Helicopter parents monitor and advocate in all details of their children’s lives well into young adulthood.  So when Lenore Skenazy wrote in her column (for the New York Sun) that she let her 9-year-old son travel home by himself on the subway in New York, she sparked a controversy that led to her creation of the website “Free Range Kids” and a book by the same title released last Spring. (Note this blog …

I found a very clever and humorous video that portrays how a mother can literally cyber-stalk her college-aged child living away from home via Facebook and Twitter.

 A classic tale of the old “double-edged” sword of technology, this video reveals in very great detail that while the social media network sites make it easy to connect and share information and experiences, anyone can easily get a hold of information posted in very innocent ways if …

Sergeant Darin DeFreece of the Roseville Police Department , Investigations Division (Roseville, CA) observes that child sexual predators have shifted to on-line sexual encounters made very easy with wireless technology. While technology trends may evolve, DeFreece says there is a constant trend for predators to befriend minors.

“Wireless and social networking technology is advancing so quickly, it is crucial that parents establish ground rules early,” says DeFreece. “Today parents need to treat mobile and wireless …

By Sergeant John Weaver, Placer County Sheriff Department.

Practice safety by protecting your privacy

Never give out personal information, never.

Legitimate companies do not ask for any type of personal information unless you are filling out an application or purchase request initiated by you. All the rest are thieves “fishing” for information.

Watching out for the children on-line.

 Be mindful of the information your child places on Facebook or MySpace accounts. If a child …

Problem:

She is always telling me what to do, when I already know!

Frustrated Response:

Snap at her; yell; show her how angry you are.

Result: 

She will keep checking because your response raises doubt for her. You also hurt her feelings every time you yell and are disrespectful.

 Effective Response:

Assure her you know what to do – and follow through with action.  Take responsibility & your Mom will back off.

 Example: Getting up …

In Stone Mountain, Georgia, August 31, 2009, 61-year-old Roger Stephens slapped a toddler who annoyed him because he would not stop crying. According to news reports, he warned the mother, Sonya Matthews, to quiet her child or he would do it for her. When the child continued crying, he slapped her in the face at least four times. Stephens is facing felony cruelty to children charges, and is being held without bond.

 Sergeant John Weaver, …

I have experienced it. It can be an automatic response to defend our children if they are accused of something we believe they did not or could not do, or that causes us to fear judgment from others, or our child is being treated unfairly.

The techniques now being encouraged in law enforcement would serve parents and children as well.  In a recent story, “Spotting Lies: Listen, Don’t Look”, offers great perspective. The premise is …