What Can Your Kids Access On Phones & Tablets?

Internet safety is a relatively new concept for parents to have to worry about, really just evolving over the last 25 years. However, with the constant advancement in technology parents don’t just have to worry about kids getting to problematic sites on the family computer, now you also have to worry about tablets, smartphones and other internet connected devices.

The Problems

The problem with these devices is that there are multiple ways to access information. Kids will quickly learn how to access the browser feature on these devices, which you can set up to deny access to specific online content just as you can on your computer.

However, apps, which are cloud based, are not able to be blocked in the same way. This means any of your apps can be easily opened by your kids and they can make purchases, change information and even access those apps that may not be appropriate for little eyes.

The Solutions

There are ways to allow your children to use your tablets, iPads and smartphones while still keeping the children safe and protecting you from unwanted purchases or downloads. This will vary by device by can include:

• Password protection – with both Android and iOS systems you can password protect specific apps and features. This means that the child cannot access that app or feature unless they first key in the correct password or PIN. They can access anything is not set up to need this additional information to start.
• App download – on the Android systems as well as the Apple platform devices you can download a parental control app. This provides you with both parental controls that limit the content that the child can access as well as child locks that simply lock out that particular app, including email and online browser access.
• Shut off in-app purchasing – on all devices you also have the option to shut off in-app purchases to prevent those unwelcome surprises. On the Apple products this is located in the parental settings and restrictions area and on the Android system it is found under the Google Play settings. You will need to create a PIN and enter that to make any purchase.

Kids and technology is a great match and with the safety options available parents can allow their kids to enjoy smartphones and tablets without any concerns. 

Gardening with Small Children

 Gardening is not only a soothing and relaxing hobby for you, it’s also a great way to stimulate your baby’s or toddler’s senses and instill in them the love for growing things.

Gardening with your children doesn’t have to be a large or long and drawn out process – in fact, this can lead to a feeling of overwhelm for both of you. Starting with a small garden, maybe only a few pots on your porch or if you live in an apartment where space is limited, a few plants under a grow light works too. In order to keep your young and up and coming gardeners interested and excited about their budding new hobby, choose plants that are colorful, flavorful and fragrant. Use plants that come from large seeds so that little hands are able to easily sow them into the soil and choose plants that you will be able to harvest quickly so that your child doesn’t lose interest.

Children like to imitate what mommy and daddy or grandma and grandpa are doing so be sure to include them in the garden, even if it’s just a small corner in the garden rather than the pots on your porch. You can give them jobs like weeding small areas, give them a spray bottle with water to spray plants that aren’t to be completely saturated. Your older children can even go slug collecting in their new garden.

Keep in mind that when you are teaching your children about gardening and they become much more regular at it, you’ll want to make sure that there are no poisonous or other harmful plants in the general facility of the plants you are allowing them to “tend” to. Teach your children right from the beginning that it never ok to put any plant into their mouths  - even organic gardening can have harmful plants. 

Tips and Tricks for Camping with Small Children

Camping with small children – even infants and toddlers doesn’t have to be the nightmarish experience you might think it would be. After all – you haven’t lived until you warmed a bottle over a campfire at 3:00 am! If camping is something you enjoy doing then there’s no reason that you shouldn’t enjoy it even when your children are small – with a few changes to accommodate your young family.

Obviously, the younger your children the more “stuff” you will need to bring along to make the trip enjoyable. You’ll be taking your car with you to the campsite so you have the luxury of making the car as full as you need without having to worry about the extra luggage. Keep in mind that no matter how much you pack, you will likely forget something or even run short so try to pick a campground with at least a convenience store nearby.

Another thing to consider is the trip itself. You know better than anyone how long your child will remain happy on a car ride – if necessary, choose a campground closer to home to keep everyone happy along the way. You also want to make sure that you can get to your campsite before dark in order to set up everything you need and can find everything easily.

If you have a crawler or young one just learning to walk, you’ll want to make sure you have a pack ‘n’ play that can be used for a crib and a play pen and let your baby move around while you’re setting up camp or hanging around the campfire.

You may also want to choose a campsite with flushing toilets and potable running water if you are in the potty-training phase. You can also decide to rent a cabin – there are plenty of kid-friendly campgrounds that can help you plan.

Camping with your young children can be very enjoyable with these few little tips. And don’t forget to keep your children on their same eating and sleeping schedules as much as possible – doing so will keep everyone in their happy place! 

Barbecue Safety for Small Children

Finally! This long winter seems to be coming to an end and summer is just around the corner. Summer means warmer days, longer evenings and of course barbecues. Some parents are a little leery of barbecuing with small children under foot but with some simple precautions there’s no reason you can’t safely cookout with your children nearby.  Here are some very simple rules to follow to keep your next barbecue a safe and fun event for everyone:

1.    Be sure to keep the grill away from all structures, siding, deck railings. Be sure your grill is not under the eaves or near low hanging branches and is also a safe distance from any lawn games and areas where your children play.

2. Don’t wear large, loose fitting clothing while you’re grilling.

3. Use long handled utensils to keep you as far away from the heat and flames as possible

4. Remove grease and fat buildup in the trays to keep them from igniting

5. Set up a 3-foot “safe zone” to keep children and pets away from the grilling area.

6. Keep matches and lighters away from children

Finally, don’t leave your grill unattended – especially when children are playing nearby. Unattended cooking is the number one cause of accidents and fires when it comes to barbecuing. This list may seem like a lot to remember but once you’re in the habit of following the steps it will become second nature and you and your family will be safe to enjoy the long, lazy days of summer. 

Finding the Right Parenting Style to Fit You and Your Needs

When we become parents or if we’re planning to become parents, we develop our own concept of what the “right thing” is when it comes to parenting. We may opt to be the strict disciplinarian or maybe we’ll opt for being more relaxed and even care free and still others may opt for something more in the middle of both styles.

Two children raised by the same parents will likely give very different answers when they are asked about how they feel about their parents because they perceive things differently. While one may believe they were disciplined enough or appropriately, the other may feel that they were over-disciplined or even abused. When we become adults, many of the decisions we make when it comes to parenting are based on our own experiences and upbringing. We may choose to follow our parents’ style or go in the opposite direction.

Here are a few things to consider when you are trying to decide on the right style of you:

·         Remember that your choices will affect your children’s future happiness, outlook on life and even their future relationships. We all want what’s best for our children but sometimes we don’t always make the best choices or decisions. Evaluate what you are doing and how you are communicating with your children; if you don’t like the results it’s time to change.

·         How much time have you spent reading information on different parenting styles? Obviously not every book is right and not every “expert” is really an expert. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t something to be said for learning something from others – especially when it comes to things like potty training advice or dealing with a biter. If there is legitimate advice at your fingertips, there’s no point in reinventing the wheel.

In the end it all comes down to: if you like the way you parent, then you’ve picked the right style of parenting for you. You will never find two parents that agree on everything and you will never find a child who agrees with his or her parents about the way they are disciplined. In a nutshell – when it comes to parenting, one size does not fit all.