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

Children are the future, and the institutions we provide them are crucial to their development. Helping to shape, develop, and educate their minds happens inside a school. Making sure that the building where educators help them grow is well taken care of is detrimental to their development. Read on to learn how to properly maintain school grounds year-round.

Electrical System

Let there be light. Of course, all schools need light, but the electrical system of a school controls more than the lights. The system controls the PA system, electrical boards, equipment in the kitchen, and a lot more.

Professional engineers and electricians should provide you with preventative maintenance tasks and schedules for electrical components. Make sure they work with thermographic scanning devices to identify overheating in connections, motors, bearings, and other electrical switchgear. These inspections need to happen every six months for everyone’s safety.

Fire Drills

The students may not know why they go through so many fire drills, but the administration does. The administration conducts these monthly drills for two reasons. The first is for the students. Showing them how to properly exit the building in case of a fire is vital.

The second reason is the school. The drills will help you see how well the system is working. You need to ensure every classroom hears the alarm and sees the lights. Teachers will report back if something is off inside their classroom. Furthermore, you need to check that every fire alarm works when you pull on them.

Exterior Upkeep

There is a lot of ground to cover when it comes to the exterior of all schools, and every area needs to be well maintained. Focus on the classroom because this is an area people forget about too often.

Conduct a roof inspection every six months. The roofer will tell you the condition of the roof and if they see any potential dangers. Aside from the roofing, pay close attention to the parking lot. Don’t fall victim to the common parking lot maintenance mistakes. Make sure you keep the lot in order for faculty and staff.

Energy Management

Energy management means a lot of ground to cover. Energy management is a computer-controlled system for the HVAC units. The system can turn off the air conditioning, lights, and boilers. Here are specific guidelines to follow for these systems:

• Establish an energy policy with specific goals.
• Find the proper authority for the district’s energy management program.
• Monitor each building’s energy use.
• Conduct an energy audit.
• Adjust your usage based on the audit findings.

Try and conduct these audits before the school year starts and once it ends. Doing so before the school year will show what condition the school is in and whether you need to make adjustments.

Properly maintaining the school grounds is a year-round job. Make sure to do your diligence to maintain school grounds all year.

Related Reading:

Taking care of a school, both inside and out, is a regularly discussed issue amongst administrators.  Often overlooked however, is whether school devices are being properly maintained.  Read about these quick tips for keeping school provided devices in good shape.

Maintenance also relates to safety and security.  Read about security measures within a school and how protocols and devices and resources used need regular scrutiny.

Purchases made in a hurry are rarely successful. Therefore it is better to prepare for the school or academic year well in advance, choosing gadgets for education with the best value for money. And why not do it after the start of the new year? Especially since you will have a huge choice nowadays.

The market presents dozens of manufacturers competing for customers’ preferences. But so that you don’t get lost in this vast sea of tech variety, read this article highlighting the top 5 modern gadgets that help students in education.

# 1 Laptop / PC

It’s a fact that there is no way to do without a computer or laptop in the modern educational process. But here, a pretty natural question arises: which hardware to choose? Desktop computers have an advantage in power, and laptops — in mobility. So, let’s find out what to select in your particular case.

If you combine study and games, look for a pair of system units and a monitor. In other cases, the choice of a laptop seems more logical. For example, a budget laptop with average productivity is more than enough for creating presentations, writing essays, and using training sites.

Another argument favoring a laptop is its compact size, due to which a device takes up little space. This feature is significant since no one attends lectures or lessons with a desktop PC. That’s why many students prefer models, the key advantage of which is a modest size. And here we mean netbooks and ultrabooks.

Consider also that for humanitarian students, especially philologists, the technical characteristics of laptops don’t play a significant role. On the other hand, students who study professions connected with drawings and graphics processing have higher requirements for hardware. In most cases, the right choice for the study will be a laptop under Windows. MacOS is not the best option because university software can have compatibility problems.

It is also worth noting that intensive tech use during a busy school or academic year can sometimes malfunction. However, it’s pretty standard, and you shouldn’t worry too much about it, especially when you know about the existence of consulting service Howly. On this site, you can quickly get in touch with qualified experts who troubleshoot laptop, and it takes them no more than an hour.

# 2 Headset / Noise-Canceling Headphones

With the advent of the pandemic, online learning has become much more relevant. Therefore, a student needs a headset to understand a subject’s nuances in peace. The sound in the gadget comes from a computer or laptop, so choose an impedance in the 40-150 ohms range.

The sound quality doesn’t have to be so good as to capture the nuances of complex musical compositions since clear audibility will be enough for students. However, using overhead headphones for studies is much better since they are comfortable for a long time. A good choice would be a headset with a microphone with noise reduction. You can’t think of a better solution for learning foreign languages, and for a good reason:

📌 The teacher hears the student, picks up errors in their speech, and immediately shows the correct pronunciation.

📌 The student hears the teacher clearly and can pick up their pronunciation and intonation.

