1. Turns out, children are not inherently selfish. ”There is this dichotomy when we look at kids, and most people’s assumptions are that kids are self oriented and hoard things for themselves.” Does this also apply to turns on the slip n’ slide?
2. Researchers are becoming interested in social media as a useful form of therapy in autistic kids when one 10 year old’s life changed after going viral. Before attracting 1.5 million viewers on Youtube, he was almost completely non-verbal. ”The human face doesn’t have the same drawing power for an autistic child, and that something about technology triggers the motivation that’s lacking in face-to-face contact.”
Looking to raise a future YouTube sensation, but don’t want to expose your kid to the wild world of YouTube commenters? That’s why we have sites like KidzVuz. If we know anything about the internet, it’s that it’s a good place to share your opinions, which is what KidzVuz does; it’s all kids making video reviews and posting them to the site.
Kids only sign up with a user name, not their real names, and parents have to approve their account. All comments are monitored and there isn’t any private messaging. The Wall Street Journal spoke to one of the KidzVuz co-founders, who says their aim is to teach kids how to create content at an early age. Read more...
Our parenting expert tells you what you need to know
There were some great discussions at our Social Media Week panel that featured Alyson Schafer, teacher Royan Lee and blogger Brad Moon. Our panelists didn’t always agree on everything, but brought different experiences with teaching kids how to work in the digital space.
1. Deciding when and how to get your kid on Facebook
2. What the deal with gaming, is it good for your kid? Harmful to your kid?
3. And with everything going increasingly mobile, how do parents control what their kids consume media-wise?
What Schafer, Lee and Moon came up with was:
1. Re: Facebook — If you’re nervous about your kid getting on the social network, start off slow with a family profile. With your family profile, friend only aunts, uncles and cousins. Read more...
2. Just because you’re divorced doesn’t mean you can’t vacation with the whole family (plus the new spouses) anymore. If the split was amicable, why not split one big beach house and do away with the arguing over who gets March Break and who gets July etc. Via Parentcentral.ca
3. Speaking of divorced parents, do Facebook friendships with your kids add a sense of normalcy when you’re not living under the same roof? Via New York Times
4. Police in Ceres, California arrested a mom for “child endangerment” after she encouraged her son to fight another kid. She wanted her boy to “F*ck him up.” Via Jezebel
5. Need an example of better parenting than the Melissa Leo-in-The-Fighter-wannabe mom? And maybe something to make you laugh? Check out our new favourite tumblr from this stay-at-home dad who leaves himself helpful post-it notes around the house. Message with a bottle:
1. Parents are registering gmail addresses, Twitter handles and domain names for their new babies. Do your kids already have an online presence? How social is your family? Via Parentcentral.ca
3. The Hipster Mom is expanding from the world of blogging to the world of online magazines. (We’re guessing this means less confessionals, more interviews/research) We’ll definitely be checking out Family Freak Out.
