Friday, February 21, 2014

All About Instagram

From the Tween-Us blog – information on Instagram, the hugely popular photo-sharing app that is now owned by Facebook.

I share this with one caveat, and it’s a big one: People who sign up for Instagram accounts are, legally, supposed to be at least 13 years old. Which means 4th, 5th, and 6th graders are not supposed to be on Instagram, and those who are have lied about their ages to get an account. Maybe someday the law (COPPA) will change. It certainly doesn’t seem to reflect the realities of the current digital landscape. But until it changes, it’s the law; we and our kids should follow it.

http://www.chicagonow.com/tween-us/2014/01/kids-safe-instagram-parents-need-to-know/ 



The article also references Socially Active, which is a tool for monitoring your kid's online presence.
 

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Study identifies "The Problem with Rich Kids"

We used to think that prosperity was a buffer against life's problems. Education and affluence were keys to security and well-being. But check out this article, which speaks to the growing number of problem behaviors and circumstances that correlate with high family income.

From Psychology Today: The Problem With Rich Kids

My take? We need to invest in kids and build them up where it really matters - not in money, but in the social and emotional factors that make them whole. We need to make kids R.I.C.H.

See also:
Making Kids RICH: The "R" is for "Relationships"
Making Kids RICH: The "I" is for "Identity"
Making Kids RICH: The "C" is for "Christ"
Making Kids RICH: The "H" is for "Heart and Hands experiences"