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

An IP address can be described as a unique address used to identify individual internet-enabled devices. The full meaning of IP is “Internet Protocol”. The internet protocol is a series of guidelines regulating how data is exchanged between local networks or internet-based devices.

That is to say, the Internet Protocol address functions as an identifier for each local network or device, that enables the transfer of information between devices over the internet. The IP address usually contains location and allows communication between local networks or devices such as computers, routers, websites, mobile devices, and more.

Definition Of An IP

The Internet Protocol (IP) address for individual internet-based devices is a series of numerals separated from one another by periods. Each IP address is usually a set of four numbers distinguished by periods. An example of an IP address is 152.167.4.38. The numbers in each set can be between 0 to 255. That is, the complete IP addressing format is 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255.

It is important to note that IP addresses are not generated randomly but are produced and distributed by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), a subset of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). ICANN — a nonprofit body — was founded in The US in 1998. The organization’s objective is to ensure that the internet is well-protected and make it accessible to everyone. Hence, anytime one registers a domain on the internet, the person must contact the ICANN registrar who in turn pays a token to ICANN to get the domain registered.

How IP Addresses Function

Sometimes, an internet-based device may not be properly connecting to the internet the way it is supposed to connect. Other times, you may want to troubleshoot why your network may not be effective. These things can help an individual understand the functions of an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

Internet Protocol addresses have a lot of similarities with communication through language. However, these systems use a series of rules or guidelines to communicate with one another. All internet-based devices or networks exchange information with one another using their Internet Protocol addresses. Since they speak the same technical language, computers across different locations can communicate with one another.

The use of Internet Protocol addresses often occurs out of public view.

Below is how the process takes place:

1. The user’s device connects to the internet indirectly but through connecting to a network connected to the internet. This network will now allow your device to be able to access the internet.

2. At home, the user’s network is often their Internet Service Provider (ISP). When they are in the office, it will be their company network.

3. The Internet Service Provider receives an individual’s internet activities and routes them back to the user. Since it is the Internet Service Providers that enable users to connect to the internet, it becomes their responsibility to allocate an IP address for the user’s device. Nevertheless, the IP address can change. For instance, the IP address may be changed depending on whether the user’s modem or router is switched on or off. The Internet Service Providers can also change the IP address for users.

4. When a user is away from home and carries their device along, their home IP address cannot be carried along. This is because such a user may have to use another network to access the internet. At that point, they will have to use a different but temporary Internet Protocol address provided by the Internet Service Providers of their new location.

Types Of IP Addresses

There are different types of Internet Protocol addresses. Some of these IP addresses also have categories, with each containing different types of IP addresses. The main types of Internet Protocol addresses include :

• Consumer IP Addresses

A business organization or an individual often have two types of Consumer Internet Protocol addresses, which are Private IP address.

• Public IP address

These two types of IP addresses are named in relation to the network location. Private IP addresses are used within a network while Public IP addresses are used outside a network.

The importance of IP addresses in networks and internet-enabled devices cannot be overemphasized. Without them, internet-based systems cannot communicate with one another. Like home addresses, IP addresses are used to determine the location of individual internet-based devices and enable easy communication with such devices.

Although there are different types of Internet Protocol addresses, they all serve two basic functions:

• Enabling devices to get connected to the internet via Internet Service Providers.
• Enabling the ease at which individual devices are located for efficient communication between other networks.

If you are wondering “what is my ip” there are a lot of sites online that can help.

IP Addresses for Cell Phones?

In case you’re wondering whether your phone has an IP address, the answer is yes. Every device, including your phone, has a public IP address and a private IP address that helps to identify it on both your home network and other internet you may access. The IP address is assigned to any device that connects to the internet, including mobile phones. If you switch networks, your phone may get a different IP address. This means that your phone’s IP address isn’t always permanent, even if you’re using the same device. It is possible that your phone’s IP address will change when you turn off your router at home or when you connect to a public Wi-Fi network or when you switch between using Wi-Fi and your mobile network.

Your internet service provider provides you with an IP address and grants you access to the internet when you use Wi-Fi. Your online activity is routed through them, and they use your IP address to route it back to you. Using mobile data, your phone’s IP address is assigned by the mobile network. Basically, a smartphone’s networking software follows the Internet Protocol, which specifies how to communicate with the internet and send data back and forth. As a result, your online requests are sent and returned to the correct user using an IP address associated with your internet activity.  There are billions of IP addresses, and they are assigned automatically to hardware. However, there are times when it’s necessary for you to know or you might be curious on how to find your phone’s IP address.

