Category: Parenting

The American Optometric Association reveals that every one child amongst four children suffers from vision problems which go unattended for a long period of time. This is an alarming figure, because eyes are one of the most crucial organs for effective growth and development of any individual.

Good vision not just provides a seamless learning experience, but it also aids in a good quality of life and boosts an individual’s self-confidence. So, it is very essential for parents to ensure healthy vision in their children by encouraging healthy behavioral habits.

Early Detection

Hand in hand with educating kids about healthy habits, parents must be proactive in noticing any vision impairments that may occur.  Early detection with an annual eye exam minimizes damage and thus promote healthy eyesight for life.  

Here are some early signs which may indicate vision impairment in children.

Squinting:

If your child is squinting often, it is possible that he is suffering from near-sighted vision which is why he may be squinting his eyes to look at objects that are at a distance. Similarly, kids who squint while reading or playing with toys could be suffering from the opposite condition which is far-sightedness that may be indicative of astigmatism or hyper myopia.

Head tilt or turn:

Children who may have eye alignment issues tend to tilt or turn their heads in order alleviate the discomfort they may be feeling as a result of straining their eye muscles. This could possibly indicate issues in the eye alignment.

Sitting too close to the TV or computer screen: 

Children who sit very close to the television screen may be suffering from near-sightedness. They may not be able to see from a distance, which is why they move closer to the TV screen. In the classroom kids may be able to see the teacher from afar, but have trouble focusing on school work at their desk.

Showing sensitivity to light:

Some children tend to have excessive sensitivity to light, even when they are sitting indoors. This can be a sign of a condition called photophobia, which causes discomfort in the eyes when exposed to bright light.

Frequent Eye Rubbing, Headaches, and Nausea:

We often see kids rubbing their eyes while trying to focus on something when they are reading, looking at computer or phone screens, or when they are playing with toys. Rubbing is a sign that your child may be having problems in clear vision and demands medical supervision. Headaches and nausea are also suggestive that your child’s eyes may be strained.

Chronic redness of the eyes, itchy eyes:

When your child feels an abnormally high amount of itching or redness in the eyes, it is possible that there is some form of defect or impairment. It is best to consult the optometrist in such a situation.

Having an eye that turns in or out:

In the human body, both the eyes are usually aligned with one another. However, if you find that your child’s eyes are not in sync, it best to consult an ophthalmologist and detect the condition. When detected on time, it can be treated successfully and with ease.

Drooping Eyelid:

Ptosis is a medical condition in which the upper eyelid muscles weaken and start sagging. This leads the upper eyelids to droop and affect the vision. This condition can develop with age or be present right from birth (congenital ptosis). If you notice this condition in your child, it is best to consult a doctor at the earliest. When left untreated, it can also develop into a lazy eye (amblyopia) or astigmatism.

If you notice any of these conditions in your child, it is best advised to consult an ophthalmologist at the earliest. Eyes are one of the most precious organs of the body and hence. Therefore, it is essential that all children undergo ophthalmology examination when they are about 3 years of age, to detect any possible vision impairments that exist.

Additional Resources:

Many children are apprehensive about wearing glasses, especially for the first time.  Here are some ways you can warm them up to the idea and also give them confidence in their new look.  

Author Bio:

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center, eye care center, Fresno. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK. Aaron loves collecting coasters from the different bars and restaurants he visits during his travels.

Smart TVs function just as regular TVs but with internet connectivity, like smartphones. They have built-in apps as well as capabilities to surf the web, send emails, access social media platforms, and stream videos on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and other similar streaming services. 

In the second quarter of 2020, Netflix had 72.9 million U.S. subscribers, so there’s no denying how popular smart Tvs are. However, with the advent of this technology, designed to access the internet using interfaces like Apple TV or the Fetchbox, there is a glut of content alongside child usage risks that parents need to consider.

With that in mind, here’s the Safe Search Kids guide to setting up a smart TV, plus some advice on how to ensure your kids search safely.

Parental controls on Smart TVs

Before purchasing a Smart TV, it is good to be aware of the parental controls available. Also, make sure you can create different user profiles, including setting up a child’s account.

