Safe Search Kids - Education, Parenting, Internet Safety for All

Every new parent wishes to engrave the memories of childbirth and the next few milestones within their heart. After all, children grow up so fast, and all the sweet and innocent memories become blurry in a blink.  Some do it by making vlogs or clicking pictures on their smartphones. However, there are way better options to keep these memories close.

So, let’s know those here and explore ideas of how to preserve those fleeting moments with your newborn.

1. Make a keepsake box

Keepsake boxes store the little pieces of tangible memories from your baby and your time together. A few things to add to this box are:

• Your and your baby’s hairlocks
• Both of your hospital bands and hat
• Arrival cards from your loved ones for the baby
• Ultrasound photos and other photos post-birth

2. Sign up for a newborn photoshoot

Newborn baby portraits are one of the sweetest ways to keep memories of these precious moments. While you can take pictures with your camera, consider doing it with a professional. This ensures that you have great quality and aesthetic pictures.

If you’re in Canada, look up the best places for newborn photography. Before you get an appointment, ensure they are the best in the industry so you get the worth of your money!

Discuss what safety measures they take, their time limits, the props they’ll use, and whether they provide basic food and warm space for you and your baby.

You can hang these portraits at home, stick them in scrapbooks, or use the images for announcements and invitations.

3. Record video diaries

From pregnancy to a baby’s birth there are many new milestones, so record them as videos immediately. It can be your feelings and thoughts in the labor room, your emotions while first seeing and holding your child, or the first time you successfully fed your child.

It can also include the first time your baby says mama/papa, their first step, their first time meeting siblings and pets, their first art or writing, and so on.

Compile all of these records and create a full video out of it. Once your baby grows up, they’ll know how much you cherish them.

4. Send emails or letters to your baby

If you have a way with your words and are tech-savvy, carve your warm emotions into words and email your baby.

For this, create an email ID for the newborn. Make sure you save the password and other credentials safely.

Write about your life experience during the first week with them. Share how they were as a newborn, how you dealt with every setback, and add every memorable instance.

If you’re not good with technology, write letters and store them in a box.

5. Plan a time capsule

If you’re unfamiliar with a time capsule, it’s a box with memories and letters to a person that must be opened at a special future date.

In your baby’s time capsule, add all the little things like childhood family photos, letters, warm wishes from everyone, greeting cards, and clothing items that they can’t use anymore.

You can also add a detailed record of what happened on the day they were born. Some parents even add current events, like gas and food expenses, the weather, and their mood on the child’s birth date.

Lastly, talk to your partner and pick a day for your child to open the box. It can be middle or high school graduation or when they move out of home for a job or college.

6. Baby Scans

Before your baby is even born, you can get a baby scan at various stages throughout the pregnancy.

These scans are often done to offer peace of mind as your baby grows, but the images rendered are also yours to hold as treasured keepsakes.

Pregnancy scans can mark dates, show growth progress, reveal gender and even produce 3D and 4D images.

7. Get the details on wooden blocks

On wooden blocks, get these details about your baby carved or painted:

• Their name
• Their birth date and time
• Their weight and height after birth

This can be kept as a keepsake on your shelf. Or, you can let your baby play with these blocks as they grow.

8. Utilize outgrown clothes

You get so many cute clothes for your baby. But these little buggers outgrow them pretty fast.

Most people either give away clothes as hand-me-downs or donations. However, about 85% of donated outfits are dumped in landfills or incinerated.

So, you can instead make a cute blanket or stuffed animals out of them for your baby. Make the best out of every little thing you have!

Conclusion

Remember, these are only a few unique ways to make memories. So, don’t hesitate to come up with your unique idea or seek loved ones for it!

Anxiety, especially in children, can be as bewildering as a maze with invisible walls. The puzzling world of a child’s mind is completely different from what you know as an adult. So, let’s uncover the signs and signals of anxiety that hide behind the facade of normal childhood fears.

From stomach aches with no clear cause to sudden shyness in once bubbly kids, understanding these markers is the first step in painting a clearer picture and plotting the course for support and care.

What is Anxiety, and How Does it Manifest in Kids?

In simpler terms, anxiety is like an alarm that goes off inside us when we’re worried about something that might happen. It’s a normal feeling, but sometimes it can get really loud, especially for kids.

Even more, kids don’t usually have the words to explain how they feel. Instead, they act out or choose a different way to show they’re anxious.

