Helping Parents Keep Kids Safe On The Internet

Are your kids safe online? If you think they are, you may want to think again.

Recent studies reveal some shocking statistics. One in five young Internet users received an online sexual solicitation during a one-year period; and almost one in three gave out their home address.

Like most parents, you probably want to protect your children, but feel you lack the technical savvy to take action.

Fortunately, a group of companies and organizations has joined forces to form the Internet Keep Safe Coalition and a website, www.iKeepSafe.org.

At iKeepSafe.org, parents can access a free tool that guides them through the 10 technical actions they must take to protect their children online.

Developed in partnership with Internet security leader Symantec, the tutorial covers everything from filters and fraud, to safe surfing and searching, as well as how to track and monitor a child's Internet usage.

The iKeepSafe.org website includes a list of safety tips for kids, plus animated videos and games with safety information.

It also offers these helpful tips for parents:

-Keep the computer in a common room in the house and position the monitor so it's available for public viewing.

- Establish rules for using the Internet and teach children important safety guidelines.

- Use blocking software or filtering programs, but don't rely on them as your only line of defense.

- Teach children that people online are not always who they say they are.

- Frequently check the Internet history to see which sites your children are visiting.

- Monitor your children's e-mail account. Let them know you're doing it and why.

-Spend time with your children online. Have them show you their favorite sites.

- If you see anything suspicious or think your child may be a victim of Internet exploitation, call the police, the FBI or the National Center for Missing Children at (800) 843-5678.

Getting Kids To Brush Up On Proper Oral Hygiene

Though parents may have reason to smile at the recent improvements in dental care in the United States, tooth decay is still one of the most common childhood diseases, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). It is five times as common as asthma in 5-17-year-olds, according to the association. And it affects more than one-fifth of American children aged 2-4, half of those aged 6-8 and nearly 60 percent of those aged 15, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Here are tips from the experts at HealthSaver, an emerging discount health service, and recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the ADA:

1. A Good Cleaning. Your children may think they're old enough to brush their own teeth, but until they reach the age of 6, make sure to take command and brush their teeth for them at least twice a day, using a pea-sized amount of ADA-approved toothpaste. After age 6, continue to supervise brushing to make sure they reach every tooth and brush properly. Tooth care starts with the first tooth-brush your baby's gums and emerging teeth gently after each feeding with a toothbrush designed for infants and toddlers.

2. Visit Your Dentist. Visit a dentist as soon as your baby's first tooth appears and no later than age 1.

3. Drink Fluoridated Water. Water fluoridation can prevent up to 40 percent of tooth decay. Drinking water with fluoride is still the easiest and most effective way to fight tooth decay. If you're among the 40 percent of families without optimal levels of fluoridation in your municipal tap or well water, talk to your dentist about fluoridation options.

4. Don't Forget in Between. A toothbrush can't get into every nook and cranny so it's important to floss. You will have to floss for them; it's the only way to reach lingering food particles lurking between your child's teeth.

5. Eat Well. Make sure your child eats a balanced diet, stays hydrated, and seeks healthy options for between-meal snacks. Do not put your child to bed with a bottle containing anything but water, and encourage use of a cup as the first birthday approaches.

HealthSaver is joining in the fight against cavities and promoting the benefits of a healthy smile. The health care discount service offers its members discounts of 10 to 35 percent off usual and customary fees for dental care services as well as discounts on prescriptions, alternative health care treatments and vision care.

Establish Good Sleep Habits For Newborn Babies

Babies must eventually learn how to sleep away from their mothers. This transition takes some time, and new parents can help by establishing good sleeping habits for their newborns. The added benefit of creating good sleep habits for the baby is that parents also get more rest!

Most recommendations focus on developing routines and habits for babies that encourage them to associate sleeping with nighttime. The sooner parents can get their children to associate bedtime with sleeping, the more likely the children will be able to go to sleep without making a fuss.

However, the transition period, the time that exists between being awake and going to sleep, is often overlooked in these recommendations. Several techniques can be applied during this period.

One technique is known as “fathering down.” Just before putting the baby into the bed, the father should cradle his baby so that the baby’s head lies on the father’s neck. The father should talk to his child gently. Babies are often soothed by a male voice because it is deeper than the female voice, and they may fall asleep more easily after hearing the father’s voice for a time.

Another technique is called “wearing down.” This can be especially effective if a baby has been active all day and is too excited to be put to bed easily. Put the baby in a sling or carrier and “wear” him or her for approximately 30 minutes before bedtime. Perform your usual tasks. The baby will experience an easier transition from wakefulness to sleep because of being close to you and being slowly rocked by your general movements before bedtime.

