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

Even though we live in a world of technology where most children spend their time staring at a screen, there are still some kids out there who prefer board games. If you know a child like this and you want to buy them a gift, you may want to focus on their love for board games to give them something special.

Here are six cool gift ideas for children who like board games, to make it easier for you to give them something they will love!

1.  Organizers

Any children who like board games will be mindful of how to look after all the accessories that come with them. These children tend to be more organized and want to keep everything to do with their game very neat. This is why gifting them organizers is a good idea and something that they will certainly appreciate. There is a range of organizers that you can give the kid and the type will depend on the type of board games they like to play. If they have cards, for example, get them a folder that will keep the cards stored safely but in a way that they can still see and reach them whenever needed.

2.  Rare Cards or Other Items

If a child is into board or card games they will take pride in their collection and rare cards or other items are one of the things they will want to have as part of their collection. This may be challenging to get and also more expensive than other ideas, but it will be worth the value once you see the smile on the child’s face. For a more personal touch, you could even design and print your own custom playing cards, adding a unique experience and extra fun to their collection. You will first need to learn about the type of game that the child is into or what type of rare collectibles they may be interested in.

3.  Essential Accessories

It is likely that the child in question will spend most of their free time playing games and that everyone else in their circle does the same. They may need additional accessories to improve their gaming experience. For example, adequate notebooks and pens to take notes and keep score of the game or even of their collection, or duel mats to ensure they can place their game on a protective surface and prevent damage to their items. There are several things you can get, depending on the child and depending on their preferred game – if you go into a gaming store and ask a professional they will certainly be able to help you make the best decision.

4.  A Range of Board Games

The child may not have all the board games that exist on the market, so it may be a good idea to give them a few that they do not already have. There are so many out there, some you can play with family for a few minutes, and some that you can play with others for a whole day. With different themes and different purposes, it is likely that you will find something that the child will love, especially if you give them more than one board game. Many children may not be aware of the classic board games that you may have played as a child yourself so it may be a good idea to look into these as a cool gift.

5.  A Space to Keep The Games

As mentioned previously, a child that loves games will want to keep their items safe. This is why it may be a great idea to create a space where they can store the games safely and even a corner in the home where they can play the games without being disrupted. You may not want them to keep the board game boxes under the bed, collecting dust; Instead, you may want to have shelves installed so that the games can be stored as well as nicely displayed in their bedroom, for example.

6.  Play The Game Together

Whether it’s for a birthday or any special celebration, who said that gifts can only be materialistic? You may have heard that there is no better gift than the gift of time. Instead of trying to find the perfect item to gift the child, why not spend time with them playing their favorite game together? This is something that will certainly make an impression on them and they will remember it for years to come. Arrange a day where you spend it playing tabletop games together, eating their favorite snacks, and learning more about their world. This may be the greatest gift they can receive from you.

Finding the perfect gift for a child does not have to be difficult. The information discussed on this page should provide you with a few ideas on what to give a child that loves board games, which they will absolutely love.

Planning a party?  Learn more about how to make games part of the theme for your child’s next party.

Do you have a child who is struggling with fine motor skills? If so, you are not alone. Many children have difficulty with tasks that require precise movement of the hands and fingers. This can be frustrating for both the child and the parents, however, there are things that you can do to help your child improve these skills.

In this blog post, we will discuss some tips that can help your child achieve success in this area!

Play Dough

One great way to help your child improve their fine motor skills is through the use of play dough. Play dough is a great tool for building strength and dexterity in the hands and fingers. It can also be used to create fun shapes and figures, which can help keep your child engaged. If you don’t have play dough at home, you can easily make your own with just a few ingredients.

Puzzles

Puzzles are a great way to help your child develop fine motor skills. They require the use of small muscles in the hands and fingers to manipulate the pieces, and they also help with problem-solving and concentration. Start with simple puzzles with just a few pieces, and progress to more challenging ones as your child’s skills improve. You can also try puzzle games on your smartphone or tablet. Look for ones that have large pieces or are designed specifically for young children.