Some children will show an overwhelming amount of worry about their family or school. Others may say their tummy or head hurts a lot, even though there’s no clear reason for it. Kids who are usually independent might suddenly not want to leave your side or may not want to go to school at all.

Since worry doesn’t take a break just because it’s dark and time for sleep, bedtime can become increasingly more difficult. Plus, it will affect the quality of sleep because anxiety is the enemy of nice dreams and good rest.

Another sign that your child may be suffering from anxiety is when they freeze up in public situations, but they are usually outgoing and extroverted. They may also have difficulties making friends or hanging out with others.

If your chatty kid becomes quiet and keeps to themselves more, this is a sign you should be paying attention to. Once you know something is the matter, you can start looking for ways to help them handle these tough feelings in ways that work specifically for them.

How to Seek Treatment

When your child is struggling with anxiety, it’s easy to feel helpless as a parent. However, the only way to help them get better and continue to have a happy childhood is to find the treatment that best suits their needs.

Start by talking with your child’s pediatrician. They are already familiar with your family history and are aware of any health issues your child may have. Bring up your concerns, and don’t leave out any details – every little observation could be crucial.

The paediatrician may recommend seeing a specialist in children’s mental health, such as a teen & children’s psychologist. Consider these professionals as experts who speak ‘child language’ fluently and unravel the mysteries of anxious thoughts.

Getting Therapy for Anxiety

Depending on the level of seriousness, the pediatrician may recommend a psychologist or a psychiatrist specializing in working with children. While these are both professionals who diagnose and treat mental illnesses, it’s a good idea to learn the differences between what a psychiatrist does and what a psychologist does.

For instance, only a psychiatrist can prescribe medication should they deem it necessary. Both professionals are licensed to provide therapy for their patients, and both can make recommendations regarding treatment.

Helping Your Child at Home

If your child’s pediatrician considers the anxiety can be managed at home, they will teach you a few calming strategies and methods.

Here are a few examples of such methods:

• Practice the art of conversation – make room for daily moments for open talks where your child can unload their fears without judgment.

• Encourage problem-solving – it’s like giving your child a superhero cape to face their battles. When they come to you with worries, resist the urge to swoop in and fix it all. Instead, ask guiding questions: “What can we do together when that worry pops up?” This method puts power back into their hands.

• Introduce them to deep breathing techniques – it’s akin to teaching them how to steady a rocking boat amidst stormy seas. Make it fun by pretending you’re blowing up balloons or cooling down hot soup with each breath.

• Visualization is key – ask them to picture their happy place, be it imagining sunshine in a favorite park or thinking about cuddling with a pet. It’s like creating an internal escape hatch from anxious thoughts.

Wrap Up

Navigating your child’s anxiety is far from a straightforward journey, but with the right map in hand, you’re well-equipped to guide them through the twists and turns.

Whether it’s through therapy, heartfelt discussions, or soothing visualization exercises, there are tools at your disposal. Recognizing the signs and seeking appropriate treatment arms your child with the courage to face their fears and embrace a happier, less anxious life.

Childproofing beyond the basics should be a priority for all parents. This is effectively about finding ways to push your core safety measures that little bit further. After all, a few additional preparations and tools can make a significant difference in preventing disasters from arising.

Childproofing isn’t necessarily about investing huge amounts of money in advanced equipment. Neither is it about keeping your children so constrained that they don’t have a positive experience of the world. Rather, it’s about identifying where basic childproofing doesn’t quite do enough and filling the gaps.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the areas you can focus on.

Fire Safety Steps

Fire is a safety concern for a lot of parents. After all, most homes have various fire risks. It isn’t just about the dangers of matches or fireplaces. Electrical items in the home have the potential for fires, too, not to mention some locations experience regular wildfires. There are basic measures you can take, such as teaching children about the hazards and remembering to regularly test smoke alarms. But what else can you do?

Make a fire response plan

In the event of a fire, you need to get yourself and your children to safety. Create a solid plan. This involves drawing a full map of your home and highlighting the most efficient and safe routes out of the home and to a gathering point. Identify alternative routes in case the primary escape area is blocked by fire. Importantly, talk through this plan with your children and even drill them on its use occasionally.

