The Harmful Effects of Salmonella

May 14, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Parents are often aware that salmonella can be hiding in contaminated foods such as raw meat and eggs, but what are the harmful effects of these bacteria and how can you spot the symptoms in children?

Salmonella bacteria are passed to humans when food is not handled or cooked properly. Common foods that contain the bacteria include raw poultry, seafood, soft cheeses, raw milk, and other raw meats. Chicken meat and eggs pose the highest risk of contamination. Thousands of salmonella poisoning cases are reported each year, and symptoms generally occur 12 to 72 hours after exposure. Much of this information is available on the Internet. Urge your family, particularly teens, to understand the danger.

Salmonella poisoning symptoms include:

  • Severe diarrhea (possibly with blood in the stool)
  • Abdominal cramping
  • Fever
  • Headaches
  • Nausea

If your family is exposed to nationally-recalled products that are reported to contain salmonella, you may consider contacting one of the class action attorneys Los Angeles has to offer. This is especially true if your child develops Reiter’s syndrome from the salmonella poisoning.

To prevent salmonella from contaminating your home, practice proper handling and cooking techniques:

  • Never feed children raw or undercooked meat or eggs
  • Do not give children unpasteurized milk
  • Store raw meat on the lowest shelf in the refrigerator to prevent the juices from dripping on other foods
  • Wash all produce thoroughly before serving

Be aware that pets can also spread salmonella through their feces, especially reptiles. Practice thorough hand washing after handling pets and instill this practice in your children. If you suspect your child has symptoms of salmonella poisoning, contact your doctor immediately.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , ,

When To Get Outside Help With a Teenager

May 13, 2011 by Leave a Comment

IMG_1411Image by campuskitche

Dealing with teenagers can seem like fighting a never-ending battle. Parents can win, but it may take all the smarts and patience they have. There are a few tips that can help a parent know when it is time to get outside help.

A very good way to deal with disgruntled teens is to give them punishments that fit the situation. For instance, if your teenager steals clothes from a favorite retailer, he or she will hate a punishment like scrubbing floors, but that punishment won’t really fit the crime. A more appropriate punishment would be stopping their allowance so that they cannot shop at their favorite stores or taking away his or her favored RocaWear clothing for a length of time.
If your teens always seems to be in some kind of drama, pay attention to their habits and see if any patterns arise. Are your teens always picking fights? Skipping class? Breaking rules? When did it start? Do certain friends always seem to be present when things go wrong?
Other important questions about your teens should be answered as well:
  • Are they sad all the time?
  • Are they angry a lot?
  • Do they get violent?
  • Are they taking drugs or alcohol?
  • Are grades failing?
  • Do they have a disregard for all rules, or just certain rules?
  • Are they getting into petty crimes (or worse)?
  • Have they ever mentioned suicide?
  • Are they dieting excessively?
If even one answer is yes, then it is time to get outside help. Most cities have a crisis line where anonymous parents can get phone numbers to helpful programs, authorities, and classes. Your pediatrician and school principal can also offer a list of places that may be helpful.
Filed Under: Parenting

Warn Children About the Dangers of Texting

March 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Parents of teens have so much to worry about. Does he drive too fast? Is she drinking alcohol? Do they talk on their cell phones while they drive? How are their grades? Will he get into college? And now a new worry has been added to the list: Sexting.

Sexting is when people send racy or inappropriate photos of themselves or others via text message on a cell phone. What might start out as a private exchange can quickly become public. It then becomes humiliating. Oh, and if the teens participating in this activity are under 18, it is also child pornography and therefore against the law.

Parents need to talk to their children about sexting. In Massachusetts, two 14-year-old-boys were sent a photo of a 13-year-old girl exposing her breast. She had willingly allowed her 14-year-old boyfriend to take the shot, and he sent it to his friends. The friends didn’t ask for the photo, but because they received it and showed it to a couple of other people the police got involved and the boys were nearly charged with possessing child pornography. They could have had to register as sex offenders.

Clearly what the boys did was wrong. But at 14, did they know how wrong? We give our children freedom and access to technology at very young ages. Often they are not mentally or emotionally prepared to handle all the responsibilities and dangers that lurk there. As a parent, it is your job to anticipate those concerns and openly discuss them with your child so he or she will be fully prepared.

Filed Under: Parenting, Teens Tagged With: , ,

Choosing the Best Computer for your Family

March 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Unless you have a degree in Information Technology, it can be really confusing to select the best computer. When you are trying to buy a computer than multiple members of a family will use, the task becomes even more complicated. But if you keep the things below in mind while you are shopping, you will be able to choose a computer that meets everyone’s needs.

