I have a preschooler and a preteen and they are both technology mad. They are admitedly more tech savvy than my parents and can often be found showing their grandparents how to work an app on the phone or streaming something on Youtube but being comfortable online can mean that defences are down. As a parent (and an extremely tech savvy one at that) I am acutely aware that children think that "everyone is their friend" but we hear all the time that those online are not always what they seem.

I have seen my daughters friends become obsessed with taking photos of themselves (and their food), not to mention the number of followers they have on Instagram, whereas my daughter thinks I am the popularity police by wanting to verify everyone that she connects with online. Instagram is seemingly the social media of choice for many teenagers now but it is worth noting some important points:

• Profile photos, usernames and the bio screen will always be public.
• Users are able to block and remove followers on Instagram. The person who is blocked won’t be informed about this.
• Shared private Instagram posts sent to social networks (e.g. Twitter) can be seen by the public unless you have set up your privacy settings on those social networks too.
• Be aware that anybody is able to send photos and videos directly to an account without being a follower.
• Remember to look out for location-sharing which users can enable with the ‘Add to your Photo Map’ feature. It is set ‘off’ by default, and it is strongly recommend that young users do not change the setting to ‘on’. This is because when it is on, this feature publishes the location in which a photo or video was taken, which is risky information for a young person to share publically.

My children having online presence, even in such a strongly monitored way seems a million miles from my own childhood but while the world changes, children don't and protecting their innocence has always been my priority. We are all grown up for a really long time!! It is worthwhile taking look at this short film to see how young people are not necessarily changing but the world around them is changing.

So what can we do? There are parental controls that we can use which are are designed to help parents and carers manage their child’s online activities.  There are various types, some of which are free but others which can be bought.  However, nothing is totally fool proof so as parents we need to be conscious that they don’t replace the need for adults to support and advise children using the internet.

With new applications and games launching all the time (I suppose I can't not write this post without mentioning the current obsession with Pokemon Go) it is our responsibility to make sure that we keep up to date with what our children are using and who they are talking to online. Utilising online resources like Think U Know provides parents with sensible and up to date information about staying one step ahead. 

So right now, I am off to check how many PokeBalls I have and see if I can catch a Pokemon or two! 

Tweet

Holiday season is almost upon us and packing to go on holiday is one of my least favourite tasks, especially when you are trying to squeeze every outfit possibility into a case with no flexibility. So I have been on the hunt for new packing solutions this year and I am therefore delighted to share the Tresspass Holibag 85 litre printed suitcase and give our readers the chance to win one!

Let's be honest, if you are travelling with the kids this summer, you need a suitcase that can meet your every need and the Holibag 85 litre printed suitcase is excellent for long trips to exotic locales or simply a relaxed city break. With an 85 litre capacity, you won’t need to cram everything in.

The suitcase is designed to open into two halves; one has a single large compartment while the other has two zipped compartments for separating up.

Other features include a name tag, a carry handle with comfortable padding, a pull out handle for the wheels and clip straps to keep the case securely shut. This lightweight suitcase is ideal for organised travelers (are mums anything but organsed??) and it avoids the hassle of overstuffed, luggage that you have to root through to find anything.

 Main Features:

• 85 litre printed trolley suitcase
• 1 x main zip compartment
• Zipped side access
• Zipped top pocket
• Adjustable pull handle
• Padded carry handle
• Name tag
• Internal organiser
• 66 x 40 x 40

So if you want to be in with a chance to win one, just enter below! Good luck!! 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions:

The Prize: 1 x Trespass Holibag Printed Suitcase
The winners will be chosen at random by the random winner generator on Rafflecopter and notified within 7 working days by email
Trespass will make every effort to provide the product detailed here but this cannot be guaranteed

By entering this competition, you understand that your details may be retained for future mailings. You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time.

There is no monetary equivalent.
Little Lilypad Co take no /responsibility for loss or damage in the despatch of prizes
If the prize is unclaimed within 7 days we reserve the right to redraw the winner.
End Date 01/08/2016 at 12am

Open to UK residents aged 18 and over only. No cash alternative is available to the prize.

The final prize is dependent on the stock, sizing and colours available once the winner has been drawn (an equivalent prize may be offered in the unlikely scenario that the size is not in stock"

 

Tweet

Recent unrest within the UK brings with it not just anxiety about the future of the country but a whole host of worrisome thoughts about the effect that recent events could have on our day to day lives too. It’s important to give yourself some space to digest the huge shifts that are happening around the world right now but, with families and jobs, homes and parents to take care of, we can easily forget to take care of number one – ourselves.

If you’re a busy parent then you’ll likely not even remember what it means to unwind, destress and, dare we say it, relax. In this post, we wanted to pass on some handy hints and tips that can help you to put the demands of day to day life aside for a moment, or have your health on the up and see your energy levels increase.

Say goodbye to sugar

To kick us off we want to talk about sugar. Yes, the dreaded “S” word. We know most parents are clued up about how to keep sugar intake low in their children (although in our experience an apple hardly ever proves as tantalizing an option as sweeties do so it’s an uphill struggle) but have you ever looked at what’s in the cereal you eat each morning, or the ready meal you might make yourself when you’re on the go? Hidden sugars are everywhere with regular suspects coming in the form of a teaspoonful in your tea (multiply that by a few cups a day!) and in low-fat “healthy” snack bars. Sugars are an essential part of our diet but when it comes to destressing they can be foe rather than friend. The sharp release of energy you feel after a sugar boost will help power you through the school run but what about afterwards when the slump hits? Then it’s all too easy to lose concentration, get off track and beat yourself up about not getting the jobs done. A healthy diet can lead to a healthy mind so get yours in check to kick start your relaxing routine.

Get some air in your lungs

Second on the list is fresh air. It may seem a little too simplistic but getting out and about in the brisk British weather can prove a real starter for ten for your mood. Many people only pop outside their house or office to have a cigarette rather than getting some fresh air but giving up smoking is a big life change and a way to improve shortness of breath, wheezing and other more sinister conditions. There are more details about quitting smoking here but there are lots of things you can do, with walking therapies becoming increasingly popular, going beyond the garden fence for a 15-minute mind break can increase your levels of serotonin and lift your mood. Plus, it can focus your mind on other things for a few minutes – the weather, traffic (and not smoking) – and give you some space from the day to day grind. 

It is good to talk

Whether it’s to your best friend, a parent, partner or even a professional, having a blether about yourself can really take a weight off your shoulders, even when you didn’t think there was one there. It’s can be difficult to admit when stress is getting us down but you’d be surprised how many people are in the same boat so get yourself a cup of tea (no sugar!) on the go and have a good old natter.

Tweet