Don’t Run Away From Tests

Here are the two scariest words from high school: pop quiz. No matter how hard I studied, hearing those words always sent a chill down my spine. I hate to admit it, but I’m not the world’s best test taker. Yes, I managed to squeak by with good grades, but to this day the thought of taking any kind of test fills me with dread. Word of warning: you do not want to get behind me at the DMV! I’ve been thinking a lot lately about going for an MBA degree. The best way to stay competitive is with more education. Then I discovered that to be accepted by any accredited MBA program I would have to take the GMAT. Freak out time!

GMAT stands for the Graduate Management Admission Test. Even the title scares me! The purpose of the test is to determine if you are ready to enter into a graduate program. It’s conducted on a computer and you have to pass. Lucky for me, I found a GMAT prep course that is getting me ready. This is what the internet is all about.

With this particular GMAT prep course, they broke down all the different categories that will be included in the test. I got to work out sample questions and really got prepared. What’s great was that this course also had one-on-one help with an instructor. Whenever I got stuck I was able to ask a specific question and get an answer right away. It was just like being in class except I never left my living room! It was also awesome to find a bunch of other GMAT test takers who were in the same boat as me. We were able to swap tips and totally get ready for the exam. This is going to be one test I’ll pass with flying colors!

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What is Social Networking?

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Social networking is a relatively new, but has exploded in popularity, thanks to web sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. More sites are popping up daily it seems, and for those who aren’t technology or Internet-savvy, figuring out where to begin in the world of social media and networking can be confusing and frustrating.

So, what is social networking? It’s been defined as the exchange of information through the various forms of technology, such as cell phones, computers, mobile tablets via the various social media channels that are available. Some of the most popular ones include Twitter, Facebook, Digg, and YouTube, among others. Individuals participate in social networking, but so do private organizations (such as churches), corporations, and other organizations. Anyone can participate.

Social networking has become increasingly important within the past ten years for a number of reasons, the most important being that the practice has changed how we send and receive information. It’s become easier and less time consuming to reach family ands friends with important news and one can reach a large audience with a few clicks or keystrokes.

Social networking has gotten so popular that businesses are using it as a part of their marketing plans. Many employers are creating positions just for control of social media related to the company. As a result, many applicants are familiarizing themselves with the various social media channels and including it as a skill on their resumes.

There are numerous ways to get involved in social networking and more are becoming available constantly. Some of the most popular ways include blogging with sites like WordPress and Blogger, microbogging on Twitter, professional networking on LinkedIn, and then there are regular social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. There are even social networks for hobbies now, such as BookMesh and GoodReads for those who love reading.

If social media interests you, dive in. Youre guaranteed to find something that interests you.

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Helping Your Child Handle Bullies

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Bullying, whether it’s done face-to-face or via the Internet, is a growing problem with many children in schools across the country. Over the last few years, “cyberbullying”—the act of bullying via technology or the Internet—has grown rampant, resulting in the deaths and/or suicides of some of the affected children. With the recent rise in bullying cases and in the ways kids are bullying each other, reports have stated that nearly one in every eight kids is a victim. You can help prevent bullying by teaching your children about it at a young age. Below are some tips to keep in mind.

  • Make sure your children know what it means to defend themselves. Explain that they don’t have to do so in a harmful way and that they can do it without inciting further violence and/or bullying.
  • At an early age, teach your children to stay away from other children who are bullies. Explain why they should not partake in the activity. It may seem like fun, but it will just get them in trouble.
  • If your children are the victims of a bully at school, make sure that they know the best practice is to simply walk away. Explain why they shouldn’t fight back, say hurtful things, or threaten violence. In most cases, this will only make the bullying worse or get your children in trouble with school authorities. Lastly, make sure you notify the proper authorities and keep accurate records of people you’ve talked to and what actions have been taken to resolve the issue.
  • If your children are worried about bullying at school, talk to them about it right away. Never ignore any concerns your children may have, especially when they concern happenings at school. Assure your children that everything will be okay and explain the steps above tp steer them clear of bullies.
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Keeping Track of Your Kids With SafeSocial

With technology becoming an increasingly large part of everyone’s busy lives, many people are turning to social networking sites to keep in touch with friends and family. To the chagrin of many worried parents all over the country, this also includes kids. Like it or not, your child will be exposed to the Internet and social networking, whether it be at home, at school, or at a friend’s house.

Because it’s becoming increasingly more common for kids to be surfing the Internet and participating on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, many parents are wondering how to monitor what their child does while on those sites. Most just check computer history, but there’s a new tool from AOL that will help keep track of what happens on your child’s social networking profile pages.