First, consider the age of the children who will be using the computer. If they are quite young, there is no reason to spend a lot of money on a tricked-out machine. Select an inexpensive computer that can get online, perform some basic computing functions, and run a few games. Children at this age are hard on everything, so don’t waste your money on a computer they might damage.

Once your children are older, you will need to take their specific needs and desires into consideration. If you have an avid gamer in your family, you will need a computer with the processor speed and graphics capability to handle those demands. But these machines come at a pretty expensive price. If you or a family member is into video editing or graphic design, these same considerations apply.

You will also want to balance the needs and desires of your family with not only the price of the computer, but the support offered by the company that makes the machine. With a lot of people using the computer, it will experience a lot of wear and tear so select a computer maker that rates well in customer service.

Filed Under: Internet, Parenting Tagged With: , ,

Is Your Child Old Enough for Social Networking?

March 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Today, it seems like everyone is involved with social networking. From sites like Facebook and Twitter to blogs, YouTube and more, social networking has invaded nearly every aspect of our lives – and it’s no different for your kids. But how do you know when your kids are old enough to participate in social networking?

A lot of social sites require that kids be at least 13 before they can join. But they’re really just counting on the honesty of the user creating the account – they have no way to verify that the age a user enters is correct. Parents and many experts worry that exposing children to social networks, or any other heavy computer use at a young age, will set the child up for an Internet addiction later in life. However, no science has proven such a link exists.

The best approach is to consider the maturity and honesty of your child. Some children may be old enough for limited social network use by age 10 or so, others may not be ready even at 13. If you decide to let your child use social networking sites, set some solid ground rules and stick to them. Teach your child about the types of information that are OK to share, and the types that aren’t. Be sure to get the password to your child’s account, and let him or her know you’ll be checking the site regularly.

Social networking can be fun, but like anything else, your child will need rules and guidance from you to be successful.

Filed Under: Parenting, Social Networks, Teens Tagged With: , ,

rations and Explanations: Teens and Online Gaming

March 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The world is defined by legalities, rules that can’t be broken, and ideals that must be maintained. There are standards that must be applied to all individuals, including your teen. And you fret therefore about the consequences of online gaming, certain that such a thrill will defy the law (and good sense).

That certainty is wrong, however.

Online casinos are not to be denied. They’re protected by the law, rather than obstructing it; and any individual who is 18 or older is allowed to indulge in what they offer. This makes the sudden surge of popularity they’ve experienced with youths a far less worrisome thing.

It must be understood, though, that popularity doesn’t make virtual gaming suddenly easy. It still has demands that must be met, especially for teenagers. Parents must therefore work with their children to determine the right sites and scheduling.

Only choose web pages that are reputable. Research all potential casinos carefully, dissecting customer satisfaction and licensing forms. Be certain all certificates (such as third-party security and Random Number Generator verifications) are available. Seek out reviews from independent sources. Read all terms and agreements—these can require far more than you or your teen wish to give. Attempt also to reach customer service representatives before making any commitment. The responses should be prompt, assuring you that there is indeed support.

Online casinos must be more than secure, however. They must instead be limited in their exposure. Teenagers are aggressive in their pastimes, with all thoughts easily becoming devoted to a single action. It’s imperative then that you teach your child the importance of limiting himself. Monitor sessions. Set strict time allotments (and be sure to keep them). Define the activity as a hobby and offer other distractions throughout the week so it doesn’t become a compulsion.

There can be no denying that virtual gambling is a worthwhile pursuit. It simply requires parental intervention to succeed for teens.

Filed Under: Internet Tagged With:

How to Keep Your Kids Safe Online

March 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment

When you are a parent, it seems like dangers to your children lurk around every corner. You worry about their physical safety – you worry they might take a tumble down the stairs or be hurt while learning to ride a bike, for example. But when your child is a little older and is learning to use a computer, you being to wonder how you can keep him safe while he’s online.

Luckily, there are a few simple things you can do to protect your child from Internet predators and inappropriate material. First, simply decide what sites will be off-limits to your child and block them. Your computer probably has some built-in parental controls you can use (just look under the Control Panel) and you can also purchase software that will allow even more detailed protection.

Second, you’ll want to bump up the security level on your computer.  Increased virus protection will be helpful should your child accidentally download an infected file. You may even want to set limits on downloads to greatly decrease this risk.

