Looking After Your Children on the Web

Today kids love getting on the web. They meet new people, find interesting information, enjoy great games, and more. However, a lot of children don't really know how dangerous the Internet can be. As parents, it's important that we protect our kids. So, here's a look at dangers on the net, some steps to protecting kids online, and why software can be a top protective method to use in your home.

The Dangers on the Net for Kids
You'll find that there are many different dangers on the net for kids today. In fact, you may not even be aware of them. Here are five of the top dangers you need to be aware of.

- Danger #1 - Malware - Malware essentially refers to malicious software, such as viruses, adware, Trojans, and adloaders. These can all damage your computer or can even allow people to get a hold of sensitive information. Many kids accidently download it or go to sites that put it on your computer.

- Danger #2 - Identity Theft - Sometimes kids respond to phishing scams or even give out private information. This can set them up for identity theft.

- Danger #3 - Content Inappropriate for Kids - There is a huge amount of inappropriate content on the web and it's easy for kids to get to it. The last thing you want is your kids stumbling across nasty porn or graphic violence on the web.

- Danger #4 - Online Bullying - Online bullying is more common than many people realize. In some cases it has led to depression and even suicide. You don't want your child to be a victim of it or to engage in it either.

- Danger #5 - Online Predators - This is the nightmare of every parent. There are many online predators out there that try to get involved in the lives of kids. Some stalk them, blackmail them, kidnap them, or worse.

Steps to Protecting Kids Online
Now that you realize some of the dangers on the net for your kids, it's time to start protecting them. Here are some simple steps to help you keep your children protected from the dangers of the internet.

- Step #1 - Warn Your Children - First of all, you need to make sure that you warn your kids of the dangers on the web. Sit down and talk to them about dangers that can occur so they can be prepared. Let them know things to look out for on the web.

- Step #2 - Keep Communication Open - Keep the communication open between you and your kids. Talk about what they do on the internet and stay involved in their lives. Make sure they feel comfortable talking with you if something negative occurs online.

- Step #3 - Set Some Ground Rules -  Set some ground rules for computer use. Give them a limited time online and restrict sites that they are allowed to visit.

- Step #4 - Have the Computer in a Public Place in Your Home - Kids shouldn't be closed up in their room on the computer. This can breed secrecy and distrust. The computer should be located in a public area in the home where you can monitor what is going on when your child is online.

- Step #5 - Monitor What Your Kids are Doing on the Web - It's not snooping. You should be checking out the sites your kids are visiting online. This way you know what is going and can ensure that they are not going places that could endanger them on the net.

Software - A Top Protective Method
Probably one of the most important things that you can do to keep your kids safe on the net is to install some type of internet protection software such as Net Nanny or PC Tattle Tale. The right software can allow you to set up parental controls on the computer so you can block content altogether that may be harmful for your children. Good software can also help you to more closely monitor what your child is doing online, such as the sites that they are visiting and what they are doing on these sites.

It's imperative that you work to keep your children safe online. The Web is a fantastic tool but it needs to be used carefully when it comes to your kids. Take the steps we have been through and begin using them. Invest in some great software as well. Together they will help you to make sure that your kids enjoy their time online and that they don't become victims.

This article was written by Tony Hilton of Fix-this-computer.com to help parents everywhere protect their kids online.

Deal With Your Picky Eater the Correct Way

Life is quite stressful when you have to deal with a picky eater at home. Daily you stand in your kitchen wondering what to prepare and if they will eat it. The power battles during meal times are driving you one step close to the grave too. Having little children that are picky eaters is not unusual. Many parents are in the same boat. I've heard that children will grow out of this problem. I'm sure sitting around and waiting for it to end is not the solution you are looking for. So, take a look at some of the ideas below:

1. Let them plan meals and go grocery shopping with you. By giving them the liberty to select the dinner menu, you raise the chances of them eating it.

2. Watch the before-meal snacks. You can't blame them if they say no to meals when they just had a snack to filled them up. Apart from the snacks, limit the drinks too. Don't underestimate the filling power of juice and milk.

3. Don't pile their plates with too much food. Give smaller portions and if they can eat more, let them have seconds. When you do this, they are not intimidated by the food.

4. Let them be kitchen helpers when you are cooking. The fact that they helped to cook it, motivates them to want to eat it. For instance, while preparing dinner, I persuaded my daughter who is 7 years old to help me chop up the broccoli and cauliflower. Guess what? She actually ate them when she wouldn't have before.

5. Present to them 2 types of foods to choose. Make them feel the decision is in their hands. Why not ask them if they prefer noodles or rice, carrot sticks or grapes, etc....

6. Learn to make snacks that are nutritional. Fruits and vegetables are simply the best. Turn them into finger foods that the kids can enjoy such as fruit kebab.

7. Point out what other children eat, especially their friends. Do you notice that your children are always more interested in eating other people's food then yours? It doesn't matter if their friends are eating food that is alien to them, as long as their friends are eating it, they are more likely to try. Maybe you should consider inviting your children's friends over more often. Of course, make sure you team up with the parents first so there's no junk food.

8. It could be your picky eater has a problem with the food's texture rather than the food's taste. If you suspect this to be so, try to prepare the food differently like making fruit juices instead of fruit slices or chopping the vegetables finely a hiding them in your dish.

9. Avoid giving them the label of a picky eater. If they hear you say it all the time, they may just accept that to be who they are.

10. Never go out of your way to cook them a separate meal. Yes, you suggest a choice of foods to them but it's not something different from the family menu. If you do this, you will just defeat the purpose of getting them to eat more types of food.

Goodness knows you need a lot of patience to handle picky eaters. The most important thing you must do, and also the hardest, is to let go of the power struggle during meal times. List down rules and adhere to it. One thing that will also help is to search out easy recipes for picky eaters. It definitely helps to get a little creative in preparing meals.