MomReviews

I would say that my husband and I are about as educated as parents can be regarding how to keep our children safe online. We don’t allow them to surf the Web, they can only go to sites that we have approved and bookmarked for them. Of course, once they are on a Web page, they could type just about anything into the browser and go anywhere, but they also know that we are going to be walking by their computers at any time to see what they are doing. And, if necessary, we will use Remote Desktop Management software to allow us to “take over” their computer and see what they are viewing.

It’s scary, isn’t it? I know it is possible to keep kids off the Internet entirely, but my husband works in PC Support and I’m a blogger, which means the Internet is a big part of our lives. I’d much rather teach my children how to be safe while they are online, and not only HOW, but WHY. It’s hard for them to understand that someone who sounds like a kid asking to be their friend on Xbox Live could actually be an adult. They want to watch videos and play games, but I don’t want them seeing porn. So what is a parent to do? Well, Michael Cafarelli founded GuardChild.

GuardChild was founded by a team of parents concerned by the explosion of news reports about child predators frequenting Internet Chat Rooms and exploiting children. We realized a need for a ‘one stop’ website where parents could gather to share their knowledge and experiences, educate themselves about Internet security, and review and purchase the latest child-monitoring software.

The GuardChild Knowledge Center provides FREE resources including toll-free phone numbers for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, links to similar child safety sites like CyberAngels and NetSmartz, articles, safety tips, and recommended reading. The Knowledge Center also explains how to choose Child Protection Software, which is the next part of the site that I want to explain to you.

GuardChild also sells monitoring software for your home computer, with prices starting at just $39.95. Whether you want to simply see what your children view online, chat protection that sends you an email if your child is chatting about a topic that you have set as off-limits, the ability to schedule which times your child can be online, even monitor entire IM conversations, GuardChild has software you can purchase. Should you monitor your child’s “private” IM chats? In my opinion, YES.

The issue of trust revolves around both parents and children understanding what is and isn’t allowed. Monitoring your child’s online activity to make sure they aren’t getting into situations they shouldn’t be in is not spying, it’s PARENTING. Wouldn’t you want to know if your child was discussing drug use, or viewing porn, or even just using inappropriate language in their chats? The Internet has lots of great uses, from educational sites to sites that are fun, but children are not adults and don’t need to be in adult situations, either. Letting your child know that you are paying attention to what they do online lets them know that if they do get into an uncomfortable situation, you’ll be able to step in and be the “bad guy” and get them out of it.

While there are free resources available on GuardChild, there is also a community that costs a very reasonable $19.95 a year to join. With paid membership in the GuardChild Community, you are entitled to:
* Hundreds of websites (with access to thousands more embedded in our sites and new sites added monthly) for family-friendly websites, online safety resources, parent resources, educational websites, and much more (GuardChild has done this research for you, so you don’t have to spend hours online searching for relevant information)
* Articles about online child safety and family Internet use
* GuardChild Community Blog: interact with other parents who share your concerns, learn from online safety experts, and contribute your own articles, advice, and questions
* Discounts on the best web-filtering software and child-monitoring software available.
* Access to a searchable State-by-State Sex Offender Registry
* An Instant Messaging/Chat/Text Messaging/Emoticon Glossary
* Email alerts of new Feature Blog postings and product updates

If you are interested in learning more about how to keep your kids safe while they are online, please visit the GuardChild website.

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It’s not so much that I don’t LIKE cleaning my house, although it certainly doesn’t rank as high as, say, watching a rerun of “Law and Order: SVU” or eating a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Chubby Hubby ice cream. I actually do get a degree of satisfaction from looking around and seeing a clean house, but it just takes SO MUCH ENERGY to get up off the couch where I do my blogging and, you know, CLEAN.

*sigh* First I have to pick everything up off the floor, and find a place to put it, which usually means balancing a stack of things on top of another stack of things because I am a hopeless piler-hello, my name is Elizabeth, and I can’t stop piling stuff up in higher and higher piles all over my house. Then, I have to drag my extremely heavy vacuum cleaner out from the coat closet, plug it in to a socket in the living room, vacuum, then unplug it, drag it to the playroom, plug it in again, vacuum that room, and repeat that two more times to do the two bedrooms with carpet. It’s just such a huge PAIN. What I really need is a CORDLESS vacuum!

Guess who is now making a cordless Accucharge Stick Vac and a Hand Vac that not only charges faster, but uses SEVENTY PERCENT less electricity AND has received Energy Star Approval? Watch this video to find out!

Of course, if I were to put a Dirt Devil Hand Vac in my kitchen to clean up crumbs around the table, it would mean my poor dog would lose his job as the official spilled food cleaner-upper. Because it’s so much easier to just call the dog than to expend energy leaning over to wipe up spilled food with a napkin! But, I think the dog would get over it, and I would sure LOVE a cordless Stick Vac that I could easily move from room to room. I bet my daughter would love to use the Hand Vac, too. Because the BEST way to use LESS energy while cleaning?

Get SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT.