Third, track your child’s internet usage. If you have a newer computer there is probably built-in tracking software that you’ll just need to enable; or you can purchase a product. If you choose to buy something, make sure you purchase from a reputable source.

Finally, talk to your kids about your family’s Internet rules and remind them of basic Internet safety. Teach them to never use their full name online, to not give out personal information like a phone number or address and to never send pictures of themselves to anyone online.

Filed Under: Parenting, Teens Tagged With: , ,

Kids and Online Gambling

March 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Gambling odds reflect the average bettor's 'de...

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The Internet provides nearly unlimited access to almost anything. Within a little more than a decade the Internet has completely changed the human experience. Communication has changed forever. The newspaper industry, which enjoyed a near monopoly on information for centuries, became nearly obsolete since the advent of the Internet. The Internet means nearly instantaneous access to shopping, bingo sites, information and even vices.

For anyone with an email account, the dark side of the Internet has almost certainly made its way into your inbox. Spam emails that advertise everything from cheap Viagra pills to access to online gambling arrive on an almost daily basis. Even though the emails might seem like little more than an annoyance, people who click on the ads might find the Internet to be filled with traps and potential pitfalls. For all of the joys and wonders that the Internet provides, it can also get people into trouble

One of the areas that create the most trouble for people is gambling online. Gambling online is fine for responsible adults, but it can cause terrible problems if children and teens start gambling without the knowledge of their parents. Even though there are barriers that attempt to prevent underage people from gambling, online security is not airtight. The Internet brought more access to gambling than ever before, which means that the threat for teens to begin gambling is worse than ever before.

Rather than rely on the gambling sites to keep kids out, informed parents need to take note of the types of sites that their children visit. Bingo sites might look innocent enough but it could mean an access point to more serious gambling. Even though the Internet has provided people with greater access to information, it came at the cost of putting vices close to children. Gambling can be a fun activity for adults, but parents need to be careful and make sure that their children are not risking money online.

Filed Under: Internet Tagged With:

What is Cyber Bullying?

March 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The news stories are frightening and all too common – children and teens who are afraid, who are humiliated, who have even killed themselves because of the actions of a cyber bully.

So what is cyber bullying? It is basically bullying through technology. When a bully harasses a victim by repeatedly texting on a cell phone or uses an Internet site to post hurtful or embarrassing messages, that is cyber bullying.

The bullying itself can take many forms. A bully might post false information about a victim on a social networking site to humiliate the victim, might take embarrassing photos and share them with others electronically, or might even expose a victim’s personal information in a similar manner.

Sometimes, cyber bullying takes on a more sinister tone through threatening email and text messages that are sometimes sexual or violent in nature. Research has shown that in elementary school, boys are more likely than girls to cyber bully a victim, but by junior high girls are much more likely to cyber bully. Studies have also shown that of kids in grades 4 – 8, 42 percent have been cyber bullied at least once. But most never told their parents or another adult about it.

So what can you, as a parent, do? The best thing you can do is simply talk to your child. Keep the lines of communication open and make sure your child knows he or she can come to you with any issue, thought or problem. Also make sure your child understands the harm that can come to victims of cyber bullying, so he or she doesn’t become the bully.

Filed Under: Internet, Social Networks Tagged With: , ,

Choosing a Cell Phone Plan for Your Family

March 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment

There are a lot of different companies out there that are providing cellular phone plans, and as such, it becomes important to weigh all of the different options that are available to you when your contract is up and it is time to choose a new plan or a new provider. If you have a family and everyone in your family has a cell phone, then it becomes even more important to find the right plan because every person in the family is likely to have unique usage requirements and needs when it comes to a single cellular phone plan.

When it comes time to register for a new cell phone plan, you are going to want to explore all of the different options and compare cell phone plans that are available to you in order to decide which one is going to be ideal. When you are signing up for a contract, you are basically going to be locked into a rate and a list of features, and it is going to be important to make sure that the features and the rate both work for you. With a family, you need to consider certain things like number of minutes, texts, data and web access. You should also consider parental controls because you are going to want to make sure that you can control the usage for your children, allowing them to only use their phones in the way that you approve of.

There are definitely a number of considerations that you need to make when choosing cell phone plans, so make sure that you do some research and spend some time planning and considering your options before you end up locking yourself into a specific cellular phone contract. A little bit of planning and research can really go a long way when it comes to delivering the right plan for the right price to meet the needs of your family.

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