To understand each parental control on a brand of Smart TV, go to the specific manufacturer’s website. You can also utilize this free database to learn about how to set up these controls.

If you have a regular TV but are considering buying an Android TV box to give you the ability to stream content and access online apps, you will also need to set up parental controls.

To do this, select the “Settings” icon (the little cog in the upper-right corner of your screen). Next, click “Parental Control” which is below the “Input” option. This will take you to the Parental Control settings. You can find more information on this here.

Potential privacy risks of a Smart TV

Unfortunately, most digital inventions are not without some degree of risk. Like a computer or a smartphone, Smart TVs have access to inbuilt cameras, audio recordings, personal data, and social media data. It is essential to read the privacy policy when a manufacturer releases a software update.

A voice controlled Smart TV can keep data of what you are saying, searching for, and watching. This information is used to provide you with adverts suited to your preferences.

To set up privacy settings accurately, do not go for a quick set-up, but search for custom settings that allow you to turn on or off each privacy feature. It is advisable not to download any suspicious software on your Smart TV as there is no anti-virus developed for Smart TVs yet.

Apps

As with smartphones, apps are installable on Smart TVs. Some apps require a subscription fee like Netflix and Amazon Prime to access and enjoy the features. Others may require additional tweaking of settings to function properly.

Remember that these apps don’t come with in-built parental control settings, and your kids can view inappropriate content. Hence, the need to canvas through the TV manual or guide to further set these controls. Another feature accessible on smart TVs are social media apps. We have a guide you can read on how to protect your kids on social media.

Even if they are merely gaming apps that claim to be child-friendly, you still need to know the gaming apps’ PEGI rating.

Managing streaming content

If you have allowed streaming services such as Netflix, YouTube, and Hulu to run on your Smart TV, you have to set separate parental controls for each of the apps.

For the various streaming services, you can find out how to set parental controls here: Netflix, YouTube, and Hulu.

Internet filtering and connectivity

Almost all Smart TVs offer built-in Wi-Fi to access your home network and the internet. Although ethernet provides a faster and stable internet connection, smart TVs come in-built Wi-Fi that leaves no cable trails lying around.

Internet filtering is a must when protecting kids on the internet. With a simple Google search, you can easily find a trusted internet filter software and apps for parental controls that allows you complete control over your kids’ access to the internet. Many other apps are designed to keep your kids safe online and give you peace of mind.

Browsing

Once you have set up parental filters on the broadband-connection to your smart TV, you don’t need to worry as your children surf the net. Just as with other devices connected to your router, won’t smart TVs allow the display of inappropriate websites or content after this one-time set-up.

Parental filters allow kids to watch child-safe content from YouTube or Netflix, via the web or app. It is essential to set browsing limits for all devices in your home, which has internet connectivity.

 Content

The only thing to keep in mind is to be thorough in the content you allow your kids to access. There are many children-designed channels provided on Smart TVs.

Look at the channels offered for children on the streaming services you have subscribed to and ensure you are satisfied with the kind of program your kids would be viewing. Some streaming services allow you to create multiple user accounts with age limits features.

Screen time management

Before setting up a way for kids to manage their screen time, ensure that all the inappropriate sites and content are filtered out of your home network broadband.

If you have not already done that, limiting your child’s screen time won’t change much. You can now use helpful screen time management software designed for parents to monitor and control their child’s access to the internet and screen time.

How to Set Parental Controls on a Vizio Smart TV

If your household has a Vizio Smart TV, you can set up built-in parental controls to help block inappropriate content or restrict certain apps. Here’s how to do it — and some extra tips to make it stronger.