Coloring

Coloring is a great way to help improve your child’s fine motor skills. It requires the use of both hands and fingers to grip the crayon, gel pen, or pencil and color in the lines. This helps to develop the muscles in their hands and fingers. Encourage your child to use colored pencils, markers, and gel pens to color entire pages from start to finish. You can also have them color with crayons on construction paper to make different shapes and patterns. As they color, be sure to praise their efforts and encourage them to keep up the good work!

Painting

One activity you can do to help your child develop their fine motor skills is painting. Painting is a great way to improve hand-eye coordination as well as help with grip and control. Try using different-sized paintbrushes or even painting with toothpicks! You can also have your child try paint by numbers or different surfaces such as paper, cardboard, or even pumpkins. Whatever you do, make sure to have fun and be creative!

Playing With Sand

One way to help your child develop fine motor skills is by playing with sand. This can be done at the beach, in a sandbox, or even with kinetic sand. Playing with sand helps improve dexterity and hand-eye coordination. It also helps children learn how to use both hands together to complete a task.

Plus, it’s just plain fun! So next time you’re at the beach or sandbox, take some time to play with your child and help them develop their fine motor skills. If you don’t have access to a beach or sandbox, there are plenty of other ways to help your child develop fine motor skills.

There are many different ways you can help your child develop fine motor skills. These are just a few suggestions to get you started; remember to be creative and have fun! And most importantly, praise your child’s efforts and encourage them to keep up the good work!

Cutting With Scissors

When your child is cutting with scissors, it is important to make sure that they are using the proper grip. The index finger and middle finger should be placed on either side of the blade, with the thumb resting on top of the blade. The pinky finger and ring finger should be curled under the hand.

Help your child to keep their thumb up and their fingers close together as they cut. It is also important to make sure that your child is using the right type of scissors for their age and ability. If they are struggling with regular scissors, try getting them a pair of safety scissors or grip scissors.

Another way to help your child develop their fine motor skills is by having them trace and cut out shapes. You can start with simple shapes like circles, squares, and triangles. Once they get the hang of it, you can move on to more complex shapes. You can also try having them trace lines of different widths. This will help them to develop their control and coordination.

Playing With Squishies

One way you can help your child develop their fine motor skills is by having them play with squishies. Squishies are great for helping children grip and hold onto objects. Plus, they’re really fun to squeeze! Give your child a few different different types to play with and see how they do, you may be surprised at how much they enjoy it!  Squishes have also been known to be therapeutic for kids.

Software development and computer programming seem to be the most in-demand jobs in a variety of sectors. But learning to code could seem to be a daunting task. If you’re beginning from scratch, there’s a long road ahead, and some students get frustrated since they don’t know the process.

In this article, we discuss how you can learn java programming and other languages from the beginning. Hopefully, it will help you decide which are of expertise is right for you to study.

What Is Programming

It is indeed a collection of commands that enables a programmer to carry out specific activities and deliver the required output in response to legitimate inputs. A computer is a piece of technology that can save and interpret data.

A computer’s language is binary, which is a sophisticated collection of ones and zeroes. Programming has been the broader technique of creating a complicated machine code that follows human instructions.

The fundamental connection between user intervention and computer results is programming. It is the method through which a system determines when and how to analyze information.

The Programming Fields and Languages Used

Before beginning on a professional track and developing your own program, you must first choose a coding language. And, there have been a number of computer languages to pick from, over 700 to be exact.

Server-Side Enterprise Apps Development

If you are looking to join this programming field, you need to master it. Java along with Python remain arguably the most flexible programming languages available. It has been the most widely deployed computer language for creating applications, which are employed by huge corporations all over the globe.

Java is intended to become a flexibly linked computer language, which means that a Java program may operate on any system that supports Java. As a consequence, Java is known as the computer language that allows you to “code once and execute everywhere.”

Back-end Web Development

There are diverse careers in web development.  Back-end programmers are concerned with things that allow the front-end to function. It’s behind the scenes.  This position is always about understanding how a website or software operates, how fast it runs, and how much it interacts with networks. You need to start learning different programming languages including PHP, Python, and Ruby if you want to be a back-end web developer.

