Do you know what your teenager is up to online? You may well be relaxed enough and have enough trust in your child to leave them alone with the computer for hours on end in their bedroom, or even in a more communal space, but do you really know what they're spending their time away from the classroom doing?
If you're like the majority of parents, the answer is quite simply "no". However, the likelihood, we have to assume, is that they're chatting to their friends on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and now perhaps Google+. You may be forgiven for breathing a sigh of relief at that news, but are social networking sites really as safe as we like to think for the teenagers of today?
Sadly, according to Kaspersky, a leading developer of IT security software and the creator of some of the best antivirus software around, social networking sites could be putting our children at risk. A report released recently by the company revealed that "cyber criminals and scammers of all kinds are active across the Internet" and these individuals can pose threats to children and teenagers as they browse online and use instant messaging services or email.
With some malicious online users intentionally manipulating the search engine algorithms so that unsavoury content is pushed further up the ranking results, and some online games actually acting as fronts for nasty viruses that can wreak havoc if you don't have any free antivirus software, it's clear that we should all be taking a more active interest in the online lives of our kids.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Camping: Keeping Mum Happy!
Many mothers are less than enthusiastic when a camping holiday is suggested, seeing it as swapping one kitchen sink for another. In fact it is not so much swapping kitchen sinks as swapping a dishwasher for a washing up bowl on a ground sheet. However, with a bit of planning it needn’t be like that.
With the money that is being saved on hotel bills or cottage rental it should be possible to have some meals out. They needn’t be gourmet affairs. Fish and chips taste better than ever when eaten in the open-air and some sites offer reasonably priced home cooked meals to take away. Paper plates which can be thrown away are suitable for some sorts of meals and, even when there is washing-up to do, you may find that children brought up with a dishwasher actually quite enjoy washing-up camping-style.
When choosing a campsite, make sure that it has access to handy camping equipment such as washing machines and driers, either on the site or in the neighbourhood. Dress code when camping is casual; don’t bother packing fussy clothes that need to be ironed and what’s more, allow your standards to slip! Is that jumper really dirty or could it be worn another day?
There’s no need to make beds when camping. So long as you have a separate sleeping room there is no need to pack away camping mats, sleeping bags and air-beds every day. A quick plump-up of your pillow is all that is required.
Shopping need not be a drag either. If you have room in the car bring all the basics with you, so long as they do not require refrigeration. If you don’t have room you might find that a supermarket close to the campsite allows you to order online before you leave home and collect your shopping when you arrive.
With the money that is being saved on hotel bills or cottage rental it should be possible to have some meals out. They needn’t be gourmet affairs. Fish and chips taste better than ever when eaten in the open-air and some sites offer reasonably priced home cooked meals to take away. Paper plates which can be thrown away are suitable for some sorts of meals and, even when there is washing-up to do, you may find that children brought up with a dishwasher actually quite enjoy washing-up camping-style.
When choosing a campsite, make sure that it has access to handy camping equipment such as washing machines and driers, either on the site or in the neighbourhood. Dress code when camping is casual; don’t bother packing fussy clothes that need to be ironed and what’s more, allow your standards to slip! Is that jumper really dirty or could it be worn another day?
There’s no need to make beds when camping. So long as you have a separate sleeping room there is no need to pack away camping mats, sleeping bags and air-beds every day. A quick plump-up of your pillow is all that is required.
Shopping need not be a drag either. If you have room in the car bring all the basics with you, so long as they do not require refrigeration. If you don’t have room you might find that a supermarket close to the campsite allows you to order online before you leave home and collect your shopping when you arrive.
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