Learning how to swim is an essential life skill that everyone should learn at a young age. Children with special needs can still learn how to swim so they can avoid drowning and other water-related accidents. Enrolling children with special needs in swimming lessons can help remove fear of going into the pool.

Swimming lessons also ensures their capability of handling themselves should they fall into a body of water.  There is more to swimming than just water safety. Whether your child has a neurodevelopmental disorder or physical disability, they will highly benefit from this life-saving skill.

This blog discusses the various benefits of swimming lessons for kids with special needs.

Benefits of Swimming Classes for Special Needs Children

Swimming holds various benefits for kids with special needs and conditions. Here are some of the advantages your child will get when you enroll them in infant swimming lessons that specialize in handling these students.

Burns Excess Energy

Parents of children with ADHD can attest to how much energy their child has. Swimming is one way to redirect this energy to learning a life-saving skill. An hour in the water can burn up to 500 calories. It can tire their body quickly as it requires concentration and coordination of different parts. You can sit them down much easier so they can focus on their everyday tasks or turn in for the day.

Since physical exercise drains their energy, it can promote better sleep. Special needs kids will also have greater control over their emotions and behavior even while out of the pool once they are swimming more regularly due to lessons.

Maintains a Healthy Weight

Special needs children have a higher rate of becoming obese. Enrolling them in swimming classes will challenge them to be more active in exercising. Since swimming is a low-impact activity that engages the whole body, it is an efficient way of maintaining a healthy weight.

Provides a Sense of Calmness and Freedom

The water environment also offers a sense of freedom and calmness for children with cerebral palsy, ADHD, and autism. Water buoyancy reduces our body weight by up to 80% and offers a greater range of movements. Children with cerebral palsy complain about restricted actions on land but will love the freedom that water provides. The hydrostatic pressure from the water also reduces everyday noises that can be irritating for most children.

Apart from freedom of movement in the water, the pool is also a serene place where children with ADHD can learn how to swim calmly. You don’t let them swim on their own entirely but instead still facilitate their movement, so they remain alert. Special needs kids may even think of the swimming pool as a fun escape from their everyday living.

Moreover, children with autism will significantly benefit from the predictability and repetitive movements in the pool. Doing repeated movements can be a way for autistic children to keep their anxiety in check and concentrate better. Learning how to float in the water also helps them become more aware of their bodies while dealing with overwhelming emotions.

Improves Communication

There are various activities during baby swimming lessons, including blowing bubbles and regulating breathing underwater. These activities can help special needs children with their speech and oral articulation. Moreover, toddlers become more expressive of their emotions, whether through verbal or non-verbal communication.

Boosts their Confidence

Mastering a skill can be difficult for special needs kids. As they progress through their curriculum, the lessons become more difficult but not impossible. Failure can lead to a lack of self-esteem and may even result in not trying at all. However, learning how to swim lets your child celebrate small attainable victories. With the help of trained swimming coaches, they can perfect a stroke, stay afloat, and do a lap on their own.

Swimming also boosts the confidence of children with physical limitations. While their peers can do everyday activities alone, being disabled limits what they can do independently. Toddler swimming lessons are tailored for special needs children to help them learn and explore beyond their limits.

Moreover, your child can receive rewards for every skill they learn, giving them the confidence boost they need. With these small achievements, they can become more confident to face other challenges in life. There’s no stopping a child who believes in themselves, right?

Build Relationships with Peers

A swimming school is a great place to meet new friends and build a relationship with them. Swimming classes group your child with students of the same age and skill level to avoid feeling shy or intimidated by their peers.

Letting your child engage with other children introduces them to people outside their regular home and school life. In fact, they can also mingle with their swimming instructors and other parents. The public setting lets them be more comfortable with people outside their comfort zone.

Puts No Pressure on Students

Unlike other sports, swimming puts no pressure on passing or catching a ball to a teammate. Swimmers can compete with themselves by finishing a lap faster or swimming a farther distance than before. Enrolling in swimming lessons for kids with special needs lets them learn at their own pace with the help of a swimming coach that tracks their progress.

Enroll in Private Swimming Lessons Today

Swimming offers many benefits for every child, and kids special needs shouldn’t be left out. Provide them with the opportunity to learn this life-saving skill to reap its long-term effects. This low-impact activity goes beyond enjoyment and promotes their developmental health while boosting independence and confidence.

