Tag: online safety

5 Cool Devices and Tools Your Kids Need for Virtual Learning

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date March 13, 2021

COVID-19 quarantines and lockdowns have caused many disruptions to children’s education. It’s (hopefully) not going to be a regular occurrence because scientists have already developed Covid-19 vaccines, but in the meantime, it’s crucial that parents offer some form of home-based learning for their kids. With that in mind, you may be wondering what the best ways to engage with your children are. One answer is through the use of technology, and there are many helpful devices and tools your kids need for virtual learning.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Devices and Tools Your Kids Need for Virtual Learning

1. Virtual Reality (VR) Headset

A cursory look on YouTube will reveal many VR-ready videos that allow viewers to enjoy an immersive viewing experience. The available video content ranges from rollercoaster rides and views of Earth from space to close-up videos in wildlife reserves.

VR headsets allow children to feel like they are at the heart of the action and enjoy a truly interactive and immersive experience. One fact about VR headsets is they are affordable. Inexpensive VR headsets start from $10 and can range up to around $500 for an Oculus headset.

2. Noise-Canceling Headphones

When your child has virtual school lessons via Zoom or Skype, they can learn and focus better in an environment free of distractions. Setting up your child’s computer in a quiet room is one way to do that. Sometimes, especially if you have a large family like we do, there are no quiet areas in a family home, though.

In these cases, it’s better to equip your child with noise-canceling headphones. They’re available to suit various needs, and it’s also possible to get headphones for autistic children who find it hard to concentrate when there are noisy distractions around them.

3. Tablet

It’s no secret that we all live in a digital age. Most people, even kids, have several electronic devices they use for communication and productivity. Tablets are essential for kids these days, and they’re easier for little ones to use than other computers. It’s smaller, cheaper, and more interactive to use than a laptop.

Your kids can use tablets as part of their virtual learning as you can download apps for productivity, video conferencing, and more with ease. Of course, you should moderate each child’s time on the tablet, so they cannot access online content unrelated to their learning.

Make sure your children are being safe online!! Check out my blog post, Keeping Kids Safe Online – 8 Simple Tips for tips and advice.

4. Touchscreen Pen

You will undoubtedly include creative learning as part of your child’s home learning curriculum. It’s for that reason touchscreen pens (also known as Stylus pens) make sense and are the perfect complementary accessories for their tablets.

With a touchscreen pen, each child can draw and color with ease on their tablet screen. Touchscreen pens help to foster your children’s creativity by letting them make artistic digital creations. Plus, if your child’s learning requires that they write words, sentences, or numbers, a touchscreen pen can help them do so neatly.

5. Activity Tracker

Finally, an activity tracker such as a smartwatch is ideal for kids who are taught physical education from home. Activity trackers are wearables that monitor a child’s physical exercise and give you and them an overview of their physical activity during a sports session.

Activity trackers are also useful for encouraging and motivating children during physical play as they can quickly check their progress. Plus, such progress can get reported via a linked fitness app on their tablet. It will help them get enough exercise and movement each day, and it can encourage them to set and meet goals.

If you choose a smartwatch as your child’s activity tracker, there are additional benefits, too. Many times, you can set up the watch to receive calls from recognized numbers (such as yours or a grandparent’s). Plus, you can track your child’s location in case you accidentally get separated from them.

Devices and Tools Your Kids Need for Virtual Learning

There are many devices and tools your kids need for virtual learning. You might already use some of these devices, and you can simply add the other tools to help your child out. This is an incredibly uncertain time and it is essential that we don’t let our children’s education suffer.

What devices and tools do you use for your kid’s virtual learning? Tell me in the comments and let me know if you recommend them!

Tags big kids, kindergarten, learning, little kid, online safety, Preschool

Parenting Teenager

World Emoji Day – Do You Know What These Popular Emojis Really Mean?

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date July 16, 2020
15 Comments on World Emoji Day – Do You Know What These Popular Emojis Really Mean?

World Emoji Day, What emojis really mean, what emojis mean to teenagers, online safety

July 17th is World Emoji Day, so what better way to celebrate than learning all about what these popular emojis mean when teenagers use them! As a mom (step-mom, whatevs) to a 16 and 12-year-old, I’m always trying to keep up with what they are talking about.

Emojis made this especially hard because what they meant to my teen and pre-teen was completely different than what they meant to me. This made for some awkward text conversations when I sent something innocent and they got offended. Oops.