If these techniques fail, you may want to try “driving down.” This is a method of last resort and involves putting the baby in the car and driving around for a period of time until the baby falls asleep. While this method is somewhat inconvenient, it is usually effective. If you need some well-deserved rest, “driving down” is an attractive option.

Of course, you don’t want to get into the habit of driving the baby around in the car every night! And you don’t want to always carry the baby in sling before bed to encourage sleep. The idea is to use these techniques and slowly ease away from them. You should only use them during the major transition that your new baby experiences when he or she has never slept alone before. The baby does not know how to handle the transition, so you must teach him or her how to go from being awake to being asleep. These transition techniques can gradually be eliminated as the baby learns good bedtime habits, and both you and the baby can then have a good night’s sleep!

Common Cause Of Frequent Infant Crying Could Point To Digestive Problems

Every year, millions of expectant parents prepare for their new baby's arrival.

Bringing a newborn home can be a thrilling but stressful and confusing experience.

A new baby's frequent crying can also be a source of anxiety for inexperienced parents. According to a recent survey conducted by the Caregivers' Advisory Board, 94 percent of first-time mothers admit to feeling stress when their babies are crying and can't be comforted.

Although babies cry for a variety of reasons, digestive problems, such as infant gas, are a common cause. Infant gas affects more than 2 million infants per year. While excess gas can be uncomfortable for a baby, it is important for parents to remember that it is often a temporary problem.

"First, it is important that parents with questions or concerns regarding their infants talk to their pediatrician. But parents can help prevent and reduce gas by ensuring that the baby's mouth forms a good seal around the breast or bottle, and by avoiding certain foods while breast feeding," says Dr. James Sears, pediatrician and co-author of "The Baby Book." "I also recommend an over-the-counter treatment, such as Infants' Mylicon Gas Relief Drops, to safely relieve gas and make the baby more comfortable."

The main symptoms of infant gas include uncontrollable crying and the baby pulling his or her legs up into a curled position, as if to relieve pain. To relieve these symptoms, many parents may find over-the-counter simethicone drops helpful. In fact, 95 percent of new mothers surveyed in the Caregivers' Advisory Board survey who tried Mylicon drops said the treatment provided some relief to their babies.

Child Safety And Child Protection: Easy Steps You Can Take Part 3

Unfortunately the reality is, you can't always be with your child. Occasionally your child is left in the care and supervision of other adults. As horrible as it is to imagine, the fact is, most child abductions occur by close family friends and/or other adults that the child is already familiar with. However, here are a few things you can teach your child that will empower them with the awareness they need to help keep them safe...even when you can't be there.

Let's begin...

There are "flags" that you can teach your child to be aware of, that seem to occur on a consistent bases with child abductions. One of those "flags" is that predators or would be predators often will test their potential victims. They will try and see how a child will react to seeming innocent situations. They often do this by seeing if the child can "keep a secret."

Your child should know to ALWAYS tell you if someone has asked them or wants them to keep a "secret"

That no one should ever, ever touch or attempt to touch them in ANY part of their body covered by a bathing suit. And that they should never touch anyone in these areas either. Explain to them that the body is special and private.

To ask anyone who drives him anywhere, not to leave him alone in the car-but if he is alone in a car, to put up the windows, leaving a "finger" space between the window glass and the rim, and to lock the doors and stay near the car horn. If a stranger approaches the car, he should blow the horn until help arrives.

That she has the right to say NO to anyone who tries to take her somewhere, touches her, or makes her feel uncomfortable in any way.

If anyone tries to take them away to yell, "This is NOT my parent!" And keep yelling, even kicking and screaming. But ALWAYS use the words "This is not my parent!"

To never accept a ride with anyone else than who you allowed them to go with in the first place. Occasionally, abductors or child abduction schemes will involve a "hand off" of the child, after the child has been allowed to go with someone who is close and familiar to the family.

Your child should always ask permission to leave the yard or to go to a neighbors house. Older children should phone home to tell you where they are, especially if they change locations.

Your child should NEVER hitch hike! If your child calls and needs you pick them up, or needs a ride to go to another location. Stop what your doing and take them! They could have made a worse decision. They could be avoiding getting in a car with a drunk driver, or avoiding one of the dangers you taught them about. Give them the ride, it's easier than dealing with the stress and emotional drain of having a missing child. Or even worse yet, identifying your childs body.

Teach your child to be home before dark. They may give you a hard time, but they will surely thank you later in life. And if they find themselves "late," to stay away from dark or abandoned places.

And finally, teach your child to To avoid adults who are waiting around a playground – particularly an adult who wants to play with them and their friends.

