The Kid-Friendly Facebook—Can it exist?

With many (approximately 7.5 million) children under the age of 13 already creating Facebook accounts, by falsifying their age, perhaps it seems remiss of the now-public corporation to not take advantage of this market. By doing more to cater to this already engaged audience, Facebook can increase their profits in targeted ad revenue AND help control settings to create a safer social environment. At least that is the solution they’re presenting. Facebook knows that ignoring the problem won’t make it go away. The question seems to be, is this the best way to handle it?

The newly planned structure, which has not been officially confirmed, will allow children under the age of 13 to create and use Facebook accounts, but they must be hosted under a parent account. The parent account will have control of who their child can become friends with, what applications the child can use and what information, if any, is made public. Additionally, parents can see anything their child has posted, sent or received—including private messages. While this may sound like a cautious solution to an admittedly existent problem, it is also freely opening the doors of the world of social media to an audience that may not be ready to handle it. It is estimated that the under 13 user base would increase the number of Facebook users to 900 million, if this program is implemented. However, the question still remains, how effective will it be? Today, among the parents that are aware their preteen has a Facebook account, only 18% have requested their child as a friend. If such a simple step to monitor their children is not being taken, will parents have any interest in these additional monitoring tools and controls?

Though Facebook has yet to acknowledge the details, the supporters and cynics have already taken sides, all of which seem to be focused around safety. Among the supporters, parents and caregivers that feel this will create a safe place within social media where their child(ren) can be connected while still being protected. While those who don’t support the plan claim there is no place in social media for preteens. These parents and caregivers are concerned that even with monitoring, the internet may not be a safe place for kids. Of course, there are other groups just demanding details. In fact, two US Senators, Democrat Markey and Republican Barton, have crafted a quite lengthy (14 paragraphs!) letter to Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, full of questions about these preteen accounts and their protections.

What do you think about the change in age restrictions? Will these preteen accounts act as an alternative to ignoring the current age restriction and keep kids safe on Facebook? Would you force the preteen in your care to have a “preteen account” or bend the rules and stick with the 13 and over crowd? In our opinion, it all boils down to the issue of online safety that must be discussed with children and constantly monitored by parents, caregivers and internet moguls alike.

How Do You Discipline a Child?

The debate on how to best discipline a child is one marked with longevity and controversy. And lately, it’s been making headlines left and right. 

The most recent trend in disciplining has been the use of humiliation tactics. Parents are exposing children to humiliation by mandating very public admissions of wrong doings; most popularly, forcing their kids to wear signs. This creative form of punishment has been receiving a significant amount of attention from the media.

Recent sign spottings include:

“I was sent to school to get an education. Not to be a bully… I was not raised this way!”

“I like to steal from others and lie about it!!”

“I am a thief. I took money from a family member.”

Humiliation, it turns out, is a highly controversial form of punishment. While the public outcry of support for this type of punishment has been overwhelming, opponents include most childcare experts. Respected author, Alfie Kohn, has suggested this is a disrespectful way to treat any human, regardless of age, and sends children the message that parents are not to be trusted.

But this latest trend is not the only form of child disciplining that people don’t agree on. For example, spanking is always a source of debate.

Last June, spanking received massive media coverage when a Texas woman was arrested for spanking her two year old daughter. She was fined and sentenced to five years probation and mandatory parenting classes. What’s more, her three children were temporarily removed from her custody. Judge Longoria, who presided in the case, explained, “You don’t spank children today, in the old days, maybe we got spanked, but there was a different quarrel. You don’t spank children. You understand?”

This case sparked outrage and, somewhat surprisingly, Judge Longoria’s decision has received little public support. Many cite that spanking, not resulting in injury, is legal in the state of Texas. The few defending the judge’s ruling have suggested that the law is dated and needs to be readdressed.

Such strong support and strong opposition of two very different forms of discipline leads to the assumption that there is no “right answer”. Or at least, the right answer has not been discovered and defined. Certainly, everyone has their idea of the right way to discipline a child so they will feel loved and also grow into a caring, responsible and successful adult. Is it the place of the government or police to define how parents discipline their child?

A Good Sitter Is Hard To Find

The babysitter crisis is in full swing according to a survey conducted by the American Red Cross and many local parents interviewed by 3 CBS Philly. The survey, conducted over the last 24 months, found that parents seek responsible babysitters with references. Upon hearing this, CBS came to the source—The Philadelphia Nanny Network, Inc., Philly’s oldest domestic staffing agency. Reporter Anne-Marie Green came to the agency, located in Ardmore, to interview founder and owner, Wendy Sachs, in hopes to tap into her expertise about what makes a good babysitter and how to find one. Click here to watch the news story!