1. Open the TV menu
   Turn on the TV and press the Menu or V button on your Vizio remote. 
2. Find the Parental Controls section
   Navigate to Settings → Parental Controls (or sometimes under System / Locks) using the arrow keys on the remote. 
3. Set or change your PIN
   When prompted, enter a 4-digit PIN. If you haven’t changed this before, the default on many Vizio models is 0000. 
   Afterward, go to the “Change PIN” or “Access Code Edit” option to set a new PIN that your child won’t guess. 
4. Configure content restrictions
   Once your PIN is active, you’ll see options to block content based on ratings (for TV shows, movies, etc.). Choose the acceptable rating levels so that anything beyond that requires the PIN to view. 
5. Restrict or remove apps (if possible)
   On some Vizio TVs, you may not be able to lock apps with the PIN, but you can remove or hide them. For example:
   • Press the V button → find the app in your list
   • Use the Delete or Remove (via the VIA dock) option to uninstall or disable access.
   • Note: Some streaming apps (e.g. YouTube, Netflix) may require you to use their own internal parental settings too.
6. Manage WatchFree+ content (for built-in content)
   Vizio’s built-in WatchFree+ service (for live and On Demand content) has its own content filters. You can set age-based categories like Family, Teen, or Adult. 
   To get there, open the WatchFree+ app → go to the full guide → select “Live TV” or “On Demand” → navigate to the shield icon → set content rating and PIN. 
7. Test everything
   After setting it all up, try to open a blocked show, movie, or app. The system should prompt for the PIN. If not, revisit your restriction settings to make sure they were saved correctly.

Final thoughts

As more content gets uploaded on the internet daily, there are growing concerns from parents who want to protect their kids from inappropriate content. The number one thing to do however is to set up parental controls on all the smart devices at your home.

Parents can now monitor their kids’ access when surfing the internet, even via smart TVs. With digital services, it’s best to continually update the apps and devices’ settings, especially if your child has access to them.

Finally, remember to chat to your child and instill a good screen-time to off-screen time balance. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than two hours of screen time for children and teenagers per day, and absolutely no screen time for children under 2. Too much screen time can not only disturb children’s sleep patterns, but increase the risk of emotional, social, and attention problems, and even obesity.

Safe searching!

Educating your child about taking care of themselves is what all good parents do. You also teach your kid how best to interact with the world and things around them. One area that is sometimes overlooked is car-safety. We will look at what you should tell your children about cars. We shall also explore how you can prepare your car to be safe for your kids.

Remembering to check your car for recalls and other simple things may make a world of difference in keeping your little ones as safe as possible. 

Things Your Kids Should Know About Cars

You don’t have to be an expert yourself to teach basic car maintenance. Many tips can be found online on websites like YouTube. Step by step guides can show you what to do without you having to be a master mechanic. You can then teach the most basic of these tasks to your kids.

1. Basic Maintenance

What you teach your child can include:

    • Checking and filling up the vehicle’s fluid

    • Adding oxygen to the tires

    • Reading the fuel gauge and speedometer

    • How to replace filters

    • Replacing the headlights

    • How to check on and change the car oil

    • How to change a flat tire, even on your own

These simple maintenance tasks will give your kid a life skill they’ll take into adulthood. But the real cherry on top is the great bonding experience you’ll develop as you interact with your child in this way.

2. Identifying Emergency Vehicles

Telling your kids how to identify emergency vehicles is another good piece of information.  When a police car’s siren blares, it’s a good idea to tell your kids what to do when the police need to drive past. 

You can also tell them about other important vehicles like ambulances, fire trucks, and armored vehicles. You can find ways to teach your kids in a fun and interactive way. If you turn teaching moments into games, the lessons are likely to stick. 

This is also a great time to teach them about emergency procedures. You can tell them that they are supposed to keep to the pavement for a firetruck and dial 911 for accidents and if they are hurt. It may seem frivolous but these lessons are invaluable for your kid’s well-being.

3. Teach Children about Cars & Money

You can use your car to also impart the value of money to your kids. Matters that you can explore with them include: 

     • Fees such as car payments 

    • Maintenance costs

    • Tickets and fines

    • Insurance premiums

Even adolescents may need these lessons. Not all adults are financially literate or responsible. Many grown-ups themselves struggle to understand the value of money.  As for insurance premiums, it may be better to start them off as part of your insurance plan. Most companies allow your children to be part of the parent’s policy for as long as you want.

