Category: Online Safety for Kids

Helping children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) successfully study at home can be incredibly challenging. This is because children with ADHD have trouble focusing for long periods, aren’t keen on details, and don’t want to engage in activities that take a lot of mental effort.

Studying requires all three of these things, and children diagnosed with ADHD aren’t exempt from studying because of their difficulties. So, we must find ways to make study sessions at home more enjoyable and productive for their unique needs.

Here are eight of those ways below:

Create a Designated Study Space

For a child with ADHD to successfully study at home, a designated study space is a must. A designated study room or corner for your children can help them be more productive. It can also help their brain know it’s time to focus on their studies every time they enter this space.

Decorate their designated study space with calming colors. Adopt a minimalist style. Be sure there’s room for exercise and play. Finally, kid-proof the space and make it as safe as possible.

When you use this study space with your children, be mindful of how you use your time in it.

Manage Time Attentively

Managing time attentively is a secret weapon in helping children with ADHD study effectively. Break up the time your child spends studying in a way that supports their unique needs.

For example, incorporate regular breaks in every session to ensure your children don’t get overwhelmed with the mental effort it takes to study. You could also introduce time management techniques to them, like the Pomodoro method, to limit distractions and procrastination.

Also, incorporating play into studying can help children with ADHD successfully study at home.

Incorporate Play into Studying

One of the best things you can do in a study session with a child with ADHD is incorporate elements of play into it. Children with ADHD need ways to release energy, especially during study time.

Making time for physical exercise, outdoor play, and creative activities can improve your children’s focus and help them control their emotions and impulses.

Take breaks to play during every study session. Also, incorporate fun, hands-on activities that help your kids learn the topic their studying.

Ask Teachers for Advice

Tapping your children’s teachers for advice on how to help them study and learn better is a brilliant move. Your children spend a lot of time with their teachers throughout the week. So, they likely know a lot about how your children learn best with ADHD.

Set up meetings with your children’s teachers to gain insight into how to use what’s working at school and home. Ask them specific questions about how to help your child retain information better and what kind of environment might be best for them to study in at home.

Enlist the Help of a Tutor

Not only is asking teachers for advice wise but so is enlisting the help of a tutor who primarily works with children with ADHD.

You can reach out to your child’s school and ask for information on tutors in the area. You can also search for tutors specializing in working with students with ADHD on the internet. Interview potential matches and introduce them to your child during these meetings to see how they connect.

You may have to cycle through a few tutors before finding the right one, but it’s worth the work.

Explore Using Digital Tools

Digital tools can also positively influence your children’s study sessions because they can help keep them focused and engaged.

For example, you can gamify studying to stimulate their brains and keep the process exciting. You can use projectors or your television to amplify a lesson. You can also use different apps to make studying more manageable.

Whatever digital tools you use to help your children with ADHD study, ensure they’re kid-friendly and easy to use.

Create a Circle of Support

Creating a circle of support comprised of other parents with children with ADHD can help you gather ideas for how to make studying better for your children at home. You’ll also have people who genuinely understand what you’re going through to lean on when times get tough.

It might also be a good idea to add a behavior specialist or counselor to your circle of support. A study on ADHD revealed that “about 6 out of 10 children had received some type of behavioral treatment or skills training.”

Behavioral therapists can help you find studying methods that work for your children’s particular needs. They can also help your children manage the frustrations and emotional triggers people living with ADHD often face.

Be Inherently Positive

Your circle of support can also help you become inherently positive. Positive thinking and communication are integral to successful studying at home with children with ADHD.

The last thing you want to do is be frustrated or angry with a child navigating ADHD. Being that way can make them feel hopeless and inadequate. Instead, learn to lift them up at all times. Work on your mindset. And grow your patience as well.

Conclusion

It isn’t easy helping children with ADHD successfully study at home, but it’s essential if you want them to thrive. So, use the tips above to create a positive, productive study environment at home for your children to give them the best chance at excelling in their education despite being diagnosed with ADHD.

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.

YouTube is one of the most engaging platforms. So engaging, in fact, that even our children are getting hooked. What they don’t realize is that too much time on YouTube is potentially developmentally damaging. As parents, it’s up to us to shield our children from the adverse effects of too much time on YouTube.

We can start by replacing that time with enriching activities our children will love. These five tips can help you make the transition.

Discuss the Harmful Effects of YouTube

It’s essential to discuss the harmful effects of YouTube with your children in a way they can understand. If they can genuinely resonate with and comprehend what you’re saying to them, they’ll be more likely to decrease their use of YouTube willingly.

Talk in-depth about how too much YouTube can result in not getting enough time to do things together like read. Reading to your child can provide them with various developmental skills, including the desire to read more by themselves. Reading is integral to academic and professional success. Be transparent about how not learning to read effectively can stall their progression in life.

Discuss how social media can affect their mental health as well. Ask them if they’ve experienced any of what you’re talking about while using YouTube to help them resonate with the discussion even more. Allow them to open up about how they feel about limiting their use of the platform.

Once you discuss the harmful effects of YouTube with your children, the next step is limiting their screen time. Your children won’t like it at first, but restricting their screen time will emphasize how serious you are. You can reduce their screen time in phases so that it isn’t such a shock to your kids.

When you limit your children’s screen time, you must fill it with off-screen activities like sports.

Encourage Participation in Sports

Sports are fantastic for children of all ages. Not only do sports get your kids out of the house and offline, but they can also teach them skills they can take with them into adulthood. For example, they can learn to take constructive criticism when working with coaches or how to develop a solid work ethic.

If your children aren’t interested in traditional sports, look for creative alternatives like eSports. They can participate in sport-like competitions online while still honing soft skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and self-confidence.