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I’m going to post the same disclaimer here that I posted on Table for Five- I thought Father’s Day was NEXT SUNDAY. My Outlook Calendar has posts scheduled for that whole week, which is when I was going to tell you all about the best, hottest gifts for Dads this Father’s Day. Which is THIS SUNDAY! OOOOOOPS! So, instead, you get the gift guide TODAY! Here’s how it’s going to work-I’m going to tell you about and link to some great products that I have personally researched that I think will make great gifts for Dads. Some can be bought in stores, so if you haven’t already bought something, you still have time (go, this weekend! Go SHOPPING!). Anything that needs to be purchased online, here’s what you do-if it’s the perfect gift, print out a screenshot of the page and fold it up inside a Father’s Day card that lets him know that the gift has been ordered and is on it’s way! Ready? Let’s talk great Father’s Day Gifts!

For Dads Who Like The Latest Technology:
**Philips Eco TV
The Philips Eco TV is a gift Dad will enjoy as he experiences the ultimate in television picture quality without paying for the hefty power bills.
It has energy-saving features including proprietary technologies designed to lower the LCD panel backlight to reduce power consumption without compromising picture quality.
It offers a stylish design and environmentally-friendly features such as lead-free components and flame retardant materials.
The Philips Eco TV retails for $1,399.00

**Philips Moisturizing Shaving System:
Condition his skin and create a healthy look with the Philips Norelco Moisturizing Shaving System. The integrated Nivea for Men skin lotion helps provide a more comfortable shave that will make his face touchably soft.
Glide Rings provide for a smooth, gliding experience and unmatched comfort and protection.
Precision Blades allow for optimum skin contact on all areas of the face so no stray hairs are left behind.
The Philips Norelco All-In-One-Grooming System retails for $79.99 - $149.99

**Philips Norelco Arcitec Electric Shaver:
Give him an easy shave – whether headed out to drop the kids off at school or after the gym. The Philips Norelco arcitec electric shaver pivots 360-degrees for a more meticulous shave on his face and the challenging contours of the neck, giving him a smooth shave.
The Triple-Track Shaving Heads give guys the convenience of faster and closer shaves, and the Precision Tube Trimmer helps maintain moustaches and sideburns.
The Philips Norelco arcitec retails for $169.99 - $249.99

**Philips AJL308
Dad will wake up with a smile with the Philips AJL308 – a clock radio, photo frame, video player and music player in one. It features a smart design and chic seven-inch color display and is a useful – and fun – gift for Dad to use on a night stand, side table or desk. It also includes a USB connection and SD card slot to easily access favorite photos, music and even video clips. The Philips AJL308 retails for $129.99
**All these great Philips products are available on the Philips website and also at major retailers like Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Target, Meijer, Lowe’s, and Radio Shack.**

For The Dad Who Likes To Play With The Kids:
Kidstuff PR is proud to announce that several of it’s clients’ products were awarded the Mr. Dad Seal of Approval! Although the Dads out there may or may not appreciate receiving some of these toys for themselves for Father’s Day, the point of the awards is Armin Brott’s (aka Mr. Dad) assessment of toys our kids love to play with that are especially great for dads to enjoy with their children too, that foster a special bond between father and child when they play together.

Hailed by Time Magazine as “the superdad’s superdad,” Armin Brott, aka “Mr. Dad” has been building better fathers for more than a decade. As the author of six bestselling books on fatherhood, he has helped millions of men around the world become the fathers they want to be–and that their children need them to be. The Mr. Dad Seal of Approval and GreatDad Recommends awards recognize products and services that support our mission: giving men the resources, tools, and information they need to be the fathers they want to be and that their families need them to be. To earn the Mr. Dad Seal of Approval and the GreatDad Recommends award, a product or service must:
• Help dads get or stay involved with their children
• Improve the quality of the time fathers and children spend together
• Improve father-child relationships
• Help dads be better parents
• Helps dads be better partners
These are the items that won Mr. Dad awards, they would all make great Father’s Day gifts for the Dad who likes to get right down on the floor and play with this kids!
Briarpatch – I Spy Private Eye & Sea Monsters
Recommended Ages: 5 - 8
Price: $24.99 (I Spy Private Eye)
Price: $20.99 (Sea Monsters Game)
“I Spy Private Eye is a fun, educational way for dads to spend time with their child or children,sharpening their observation skills.”
“With the Sea Monsters Game, dad and child set sail with a fleet of ships from Old World Ports-England, France, Spain and Portugal and cross the uncharted waters of the Atlantic, where unseen Sea Monsters and other hazards lurk below the waves. Both are for ages 5-8.”
available at www.briarpatch.com
ee publishing and products, LLC - Nana Star doll and
book
Recommended Ages: 4 and up
Price: $15.95 (Nana Star Book)
Price: $21.99 (Nana Star Doll)
“Daughters will love the Nana Star doll, and dads will love cuddling up and reading the accompanying book, a sweet story about a girl in a blue princess dress with a twinkle in her eye. Ages 4 and up.”
available at www.nanastar.com
KidsGive – Karito Kids World Collection, “Piper” Doll
Recommended Ages: 5 and up
Price: $99.99, Piper Doll and Book
“Piper the Australian surfer girl is the latest addition to the Karito Kids line (which received our Winter 2008 Seal of Approval). A lot of dads feel kind of squeamish playing with dolls. But the book that comes with the doll, along with a host of interactive Internet activities, make it easier for dad to feel
welcome, while teaching his daughter about the environment and helping others. It’s a great teaching tool to help your daughter learn that there are others not as lucky as she. Piper and the other Karito Kids help other kids around the world and you are able to sit with your daughter to choose how by logging onto their website and directing 3% of the purchase price to one of 4 areas: food, home,
health or school. Ages 5 and up.”
available at www.karitokids.com
RSV Productions – Jishaku
Recommended Ages: 8 and up
Price: $19.95
“Jishaku is a combination of strategy game and science lesson. Played with a set of different-sized magnetic stones of varying strengths, it matters not only where you place each stone, but also how you place it. A fascinating way to spend some quality time with boys or girls 8 and up.”
available at www.playjishaku.com
Scootababy – Scootababy Baby Carrier
Recommended Ages: 5 months and up (to 40 pounds)
Price: $107.00
“The Scootababy is a functional, stylish, yet solidly masculine carrier
that promotes interaction between dad and baby.”
available at www.scootababy.com
The Magic School Bus - The Secrets of Space & Soaring Into Flight
Recommended Ages: 5 and up
Price: $19.99
“Perfect for dads who want to share their love of science with their child. These two wonderful kits are filled with fun, exciting tools to teach and explore science with a child, such as constructing a night-vision flashlight, designing a solar system mobile, building a balloon-jet, and creating the ultimate paper airplane.”
available at www.kidssciencekits.com