Keep fire extinguishers and blankets

A fire extinguisher can be your most effective response to protect your child if a fire starts in your house. Yet, only around 43% of U.S. households have fire extinguishers. It’s wise to invest in a few fire extinguishers and fire blankets that you can keep in various areas of your home.

Make sure they’re of a weight that you can easily use. As your children get older, show them where the fire extinguishers are kept and how to use them. This empowers them to respond immediately rather than wait for an adult to take care of an emergency.

Remember, too, to regularly assess your home for potential fire hazards. Consider both what can be at risk of fires and what actions your kids might take that cause them. Assess both inside and outside your home. You can then take relevant steps to prevent issues.

Prepare for Medical Emergencies

The basics of childproofing your home will tend to revolve around preventing the potential for medical emergencies to arise in the first place. This is, of course, important, but occasionally accidents and illnesses will happen. A vital next level of childproofing, then, is to prepare yourself and your family to handle medical emergencies when they occur.

Firstly, getting a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification has multiple benefits. Most importantly, it empowers you to save your kids’ lives if they experience cardiac arrest or stop breathing. You could also go on to become an instructor, teaching other members of the community and your children to take care of one another in an emergency.

Taking these courses is particularly important, as performing CPR on children can require different techniques than on adults, and it’s wise to get some guidance. Not to mention that you get to practice the techniques, which builds confidence in your abilities.

It’s also wise to create a comprehensive medical kit. The basics should include a first aid kit with a variety of bandages. However, it’s good to go a little further. Consider your kids’ specific needs. For instance, if they suffer from severe allergies, stocking your kit with EpiPens is sensible.

If possible, get a book on providing first aid so that even your older children can know what to do if you’re not around. You should also put the addresses of nearby medical facilities and doctors’ contact details for different scenarios in the kit, so you’re not scrambling around for these in a medical emergency.

Safeguard Outdoor Areas

When people are childproofing their homes, there’s often a focus on the indoors. This is, after all, where kids are going to be spending the most time and there are lots of potential hazards. However, it’s important to go beyond these basic boundaries and childproof the outdoor spaces, too.

For instance, installing a pool alarm is vital for minimizing the risk of drowning. In the best-case scenario, your child won’t run off on their own, but it can happen. An alarm will trigger when your child either enters the proximity of the pool or when there’s a wave disturbance. You can then quickly respond, avoiding disaster. It’s also important to keep a solid cover over your pool wherever possible, as a further layer of protection against disaster.

If your children spend time playing in your yard, you should also take steps to keep them within the space. This is particularly important if your home is situated next to a busy street. Wherever possible, install fencing around the proximity of your yard, high enough that young children can’t climb over it. You should also put strong latches on any gates, preferably out of reach of young and mischievous hands.

Conclusion

Taking your childproofing beyond the basic steps creates a stronger foundation for your kids’ well-being. This should include investing in solid safety tools and education, among other resources. That said, it’s important to remember that hazards evolve over time. Take the initiative to regularly review your safety measures and make improvements if they’re needed.

About the Author
Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in education, mental health, family lifestyle and online safety. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. You can follow her on Twitter.

One of the most revered security features in fight against cyber criminals is two-factor authentication, also known as is 2-step verification. Subsequently, multi-factor authentication takes protection to the next level.  The more layers of security, the safer your accounts are. Yet, even with these seemingly impenetrable features, hackers can still get in.

The methods used to breach robust authentication processes have been around for a while and new schemes to dupe you continue to be developed.

Defining Authentication Security Measures

Let’s first define the types of authentications so that at the very least you can ensure you have employed them as a first line of defense. From there our goal is to equip you with the knowledge to protect yourself from being duped by various schemes to access your data, as well taking steps to fortify your devices.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

2FA is a security process where the user is required to provide two different authentication factors to verify their identity. Typically, these factors fall into three categories:

1. Something you know (like a password)
2. Something you have (a code sent your phone, email, or authenticator app).
3. Or the second factor could be something you are (like a fingerprint).

i.e. After entering a password to log into an online account, the user receives a one-time code on their mobile device. They then enter this code to complete the login process. In this case, the password is the first factor, and the one-time code from a mobile device or email is the second factor.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):

MFA is a broader term that encompasses any authentication process that requires more than one form of identification from the user. It can involve combinations of factors such as passwords, security tokens, biometrics, or smart cards.

i.e. Logging into a corporate network may require the user to enter a password, provide a fingerprint scan, and use a smart card. In this example, the combination of the password, fingerprint, and smart card creates a multi-factor authentication process.