Whether eSports or traditional sports, find out which specific ones your children want to participate in. Sign them up and see how things progress.

In addition to sports, explore creative passions with your children.

Explore Creative Passions

You’ll start to hear less and less about YouTube if you encourage your children to explore their creative passions. Instead of YouTube being an outlet, replace it with a creative activity.

Nudge your kids to explore their offline creative passions before diving into any online. Then, do your best to make those creative passions a part of your children’s daily to draw their attention away from YouTube slowly. Before you know it, they’ll be more interested in exploring their creativity.

Creative passions can be a part of your children’s self-care, too.  They can also learn how to engage online safely including while on YouTube.

Prioritize Self-Care

Make self-care a priority for you and your children. When you prioritize self-care, you teach your children how to love and honor themselves. You give them a chance to get to know themselves. You also provide them an opportunity to appreciate being present.

To prioritize self-care, the first step is to have an initial conversation with your children about what self-care is and why it’s crucial. Next, work with them to develop a list of self-care activities unique to their interests and needs.

Then, categorize these activities by whether they’ll be done daily, weekly, monthly, or less often. Once they’re categorized, put them on the calendar. Have your kids check them off as they’re completed to keep them enthusiastic about self-care.

Also, be sure you’re making a consistent effort with self-care and the rest of the activities above.

Be Consistent

Consistency is key in most things, especially in your attempts to decrease your children’s time on YouTube. You’ll quickly fall back into your old YouTube habits without a consistent effort. So, be consistent in making this a lifestyle change.

Here are a few ideas to stay consistent in your efforts to decrease the use of YouTube in your household:

• Create a daily schedule for your children
• Strengthen your mindset and help your kids do the same
• Designate a specific time to turn off electronics each night
• Reinforce the positive changes your children are making constantly
• Stick to a family schedule regarding when and how long everyone can use YouTube each day

Ultimately, be consistent to ensure offline activities become the norm over hours of video content on YouTube every day.

Conclusion

The developmental dangers of YouTube aren’t something to take lightly. It’s essential to protect yourself and your children from videos and other digital content that negatively impacts growth.

You can do so by first being transparent about the harmful effects of YouTube with your children to help them understand why you’re implementing new boundaries around screen time.

Then, focus on off-screen activities like sports, self-care, and creative passions your children are interested in. And finally, be consistent with your efforts to guide your kids away from YouTube and toward a fuller, real life.

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.

Tabletop games are a great way to get kids interested in gaming. This can be a great hobby for them to enjoy and can also teach them important skills like critical thinking, teamwork, and communication. It’s a social activity that can be enjoyed by all. Here are six tips to help make tabletop gaming more appealing to kids.

1. Start with chess

Chess is a classic game that has been enjoyed by people for centuries. It’s a great way to teach kids about strategy and planning ahead. There are many different chess sets available, so find one that appeals to your child’s interests. You can also find online versions of chess that can be played for free. You can also click here to check out more information. Additionally, many bookstores and game stores offer chess sets and books that can help kids learn how to play. If your child is struggling to understand the game, there are also plenty of online tutorials and videos available. It’s important to let them move at their own pace and not get frustrated.

2. Try out different genres

There are many different types of tabletop games available. From card games to role-playing games, there’s something for everyone. If your child is interested in a particular topic, try to find a game that focuses on that subject. For example, if they’re interested in history, there are plenty of historical games available. There are also games that focus on other topics like science fiction or fantasy. The key is to find something that they’re interested in so they’ll be more likely to enjoy playing the game. Additionally, you can check out online reviews of different games to see which ones are the most popular and recommended for kids.

3. Get them involved in the game

One of the best ways to get kids interested in tabletop gaming is to make them feel like they’re a part of the game. This can be done by involving them in the game’s design and development. If you’re creating a custom game, involve them in the process and let them help with the design. You can also let them create their own characters or come up with ideas for new scenarios. This will help spark their creativity and make them feel more invested in the game. Additionally, you can find games that allow kids to play online with other players. This can help them socialize and make new friends while enjoying the game.

4. Let them play with friends

Tabletop gaming is a great way for kids to socialize and make new friends. If you know other families who are interested in gaming, invite them over for a game night. This can be a great opportunity for kids to interact with each other and have fun. You can also take your child to local game stores or conventions. These events are usually very welcoming to new players and can help kids find others who share their interests. Additionally, many stores and conventions offer special events for kids, so they can learn more about gaming and meet new people. It’s important to let them play with friends so they can enjoy the social aspects of the game.

5. Encourage their imagination

One of the best things about tabletop gaming is that it encourages kids to use their imagination. This can be a great way to spark their creativity and help them come up with new ideas. Games that require kids to create their own characters or come up with their own stories are especially good for this. You can also encourage them to be creative in other ways, such as painting miniatures or designing game boards. This will help them think outside the box and come up with new solutions to problems. Additionally, it’s important to let them express themselves and have fun with the game.

6. Be patient

It’s important to be patient when teaching kids how to play tabletop games. They may not understand the rules right away or make mistakes. It’s important to let them take their time and not get frustrated. If they’re struggling, you can offer assistance or advice. However, it’s important to let them figure things out on their own so they can learn and grow. Additionally, it’s important to have patience when playing the game yourself. Games can be long and complex, so it’s important to take breaks and not get too frustrated. The key is to have fun and enjoy the time spent with your child.

Tabletop gaming is a great way to spend time with your kids. It can help them socialize, use their imagination, and learn new skills. If you’re interested in getting started, there are plenty of resources available. You can find games that focus on different topics, so there’s something for everyone. By involving your kids in the game, you can help them feel more interested and invested.

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 and Spy on 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, Burnnote, and Omegle, 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, mSpy, FlexiSpy, etc. 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.