Thursday, July 1, 2010

Parenting Today Needs All the Help it Can Get

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/tzonE)
Does anyone doubt the difficulty that parenting in today’s culture imposes?  There are the cell phones – no smartphones, video game consoles, the Internet and other hand-held, portable and all-consuming attention grabbers that vie for a place in kid’s lives.

[caption id="attachment_1784" align="alignright" width="132" caption="Family Safety & GPS Tracking"][/caption]

With these devices come dangers from exposing young and innocent lives to very bad people and situations under the disguise of connected acquaintances.  Is it any wonder then that parents need all of the help they can muster?

Sources of Help

Parents need to be as aware of technology as are their children.  This means that studying about the latest trends and arming themselves with information on how to protect kids from the bad that is out there is mandatory.  Here are the minimum requirements that Mom and Dad should look into to protect their families.

Internet monitoring software.  If you are away from your home while kids are at home, they are probably on the Internet.  It’s a matter of time before they come across some very bad things there.  Monitoring software can record and log keystrokes on your PC.  Go here for a review of some of the best offerings.

Ratings on Video Games.  These have been out for a very long time and can help you determine if a game is appropriate for your child, but they are very general.  You also might find that a rating might not be helpful if you have different values from those that rate and recommend games to certain age groups.  The bottom line:  look the game over closely and look for reviews online to give you additional insights.

Security Options on Smartphones.  This is one to watch because the dawn of smartphones will bring with it new security risks.  Smartphones will become like their predecessors of old, the PC, and will have to have security software installed to prevent attacks and the phishing and stealing of information.  There are concerns that you should know about now that will help you be aware of the dangers.

GPS Tracking Devices.  Outfitting your family with these devices is a decision that needs to be made in determining how safe you need to feel.  Adding GPS Tracking units to your vehicles has other benefits, too.  Tracking for location, speed, and direction of travel can help monitor anyone who drives the car.  Small, unobtrusive tracking devices can be used to keep track of where family members go.

Going through life and ignoring real threats that exist to your family is not a smart thing.  Getting help and keeping yourself informed is.

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