Walters-Fischer

Keep kids entertained in the car

Keep a hard plastic tote with handles in the floor board of the car, holding small toys, books, kaleidescope, view master, and other items that will entertain kids. Do not include messy things like crayons, or clay. Take the tote into appointments and resteraunts for continued entertaining with ease!