Front-end Development

Front-end development is concerned with whatever a viewer sees on their display. This includes UI, software troubleshooting, and code. This position is responsible for the overall feel, appearance, and layout of software or webpage. Front-end development involves learning TypeScript and JavaScript.

Full-Stack Developers can handle both the front-end and back-end.  They are trained to build complete web applications from start to finish.

Data Science

They have the professional capabilities to tackle complicated issues – as well as the interest to figure out what issues have to be addressed. Acquiring and processing massive volumes of unmanageable information into a more usable style. Python, Java, Scala, and R are all languages that can be learned to become a Data Scientist.

Mobile App Development

The design of programs for portable devices that are created to make use of the devices’ particular functionality and technology is known as mobile app development. Conventional software engineering seems to have a lot of influence on the way the portable apps look and their major functions. Various issues may arise during this process and the developer may face such aspects as creating intuitive UI (to make the process of using app easy), cross-platfrom accessibility, data security, fast user-authentification. One may refer to a bulk of front-end and back-end development tools in the process of app creating and it’s crucial to have at least middle level of the following programming skills available and constantly improving them:

Java

If you’re looking for the main Java features – object-oriented programming that helps you to use standard programs and reuse your code is one of them. You may opt for it if you need multithreading (complicated projects with a variety of tasks that are performing simultaneously) and secure language for development. It can be used within a network and is one of the most widespread programming languages at the market. You can visit Codegym to learn java programming and explore everything from the basics to the core parts, including API, control flow in programs, encapsulations etc.

Kotlin

If you want to create server-side applications and be able to work with IntelliJ IDEA that is used in Java as well you may inspect the basics of Kotlin. Whether you’d like to develop some Android games, compile on Java Virtual Machine or even use with JavaScript you can do it both ways. Also, Kotlin is considered to be more lightweight and compile faster in comparison with other programming languages. Official Android support is a huge bonus too. More features are available at Kotlinlang.

Swift

Programming for IOS-based devices is impossible without Swift. It’s friendly for junior developers due to its clean syntax and powerful technology. Moreover, it provides extra safety cause memory is automatically managed and objects in Swift can’t be nil. So runtime crashes are eliminated this way. In case you’re interested in a modern cross-platform approach to mobile app development you may explore Swift pros and cons at Hackingwithswift.

Tips on Learning Programming Faster

It’s common knowledge that consistency is the key to successful learning. But there are some tips to speed up the process and make the most of it.

Code Daily

It makes no difference what degree of coding knowledge you have. It makes no difference if you are a newbie, moderate, or expert developer. Each programmer needs to do some type of coding exercise daily. It is not necessary for the code to be complicated.

You can learn to code for half an hour every day to improve your programming skills. Learning programming languages solely on weekends will not improve your skills enough to apply them in a conventional way. While taking a half-hour every day to code is beneficial, if you’re doing more, do so. .

Look for the Codes Made by Experienced Programmers

Checking the code of other programmers and finding the flaws in their programs can help you improve your programming concepts. There are several communities that you can join to check the programs of other developers. GitLab and Bitbucket are the highly recommended communities to join.

Moreover, you can join several forums like GitHub and Stack Overflow to interact with the programming community.

Use helpful blogs about programming

It’s always important to stay up to date with the latest coding news. Nowadays emerging trends in the app development industry can be easily tracked by following the leading blogs and websites in this niche. Do not underestimate them, because very often such resources publish important tips for programmers, with the help of which you can learn new tricks. You can also check blog for java developers to know more about Java programming and get guided in the world of coding.

Common Mistakes

It’s crucial to know the difference between good and poor practices while learning to code. Understanding what mistakes programmers make as well as how to prevent them might assist you to improve your coding skills. Here are some typical mistakes to avoid.

Ignoring the Java Libraries

Novice sometimes overlooks the diversity of Java libraries provided. Try searching for accessible libraries; some of them are refined over time. These might be monitoring libraries or networking libraries.