I hope you have found this 3 part series "Child Safety and Child Protection: Easy Steps You Can Take" usefull. The information you have been provided was compiled by multiple missing child agencies from all over the United States. These are the investigators on the front lines of the more than 1.4 Million missing child cases that are reported every single year.

Use the information I have provided for you and don't take your childs' safety lightly. Practice these child safety and child protection techniques. It's important we all do our part to keeping the children of the world safe, and out of danger, today, tomarrow, and everyday for the rest of their lives.

Have An Incredible and Very Safe Day!

Child Safety And Child Protection: Easy Steps You Can Take Part 2

Were back, and in this lesson were going to discuss some easy child safety techniques you can teach your child to stay safe when your out and about in public, or when he/she might find themselves alone. But before we get started here's an interesting but frightening fact: Did you know that a child becomes missing, abducted, or lost about EVERY 40 seconds! Keep reading and let's do our best to keep your child safe today, and make sure that he/she is going to come home!

Let's get started...

This one is VERY important! If you become seperated from your child, he/she needs to know to never look for you if they become lost while shopping or in a public place. Instead, they need to go to the nearest checkout counter, security office, or lost and found, and tell the person in charge that she has lost his/her mom or dad and needs help in finding them. And they should NEVER go to a parking lot without you.

Teach your child the importance of the "buddy system." To walk and play with others. If your child walks to school, have them walk woth other children. A child is most vulnerable when alone.

Your child needs to understand and realize that adults do not usually ask children for directions or help, but should be asking other adults. If someone in a car should stop to ask for directions, they should not go near the car.

Should your child notice someone following them on foot or in a car, to immediately go to a place where there are other people - to a neighbor's home or into a store, for instance - and ask for help. They should not go near the car to talk to anyone inside and should NOT try to hide behind tree's or bushes. They should NEVER hide!

Children need to be aware that no one should ever be asking them to help look for a "lost puppy" or telling them that either of his/her parents are in trouble and that they will take them to mom or dad.

It's so important they understand the safety rules with cars! They need to NEVER go near a car with someone in it or to get into a car without your permission. Your child should learn who's car they are allowed to ride in. Warn you child that someone might try to lure them into the car by telling them you said to pick him/her up; tell him/her never to obey instructions like these. Instead, they should go back to the school for help. Teach your child a "code word" that is only known among family members. Stress to your child that anyone offering a ride unexpectedly-even a family friend will have been given the code word in advanced.

 - We will be devoting a whole article on the "code word" technique. it has saved alot of lives and realy works! Keep an eye out for it!

Finally, your child should ALWAYS tell you if someone offers him/her gifts, drugs, or wants to take their picture.

In the next article in the series "Child Safety and Child Protection: Easy Steps You Can Take" - Part 3 of 3. We will discuss what your child needs to know when they are in the supervision or care of other people and adults. Most child abductions are perpetrated by people that your child already knows and is familiar with. It's important they understand what to do, and how to handle themselves. So until next time...

Have a very safe day!

Child Safety And Child Protection: Easy Steps You Can Take Part 1

Did you know there are over 2,000 reports of missing and abducted children to the FBI everyday? That's an incredible number, and that's only the ones that are actually reported.

This is 1 of a 3 part series with some simple child safety steps you can take that will greatly minimize the chances of your child becoming missing or abducted. The experts recommend that you teach your child the following child protection techniques:

Here we go...

You should always be sure your child knows his/her name, address, including city, state, zip code; phone number, including area code; parents' names, work addresses(or atleast the business names of where they work), and phone numbers.

Your child should feel confident using both push button phones, as well as, the old style rotary-dial telephones.

Always make sure your child knows how to make an emergency call to you or emergency services from a pay phone.

How to make a long distance call (both directly to you using the area code, and by dialing "0" for the operator).

Your child should never tell anyone over the phone that she is home alone, and NEVER open the door to strangers when she is home alone.

Never to answer the door when home alone. Remind your child to talk through a door or window to anyone delivering a package, and to tell the person to leave the package at the door. Teach your child how to call your community's emergency assistance number (often 911). Make sure he knows a neighbor to call if someone tries to get into the house or if there is any kind of emergency.

They need to be aware that it's not safe and should never go into anyone's home without your permission. Children should learn who's homes they are allowd to enter.

These are just a few of the basic child safety lessons you can teach your child to keep them safe and out of harms way. keep an eye out for "Child Safety and Child Protection: Easy Steps You Can Take" - Part 2 of 3. Where we will discuss some child safety and child protection techniques you can take when your in public places, or when he/she might find themselves alone.