Find a school that offers special needs swim lessons and enroll your child today.

Vacations are meant to be relaxing and fun, but they can also be productive. If you’re the type of parent who doesn’t mind leaving their homework behind, then taking your child on vacation is a good idea too. It’s certainly good that children have plenty of downtime while on vacation.

There’s a lot to consider when planning a trip to make it safe, fun, and even educational.  When your kids are away from school for longer than usual, there are a few things you can do to help your child with schoolwork.

Tips for Doing Schoolwork on Vacation

First, make sure you find out when your child is going to have the most free time and make plans accordingly. It’s best to begin doing schoolwork early in the morning or before the child goes to bed. You’ll also want to talk to the teacher about your plans, so he or she can help.

Second, make sure you’re keeping an eye on the deadline. You don’t want to miss out on an assignment or test. While it’s important to help your child with homework, he or she shouldn’t let it get in the way of having fun on vacation. Your child may be tempted to skip out on their homework on vacation, but you need to be sure it’s important to give them some encouragement to stay on task.

Family vacations are designed to be escapes from reality – a much-needed break from daily demands, deadlines, pressure, and routines. Sometimes, that trip to visit family or holiday getaway can’t wait until summer break. However, school-aged children have to maintain certain habits and disciplines even while on an extended vacation.

Here are a few ways to help your child stay ahead of the game when it comes to homework, even while on vacation.

Keep Ahead of the Game

Schedule a meeting with your child’s teacher or teachers before you leave school. This way, you can give them specific dates and get all your questions answered. This step demonstrates the importance you and your child are putting on their school responsibilities. Get as many assignments as you can ahead of time, that way you can manage your child’s progress when you don’t have a high-speed Internet connection or access to email. Show appreciation to your child’s teachers for taking time to meet with you and work with you to stay ahead – it’s extra work for them and it helps for you to express your gratitude for their special accommodations.

Keep in Touch

It’s important to communicate to the teacher that you want to stay informed and up-to-date.  Take the opportunity when you have internet access to email your child’s teacher or by logging on to Zoom for an online class or consultation. It will ensure your privacy and stable connection during the meeting. This way, you can stay in touch about assignments, special projects, grades, etc. Keeping good communication with teachers is a good way to become your child’s advocate when it comes to school.

Keep on Reading

Don’t forget to pack a school bag – including lots of books – for your child when preparing to leave on an extended trip. Pack their textbooks, reading assignments, notebooks, and binders so they will be prepared for any assignment they are given. This can be easy to overlook when preparing for a trip, but you must have the necessary tools to keep your child up-to-date with reading assignments and other tasks.

Keep a Schedule

Your child might be feeling overwhelmed when they’re not able to finish the work on vacation. You might be wondering how you can help them stay organized when you’re not around. Thankfully, there are many ways to help your child with schoolwork on vacations. Despite how busy you are, holiday homework can be a great time to help your child focus and learn.

Whatever you vacation destination you have planed, we know you want to pack as much fun and adventure into your trip as possible, but don’t neglect the necessary habit of keeping a daily homework schedule. Plan a time each day (before dinner, after dinner, etc.) when your child can tackle their homework and reading. Make sure you encourage their focus and best efforts. This can be hard with many other fun things to do, but keeping a strict schedule for homework will guarantee that they stay current with work and projects.

Keep Going

It can be difficult to force yourself back into the real world each day to keep your child on track with school, but short, daily periods of homework are certainly better than the pile of stress and make-up work that accumulates when you neglect schoolwork while on vacation. Encourage your child to keep up the good habits – and the good work – and he/she will benefit greatly.

The word ‘stimming’ is an abbreviation for ‘self-stimulating behavior’ which is typically socially acceptable and normal behavior. What is stimming ADHD?  The answer is that it’s a form of self-stimulation used when one is bored or experiencing something uncomfortable.

Children living with ADHD face unique challenges. Stimming is simply a way to help them to focus, reduce anxiety, or release excess energy.

Some of the things a person does that can be considered ‘stimming’ include:

• Chewing the inside of their cheek
• Excessive or unnecessary sniffling
• Twirling your hair
• Biting your nails
• Humming
• Tapping a writing utensil such as a pen, or pencil

From these examples, you can see that stimming is a very common behavior. These behaviors can be observed in people of all backgrounds, disabilities, and ages. Stimming is a natural response that is not unique to intellectually or developmentally disabled individuals.