Piece of Advice

• You can save your time by using the given libraries.
• You can do a lot of activities with relative simplicity. It may be filling out a form, submitting a request, reviewing a document, or setting the calendar.
• Libraries give you access to a broad variety of web app features, leading to an application that is much less subject to problems.

Ignoring Debuggers

Debugging seems to be a valuable technique that may save you a lot of time and effort when addressing issues or even other people’s programming. You can master basic debugging techniques and methods, as well as how to identify and replicate bugs. Debugging is simple if you understand how to filter out parameters and pinpoint the problem.

Piece of Advice

• It promptly indicates an erroneous state. This enables early fault identification and simplifies the development life cycle trouble-free.
• It also gives the most important details about data structures and makes analysis simple.
• Debugging helps the programmer in eliminating unnecessary and unnecessary data.

Lack of Backups

Data backups are an important part of any disaster response strategy. Data in the workplace is subject to operating system failures. Setting up a data backup system seems to be critical to ensuring that your operations run smoothly.

Despite the fact that data backups require infrastructure and might require days to complete, the advantages of using one must exceed the risks of not possessing it. Malfunctions or file corruption, hacks, unintentional deletion, disasters, and more are all potential risks.

Piece of Advice

• Pick a solution that is beneficial for you and utilize it on a regular basis. You can start using Github or Gitlab for data backups.

Conclusion

The fundamental connection between user input and computer output is coding. It is the method through which a system determines when and how to analyze information. It is interesting to examine irrespective of one’s background. You’ll never realize whether you like something unless you give it a try. I’m glad you’ve taken the first step toward learning java programming and how to code. Good luck with your programming!

Learn how block programming can help develop computational thinking.

WhatsApp is a renowned app that is used by a huge number of individuals all over the world. WhatsApp is mostly used for communication, exchanging pics, videos, audio, etc., among families and friends. This social media tool also has its business usage, as it enables the sharing of documents, files, locations, and many more for business purposes.

However, WhatsApp is widely trending among teens and kids. They love to share pics, videos, memes, GIFs, texts, etc., with their friends and families. WhatsApp also has audio and video call features, making it more popular and exciting. But, Is it safe for kids?

As a parent, you want to ensure your kid’s safety from physical or digital threats and dangers. As WhatsApp is one of your kid’s favorite social media platforms and uses it more often, you must be curious about this social media app and its risks.

You’ll need to monitor WhatsApp with your kids to safeguard them from any digital threats. In this article, we’ve included answers to all of your questions related to WhatsApp and methods of how you can protect your kids.

What Is WhatsApp?

WhatsApp is a social media messaging application that allows users to communicate with one another using their mobile devices. The program is free to use because it uses standard internet data.

It is compatible with all major smartphone platforms. Users must first create and confirm their account with a normal mobile phone number to use the app. In addition to phone and video calls, WhatsApp allows users to share photos, voice notes, emojis, location, etc.

WhatsApp is a prominent instant messaging software with over one billion downloads and is the most widely used app worldwide. Is it, however, secure for your kids to use? Although WhatsApp allows users to communicate, there are certain security risks when kids use it. This article will address these issues and provide a solution.

Is WhatsApp Safe For Kids?

WhatsApp can be risky and unsafe for kids and teens, even though it is a beneficial service for many adults. It is not appropriate to think the platform is trouble-free and overlook the necessity for monitoring.

Some kids and teens prefer WhatsApp to be normal messaging because they think their parents are unfamiliar with it. As a result, kids and teens may feel that they will not be caught sending inappropriate WhatsApp messages.

Apart from this, as we all know, the internet is full of online predators, spammers, hackers, and many other internet-based criminals. These criminals can lure your kids into unethical activities or can leak their crucial information and data. Pedophiles can also target your kids via WhatsApp, or your kids can be a target of spammers, cyberbullying, fake news, etc.

Like any other texting or messaging service, WhatsApp can be used to transmit and receive offensive photos and videos. It can also be used for cyberbullying and propagating rumors on the internet because of its group chat features and ability to effortlessly forward messages to multiple friends.

What Are The Risks Associated With WhatsApp?