And there you have it, a jam-packed Gift Guide full of fabulous gift ideas!

ShareASale Confirmation Code: GDMNXVF18273981

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When MomCentral asked for volunteers to review the new version of Norton 360 by Symantec, I signed up because I was interested in seeing if it really did make my computer run faster and protect it from phishing sites. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Norton 360 has other features that are making my online life easier.

I have read some reviews that said the user had problems with installation but I did not. I followed the setup instructions and had everything installed on my IBM ThinkPad laptop in no time. I was prompted to set up the Identity Safe feature, which creates a secure identity “card” for you. I created a username and password, and now every time I start up my browser, I am prompted to login. Here’s the best part, the part of Norton 360 that is making my life SO much easier.

The first time I log in to a website, Norton asks me if I want to save the login info. If I click yes, then in the Norton Toolbar at the top of my screen, the site is added to the drop-down Log-in menu. This helps me in two ways: one, I am notorious at forgetting login information. Some websites require passwords to have six or more characters, some require eight or more. I can never remember which is which. Now, I just go to the drop-down menu and find the URL I want-momcentral.com, for example-and I am taken directly to that site’s login screen with my username and password already filled in.

Norton 360 also has automatic scheduled backups, although it only comes with 2 Gb of storage space, which is barely enough for me to backup anything. I believe I can purchase additional space if needed. It does also seem like my laptop is running faster.

I’m really happy that I got Norton 360 2.0 from Symantec and MomCentral. It was easy for me to install and it’s making my use of my computer better. What else can I say besides try it for yourself?!

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You probably are familiar with GPS, right? Global Positioning that uses a signal sent to a satellite orbiting the earth to pinpoint a location? Well, what if you could have your own GPS unit that could go wherever you needed it to, and keep track of people in all kinds of situations? That’s exactly what GTX is.

GTX stands for Global Trek Xploration. The company develops, patents, and integrates miniature GPS units into branded merchandise, like athletic shoes, for example. During the recent Boston Marathon, despite rain, clouds, and downed cell towers, GTX technology kept track of the entire race. Their patented “Personal Location Services” platform consists of a miniaturized “always-on” Assisted-GPS tracking AND location-reporting module which provides real-time location coordinates rendered on Google Maps. The primary use for this application is tracking the location of people, but it can also be used for objects.

Just think of the possibilities-to be able to monitor the location of Alzheimer’s patients, who often wander away and are lost for days. Firefighters going into heavy fire and smoke-filled buildings could be located if they are trapped. Police dogs, searching for survivors in heavy debris, could be tracked so that they return safely. Even police weapons could be kept track of in the event that they are stolen.

On a boat, GTX could be used within the life preservers or life rafts-wouldn’t it be wonderful if no one ever had to float for days out at sea because they couldn’t be located? This is the miracle of GPS technology. It might seem a little scary to think of always being tracked like that, but think of the lives it will save. Parachutes! I just thought of a pilot having to eject from a plane, or a skydiver, or any kind of rescue personnel. Or hikers, who are always getting lost on deep trails. Kids, who go on hiking trips with scout or church troops and wander off the path, having to spend days surviving before being found. With this technology, it could be possible that no one would ever have to be in this situation again!

Can you tell that I am excited to be telling you about GTX? lol I’ll be writing a 12-week series of posts on Table for Five, digging deeper into the uses for this technology. Please, visit the GTX website and familiarize yourself with the product. There’s also a short video you can watch. Hopefully it won’t be too much longer before it is widely used in products like the ones I mentioned above. It’s pretty exciting to be spreading the word about something so new like this!

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