Difference Between ASD Stimming and ADHD Stimming

Stimming for those on the autism spectrum disorder is different than ADHD Stimming in severity and duration. ADHD self-stimming behaviors occur when sensory overload happens while trying to concentrate. An example is someone with ADHD thinking about writing, as they rock back and forth, or twirl their hair.

ADHD Stimming or in Developmentally Delays

ADHD stimming can function as a source of comfort and control for those with developmental disorders. Most children or adults with developmental disabilities often experience sensory overload. Stimming is a means of regaining control over a certain sensation or experience.

Children who are easily overwhelmed by too much auditory input might easily begin shouting or shrieking in response. A child overwhelmed with visual input may begin pressing their hands against eyelids, or move their eyes back and forth quickly. These actions are known as adaptive mechanisms.

These adaptive mechanisms, or stimming help the disabled to communicate their emotions. For this reason, stimming can be loud, different, and distracting from the ‘normal’ sources of self-stimulation. These types of stimming are most likely the reason people associate stimming with those who are developmentally delayed.

ADHD Stimming

Developmental disabilities are not always accompanied with ADHD. What is more common is for children with ADHD to experience sensory difficulties. For this reason, ADHD stimming is much like what you would see in a child on the autism spectrum, rather than what would be observed in their typical peers.

ADHD stimming typically involves fidgeting. Stimming for these children can range from squirming in their chair to humming loudly, and even speaking over others and more. These behaviors are used for the child to find some form of sensory input.

Stimming helps a child with ADHD quiet down their sensory systems and the unpleasant sensations in their body. Depending on the child and the environment, stimming will create a new sensation that is pleasant to experience. The reasons for seeking sensation are unique to each and can change daily.

Autism is characterized by high levels of anxiety and stress. As such, many autistic people have an aversion to bright lights, especially if they are flashing or strobe light patterns. In fact, some autistic people may be so sensitive to these types of stimuli that they cannot even tolerate them. This can be a challenge in the classroom setting for students on the spectrum.  However, there are ways for educators to provide solutions for coping with this type of hypersensitivity.

How ADHD Stimming Helps

There are multiple reasons an individual uses stimming. For some, they want to gain control over a situation, others are trying to redirect unpleasant energy or fear. When used for these reasons, sensory overload is typically involved. Stimming is a form of control and can appear in a dramatic movement.

Dramatic stimming can include rocking, crying, or jumping. These actions are able to help quiet an overloaded sensory system. Stimming can relieve excess energy, so tapping feet, pacing, and fidgeting can also quiet overloaded sensory systems. The core of ADHD is hyperactivity, so these actions are not abnormal, but more matter of course.

For some, stimming is used as a means to alleviate boredom. This is perhaps the most common reason for those without a disorder. These small expenditures of energy engage a body in several ways without taking a lot of effort or thought.

When to Intervene on ADHD Stimming

For the most part, stimming does not require intervention. If the action is not interfering with one’s daily life, you do not need to stop the action. When stimming begins to interfere with one living a well-adjusted, healthy life, then educators, parents, or therapists need to intervene.

Intervention is often needed when a child is on the ADS, and in some cases, children who have ADHD. If a child stares off into space and does not acknowledge their educator, it interferes with their academic achievement. If a child hums or speaks over others, this will also require intervention.

Intervention can include applied behavioral analysis, as these behaviors negatively impact a child’s social skills and social behaviors. Children with ADHD and sensory issues are likely to have larger stimming behaviors. These students will probably have an IEP, or 504 plan to improve their learning abilities.

ADHD stimming at home is unlikely to need the same level of intervention as when in school. You may still want to apply some support or an intervention such as ADHD therapy. Children with ADHD often have trouble sitting at the table and could develop unhealthy relationships with eating and food.

Other stimming events that can occur in the home include difficulty completing chores or listening to your directions, which can lead to rifts in relationships. There are some cases where stimming can lead to self-injury which will need intervention.

In Conclusion

Some people feel that discouraging a child not to stim is like forcing someone to give up something they love, that it is cruel. For others, stimming functions are a source of alienation from peers and must be addressed and resolved.  Determining if stimming is damaging or not depends on your child’s goals. You will have to seek the treatment you feel necessary for them to succeed.

Learn what to do if you are a parent struggling with ADHD symptoms.