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

Students are our future, which is why we are obligated to provide them with a well-rounded and hands-on education experience with lots of room for expressionism. This way, students can see higher potential for professional and communal success.  The future is gunning to mesh tech with reality – how can we be as efficient as helpful?

When the time comes, future employers will be thirsty for diverse minds ready to problem-solve, especially those who have been trained amidst the industry’s current transition. Since 2011, we have been undergoing the world’s Fourth Industrial Revolution – also known as Industry 4.0. That’s serious stuff, huh?

Fourth Industrial Revolution

This is the time innovators create world-changing gadgets, business models, workflows, systems, and materials to set us up with better circumstances. Ultimately, this pushes civilization forward. The last time this happened was between 1950 and 2002, which is when robots and PLCs were invented.

In short, an “industrial revolution” is any mass transition into new manufacturing processes. When all is said and done, the way we work will have been improved, as well as what we gain from our work. Along with that, we will have created more resources for ourselves.

Industry 4.0.

The primary focus of Industry 4.0 has been inter-connectivity. Electronics, IT, robots, and PLCs were created by Industry 3.0 innovators, which is what modern innovators are

optimizing. Resulting from this, we will have a workforce that includes higher-level automation driven by artificial intelligence and an integration of cyber-physical systems across both global and domestic supply chains.

Here’s another example.  After the First Industrial Revolution, machines and tool were created. This reduced and eliminated animal labor. However, Industry 1.0 took place between 1760 and 1830, so the most advanced machines created at the time were driven by steam and internal combustion engines.

During the Second Industrial Revolution, innovators were eager to improve the current workforce’s efficiency and productivity. So, innovators built the world’s first railroad systems, telegraph lines, and assembly lines. This made shipping and physical labor a lot easier. Furthermore, innovators of 1870-1914 also introduced new materials such as stainless steel and plastics.

What does every innovator have in common? Education. Knowledge is power. A lot of the bright ideas we use today were developed from an innovator’s thought to make a system better. This is why expressionism is an important element of education. Let their thoughts roam free and allow them to build systems to work around their innovative roadblocks.

Students are our innovators-in-training. Parallel to Industry 4.0’s progression, STEM curricula has taken off at all-time-highs. In other words, there is no question Industry 4.0 will have plenty of room for your child to partake. The question is: what will they create?

Check out this infographic below to learn more about Industry 4.0 and how it can help shape your child for the future.

When looking into moving homes, we observe multiple aspects in choosing which neighborhood we want to move our families. There is price, distance, housing quality, and other characteristics that ultimately decide which place we are most comfortable in picking. But perhaps no factor is more important than the neighborhood’s school district.

There is ongoing change happening around our country, along with diversification programs that are thankfully gathering more momentum within multiple sectors. With the transformation of neighborhoods due to population growth, school district funding can change based on numerous local, state, and national factors.

However, planning out your family’s future school district isn’t as simple as statistics on a page.  You don’t have to be a school administrator or a real estate appraiser to educate yourself with this helpful information. Looking into both the way public school districts are funded and the particular school district you have in mind will help ensure that your children have successful educational futures.

Public School Districts

A properly funded and well maintained public school system is what to look for when examining your children’s future school district. First, we’ll be making a clear distinction between private and public schools and observing the latter when it comes to school districts. With private schools, a parent pays a clear tuition fee that the private school operator collects.

Public schools, by comparison, are regulated by local, state, and federal law. Thus, they are operated from a mixture of locally-, state-, and federally-collected and distributed funding. Less than ten percent of total funds come from the federal level (through Title I and other means), with the majority coming from locally- and state-collected funds. About half of these total funds come from local property taxes.

Funding must then be circulated into individual districts. They can then hire appropriate staff, purchase necessary equipment and supplies, and maintain their operating structure (and, if able within their funding, construct new additions to their schools). These days, choosing a new school for your kids has a lot to do with school funding is about distribution, and if a community is progressively or regressively allocating its funding to the students who need it the most.

Progressive School Funding

What does it mean, then, to classify a public school district as “progressive?” Well, there are a few indicating characteristics. An Urban Institute study in 2017 found that there are 35 states–70 percent of the country–that specifically target low-income students with public school funding. New Jersey and Connecticut are examples of states that have progressive funding systems in place at the state level–though this can sometimes result in problems at the local funding level regarding income disparity. When this occurs, states will attempt to correct public school funding that it believes is inequitable.

In particular, New Jersey makes up for this by balancing its local and state public school funding, making it progressive to the amount of $1,453 per student. States differ in terms of progressive vs. regressive public school funding due to economic disparity, as well as differences in legislation. No matter which area you’re moving to, it’s essential to be aware of how your school district is funded on the state and local levels.

Tips for Changing Your School District

We’ve examined the overall way that school districts are funded these days. Still, careful research into your move itself is vital to ensure a comfortable adjustment for your children. It’s essential first to look into a few tips crucial to making the moving process, and changing school districts, an easier one.

