Family Safety Articles
A teenager obtaining their driver’s license is like a rite of passage and is indeed one of the most exciting ties of their life. But to a parent, it is usually a source of worry. With the high addiction of teenagers to their smartphones, they are at risk of getting into accidents due to distracted…
You may or may not have heard of Omegle, a platform used by teens to speak to strangers. Their tagline is ‘talk to strangers!’, which will immediately ring alarm bells in the heads of parents. Understandably, lots of parents are concerned about what this could mean and how this could be misused by people posing…
The Momo Challenge is the latest harmful Whatsapp “game” that is viewed as the potential next Blue Whale Challenge. Those involved in the Momo suicide challenge app are encouraged to do a number of activities that disrupt the sleep schedule, cause mental and physical harm, and can lead to pressures to commit suicide. Parents are…
Every parent reading this will have a memory of a point in their childhood when they behaved against their parents’ wishes. Some would argue this low-level disobedience is part and parcel of growing up; the natural desire to test the boundaries and push back against authority. Most parents now look back on their childhood transgressions…
One of the biggest nightmares for a parent is a child running away from home. They can leave home for all types of reasons, but one of the biggest is because they don’t feel wanted, respected, or needed. It’s natural to panic and be angry at first, but try to put those emotions to one…
Technology has meant that a number of activities and social events that used to take place solely in the real world have moved online. Online dating has grown considerably over recent years and it’s not just available for adults. There are now online dating apps for teens. It’s important to know where your teen is…
From cell phones to tablets to laptops, kids of all ages are engaging with devices at earlier ages, and for a variety of reasons. It’s not unusual to see toddlers intently watching a cartoon on a handheld device, or to see a teen texting rapidly as they walk down the street. Digital devices are simply…
As teens gain more independence, parents often find that they need to set more rules. Setting a curfew is an important step, as it helps keep teens safe and gives parents peace of mind. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when setting and enforcing curfew rules with your teenager: Talk to your teen…
Oversharing has become one of the biggest problems with social media and the Internet in general today. With kids having instant online access right in their pockets or backpacks, it’s essential that parents teach them how to behave properly and safely on tech platforms. Whether your child has their own cell phone, tablet, or laptop,…
Teen suicide is devastating to families and communities, and it’s a situation that no parent ever wants to find themselves facing. Understanding and identifying the signs that your teen may be considering suicidal behavior is the key to getting them the help that they so desperately need. Here are 4 signs to be on the…