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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I’ve been so busy the last few weeks, I haven’t been stopping by 5 Minutes for Mom, so I’m just now finding out about their 2 weeks of Toy Giveaways! Fortunately, I have until Wednesday, May 7th at 5pm Eastern to leave a comment on the specific posts for the toys I would love to win. I have my eye on the Lego City set, Hasbro’s Martian Matter (Nathan would love this!), the pink Easy Bake Oven (I never bought one for the boys but I know Kaitlyn would LOVE one!), or the Step 2 Canopy Wagon.

They aren’t kidding when they say they are having fourteen days of FUN!

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Little Jet Set was founded by two mothers, Hana S. Wolf & Nisha T. Cordero, who left the practice of law to share their extensive knowledge of how to keep kids entertained on planes, trains, and in automobiles without resorting solely to electronic gadgets. Their website is packed with an outstanding collection of products designed to help make travel easier and more fun for both kids and parents!

All of the brands whose products are carried by Little Jet Set are of the highest quality and are carefully chosen. To give me an idea of what is available on the site, Lisa at KidStuffPR sent me two great products to review.

This Bee Lightening Bug flashlight by Manhattan Toy has an easy on/off button switch and shuts off automatically. It comes with two AA batteries and is meant for ages 3 and up. It’s a cute toy AND a flashlight!

From the Luggage and Bags category, I received this Wet/Dry Case by Room-It-Up in adorable pink and green plaid. It’s got a divider so that your wet toothbrush or bath sponge can go on one side, and the items on the other side stay dry. You bet I’m packing it when I go to Disney in two weeks!

I skimmed through all of the categories on Little Jet Set and here are just some of the great things I found to use when traveling-Craft kits, coloring books, flashcards, cute hooded beach towels that fold up into pillows, Nocturnimals, which are stuffed animals that gently glow with the touch of their paw and stay lit for four minutes, games for the car-cards, magnetic games, puzzles with oversized pieces in a zippered travel bag, travel journals and scrapbooks, soft Playsets that are smooshable and machine washable (love the Snow White and the Seven Dwarves finger puppets!) and the Trunki, a rolling suitcase that toddlers can ride on while you pull them by a strap-cute and fun!

Whew! I’m telling you, before you take your next trip, check out Little Jet Set! Whatever you need (or don’t know you need yet), I bet they have it! Thank you again to Little Jet Set and KidStuffPR for sending the flashlight and the wet/dry case for this review.

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