Within your accounts, look for two-factor verification methods that can easily be set up to protect your personal data.  If your password is compromised and someone tries to login, you will receive a verification code they are unable to see. If this happens, change your password.

Exploring Authentication Vulnerabilities

Robust strategies designed to enhance security include Two-Factor and Multi-Factor Authentication methods, which are widely adopted by individuals and organizations alike. However, as technology advances, so do the methods employed by cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities.

Here are the potential risks you should be aware.  The vulnerabilities are caused by humans who unknowingly reveal their login details.

Phishing Attacks: A Persistent Threat

Phishing attacks remain a pervasive threat to multi-platform authentication. Despite advancements in cybersecurity, unsuspecting users can still fall victim to deceptive emails, messages, or websites that mimic legitimate platforms. Cybercriminals exploit human vulnerability by using urgency and familiarity. They trick users into revealing sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and authentication codes.

To mitigate this risk, users should remain vigilant and employ security best practices, including verifying the authenticity of communication channels and using secure, verified links.

A general rule of thumb is to access your account through a trusted link in your browser or by searching Google.  Once you are logged in you can see if there is in fact something related to the email you received. Phishing can also be done via texts.

Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: Intercepting the Unseen

Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks pose a serious threat to multi-factor authentication systems on multiple platforms. In this scenario, an attacker intercepts communication between two parties, potentially gaining access to sensitive information. While encryption protocols are in place to secure these communications, vulnerabilities in network security or compromised devices can provide avenues for attackers to exploit.

Organizations should implement robust encryption standards and regularly update security protocols to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.  Users should connect to secure networks and be cautious when accessing sensitive information on public Wi-Fi.

Device Vulnerabilities

As the saying goes, “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link”. Smartphones, tablets, and other connected devices can become targets for exploitation if not properly secured. Outdated operating systems, unpatched software, or weak device passwords can serve as entry points for cybercriminals.

Users must regularly update their device software, as well as the programs that are installed on them. Use strong, unique passwords.  Enable device-specific security features to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.  These include firewalls and built in security, such as Windows Security on PCs.

Biometric Risks: Beyond the Fingerprint

Within companies and networks, biometric authentication adds an extra layer of security, it is not without its vulnerabilities. Hackers have demonstrated the ability to replicate fingerprints, use high-quality photographs for facial recognition, or even create synthetic voice recordings for voice authentication. These techniques underscore the importance of combining biometric methods with traditional authentication measures.

Organizations should implement multi-modal biometric systems, combining different biometric factors to enhance security. Regularly updating biometric templates and employing liveness detection can also help mitigate risks associated with biometric authentication.

Account Recovery Loopholes

Loopholes are a backdoor for intruders.  Account recovery mechanisms, designed to help users regain access to their accounts in case of forgotten passwords or lost devices, can inadvertently become security loopholes. Cybercriminals may exploit weak account recovery processes to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.

Service providers should implement robust and secure account recovery procedures, incorporating multiple verification steps. Users, in turn, should enable two-factor authentication for account recovery and regularly review and update their recovery information.

MFA Fatigue Attacks

If you have an account that only required authentication via push notification on your phone, beware of MFA Fatigue Attach.  This is when a cybercriminal continuously pushes of the second factor authentication request to the target’s email or phone. It annoys the account hold until they finally click “accept”.

The cyberthief hopes that the victim isn’t aware of what they are accepting, or that they click “accept” to make the action stop.  Meanwhile, the criminals who has just tried to log into your account gains access because you clicked “accept”.

Simple approvals, such as only needing to click “accept” on a push notification, can be a faster experience, but experts recommend requiring more context for authenticating.

Protection Today and Beyond

Two-factor and multi-factor authentication has become increasingly vital for the safety of each individual’s personal information, as well as the online platforms that serve account holders.

Companies must lead the way in ensuring they have multi-platform authentication systems in place.

Employees should be trained to properly use these systems and be aware of human caused vulnerabilities.

Users should be encouraged to activate two-factor authentication for each of their accounts.

Account holders can also educate themselves by:

• Teading articles on security issues
• Keep their devices and software programs up to date
• Be cautious when clicking links in emails or texts
• Report phishing attempts for make the internet safer for everyone.