You’ll want to be aware of any waiting periods to enroll your child in a certain district’s public school. You’ll also need to ensure that you have your children’s immunization records and medical forms on file, which is more necessary these days than ever before. Look into extracurricular activities such as virtual creative groups, which will help your child expand their new community of friends.

Additionally, email your child’s future guidance counselor about this recent move, and how it (as well as changing schools) may be taking up a large degree of their mental space. This will inform them and make them aware of a possible situation where your child finds it difficult to adapt to the new experience.

But more than anything, it’s vital to take a look into the individual districts in terms of teaching, subject proficiency, transportation management, funding allocation, and other informational aspects to determine for yourself how you view its quality of schooling. We’ve discussed public school funding and its distribution, but that’s only part of the equation.

Schools may rank highly in math proficiency, for example, when compared to the state average. (New Jersey’s math proficiency is 42 percent, for example, while its top five schools in this category all rank at 95 percent or higher.) However, if your child has special needs or is seeking a program that focuses on foreign language immersion, these rankings may not be as useful to you.

Additional factors to consider during your future school district search

Take the time to ask yourself some questions:

What is this school district’s subject proficiency in the topics I want my child to excel in?

What is this school district’s graduation rate?

Which school districts per state have the highest spending per student, and how is it allocated?

Which school districts have the lowest teacher to student ratio?

As parents, we naturally want the best for our children. Moving is never easy and choosing the best neighborhood for our family can be a monumental task that takes dedicated planning. With knowledge of the public school system and having a few tips on hand for the move, you can do your part in researching the district of your future neighborhood and setting your child on the right path for their educational future.

About the Author
Jennifer Walker is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beach goer operating out of Southern New Jersey.

If you keep up with the news, then you’re all too familiar with stories about cyberbullying. As a parent, you might be concerned that your child could become a victim of online bullying. Equally worrying is the possibility that your child is a cyberbully.

Whether your child is being bullied online or your child is doing the bullying, there’s a good chance that they won’t tell you what’s going on. However your child is involved in cyberbullying, it can have serious consequences, which is why you must learn how to recognize the signs. The critical first step to helping your child is being able to tell if they’re involved in online bullying.

You want to protect your child from the dangers of the world and that includes cyberbullying. Even if you don’t consider yourself internet savvy, you can still familiarize yourself with the indicators for if your child is bullying other children online or if they’re the target of cyberbullying. Since your child may not even know what counts as cyberbullying, stay vigilant for any signs that they may be involved in online bullying.

The Dangers of Cyberbullying

To start, the definition of cyberbullying is using technology such as social media to deliberately and repeatedly harass, threaten, and humiliate another person. Online bullying can range from someone spreading rumors online and creating fake social media profiles to sending mean texts or emails. Your son or daughter might not come home from school with a black eye, but online bullying can be just as damaging as physical bullying.

Because cyberbullying is a relatively new phenomenon since it’s directly related to the rise of the internet, there isn’t much research available regarding its long-term effects. But, psychologists agree that being the victim of traditional bullying puts a child at risk for anxiety and depression as well as decreases their ability to concentrate in school. Individuals who experience emotional trauma as children or adolescents can carry that stress and anguish well into adulthood.

The victims of bullying aren’t the only ones who suffer. Bullies themselves endure long-term consequences. Unlike their well-adjusted peers, bullies often don’t learn essential life skills such as the ability to compromise and negotiate. Children who never grasp how to work with others could have trouble forming healthy relationships as an adult and may even be more likely to engage in criminal activity. For both bullies and victims, cyberbullying can lead to mental health issues in children.

How to Tell If Your Child Is the Victim of Cyberbullying

Often, children are reluctant to tell their parents that someone is bullying them. In the case of cyberbullying, kids sometimes don’t even realize that they’re being bullied. Since there is a good chance your child won’t come forward themselves, you should know how to tell if your child is the victim of online bullying.  Beside behavioral signs, there are parental apps that can assisting you in actively monitoring cyberbullying activity.

Children with learning or thinking differences could be at a higher risk of being cyberbullied. Signs to watch out for include sudden changes in their computer usage, not wanting to use the computer in common spaces, and changing the screen when you’re around. If your child seems nervous or on edge when they receive a message, text, or email, someone might be bullying them online.

Your child expressing feelings of loneliness or saying something along the lines of “I have no friends” could also indicate they are the victim of cyberbullying. Finally, if your child becomes withdrawn and doesn’t want to go to school, there’s likely an issue that requires your attention. Encourage them to turn off social media, and on your own, research the school’s cyberbullying policies. Depending on the severity of the situation, you may need to involve other parents, the school, and possibly law enforcement.

Signs Your Child Is a Cyberbully

Being the victim isn’t the only way your child can be involved in cyberbullying. They could be the one doing the online bullying. Your first instinct might be to shut your eyes and cover your ears and deny that your child could ever do such a thing, but ignoring the problem only serves to deny your child the chance to change their behavior and learn from what they’ve done. You can’t teach your child not to be a cyberbully if you ignore the signs that they are one.

