This giveaway is closed. Congratulations Deanna!
I have a 10 year old son. It seems crazy to say it out loud, but it is true. I have so many things to be “worried” about as a mother of a tween. There are so many influences out there.. Video games, music, movies, TV, the Internet and even the phone – all pose a potential risk to my son. Since Evan is entering into 5th grade, he has to spend time online for school work. I can’t be in front of him every minute, so it is important that he understand the risks of the internet. A few years ago, he told me that I could no longer post his name and picture online – because it was dangerous! Try explaining to a 6 year old that if Mommy posts its ok, but not ok for him. Now that he is a little older, he understands the difference.
We have put very strict rules in place in our home about the usage of digital time. If you are looking for a place to get started, check out the Cox Take Charge Family Contract. This is a great starting point – it addresses some of the basics of promoting a healthy digital relationship with your child.
With Take Charge!, Cox is promoting the use of the parental controls and filtering tools already available in a digital home — on their cable TV, Internet, and telephone services. Through an easy-to-use, comprehensive new web site and a free resource guide, Cox is providing families with tools and resources to help them not only block content they find objectionable, but identify and get the most enjoyment out of exciting family-friendly content.
Here are some of the resources available:
:: Top 10 Tips for a Safe Digital Life
:: Top 10 Tips for Tween Online Safety
:: Tips & Tools from John Walsh
TWEET UP & GIVEAWAY
Join me and other bloggers for a John Walsh Safety Tweet Up on Thursday June 28th from 6-7pm EST
Be sure to follow @Cox_Com, JohnWalsh @JohnWalshAMW, Me @4themommas
Hashtag #CoxTakeCharge
To enter to win a $50.00 Amex Gift Card (you can enter twice):
Entry 1: Leave a comment with your tip for online/tv safety.
Entry 2: Tweet: Follow @4themommas and tweet “Learn more about child digital safety @4themommas & enter to win $50.00 http://bit.ly/NMTjfe #CoxTakeCharge” (leave another comment letting me know you tweeted)
Giveaway rules: Giveaway will close on 6/29/12 . Winner will be notified via email and have 72 hours to respond to email to claim winnings. Winner must be 18 years or older and reside in the USA. Please make sure you add natalie@forthemommas.com to your address book so you will receive emails. Winner to provide valid mailing address. This post is sponsored by Cox and all opinions are my own.
Keep the computer in a well trafficked area and check on what your kids are doing frequently.
I would try to find out more about the tv show before letting the kids watch it!
I follow @4TheMommas on Twitter(@calidreamin87) & I tweeted:
https://twitter.com/calidreamin87/status/218794744518672386
Always watch your kids when they’re on the computer & watching TV.
I monitor their use & our computer is in a room where everyone can see what you are doing.
Always know what your children are watching/visiting online and explain safety rules often.
monitor the history often… and take the time to talk to your kids about their interests and activities
tweet
https://twitter.com/mngirlinssp/status/218525531346444290
Online safety – Always monitor your child’s history and if this mean’s getting the software that tell’s you everywhere and every keystroke that has been looked at or typed, then do it.
twitter follow + tweet
https://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/218504867809996802
We limit tv till after school work is finished, and we supervise.
I retweeted it! Learn more about child digital safety @4themommas & enter to win $50.00 http://bit.ly/NMTjfe #CoxTakeCharge
Pay attention, don’t just look the other way because it’s easier.
I follow you on twitter(Kellysaver) and tweeted
https://twitter.com/kellysaver/status/218450397587709952
My tip is just to pay attention to what your kids are doing online. When my son gets older I am sure we will install some safety features.
when my kids were younger, we shared a computer-so check on them…
There are browsers available just for the kids. It filters the content and kids cant manually type the url as well. It even filters the ad on the website visited. The best way – create a new login for the computer with access only to the kids browser. Safe way to go.
My daugther is only 15 months old and watches NO TV with me!
check from time to time what your kid is browsing on the internet
amramazon280 at yahoo dot com
https://twitter.com/pinoysugarplum/status/218371471653875714
Limited time and supervision!
I follow you on twitter. ID: Lyndadawinda
https://twitter.com/Lyndadawinda/status/218331091105349632
My tips are to only allow social network usage in a common area where you can easily monitor your kids, require all passwords of their social media accounts and limit their usage to 30 minutes at a time. Oh, and no chatrooms allowed!
my tip is to limit the time and dont allow them on social networks, period! Thanks for a super giveaway!
Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/anashct3/status/218262584875429889
Thanks for the chance to win!
email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com
I follow you on twitter @anashct3
Thanks for this lovely giveaway!
Email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com
I tweeted https://twitter.com/Monnie311/status/218259190395834369
I tweeted…
https://twitter.com/YamiYali/status/218212750856421378
My daughter wanted a facebook account so I told her the only way she was allowed to have one was if I made it for her and have her password. I double checked that everythign was private and I do not allow her to post pictures of her and monitor who she follows.
Regarding Tv, my husband blocks all channels they are not allowed to see and he programmed our tvs to turn off at 9 pm.
When posting pictures on FB, use privacy settings so that only friends can view album
My son is 17 and likes his privacy. I can’t be with of him every minute he is on the computer , so I think it is important that he understand the risks of the internet.
Tip – no computer in the child’s room.
I follow you on twitter (kellysaver) and tweeted
https://twitter.com/kellysaver/status/218175120982814720
My tip is to not let your children watch the tv or use the computer for too long unsupervised. It’s good to keep checking in on them. My kids are little still, but this will be a concern soon.
@thismomwins followed you on twitter and tweeted: https://twitter.com/thismomwins/status/218160702584659969
thismomwins@gmail.com
we dont let laptops into bedrooms, living room only where its in the open
thismomwins@gmail.com
Following you as @amomofboys & tweeted https://twitter.com/aMomOfBoys/status/218122776584781824
A tip for online safety is to never leave your kids unsupervised on the computer.
http://twitter.com/won2x/status/218110435470225408
My tip is to trust your gut. Almost every single time I’ve heard that little voice inside me telling me to check closer – there was a reason to do so. I think if we are still and listen to ourselves, we will know how to parent to keep our children safe. Some want to not listen though – because then they’d have to act.
I tweeted – https://twitter.com/giveaway_mommy/status/218102726964420609
Supervise kids when they are on the computer by having the computer in a main room like the living room.
https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/218098538230464515
We use parental control in addition to always accompany with kids while they’re online and watching TV.
We have our TV and computer in the same room so that I always know what my son is watching or what website he is on.
My kids are are fairly young so they do not use the Internet often, but there are a lot of great parental control programs that allow you to monitor Internet usage. Also it is always a good idea if you allow your children to have a Facebook account that you friend them so you can monitor their friends and comments.
keep computers and tv’s in family areas and out of the bedrooms debbie jackson,
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
Never click a stranger’s email with suspicious title.
https://twitter.com/tigergal01/status/218054988230950913
~eunice b
tigergal01 @gmail .com
Always remember that nothing is private…although we like to think it is, and keep it in full view of the entire family.
~eunice b
tigergal01 @gmail .com
i would check cookies and cache or pages they viewed
https://twitter.com/vivaciousgold/status/218047083620470786 – tweeted
follow and tweet: https://twitter.com/cistran/status/218044226536095744
All computers and TVs are in the family room, and there are strict times and hours our kids can use them.
I tweeted the giveaway. @tsgsusans
I don’t allow my daughter to be on the computer unless I am in the room with her so that I am able to monitor.
Make sure it is in a room where people always. Don’t have the TV or computer tucked away somewhere.
Digital devices in family areas. Responsibility earns trust and privileges.
all electronics are in the living room and have us able to look at at any time.
I always stay with my daughter when she is on the internet- we have password protection as well.
I have the computer where I can see it and I check history and have passwords to all social sites.
Limit internet time, and always supervise.
We have our family computer in the family room. Kids also know I check the history periodically. Older kids have Facebook accounts and mom and dad HAVE to be friended
I follow you on Twitter and tweeted it.
We keep our computer in the family room.
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/218020094113095680
I set up the parental control on my child’s computer and keep his computer in a family room.
tweet
https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/218017552490692608
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
I actually have a computer in our main room and I keep an eye on what my kids do and check the browser history also
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Use a family friendly filter….and be very alert.
I follow you on Twitter (mami2jcn) and tweeted.
I follow you on Twitter and tweeted–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/217994371222605825
Never leave a child unsupervised on the computer.
Tweeted!
Keep the computer in the family room so whatever your kids are looking at is in full view of the whole family.