Anyway, our teenager was kind enough to fill us in on some of these. Other ones I had to learn on Google. I put together this useful guide to help you understand what your teenager is saying when they use emojis.

What These Popular Emojis Mean

🐍 The snake emoji can indicate a real snake, or it can be an insult. Used as an insult, this character means that someone is being a backstabber, deceitful, or duplicitous.

🍆 An eggplant emoji is sometimes used to reference male genitalia. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it used to represent an actual eggplant, honestly.

🍑 The peach represents a butt. To be honest, I don’t think it’s even shaped like a peach, so I’m sure the butt representation was intended all along.

❄️ When a snowflake is used when it’s not winter, it’s likely an insult. This insult means that someone believes they are more unique than they are, feels entitled, or is overly-emotional. It also indicates that someone is easily offended and unable to accept opinions that are different from their own.

💨 I always thought this emoji was smoke, but I found it in the ‘nature’ section so maybe it’s supposed to be wind. Either way, teenagers use this emoji to represent vaping.

🐸 A frog means something or someone is ugly. This emoji is never a good sign unless you’re talking about a real frog.

🎥🍿❄️ If you see these three emojis together, it means Netflix and chill….. and we all know what that means.

It can be hard to keep up with our teenagers in a world that offers them so many communication methods. One of the best ways to get around that struggle is to understand their forms of communication. Then, you’ll be able to watch for red flags and keep your child safe on the internet.

Check Out This Emoji Book to Learn More

This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

What Emoji Did I Miss?

I didn’t cover even close to enough emojis in this blog post! Do you know any hidden meanings of your teen’s favorite emojis? Tell me about it in the comments!

Before I go, I want to share my favorite emoji (no hidden meaning here!). I love this 🤣 laughing emoji because I’m always laughing and telling jokes. It also reminds of me Cartman from South Park, but I think that’s just me.

What’s your favorite emoji? Tell me about that in the comments, too!

World Emoji Day, What emojis really mean, what emojis mean to teenagers

P.S. Check Out This Blog Post to Help Keep Your Teen Safe Online

Teenager Cell Phone Contract

Tags big kids, online safety, Parenting, Teenager, tween

Big Kid Parenting Teenager

Depression in Teenagers: 16 Signs To Watch For

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date March 3, 2019

Depression is on the rise in the United States, and it doesn’t discriminate against anyone. Once thought of as an issue that targets adults, depression in teenagers is actually alarmingly common.

Teenagers are under more pressure than ever, and they likely haven’t quite figured out how to manage it all. School, homework, extra curricular activities, studying, and all of the other activities that are packed into their short day can be downright overwhelming.

On top of that, there are social issues that they have to deal with. For instance, kids can be MEAN, and we may never know what is being said in the hallways or on social media. Our kids are bothered by what is said even if we have told them to ignore it.

While some kids adjust just fine and make it through their teenage years mostly unscathed, some teenagers aren’t as lucky. Depression can creep in and affect even the smartest, most popular, and coolest kids. Our teenagers may keep a straight face but still be bogged down by something that we can’t see.

What Is Depression?

It is normal (and completely okay) for your teenager to feel sad, down, or unmotivated once in a while. They may not want to do the things they normally do or hang out with their friends at times. This doesn’t mean they have depression.

Depression occurs when these instances become common occurrences and linger for longer than a few week or so. It may affect how well a teenager fulfills their duties at home and at school. The American Psychiatric Association defines it as,

a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act.
American Psychiatric Association

Teenagers of all ages, backgrounds, and family economic statuses can be affected by depression. It becomes more common as teens get older, but it can still affect even young teens.

Although teenagers from any background can suffer, there are instances where some teenagers are more likely to suffer from depression. Those instances include:

a family history of depression
pressure from school
excess peer issues
family problems
a move to another town or school
a lack of healthy problem-solving skills
a chemical imbalance in the brain
a lack of self-esteem
teenagers who become stressed out easily
teenagers who are naturally pessimistic
continued exposure to violence
history of neglect from their caretakers
history of abuse
extreme poverty

Signs and Symptoms of Teenage Depression

Sadness
Irritability
Disinterest in their usual hobbies
Change in appetite
Weight fluctuation
Lack of sleep or oversleeping
Low energy levels
Sense of guilt
Difficulty focusing
Suicidal thoughts
Self-harm
Feeling hopeless
Feeling like everyone would be better without them
Anxiety
Unexplained body aches
Hostility

What To Do If You Think Your Teenager Is Depressed

The first step is to have your child diagnosed with depression. If you think something is off, you want to know for sure what the problem is before attempting to treat it.