SafeSocial, released by AOL in November 2010, can monitor your child’s pages on social sites, including Facebook and Twitter. The program will let you know if anyone posts anything harassing, lewd, or other inappropriate on those pages. As a parent, you will also be able to see any photos uploaded to those profiles—another great way to make sure your children are acting responsible when they’re not at home. One final feature that SafeSocial offers is the opportunity for parents to receive a “progress report” of sorts that will show you what’s been happening on all of social profiles your child has. It’s an easy way to monitor everything in one place, rather than having to search.

While the program will help you keep up with what your children are doing when online, it should not take the place of talking to them about Internet safety. AOL encourages you to tak with your children, in fact, and have made it so the only way SafeSocial can begin any monitoring is if your child approves of it.

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Technology Has Opened the Door of Learning

With the level of today’s technology, it is much easier for students to access information to help them with their school work and for others it has provided a way to further their education when it might not have been possible otherwise. Today, it is estimated that about 70 percent of American homes have at least one computer. Whether you are writing an English paper on Shakespeare or earning your bachelor’s degree, computer technology has opened the door of learning, a truly amazing phenomenon.

Homework Help
There is no longer a need to go to the library to do research for school projects. Students simply get online using their home computer and find useful resources and information at their fingertips. This saves traveling time and having to work around the library’s hours of operation. Instead, the student can put that time into completing the assignment.

Continued Education
Since online schools have appeared, they have opened up the possibility for a wider range of people to further their education by earning online degrees. There are many situations that make online schools the best “place” to take classes. Online degrees have the same amount of meaning as a degree from a traditional school. But, the benefits are great, such as the ability to complete courses from home on the student’s schedule, not on the teacher’s schedule.

Learning for Fun
Most computer users will find themselves surfing the Internet and learning about things without even realizing it, as they browse newspapers and articles and even some games. The current technology available both in the classroom and at home has made learning more fun. As a result, students are learning more. Students are getting better grades too. They are happier, and they have a better chance of being successful. And, those who are no longer in school can also continue to learn new things in a fun way.

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Children & Social Networking: Possible Dangers

It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t have at least one social network profile these days, especially with all the cool new ways of accessing and using them. Social net works can be used to keep in touch with family and friends and they can be used to promote yourself and your work in some cases, too. Because sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter are as popular as they are, everyone wants in—even your kids.

While social networking makes many lives easier, there’s still a need to be responsible while using the sites. Just like any other site on the Internet, a certain degree of safety should be involved, especially when kids are the allowed to use them. There are many benefits to social network sites, but there are also things that could potentially be dangerous. You can find a small list below.

  • Privacy: This is one of the biggest parental concerns when it comes to social network profiles. Kids are more likely to display all of their personal information, rather than being conservative with it.
  • Explicit Content: Most social networking sites forbid posting anything of this nature, but that doesn’t mean things don’t get through the cracks sometimes.
  • Cyberbullying: This has been a ballooning problem in the past five years. Social networks make it easier for kids to target others with something as simple as a wall post or instant message.
  • Behavioral Changes: Studies have shown that children who spend a decent amount of time on social networking sites have shown a decrease in attention span, confusion when it comes to sense of their own identity, and a constant need for stimulation from those sites.

For many parents, allowing their children to participate in social networking may seem scary. The easiest way to address that is to educate your children on the possible dangers of the sites. Lay out rules for them and if possible, monitor their use of the sites.

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Why Parent-Child Communication is Important

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As a parent, it’s obvious that you want nothing but the best for your children. You try your hardest give them what they need, while still trying to maintain your own sanity and take care of your family as a whole. When it comes to good parenting, keeping a regular line of communication with your children is very important. The cornerstone of any good parent-child relationship includes, understanding, support, and trust.

It’s important that your children know they can freely express themselves and come to you with their problems. In turn, this means that you should always be willing to listen and offer as much support as possible. Listen to your children when they have questions and offer reassuring answers. Make sure they know that they can always come to you with questions about anything. Try to understand any meaning that may be “in between the lines” in these questions. Be sure your children know how much you love them and always reaffirm that fact.

Whether your children need discipline or not, always make sure you’re responding to their feelings and not their behavior. If your child is angry, ask them why and try to get to the bottom of the situation. Always stay positive and teach those qualities to your children, rather then responding to them with anger or sarcasm. In most cases, children just need to be taught that what they’re feeling is normal.

