Talk To Kids About Internet Safety

You already know to talk to your children about drinking, drugs, smoking, and sex. But have you discussed Internet safety with your kids?

Don't assume that the person your young child or teen is chatting with is safe, just because they found the companion in the Webkinz site or in a Christian chat room. If they don't already know the person, they do not really know who is on the other end of the conversation. And neither do you.

It doesn't take long for youthful prey to inadvertently (or purposely, thinking they are safe) give away their schedule, school, or location.

Here are a few suggestions for helping your kids stay safe online:

Monitor their online activity by looking over their shoulders at the screen. You're not being nosy...you're being a responsible parent.

Check the computer's browsing history (including temporary Internet files and cookies) to see what websites have been visited. If there are no sites in these sections, your children may be hiding their browsing habits.

Use filtering software.

Know the passwords to your kids' social networking profiles.

Talk to your children about identity theft. Explain what it is and how it can happen.

Tell your kids what constitutes "personal information." If your child has already given out her age and hometown, then sends a picture of herself next to the school's mascot, a predator could easily find her school, follow her home, and then know where she lives.

Warn your teen about downloading free software. Downloads that seem harmless could possibly contain malicious code, sexual images, or computer viruses. Some illegal downloads destroy your programs or corrupt certain types of files. Others commandeer the information in your data files for the sole purpose of stealing your identity.

For more quick safety tips and information on software monitoring programs, check out the Digital Doctors website.

Attn: Dads of Great Students

Happy Father's Day! (Read this blog, then get off the computer and call your dad!)

WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) is the safe-school initiative of the National Center for Fathering, and is also part of the MORE alliance.

The safe-school initiative focuses on prevention of violence in schools by using the positive influence of fathers and father figures.

WATCH D.O.G.S. Director, Eric Snow, helps dedicated men and women increase school safety, and provide positive male role models, for schools across the U.S.

To get involved, visit www.fathers.com.

Desperation: The Mother of Invention

When it comes to children's products, desperation, more than necessity, is often the impetus for the invention of new products.

Case in point: Randy and Dana Reid's 18-month-old daughter learned the valuable skill of removing her own clothing. Unfortunately, she preferred to home her newfound talent during what was supposed to be her naptime.

The Reids did not want to discourage their child's creativity, courage, or self-exploration, but were frustrated by the need to keep their daughter warm, comfortable, rested, and safe from strangulation or suffocation.

The day they entered the nursery and found their toddler naked and covered in poop, the first ever "Mooki" was born! Randy haked the feet of a footed sleeper and put it on his child backward.

Mookimoo Sleepwear now offers much more stylish options for its 100 percent custom rib-knit one-piece sleepers with zippers in the back. Parents can remove the garment, but even your toddling contortionists can't.

The "Mooki" comes in three screen-printed designs on three fabric colors in sizes 12 to 36 months.

For more info or to purchase, visit http://mookimoo.com