It’s important to teach all of these aspects to kids from a young, impressionable age. If your child can learn to manage their finances they can be equipped to manage the costs associated with maintaining a car later in life. A well-maintained car is basically a safe one.

4. Dangers of Driving

Children and teens are shockingly almost twice as likely to be in a fatal crash than young adults aged 19-25. This can be related to an insufficient use of car seats, seat belts, and whether younger kids are sitting in the back seat or front.

Statistically, teenagers are the most likely to be involved in a car accident.  Once they are old enough to drive, teaching them about the dangers and how to drive with care and caution can save their lives. 

5. Rules of the Road

Beyond telling your kids how to safely cross a road, you may wish to inform of them of other rules of the road. This includes teaching them what drivers should and shouldn’t do while driving.

There are road rules to do with traffic signals and driving carefully. Explain the importance of obeying road rules so that every road user is safe. Inform them of certain rules regardless of their age. 

This can help you abate the fears or concerns you may have for when they have full control of their own cars. Also, advise on “outside of the square” tips like whose car they are allowed to ride in (if you are not around), or what to do whenever they feel unsafe as a passenger.

Preparing Your Car for Your Kids

Just as we make our homes safe for our children, we also need to take some time to do the same with our cars.

Get the Right Car Seat

Before you get a car seat, consider doing an online search of what’s out there and what would be best for your child. One basic rule is that the best car seat for your child is the one that fits. That is, the car seat should fit your child, your car, and install correctly into place.

Wear a Seat-Belt

It is against the law for minors not to be strapped in their seat belt. Though sometimes easy to forget, this is a crucial way of ensuring your child’s safety every time they are commuting. It is crucial to teach them the necessity of staying buckled up. Seatbelts have been proven to prevent severe injuries and save countless lives. 

Distracted Driving

This one is a major cause of car accidents. You should teach your kids how to avoid or manage distractions. For example, instruct your kids to never throw objects in the car to each other or at you.  

They shouldn’t distract you or block your vision. Of course, calm and normal conversations can occur between drivers and passengers. However, causing agitation in any way can be a dangerous distraction.  Emphasize how important it is for drivers to focus while driving. 

Moving Objects

 Apart from ensuring your child does not throw objects in the car, it is worth considering whatever objects you have in the car, especially on the dashboard. In the event of an accident, these objects may become projectiles and cause injury to those in the car. 

Find a secure place to store toys in your car to avoid such incidents. Secure other items in your car that could also move around and become a hazard. In some cases, it would be safer to store these items in the trunk of your car. 

Maintenance and Routine Checks

Sometimes cars are recalled. Check your car for recalls to ensure you have a vehicle that keeps you and your children safe. Just like with regular health checks for yourself, servicing your car regularly is necessary. 

Ensure you keep a handle on all the basics like good tire pressure, reasonable oil levels, and window washer fluid. Keeping a schedule for maintenance can promote the longevity of your car. 

Entertainment

Whether it’s music that your kids enjoy, or books, games, or movies; our child will appreciate having entertainment on car drives. This would help your mood on long road trips and since your child is occupied, you can concentrate on driving. This all contributes to road and passenger safety.  

Car Care and Good Driving Habits

Taking conscious steps to teach your child about cars is invaluable. Going further to prepare your car to be safe for them is equally so. Following the tips in this article may not only save your kids’ lives but also equip them with the knowledge they need to drive safely when they are able to do so.  You may also want to consider the parental control app that monitors driving habits so you can provide provide ongoing training.

As mothers, we are often faced with dozens of impossible questions before breakfast: do the laundry or the dishes first; which child to wake up first; how to get all the groceries from the car to the fridge in as little effort as possible.

Today, I’d like to share some of my personal tips and experiences with you, and hopefully you’ll feel a little bit less alone if you are also struggling to keep up with an incredibly long to do list.

To give you a bit of background, I’m a mom of two girls (7 and 9), also the mom of two dogs, the wife of one husband and the owner of one very small business (which currently consist of me trying to grow and expand).

Here is how I try to get everything done as a mom:

Working from home – how to get actual work done

When I first decided to work for myself, I thought having the freedom to organize my day any way that felt comfortable would be an improvement on the 8-to-6 working hours I previously had.