According to the survey:

• 69% say good babysitters are hard to find
• 55% stayed home because they could not find a babysitter
• 30% rejected a babysitter because of safety concerns    

In order to find vetted, experienced childcare providers, visit www.nannyagency.com or call us 610-645-6550.

To Vaccinate or Not To Vaccinate: National Infant Immunization Week

Since 1994, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been celebrating National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW). NIIW is about awareness and action in hopes that all infants can be fully immunized against the fourteen vaccine-preventable diseases. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uses this week to celebrate the advancements made in both the creation of vaccinations and immunization programs. Many states and politicians are even getting in on the action, for example Governor Brownback of Kansas signed a bill to make NIIW officially recognized in the state and Illinois is even providing free vaccinations.

The American Academy of Pediatrics asserts that vaccines are one of the best health tools available to the public—they are cost effective and have a track record of success. Still, vaccines are one of the most talked about and controversial issues when it comes to keeping children healthy. Data does suggest that providing children with vaccinations is in the best interest of their health. Yet many families, especially in the West and Northwest United States believe that immunization is too dangerous and refuse to put their children at risk; many even suggest it may be a cause of autism (though that assertion has not been medially confirmed). As a result, the United States is now seeing the highest rates of whooping cough and measles that has existed in decades.

As a parent or caregiver, what are your thoughts on vaccination? Will you help to increase awareness of immunization this week? Have your children or charges been vaccinated, or alternatively, would they be if the choice was yours?

Philadelphia's National Nanny Training Day

Nannies, make sure you register for & attend Philadelphia's National Nanny Training Day TOMORROW! The event, in King of Prussia, is co-sponsored by us, The Philadelphia Nanny Network, Inc., and Nannypalooza.com. Registration is only $20 and includes breakfast, lunch, networking, presentations by Wendy Sachs & Sue Downey, an opportunity to join INA at a discounted rate AND prizes & bonuses. Click the link below to register. Can't wait to see you there!

http://nntdphilly.eventbrite.com/

Earth Day—Educate and Participate

This upcoming Sunday, April 22^nd, more than 175 countries across the world will celebrate Earth Day together—making it the most widely celebrated day on Earth. Since the very first Earth Day in 1970, a large part of the focus has been on teaching children. After all, those with the most time left to spend on this planet, also hold the most responsibility for protecting it. As a result, many schools are very involved in educating children about the environment and what they can do to help, but there are many things you can do with your child or charge to celebrate Earth Day at home as well.

Plant a tree. It may seem like the simplest of answers to an Earth Day activity but you can explain how plants help create more oxygen, keeping the air clean.

Recycle. Both by putting items into recycling bins rather than the trash AND by finding ways to reuse items you already have to reduce materials used in the first place.

Sing a song. Or color a page or do an activity. The internet is full of educational Earth Day activities for kids. Find one that works for you (or check out some of our favorites at this link: http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/earth.html)

Write a letter. Let the local politicians know how much your child or charge cares about the environment and that they are working hard to preserve the Earth.

Clean up the community. Each Earth Day, most communities have neighborhood activities, such as a park clean-up. Getting involved in these types of activities will make your child/charge feel that they’ve made an impact.

Whatever you choose to do this Earth Day, make sure to pat on the back all of the kids that are making this planet a cleaner and greener place!

In Your Own Words, What Is Autism?

That’s a question that most people probably can’t answer. And those who can will produce a myriad of different responses.

Why?

Because the term autism has morphed time and again throughout the years. It has been applied to the truly autistic but also the developmentally delayed and even those children who are just a little left of center. To confuse matters more, there are several “types” or “levels” of autism that doctors use to classify the level of the disease in their patients, the most common being Asperger’s disorder. Today, 1 in 88 children in the US are diagnosed as autistic, leading many to believe that autism is heavily over-diagnosed. As a result, a portion of the medical community is suggesting it’s time to redefine autism.

The proposed redefinition would eliminate classifications such as Asperger’s with all cases falling under the new “Autism Spectrum Disorder”. Children who are diagnosed will exhibit three types of communication problems and two limited, sometimes non-typical, interests or repetitive behaviors.

Both proponents and opponents of this redefinition have exceptionally strong opinions, as one would probably imagine. Opponents include some parents that are worried their children will lose treatment and other benefits and the “mildly” autistic who suffer from Asperger’s or PDD-NOS (Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified) that do not want to be categorized by umbrella terminology. Proponents include many members of the medical community, including a panel of the American Psychiatric Association.

As a nanny or a parent, has a child you love been diagnosed with Autism? If so, does this emotional connection produce a strong opinion regarding the validity or benefits of the proposed redefinition? What are your thoughts? Will this be beneficial or detrimental to Autistic children?

No matter the outcome, in our opinion there is one glaring benefit of this proposed redefinition—a very important increase in Autism Awareness.