Furthermore, failing to recognize your child’s actions could mean that you’re overlooking underlying issues. Keep in mind that cyberbullying is even more common among older teenagers (14-18). They might be cyberbullying in retaliation or feeling pressure to follow the lead of someone in their peer group and simply acting as a cyberbully bystander. It’s possible that online bullying is their way of handling a bigger stressor such as divorce or changing schools. You’ll never get to the bottom of the issue if you don’t first see the signs and confront the fact that your child is a cyberbully.

One major indicator that your child is involved in online bullying is if they’re unwilling to discuss or share information about their online accounts or activities. As with the victims of cyberbullying, increased secretiveness is a warning sign. If you’re suspicious, then enforce keeping devices in commonly used areas.

Whether your child is showing signs that they are a cyberbully or the target of cyberbullying, your first step in addressing the issue should be talking to your child. One way to start the conversation is to share your own experience with bullying. But, you won’t be able to have that all-important talk unless you’re able to tell if your child is involved in cyberbullying. Take time to familiarize yourself with the indicators, and then, make a point of staying vigilant. Cyberbullying can have serious consequences for both the victim and bully, so keep a watchful eye for any signs that your child is involved in online bullying.

With the rise of technology, online security is more important than ever. Hackers are always developing new ways of compromising banking accounts. You do not want to be a victim of these cybercriminals, and most especially, you do not want your loved ones to fall in the trap. Thus,are there ways to make sure yours and your family’s finances are safe online?

There are many things you can do to protect your family from hackers. You can install the best antivirus, use a VPN to hide your IP, create strong passwords, and avoid clicking on bad links, etc. Read the entire guide to learn more.

Install the Best Antivirus

One of the effective ways of protecting your finances online is by installing good antimalware. A good antivirus will protect you from all malware created by hackers such as Trojans, Viruses, ransomware, adware, spyware, to name just a few.

The best antivirus comes with extra features to keep your online accounts safe from scams and other cybercriminals. Here are the features to look out for when buying one;

• Malware protection; a good antivirus program should offer protection against new and advanced forms of malware. Cybercriminals use this malware to steal your banking details such as passwords and usernames.

This protection will improve your device’s native security system. When your devices and online accounts are protected, it will be less likely that your credit card numbers will be exposed to hackers.

• Ransomware protection; ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s files. The best antivirus will prevent your data from being held ransom.

• Phishing protection; it is so easy to click on a link that disguises as your bank. A good anti malware will warn you when you are about to enter into a fake site.

On a fake website, hackers entice you into entering sensitive information such as credit card details, email addresses and passwords. Hackers use this information to steal your money. With a good antivirus, hackers will not be able to steal this data.

You will also be warned if you receive fraudulent emails that look as if they are from a friend, a company or financial institutions.

Parental control features; since many kids are spending more time online, they need an antivirus that can keep them safe from predators, addictive apps, and hackers.  A good antimalware program has parental control features that can filter out offensive content, block tracking apps and give the exact location of your kids for proper monitoring.

Use a VPN to hide your IP address

Get a good VPN. It will increase your security on private and public internet connections making it hard for cybercriminals to steal your financial information.

With a VPN, your details, like your location revealed by your IP address, are hidden, so you can securely access websites, apps, entertainment and more. It offers online privacy. Your internet provider, tracking website and internet browsers cannot be able to tell what you are doing online or able to disclose your sensitive information.

With this program, you can share any file without worrying a hacker might know its content.

Use 2-Factor Authentication to Protect your Financial Accounts

One of the best ways of protecting your family from hackers is by using 2-factor authentication to secure their online accounts.  Usernames and passwords are no longer sufficient since hackers can guess them.

With multi-factor authentication or 2-factor authentication, you will be required to verify your identity either by use of a call, text, or a code being sent to your phone number.  This provides an extra layer of security to your online accounts.

This technology can use your fingerprint, voice, and facial recognition so as to verify your identity.  Many banking institutions are using this technology since it best secures your information online.

Create strong passwords

If you want your family to stay safe online, encourage them to create strong passwords for their online accounts. Strong passwords are hard to crack.  A strong password that can beat hackers has the following characteristics;

• Has 15 characters or even more
• Has a mix of numbers, letters, and characters. Don’t forget to include too uppercase and lowercase letters
• Avoid easy passwords such as 123, admin
• Avoid using your names, phone numbers and your birth date as your password. Do not use passwords that you have used before or use for your other online accounts.

Remember, the best passwords will thwart brute force and make your accounts hard to break.

Educating Kids

The more your kids know about online safety the better they will be equipped to deal doing their part.  They will more easily understand the dangers of financial hacking when they first respect the value of money.  You can also start simply by teaching kids how to use online finances responsibly.