📌 The teacher only hears the student, even if the TV is loud in the student’s room next door. The noise-canceling microphone cuts out extraneous sounds.

📌 The lesson continues without pauses, and participants don’t have to repeat the same thing several times.

# 3 Tablet

A tablet for studies is an excellent alternative to a laptop. It is lighter, more compact, and cheaper than a previous device. However, students should look at more advanced models. The presence of a removable keyboard will allow you to type text lectures quickly, and the stylus lets you enter graphic information. The advantages of the tablet also include the ability to take pictures of learning material. In addition, if the Internet works with a SIM card, the device’s owner will always be online.

# 4 Printer

Students and pupils usually need such devices for printing essays, presentations, term papers, tutorials, and other educational materials. So here we should consider two types of these helpful techs: inkjet and monochrome printers. The pros and cons of them are discussed in the table below:

So if you buy a laser printer, looking at MFP models that can print, scan, and photocopy makes sense. Retailers like Supply Link USA offer a wide selection of printers and office equipment suitable for students’ diverse needs and budgets. It will be a good option both for students and pupils. Moreover, additional functions will not particularly affect the price tag. The market also presents color laser printers, but they are expensive, don’t print high-quality photos, and maintenance of such a unit will be a blow to the student’s finances.

# 5 E-Book

The E-book is a helpful device for reading enthusiasts. The emergence of inexpensive smartphones with large diagonals has not become a problem for manufacturers of e-books because their screens are specially adapted for reading. For example, it has a perimeter backlight that doesn’t hurt your eyes. In addition, the gadget understands more than 10 of the most common text formats. When choosing such a gadget, focus on the following details:

✔️ Screen diagonal. It’s not necessary to be limited to 6 inches. Younger students are more accustomed to reading large print.

✔️ The way of control. Students will undoubtedly choose touch control.

✔️ The presence of a backlight is a must.

✔️ Internet access can be by cable or Wi-Fi. However, wireless models are more expensive.

Bottom Line

So, in this article, you’ve learned about the top 5 modern gadgets that help students in education. Studying is a complex and time-consuming process, so the presence of such equipment can significantly simplify the life of many young people. However, it would help if you did not forget that these devices should be done in moderation to avoid harming health.

Christine Tomas is a tech expert, consultant, and aspiring writer. She writes for different news portals and thematic blogs for tech experts that helps her stay at the heart of programming, technology news.

If you are thinking of getting a cat but you have a kid at home, you might be concerned if the new pet will get along with your child. It is true that there are cat breeds that are not dealing well with little humans, but there are quite a few that can become more than great friends with your kids.

Keep reading to discover which breeds you should consider when choosing a pet for a household with children.

Are cats really that unfriendly?

Cats can be very temperamental, and they are not the easiest pet to train. Some breeds have a really short temper and enjoy their alone time, so if you have a baby at home, this might not actually be problematic. However, don’t panic, some breeds are very friendly and affectionate and will become the best friend of your kid.

You indeed have seen a number of clips out there of cats just jumping in a kid’s bed and protecting them during the night. So, if you would love a cat that will cuddle with your baby or toddler just like that, you will have to look for a breed that has the tendency to be calm and affectionate. Such species form a deep connection with their families and quickly become very attached, even to the youngest members.

How to choose the best cats for kids

There are some considerations you need to keep in mind when choosing a cat for a family with little kids that will help you select the right breed. Let’s check them out:

• Personality — As you might expect, the personality of the cat breed is the first thing to consider. Many breeds are known to not be very easy to train and not tolerant even towards adults. So, those are, of course, out of the question. Later in the article, you can find the best breeds for kids.

• Size — You should also keep the cat’s size in mind. If you live in a small apartment, a cat like the Maine Coon might not be the perfect fit, even though they are known to be very gentle and love kids. Check how big the cat might get and think if you will have enough space.

• Cat schedule — Cats are generally more nocturnal, so you should look for one that is cal even during night hours, so you and your kids can get some needed sleep. Also, consider the schedule you will need to keep to take care of them. You better not go for a breed that can easily get sick or is predisposed to some common health conditions. Of course, you can’t always be prepared but check the family tree of your cat, if possible, for known issues.

What are the friendliest cat breeds for kids?

And let’s come to the main point for which you are here — what cat breed you should consider taking if you have a little kid. Below you can see some of the best options.

Ragdoll

If you want a calm and gentle pet, then a Ragdoll is perfect for you and your family. Those cats become very attached to their owners and are very loving towards even the smallest members. They will be happy to cuddle with your kid and give them gentle kisses. Ragdolls also have their fun side, and they love some play from time to time. So, even for toddlers that love to run around with their fluffy friends, this can be a great partner in crime.

