Shopping Safely
Posted by www.protectourfamilies.com
As millions of families head to the local shopping mall to gear up for the Christmas season, the increased crowds will also put shoppers in increased safety risks. Use these tips to make sure your shopping experience goes off without a hitch.Put wallets in front pockets Just like any crowded street or bus train, a crowded mall looks ripe to the picking for pickpockets. Shop when the sun is up Stores may offer extended hours, but that doesn’t mean it’s best to take advantage of them. It may help to beat some of the lines but it could also put you in danger as ill intention folks can use the darkness to gain the element of surprise or effectively conceal their identity.Make sure children have a way to get in contact with you If you are a parent, a crowded mall can be an easy place to lose track of a child, particularly when eye-grabbing potential present displays can easily tempt a younger person to wander. Make sure all cell phones are charged and if your child is too young for a cell phone, consider a walkie-talkie. Read the rest of this entry »
Cyber Bullying is A Growing Problem in the Online Community
Posted by admin
The presence of online sexual predators has been receiving national attention for years, but a recent trend of online bullying is starting to spread throughout the country. A number of media stories have raised awareness about the devastating affect this abuse is having on young children, in some cases even leading to suicide. The younger generations in our society have access to a plethora of social networking sites. MySpace, Facebook, and AOL Instant Messenger are all mediums for kids and teens to communicate with each other. These sites can be great tools for sharing ideas and staying in touch, and while this usually starts as a harmless activity, when unsupervised, these sites can also be used to abuse and humiliate one another. A 2004 survey conducted by I-Safe.org reported that of 1,500 kids in grades 4-8, 42 had been bullied while online and 35 had been threatened while on the internet. One of the reasons this is becoming such a widespread problem is because of the anonymity a bully can hide behind. Unlike face-to-face bullying, there is no immediate risk of physical retaliation by the victim. There is also the problem of a lack of supervision by parents of their children’s online activity. Read the rest of this entry »