How to Protect Your Children from Online Predators

By: Kim Garst

The web has such amazing opportunities for our children and families, doesn’t it? Who would have guessed when we were all growing up that there would be something as amazing as social media, which is way cooler than growing up with your own phone line in your bedroom, right?

But with the power to connect with the people we love comes some risks that are important to understand in order to protect our families.

Where are your kids online? It used to be that we just needed to know where our children were physically; if they were at home, whether they were safe, where they were going.

It’s not that different online. It’s important to know where your children are online every bit as much as where they are physically.

Depending on your children’s ages, they might be using sites like Giant Hello, Club Penguin or Webkinz which are social sites designed for kids, without the age restrictions of sites like Facebook. Each of these sites have different kinds of verification methods that ensure parents are aware of their children signing up, along with methods to make sure that your children can only connect with people they know.

In either case, it’s important that children learn great social media habits right out the gate, and this is a conversation that you can begin at any age; the sooner the better!

Post Appropriately. Teach your children that everything they post should be treated as viewable by anyone, anywhere, and that they should not post private information publicly.

Children don’t always know where the line between private and public is, so you need to be involved! Especially with younger children, let them know that the privilege of social media access comes with oversight from you.

Like many kinds of freedom, social sharing freedom is going to come gradually as they grow older and demonstrate their ability to handle this newfound freedom.

 

Read the full article at GalTime.com

How to make ourselves more attractive to date (without being easy)

By: Aly Walansky

Being attractive to a man in today’s high-supply sexual economy means far more than being sexually attractive.

These days, sex is cheap. A well-worded text can lead to some canoodling, which makes dating successfully even harder than ever. Being different means being the one to win the race.

Famous evolutionary psychologist David Buss, Ph.D., says the only way to compete successfully for desirable men is by embodying what men want. “If women are seeking a long-term mate, they need to embody what men want in a long-term mate. Although attractiveness is important, other qualities include loyalty, fidelity, kindness, intelligence, dependability and good health. These are all qualities that are under women’s control, at least to some degree.”

Aspire (don’t despair!)

As boring as it may seem, your best odds of success will come when you start to hang out with happy couples. “Sixty percent of married couples meet through a married friend. Marriage is like a born-again religion!” says Dr. Buss. Once couples have marital bliss, you are compelled to share it. I must warn you though, it will take some time and you may feel like the third or fifth wheel at a few dinner tables, but before long, one of those married women will find a dude at her office for you.

Make the effort

Every woman can and should make herself more physically attractive if she wants to catch a prince. Yes, life isn’t fair, but men are visual and grow up on images of Barbie and beer ads, says Dr. Carole Lieberman, M.D., media psychiatrist and author of Bad Girls: Why Men Love Them & How Good Girls Can Learn their Secrets and Bad Boys: Why We Love Them, How to Love with Them, And When to Leave Them. No matter how close you come to fitting that description, you can certainly do better — starting with a warm smile that lights up your face.

Good grooming is essential. It tells a guy how much you value yourself. Nails, hair, makeup, clean clothes and so on — can all do you in if they’re not polished. Also, “Don’t dress like a tramp, but show off your best assets — one at a time. Wear a conversation starter, such as a hat or a T-shirt with an intriguing saying or logo on it. Guys need help starting up a conversation,” says Dr. Lieberman.

Play it smart

Don’t seem desperate and hungry for a man — even if you are. Have an active social life with friends. This tells him you’re not just waiting around for the one,” says Dr. Lieberman.

 

Read article at LovingYou.com