The Unfun Parent Keeping Your Kids Safe Online

This book provides pointers and specific steps parents can take to keep their children safe while they use the world wide web. -- P. [4] of cover.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A debut collection of witty, biting essays laced with a surprising warmth, from Jen Mann, the writer behind the popular blog People I Want to Punch in the Throat People I want to punch in the throat: • anyone who feels the need to bling her washer and dryer • humblebraggers • people who treat their pets like children Jen Mann doesn’t have a filter, which sometimes gets her in trouble with her neighbors, her fellow PTA moms, and that one woman who tried to sell her sex toys at a home shopping party. Known for her hilariously acerbic observations on her blog, People I Want to Punch in the Throat, Mann now brings her sharp wit to bear on suburban life, marriage, and motherhood in this laugh-out-loud collection of essays. From the politics of joining a play group, to the thrill of mothers’ night out at the gun range, to the rewards of your most meaningful relationship (the one you have with your cleaning lady), nothing is sacred or off-limits. So the next time you find yourself wearing fuzzy bunny pajamas in the school carpool line or accidentally stuck at a co-worker’s swingers party, just think, What would Jen Mann do? Or better yet, buy her book. Praise for People I Want to Punch in the Throat “People I Want to Punch in the Throat is so good that it’ll make you want to adopt all the cats in the world. I’m not sure about the correlation, but it’s that good. It should come with a warning.”—Jenny Lawson, author of Let’s Pretend This Never Happened “Jen Mann has an amazing way of telling stories that will make you cringe and burst out laughing at the same time. From swinger parties to racist toddlers, she makes the suburbs unbelievably funny.”—Karen Alpert, author of I Heart My Little A-Holes “Jen Mann says the things we’re all too afraid to say. Her honest and hilarious writing style reminds me of David Sedaris and Tina Fey.”—Robin O’Bryant, author of Ketchup Is a Vegetable: And Other Lies Moms Tell Themselves “Jen Mann’s shrewd and unrelenting assault on the absurdity of suburban life is an honest peek into the occasional nightmare that is part of living the American dream. I love Jen. I wish she was my neighbor. It’s so refreshing to know that I’m not the only one who wants to punch almost everyone in the f***ing throat.”—Nicole Knepper, author of Moms Who Drink And Swear

"This practical go-to guide highlights all the risks kids face when they chat online, share selfies, use apps, and explore the Internet. International security expert Will Geddes answers difficult questions from worried parents and gives simple action plans, preventative steps, and advice on how to recognize the warning signs"--Back cover.

Making conscientious choices about technology in our families is more than just using internet filters and determining screen time limits for our children. It's about developing wisdom, character, and courage in the way we use digital media rather than accepting technology's promises of ease, instant gratification, and the world's knowledge at our fingertips. And it's definitely not just about the kids. Drawing on in-depth original research from the Barna Group, Andy Crouch shows readers that the choices we make about technology have consequences we may never have considered. He takes readers beyond the typical questions of what, where, and when and instead challenges them to answer provocative questions like, Who do we want to be as a family? and How does our use of a particular technology move us closer or farther away from that goal? Anyone who has felt their family relationships suffer or their time slip away amid technology's distractions will find in this book a path forward to reclaiming their real life in a world of devices.

With topics ranging from gun violence, media violence and teen suicide to safety on the Internet and preventing sexual abuse, this book gives essential guidance on what parents can do to protect their children.

The Internet provides many benefits for families, but it can also pose risks to a child's physical safety and well-being. IT entrepreneur and father, Bryan Bowers, gives parents an overview of the activities children enjoy doing online and the possible risks that go along with them.Keep Your Family Safe Online educates parents about the hidden dangers that could be lurking in social networking, texting, geotagging, instant messaging, e-mail, apps, mobile devices, predators ... and much more. All of these are explained in detail, using easy-to-understand terms, giving parents a clear perspective of online dangers, and practical steps they can take to keep their kids safe on the Internet.

Nearly 40 years after their invention and a decade after exploding onto the mainstream, video games still remain a mystery to many parents, including which titles are appropriate, and their potential side-effects on kids. Now the answers are at your fingertips. Offering unrivaled insight and practical, real-world strategies for making gaming a positive part of family life, The Modern Parent's Guide to Kids and Video Games provides a vital resource for today's parent. From picking the right software to promoting online safety, setting limits and enforcing house rules, it offers indispensable hints, tips and how-to guides for fostering healthy play and development. Includes: Complete Guides to PC, Console, Mobile, Online & Social Games - Using Parental Controls and Game Ratings - Picking the Right Games - The Latest on Violence, Addiction, Online Safety - Setting Rules & Time Limits - Best Games for All Ages - Essential Tools & Resources. "An essential guide for parents." Jon Swartz, USA Today

Are you a busy parent, struggling to maintain a healthy work/life balance? Do you have children between the ages of three and twelve that you would do just about anything for in terms of keeping them safe, happy and healthy? Are you overwhelmed by the idea of trying to keep up with your tech-savvy children as far as their use of technology goes?If you answered 'yes' to all of these questions you'll benefit from reading this book - irrespective of whether you're concerned about how your children are using technology right now or in the future. This book explains what the online dangers are, how they may affect your children, and what you can do to keep your children safe.Parenting has always been a challenge, there's no doubt about that. But parenting in the digital age is a whole new ball game. We are the first generation raising 'digital natives' (children who don't know of a world without swipe screens and mobile devices), yet we grew up prior to the existence of this technology. No wonder it's tricky!For many parents, knowing that their children are probably smarter than they are (as far as the use of technology goes) is scary. You know about the dangers posed by technology: your kids will soon stumble upon inappropriate content online if they haven't already done so, and there are privacy risks to be aware of. The idea of your children being on social media is not one you're looking forward to. Tweens and teens commonly get themselves in all sorts of strife, posting content without thinking about the consequences. And then there's cyber bullying.It was only after experiencing and overcoming the harmful effects of technology addiction with one of her young children that author Ruth Dearing was inspired to candidly share her experiences to help other parents. Through her ongoing research she has gained extensive and valuable knowledge on the topic of children and technology. By reading this book you and your children can access and benefit from that knowledge.Despite its serious nature, this book is presented in a conversational and entertaining way that parents can relate to. The author shares her own unique and true stories that you won't find elsewhere, along with statistics that all parents with young children and/or tweens need to know about in order to succeed with parenting in the digital age. It's the ideal first step you can take in guiding your children to be safe, healthy and balanced online.Topics covered include improving communication with your children, how to avoid the top three mistakes parents make, potential scenarios your children may find themselves in, dealing with social media and more. Exercises at the end of each chapter will help you implement suggested tips and strategies.With the onset of the digital age it's become clear that you'll need to learn how to raise your children to be safe and resilient not only in their physical world but also in their online world. Internet safety for kids is increasingly more challenging with over a thousand new sites, games and apps appearing online daily. The only way to help your children safely navigate through the labyrinth of technology is to educate yourself and then apply your knowledge, working with your children towards a common goal. That's precisely what this book will help you to do.