The diagnostic process is super simple and straightforward. The doctor will ask you and your teenager a series of questions. After that, a diagnosis should be determined.

Sometimes, the doctor will request blood tests to make sure that the depression isn’t related to a medical condition. Once that is determined, it is time to think about what to do to help your child.

Dealing with depression in your teenager can be scary, but some good news is that depression is the easiest mental disorder to treat. As a result, almost all of those who suffer respond positively to treatment. However, for it to be treated successfully you have to seek treatment.

There are two common treatment options which include:

antidepressant medication
psychotherapy (talking to a professional in an individual, couple, or group setting)

There are also self-help treatment options that you can try with your teenager at home to encourage long-term coping skills. These options include:

regular exercise
getting enough sleep
healthier meal and snack choices
avoiding the consumption of alcohol
teach the importance of self-care

In addition to these treatment options, you can do a couple of things on your own to try to protect your child. You can learn how to keep your child safe online, and even set up a cell phone contract to help buffer the social media issues that are so prevalent today. Another way to help your child, you can make it a point to spend a little more one-on-one time with your teenager. For those who won’t thrive in their immediate surroundings, it can be worth looking into rehab facilities for teens to get them expert help and advice in different environments created for their success and well-being.

If you think your teenager is depressed, it is SO important to seek treatment right away.

Final Thoughts on Depression in Teenagers

Depression in teenagers is on the rise, and it is important to look out for the signs and symptoms of teenage depression. Left untreated, depression can lead to suicide or other destructive behavior. It can significantly alter your child’s life.

Most of the time, depression in teenagers is surprisingly easy to treat. With the right treatment, the signs and symptoms of teenage depression can be significantly reduced.

Tags big kid, online safety, Parenting, Self Care, Teenager

Big Kid Our Family Parenting Printables Teenager

Cell Phone Contract For Preteens and Teenagers

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date January 28, 2019
1 Comment on Cell Phone Contract For Preteens and Teenagers

Kids are becoming technology savvy at such a young age, and it is inevitable that they will someday have a cell phone. Even if a cell phone doesn’t have data service, preteens and teenagers use apps that do all the same things (and more!) as a phone that has data. A WiFi connection is the only requirement for connecting with people from all over the globe, so I came up with a cell phone contract to help keep them safe online.

Preteens and teenagers oftentimes have the mindset that the bad things that happen in the world won’t happen to them. Even if they understand the risks, sometimes they make mistakes without thinking things through.

With all of the dangers in the online world, it is important to keep our kids as safe as possible. The first step to this is talking to them about what is allowed and what isn’t. This gives them the opportunity to understand the expectations and to ask questions.

Cell phone contract for teens, cell phone safety, cell phone for preteen, cell phone for teenagers, how to be safe online

My Solution? A Cell Phone Contract For Preteens and Teenagers.

My kids are responsible for paying for their own data each month. The phones are usually gifts and we cover any insurance costs, but the data must be paid by them.

Neither of them has a job, but we have a detailed chore chart that has each chore listed and how much they will be paid to do it. At the end of the week, I pay them. They can earn as much or as a little as they want, and it is entirely up to them if they want data. Chances are, they do, so it isn’t an issue for us.

I created two versions of the cell phone contract for preteens and teenagers so that I could share them with you. One contract has a bullet point for paying for their own data and one does not.

Cell Phone Contract Printable, Cell phone contract for teens, cell phone safety, cell phone for preteen, cell phone for teenagers, how to be safe online, free printable, printable for teenagers

What Happens If They Break The Contract?

My kids (14 and 11 years old) understand that if they break the cell phone contract they will be punished. Having a cell phone is a HUGE privilege, so the phone is taken away anytime they fail to follow the contract.

The first time they break the contract they lose their cell phone for one week. For each additional offence, one week is added. My teenager broke 3 rules at one time, so she lost her cell phone for 3 weeks.

If she breaks any of those 3 rules again, her time without a phone will be doubled. If she broke a different rule next time it would only be a one-week punishment because she hadn’t broken that one before. Does that make sense?

I know that kids will slip up, so this is a huge learning experience for them and myself. Each time they get their phone back we go over the contract again.

Final Thoughts

Online safety is important to me, and it is so important for our children to understand the dangers. I want to be up front and clear about what is expected of them when they are on the internet and interacting with others. Not only do I want them to be safe, I want them to be respectful, as well.

What do you do to make sure your children understand and practice online safety? Tell me about it in the comments. 🙂