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The Correct Costume

January 12, 2012 by 7 Comments

Maybe this topic is a little off season, maybe it doesn’t matter. On my household, we don’t participate of Halloween. There are a lot of reasons for this. But on this post, I’ll only cover one: inappropriate costumes.

Can I suggest a different attire?

Not only on real life, but also on any social networks. Kids should never wear suggestive attire or costumes that will endanger their innocence. Imagine, if you will, a 7 year old wearing a bunny costume that does not fit well with her innocent persona (much like the one the girl on this post’s picture is wearing). Doensn’t it ring any warning bells? Can you imagine if some child molester saw her like that? that’s the only thing that comes to mind when I see this. That attire reminds me of the dress-up many Playboy Playmates wear.

Keep in mind your kid’s age

On social networks, and using Raúl’s post on friending kids on social networks as inspiration, you may find a few kids that wear what they think is a pretty dress on their profile picture or avatar. They might even have full photo albums of them trying out clothing that is completely inappropriate for their age. Problem is, adults do not see it the same way they do. I can never understand how parents let their kids wear suggestive clothing in the real or digital world. Those parents more than likely never even visit their child’s profile page on Facebook. They make it easy for any child predator out there.

Pants, please!

Back to the small girl. There’s a fast cure for this type of situation: put some pants underneath the skirt, after all, with those clothes, she won’t be able to play at all, and still… the costume remains innapropiate. I mean, think about it, she wouldn’t be able to move much without showing her underwear. Talk to your daughters about this. They need to understand why they need to put pants on and why you don’t approve of such costumes. If they are as wise as my daughter, you won’t even have to finish your speech. They’ll get it immediatly! Always remember that not all parents think the same way. Maybe some don’t see anything wrong with that attire, they believe no one can come and harm their kid. I urge you to think again. 

Someone is always watching

Next time you buy a costume for your child, be sure is age appropriate. Never expose them to sick people that might be watching them and creating dirty scenarios in their heads. Also be watchful of you children’s digital life.

What do you think? What is your approach to costumes? Are we indoctrinating our young ones on the incorrect path without knowing? Give me your thoughts!

Filed Under: Fear, Lessons, Online Safety, Papá Heroes, Parental Advice Tagged With: , , , ,

Facebook and Twitter Safety Tips

July 27, 2011 by 2 Comments

We are all use to seeing adults clicking on link bait and other links either on Facebook, Twitter, or on a separate webpage. If adults are prone to clicking those links imagine how vulnerable our children are.

Online there are many things happening and all of them are attempting to catch our attention; from marketers trying to make you buy something to cyber criminals trying to get at your information.

Facebook

On Facebook, people create enticing headlines that sound shocking to pique people’s curiosity into actual clicking a link. I have seen titles from “Look at what happened to this Girl when her dad caught her on the webcam doing…” others are more graphic material such as a newscaster having a wardrobe incident and exposing herself. I guess most people that fall for into ads to a deserve getting some kind of a repercussion. Why would you want to watch someone else’s terrible situation?

Facebook Safety Tips:

  • Don’t on click on images that might look strange.
  • Keep your kids away from surveys that might be collecting information on your kid.
  • Don’t accept friend requests from other adults and strangers overall.
  • Don’t give out you location or where you will be visiting or home address.
  • Restrict the wall of what others can post on your kids wall.
  • Monitor the pictures and images that are posted on your kids account.
  • Scan your kids Facebook friends to identify any discrepancies.
  • Take a look at your kid’s conversations with others.
  • Have them remove their Birthdates from the profile.

Twitter

On twitter we have those strange DM’s or mentions with a link from someone you probably have never chatted with on twitter. Thankfully I see less strange DM’s these days but every once in a while one pops up that looks strange. Over the years of using twitter, I have found a formula that works for me when choosing to open a link without compromising my security.

Twitter Safety Tips:

  • Don’t Follow everyone that follows you back.
  • Set up a Search on Search.twitter.com with your kid’s username so you can monitor conversations that are going on in twitter.
  • Monitor your kid’s conversations and what he is sharing via twitter.
  • Make sure your kids Bio does not give out location of where they are located.
  • Make sure geolocation on tweets is off so every tweet sent does not track where you sent it from.

There are many other tips for other platforms and some that apply to all. If you have a few tips or tricks that we can all use, feel free to share them in the comments area. We will gladly add them to the list.

photo credit by cheezelsmurf

Filed Under: Lessons, Papá Heroes Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Use Your CommonSense.org

June 20, 2011 by 2 Comments

“Use your common sense Lucilla”, where famous words that my dad used to tell me if I was doing something wrong. I detested those words because he really made me think about what I was doing wrong and how to make it right.

So it is no surprise to me that someone somewhere decided to make a site dedicated to using common sense when it comes to gadgets, video games, movies, apps, music, and more. CommonSense.org is the name of the site that can help parents with a wide variety of topics with parent reviews.

CommonSense.org

 

They have you choose a topic and provide information for children in the age range you have chosen. When I worked at the McGivney Community Center in Bridgeport, I found myself needing to research the latest music and movies that were age appropriate for the kids.

I remember going on a trip and asking one of the adolescents about the music he was listening too. I put the headphones and heard music that had a lot of swearing in it. I asked him if his parent’s knew he was listening to this group and he stated that since his mother and father only spoke Spanish, they did not know understand the lyrics or the type of music he and his brother were listening too. They do offer some information in Spanish. I wish this would have been around for the parents I worked with at the center who only spoke Spanish.

 

Music with Reviews on CommonSense.org

 

The CommonSense.org site gives you a list of music that they deem clean and appropriate for your child at any age. Know I am not an extremist like Tipper Gore, but there is some music that we are careful to play around my nephews when they come to visit from Connecticut. Although it is up to their mom and dad to be strict, when they are with us, we try to limit the rap music we listen too.

I’d suggest giving the site a good look and see what video games are too violent and what movies this summer might have a swear word or two.

If you have an iPhone, you can download their app. Are your tweens dragging you to the movies to see Super 8? Find out if it is appropriate for them before you purchase those tickets by downloading their app.

 

Filed Under: Education, Family, Online Safety, Papá Heroes, Reviews Tagged With: , , ,