Online Privacy and Your Kids

The New Facebook Privacy setting called “Instant Personalization” is now in effect. The new setting shares your data with non-Facebook websites and is automatically set to “Enabled.”

To update your settings go to:

Account > Privacy Settings > Apps & Websites > Instant Personalization > edit settings and uncheck “Enable.”

 If your friends don’t do this, they will be sharing info about YOU as well on sites like Rotten Tomatoes, Pandora, etc., so make sure they know about the update too.

Don't forget to share this info with your kids. Many parents are "hands-off" with what their kids are doing online, either because they aren't computer savvy or don't want to know what they're doing.

Make sure you talk with them about not posting sensitive information that could hurt them later. Once it's online it's available for everybody to see and it may never go away. Posting certain things online could hurt them in sports, academics, and job applications - now and in the future.

It may not be easy to talk with them about this but it's every bit as important as that talk you keep putting off about sex and drugs.

Awkward Family Photos Now in Book Format

Awkward Family Photos started life as a website in 2009 and is now available in book format. I'll admit, I used to spend a bit of time on the website LMAO. I wonder how they got the rights to publish all these photos. 

Amazon shows quite a few juicy pics if you look inside.

Teach Me Kindergarten iPhone App

The Teach Me Kindergarten iPhone App is great for parents with kids just entering school. It teaches math skills like addition and subtraction as well as spelling and sight words.

As kids master the game they earn coins and stickers which keep them playing and learning as they go.

TeachMe: Kindergarten is available at the iTunes store  for 99 cents. Well worth it. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/teachme-kindergarten/id336689375?mt=8#

Dyslexia - Developmental Reading Disorder

Unlike what many people think, Dyslexia is not caused by vision problems. It is a Developmental Reading Disorder in which the brain has difficulty processing, or recognizing, symbols.

Many people with Dyslexia have overcome learning and reading difficulties such as Richard Branson in this Dyslexia Video.

Although Dyslexia presents as a lifelong problem, it is possible to treat it with with the help of an IEP and individualized tutoring.

If you think you or somebody you know may be dyslexic, it's important to have an assessment. There are websites that can offer an initial assessment and depending on the outcome may lead you to a more professional dyslexia test.