Snow Bengal Cat

The Snow Bengal Cat Breed is not only stunningly beautiful but very friendly. You will fall in love the moment you see their amazing eyes and feel the silky fur. There are three main types — Snow Seal Lynx Bengal, Snow Seal Mink Bengals, and Snow Seal Sepia Bengal but they are all very friendly and a perfect member for a household with kids. They are more active than other breeds, but this won’t cause you issues when it comes to how they will treat your children.

Maine Coon

There is no way we won’t mention the Maine Coon or, as you might know, them, the Gentle Giants. They are very big, and their hearts are just as big and full of love toward each family member. Those cats will welcome your kid with open paws and will always be their carrying companion. You shouldn’t be surprised if you find out that the Main Coon is sharing the bed with your kid and will not give that up for anything.

Himalayan

Another wonderful breed that is also very affectionate and friendly is the Himalayan. This breed is a mixture of Siamese and Persian and has the best quality of both. It is very calm and might spend hours sleeping on the couch and not bother anyone. But also will appreciate some cuddles with their owner on a regular basis. They are great with kids, and you won’t make a mistake if you get a Himalayan for a pet.

No matter what cat you choose, or any other pet for that matter, read how family pets for good for kids.

Cybersecurity is a growing topic of conversation, and one of the most important things parents can do is start talking about cybersecurity with their kids.  There are so many things that go into it—from how to communicate with your kids about it to the best ways to teach them about the basics of cybersecurity and overall risk management.

We’ve put together this handy guide to help you talk to your kids about cybersecurity.

These tips will help you start teaching cybersecurity to kids easily and effectively.

So, What Is Cybersecurity?

Simply put, this is a term that refers to computer security or protecting computers and other devices from being hacked. It includes things like installing antivirus software on your computer, changing your passwords regularly, and making sure all of your software is up-to-date.  In most cases, it is a part of a company’s risk management plan a lot can be learned from this for families and schools like.

Cybersecurity is very important because it keeps our personal information safe. If someone gets hold of your information and uses it against you or steals from you, then they can really ruin your life! They can also use it for illegal purposes like identity theft or tax fraud.

When talking to kids about such a tricky subject, include examples like:

• Don’t click links in emails from people you don’t know
• Always log out of websites when you’re done using them
• Set up two-factor authentication on all accounts where possible

By teaching your kids about online safety and showing them how to protect themselves on the internet, you can help prevent them from falling victim to identity theft, online fraud, and other dangerous situations.

5 Guidelines for Talking to Kids About Cybersecurity

Whether your kids are old enough to use the internet or not, it’s important to teach them. The sooner the better! Here are 5 essential tips for teaching cybersecurity to kids.

1. Teach Your Children Why They Need to be Safe and Responsible While Using the Internet

It’s not enough just to tell your kids that they should be safe online—they need to understand why they should be safe and how they can stay safe.

You can even create a small poster with some key points that you can hang in their room or on their desk so that it’s always in front of them when they are working on their computer or smartphone.

2. Create a Cybersecurity Club at School or at Home

Such clubs are great ways for kids to learn about cybersecurity, practice what they’ve learned, and make new friends who share similar interests.

Encourage your child to join a club where other kids will be talking about cyber threats and learning more about it together. This will help them learn from other people who are also interested in this topic, as well as from each other.

3. Make It Interactive and Hands-On

One of the best ways to teach anything is by making it as interactive and hands-on as possible. When you make an activity fun and exciting, kids are more likely to want to learn more about it—and they’ll remember what they learned much better than if they simply sat in front of a screen and listened passively.

Therefore, try making cybersecurity hands-on by having your child create their own code or by having them write down what they think should be done differently on an app or website. When you make learning interactive like this, it helps build skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity that will serve your child throughout their life.

4. Show Them Examples of What to Do in Real-life

When talking about exact threats like spam emails or phishing scams, show your kids examples of real-life attacks so they understand what happens when someone tries something like this on them.

And be sure to explain to them how they should respond. This way, they will be able to see what happens when people don’t take proper precautions when using the internet.

5. Make It Fun and Lighthearted

Security is a serious issue, but it doesn’t have to be scary. Instead, try making cybersecurity a lighthearted activity. One of the best ways to teach kids about cyber safety is through play. For example, try taking them on a scavenger hunt through the house or neighborhood to find hidden “hacker” signs.

Parting Shot

We hope you found these tips helpful, and that you’ll use them to talk to your kids about cybersecurity. If you’re still not confident starting the conversation with your kids, here are some best practices:

• Explain to kids that the Internet is amazing but there are some risks.
• Encourage your kids to tell you if they come across something inappropriate online.
• Use the correct terminology.
• Identify the red flags in cyber bullying and explain what to do in a cyberbullying situation.
• Explain to your child why they shouldn’t share their personal information with strangers online.
• Don’t assume that your kids already know about this topic — start from square one whenever possible.

Kids are growing up in a digital world and will be exposed to cybercrime as soon as they turn on their first computer. It’s up to us as parents to teach them about all threats in an age-appropriate way so they can navigate the internet safely and confidently.