It’s difficult to have a sound relationship with your children without trust. When your make promises, keep them. Broken promises have a deeper impact on children than you may think. Too many broken promises can cause a loss of trust. If you can’t keep an entire promise, offer an alternative, but never bribe your children. They’ll likely pick up the behavior, too.

When it comes to your children, always respond positively, regardless of the situation. Understanding feelings and needs is key to any parent-child relationship.

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Using Social Netowkrs to Connect with Your Kids

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Despite a world that’s becoming increasingly dominated by technology, it can be difficult to stay connected to your kids, especially if they happen to be teenagers. Numerous studies have shown that teens spend the most time on the Internet, particularly on social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. If you’re a parent of a teenager, you’re probably wondering how to stay connected to him or her while he or she spends so much time on the Internet.

The answer? Use social media. Register on one or two of the sites that your teen is using. Doing so can present one of the biggest ways to connect with your child—ask him or her to explain the site and help you set up your own profile. If your teen is interested in the site and spends time on it, he or she could be very interested in helping you out, too.

A good way to get started is by simply asking questions. Ask how to search for friends and family members on Facebook. Ask for help with following celebrities or people of interest in Twitter (and even ask how to tweet). When it comes to YouTube, ask for help with locating someone’s video stream or ask how to register and leave comments. The more questions you ask, the more your teen will see how interested you are in learning about these new technologies. This can increase your lines of communication, especially if your teen shares new pieces of information with you.

There are other ways of connecting with your teen on the Internet. Start a project. A family blog is a great idea. So is a photo project on Flickr. You can even start a family video stream on YouTube. It’s easy to find projects through a simple Internet search. Ask your teen what he or she is interested in. Where communication is concerned, his or her opinion should always matter.

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How to Keep Your Child from Cyberbullying

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Cyberbullying is a very real problem for many kids in schools all over the United States. It’s grown increasingly worse over the past few years with all of the new technological advances in smartphones and mobile tablets. The worst instance may have been in October of 2010 when four teens from the same high school in Ohio committed suicide as a result of cyberbullying that went undetected and unresolved.

While most parents worry about their child being a victim, few think that their child could end up being the bully. It’s a very real possibility, though many parents refuse to even entertain the idea. In some cases, those who know their child is a bully don’t do anything about it, passing off the acts as “something that every kid does.”

That’s not the case because it isn’t, every parent should be aware of cyberbullying and the effects it can have on children, victims and bullies. As a responsible parent, your job is to make sure your child steers clear of becoming a cyberbully. There are numerous ways you can do this.

  • Talk to your kids about cyberbullying. Make sure they know what it is, how often it exists, and how detrimental it can be to the other kids who end up being victims.
  • Discuss social network use with your kids. While you can’t always keep your kids from participating in social networks, you can teach them that the things they write and post can be harmful to others. Make sure they know about expressionless communication and how it can be taken out of context.
  • Make it a point to talk to your kids about peer-pressure. Kids are very impressionable. Make sure they know that their friends behavior does not have to affect their own.
  • Explain how being a cyberbully can affect your child’s future. Depending on the consequences of your child’s actions, much can be affected. College admission and employment are just two items.
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How to Recognize Cyberbullying

It’s difficult to watch the news or read a newspaper or news web site without seeming some mention of cyberbullying the detrimental effects of it. The problem has grown exponentially over the past few years, especially with the new developments in cell phones and the advent of the mobile tablet. Because cyberbullying has gone unresolved in some cases and completely undetected in others, it keeps happening—often resulting in the victims committing suicide.

As with any kind of bullying, it may be difficult to recognize if your child has become a victim. Rarely does a child admit to being bullied, especially when it comes to cyberbullying because parents can’t see the communications. Most of the time, a child will avoid telling parents—or any adult, for that matter—about the bullying.

If you’re worried that your child may be the victim of cyberbullying, there are some signs to look for. They include:

  • Anti-social, depressed, or suicidal behaviors and/or communications
  • Changes in mood, especially regarding school
  • An abrupt stop to using computers, cell phones, etc.
  • Obvious anxiety over going to school or receiving email or text messages
  • Marked changes in academic performance

If you know that your child is a victim of cyberbullying, you should take the necessary actions to get the issue resolved as soon as possible. Whenever possible, save and/or print copies of the communications your child has received. When shown to the right authorities, these can be used against the bully, especially if criminal charges can be involved.

Make sure your child knows that he or she is special and is loved. A feeling of being needed or a feeling of belonging is important in cases like these because most victims think they’re at fault. Your child needs to know that this is not the case and that the person doing the bullying is at fault.

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