I was very wrong.

While I can certainly pace my day how it best suits me, I now have to factor in what suits all the other members of my family as well.

The first valuable piece of advice I can give you here is to do two things: start bulking tasks and create chunks of time for work.

I try to do the same kind of work in different chunks: I start with anything creative that needs to be done (I’m a writer, so this is usually planning, research or actual writing), then I move on to emails or calls, and I do all the mindless work (invoices, charts, etc.) at the very end. Start with the most important bulk first, and work your way up to the less important things later.

The time chunks are there to enable you to ensure the kids don’t need you while you are at work. If they go to school or kindergarten, try to get most of the work work done then, and leave housework for when they come home (as they may be able to help or at least keep you company). If you are homeschooling, try to get work in while they are working on their own tasks on their own or having some quiet time.

My second important tip is to accept and get comfortable with the fact that things will never go as planned. You’ll feel more tired than usual, one of the kids will have a toothache, things will just not go according to schedule. As long as you are okay with this and don’t lose your temper over the disruptions (which is what makes them so stressful), you will be okay.

Schoolwork – how to be there for them

While we have all gone through a bit of homeschooling recently, I realize now, in hindsight, that the same general rules apply in our household whether the kids are going to school or learning from home. Here is what we have found works best for us:

• Set aside time for school and time for play – I understand the draw of having a flexible schedule, especially when you are trying to get hundreds of things done in the space of a day, but having set times for learning and playing (and everything else) usually work better. Kids love routines and it will help them prepare for what is to come, especially in terms of school.

• Designate a learning and a play area – while we have certainly tried doing homework on the sofa, I find it’s always better to do schoolwork at the same spot every time. For us, this is the kitchen table, as we don’t have space for two separate desks in our home. It feels a bit like school too, as the three of us sit down together and are able to discuss the work we are doing if we need to.

• Use extra materials – schoolwork can get pretty dull sometimes, so adding something fun and extra into the mix can often be a great way to reduce their sated minds and introduce a new but beneficial activity. We’ve recently started working with reading comprehension worksheets that provide plenty of talking points and seem to be going down well. Try to find something similar that helps your kids engage with what they are learning in a different way.

Housework – a family effort

When it comes to housework, try to remember that while all of those chores like ironing and washing up do need to get done, they are not the end of the world, and if the dishes end up sitting in a sink a couple of hours longer than usual, you are not doing anything wrong.

The thing I find with housework is that we all put too much emphasis on it. Of course we need to do it, but it does not have to take over our lives and stress us out.

Try to get the entire family involved, especially the kids. You’ll find they actually love doing some of the chores, especially if you turn it into a game or a competition, and not a boring activity that needs to get done. It’s all about the way you present the activity to your kids.

We have a chore wheel in the kitchen that gets spun every day, and we have a limit of 2 chores per person per day. That way, nearly everything (or actually everything) does get done every day.

When the kids are not old enough to get involved, make sure they are still present in some way. Iron while they are playing with their blocks or cook while they are sitting at the desk – you don’t have to work only when they are napping.

Working on yourself – and why it’s so important

Finally, let’s add one more thing to our list of “everything” that needs to get done – self-care.

Everyone tells mothers how important they are and to take care of themselves, and I wholeheartedly agree. It’s just the way you practice self-care that I have a bone to pick with.

Self-care does not have to mean meditating with a candle, doing skincare in the bathtub, going to get a massage – self-care is what you make of it, so if you like to cook, don’t not think of it as time for yourself.

The important thing is to do something you really enjoy every day. If that’s skincare and meditation, that’s amazing! But if it’s listening to an audiobook while you are ironing, or if it’s teaching your kids how to write – enjoy that too!

The less pressure we put on self-care and the more we start enjoying ourselves in our daily lives, the better care we will be taking of ourselves.

Finally

Hopefully some of these tips will help you get everything done – and remember that everything is what you make of it, and not what anyone else thinks you as a mom need to get done in a day.

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Read more about well-being issues for mom:  Supporting Mom Through Menopause.