Gamer Thursday

Ok gamer, here is a fun game for the older kids:




Click Here to Play More Great Games!


And here is a Sonic The Hedgehog game...for the younger kids or those just young at heart...this is a classic!

Do you know what your kids are posting?

Kids will be kids, right? Isn’t that what we say when kids do something kinda dumb? But kinda dumb and the internet do not go together.

Last month alone, 12 million children, give or take, between the ages of 12-17 used social networking sites. Many of these children have friends on those sites they have never even met. Those friends could be cops, other creepy adults (you know the ones I am talking about), or just other kids. Do you know who you child is hanging out with on the internet?I guess a better question is "Do you know what your child is posting and sharing on the internet?" Kids will be kids. Everyone knows that. But kids can say some very stupid and damaging things also. These things can involve the whole family. These things could get you fired from your job. These things could get one of your other kids in trouble in school or with other kids. Or worse yet, these things could get them hurt by an adult that does not have the best intentions.

We live in an age where kids turn to the internet for friendship. They think that what they post or say will never be found out by their parents. But these kids need to know that everything they say and post can end up back on their parent’s doorstep. They are not just talking to their friend down the street. They are airing your family's life for the whole world to see. Your child may be talking with the child of your boss from work and share some family secrets that are a big no-no at your work. Your child may be posting inappropiate pictures of themselves, not even thinking that there are adults out there that want to find your child and hurt your child.There are things, as a parent, you can do to keep track of what your son or daughter is doing online:

• Simply talk to them about the internet and just how public it really is.
  
• Check your child’s profiles on these networks from time to time to see what is really being shared or posted–they may get upset but an angry child is better than a missing child or a lost job.
  
• Google all the names in your family just to see what is out there about you and your family.
  
• Do alittle research on the social networks. There are a ton of them out there but the more you know, the better parent you can be.
  
• You can block the sites on your computer at home. (Remember they can find those sites anywhere with an internet connection so it is very important that you talk to them about internet safty.)
  
• Create a family social network. You can create your own network on Ning.com. You can post pictures, videos, invite family and friends, write comments to others you have invited to your network, and all sorts of stuff. This is alot more private than some of the other public networks.

I know kids will be kids. But you have to remember you are the parent and we all want the best for our kids. So teach your kids to be smart about the internet. This way the only dumb things they do is buy too many clothes at Amazon!

The Mini-Blogger in every child

As all of you know, I am all for kids on the internet, learning and creating their own cyberworld. While checking out Fun Monday, I found a 9 year old's blog and I could not be more excited.

Her name is Pencil. She is the daughter of Misslionheart. Her blog's name is My Little Scribbles. As of this moment, she has only 5 posts but I have gone back to her site about 5 times in 3 days. Her little site already draws me in. He has posted a fun monday already (her mother didn't do one so she could do it herself). She has a song on her blog...I haven't even learned to do that yet! She has pictures and even a poem already. I honestly can't wait to see what she posts tomorrow.

I love the idea of a fellow blogger supporting her child in blogging. Blogging is a fantastic way to teach children reading, writing, social skills, creativity, research skills, skill learning, typing, and so many other skills I can't name them all.

If only more parents and teachers did this for their children, we would have a generation that could change the world one blog at a time!

Family Fun Friday

Make your own slide shows and scrapbooks

I am back from being sick. Just in time for family fun friday. This week I have something special. Last year I was looking for digital scrapbooking...and it is not easy to find scrapbooking sources that are free and internet based. but i finally found it...and i love it...and so does my family...i have been using this to e-mail new pictures and also to keep my family in the know on some social networks.

I had a great activity i was going to do with the kids but because we were sick all week i could not do it. But this is what you should to...go on a family scavenger hunt for something...halloween decorations, the first leaves of fall, cool cars...you pick. Bring the pictures back and do the Smilebox thing. You do have to do alittle download but no biggie. It is awesome. You can even pay next to nothing to be able to see the digital scrapbooks with no banners and to also print them off. So if you wanted to do an actual scrapbook, you can get awesome pages ready on Smilebox, print and go nuts. I love it and I know you will too!!!

They really are More Than Meets The Eye!!!

Have you had your Transformers Day?

I am kind of beginning to see a pattern for me on Fridays. I seem to have picked this as a sort of family fun day. So I guess I am going to call Fridays "Family Fun Fridays". And if you have not guessed it, this Friday is Transformers.

My son loves Transformers. He has for years (and he is only 5). So one day while he was just playing around on the computer he found a site with Transformer games on it (there are other fun stuff but today is just for the TFs--TransFormers). This site is a Hasbro playing site for all sorts of their toys. My son went nuts on it. You can play a racing with Bumblebee game. He, of course, was able to watch Transformer cartoon episodes...so many in fact it must have kept him busy for weeks. You can even make your own TFs cartoon, of sorts. It is very cool...we all had fun with this but we forgot to save ours.

He is able to window shop for Transformers stuff. This is where he learned the most important and disappointing words known to kid-dom--OUT OF STOCK! This is Brawl...and you guessed it...OUT OF STOCK!

But one of his favorite parts of the site is the activities part. As you can see, he has been busy doing all sorts of stuff that we hang on the fridge.

--this is note pad paper you can make---

---here is his poster---

---and a doorknob hanger---

And to make the day complete, I bought matching plates and cups (yes...i am that much of a cheeseball). I also made a TFs lunch sack to take lunch to school that day.

If you want to, you can even click to the Transformer, The Movie site...some younger kids may find that scary but you decide.

My husband and I we totally into Transformers when we were little. You can even find the TFs we played with (if only I had taken care of them...i would be rich). I secretly still am. I think Transformers help our young men...and little ladies...with teamwork and sharing. And in that sense...they really are more than meets the eye!

Have you done a Care Bear Day yet?

Do you go to the toy web sites you see on TV? Well, I do, and (for the most part) they are a fantastic way for you and your kids to spend some quailty time together.

What? You didn't know that the internet could bring you and your family closer together? It does...and your kids can learn something along the way.

We were watching a Care Bear commerical and my son noticed that you could also get your fill of the Care Bears on the internet. So we went and we have been going back ever since.

So we made yesterday Care Bear Day. We went on a hunt at stores to find some little care bears of our own. Kincaid picked grumpy and Corrine picked Hopeful Heart.

We printed off coloring pages... corrine loves to color and kincaid loves to color on the computer...but it all makes for a fun Care Bears Day. We all sat down at the computer ( yes, we did...people sit around the TV for hours a day...why not the computer) and watched some Care Bear's cartoons and music videos.

We played some games. Kinciad's favorite is Oopsy's Bubble Bumpers. It is like pinball...only cute and cuddely...and free!

And finally, we looked at a picture of some of them and decided which ones we wanted to buy next.

So the next time you and your little ones are bored, why not open up the Care Bear's world and jump in. You will be glad you did...and besides...they are ssssssssoooooooooo cute, even my hubby can't resist their do-gooder-must-hugger charm!