WhatsApp is not completely secure for kids; there are risks and dangers of WhatsApp if used without proper guidance and knowledge. WhatsApp is also considered a platform for spammers, hackers, pedophiles, and other criminal-minded individuals who can lure your kids into inappropriate activities.

Here’s a list of some of the  potential risks associated with WhatsApp:

1.    Cyberbullying:

Kids use WhatsApp primarily for group texts, and they can accommodate groups of up to 250 kids. So if a piece of fake information or rumor is spread, a harsh comment is made, or a fight arises, things can quickly escalate and spill outside of the WhatsApp context.

2.    Sexting:

Although there are other popular apps that are used for sexting, such as Snapchat, Kik Messenger, and Burnnote, sexting is another bad side effect of kids using WhatsApp. Unfortunately, WhatsApp is powerless to control this content. You, as a parent, must be aware that this circumstance exists and that it can have an impact on your kids.

3.    Privacy Breach:

While kids believe WhatsApp protects their screenshots and other information, this is not the case. You can also download private conversations and photographs. Another threat to privacy is the app’s user data collection, which can be seen.

4.    Fake News and Scams:

Scams and false information abound on social media. Your kids are rarely old enough to distinguish between what is true and what is false. As WhatsApp allows users to communicate in groups of up to 250 people, it’s simple for information to spread quickly, even if it’s incorrect.

5.    Pedophilia:

It is impossible to deny that there are not only decent individuals in the world and that those with terrible motives might appear to be trustworthy friends. Under the pretense of not being loved, they groom kids to defy and reject their parents.

When the kids are unprotected from predators, they can be subjected to sexting, kidnapping, and other forms of abuse.

WhatsApp Safety Tips For Kids

Now that you’ve known about the potential threats associated with WhatsApp, you’ll want to ensure your kid’s safety from those threats and dangers. Keeping your kids safe from internet-based threats and criminals is very crucial.

Here are a few tips for you to ensure your kid’s safety while using WhatsApp:

1.    Download and Discuss The App:

WhatsApp is a simple to use and trending social media platform. Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the app with your kids once you’ve mastered the basics. This can be a beneficial step to ensure your kid’s safety.

2.    Guide Your Kids:

Consider making a personal family WhatsApp group if your kids use WhatsApp. Teach your kids how to create a safe profile, use safety features to their advantage, block unknown persons, and many more. Use this opportunity to tell them about the app’s benefits and drawbacks.

3.    Monitor Your Kid’s devices and Social Media:

When your kids utilize social media applications, there are many things to think about and pay attention to. To begin with, monitoring content, think about using both security and filtering tools.

You can keep an eye on your kid’s screen time and social media activities and actions. You can take the help of third-party parental controls application like MobileSpy or ClevGaurd. However, we recommend using MobileSpy for its vast range of attractive features and affordable price.

4.    Talk About Privacy Settings:

Encourage your kids to choose the two-step verification option, which allows your kid to create a personalized PIN for more security against breaches and hackers. You can also guide them about the importance of privacy settings and help them set up the privacy settings for their WhatsApp accounts.

5.    Avoid Strangers And Strange Links:

If someone outside your kid’s known circle obtains their phone number, they can transmit any content directly to your kid’s WhatsApp. They can use WhatsApp to catfish, trick, or groom individuals.

Discuss the significance of only conversing with individuals they know and trust and blocking messages from strangers with your kid. Stranger’s messages may include explicit content, spyware, spam, or a phishing link.

6.    Control Location Sharing:

When the location sharing option is enabled, your kid’s photograph shared on WhatsApp will include their actual location when the photo was taken. Be careful of this and contemplate disabling location services.

Conclusion

WhatsApp is a useful tool for communicating with friends and families. While WhatsApp is generally a secure messenger service, it’s crucial to discuss expectations and enforce safe online practices before your kid uses it.

However, every family and kid is unique and is permitted to use the app of their personal choice. If your kids are using the application with your permission, one method to help them traverse the risk zone is to have an open and honest dialogue about safety. We’ve included some WhatsApp safety tips for kids in this article.