MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI BEACH CORAL GABLES

MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI CORAL GABLES

It’s a given that we generally know where our seniors are each day in Miami Beach Coral Gables, whom they’re with, and what they’re doing. But in the digital world, where even our youngest children are spending a growing amount of time, we’re often reduced to the role of spectator, and many of us are reeling from a case of digital whiplash. Our seniors, even little ones, may very well understand today’s technology better than we do. MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI BEACH CORAL GABLES

Seniors today have only known a world that’s cyber-filled, and technology is woven through every aspect of their lives. It informs their friendships, their education, even their understanding of the world. Meanwhile, we’re scrambling to figure out which rules to set and how to enforce them.

The trouble is, this particular subject isn’t covered in the parental playbook; that chapter hasn’t been written yet, and society hasn’t had time to form standards. We have a drinking age and a driving age, but there’s no solid conventional wisdom about at what age seniors can safely go online solo or text a friend on their device — or about what our role as parents should be in keeping tabs on our tykes. MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI BEACH CORAL GABLES

MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI CORAL GABLES

Brave new world

Digital life starts early, in toddlerhood, and accelerates at the speed of light. Seniors who chat on Disney’s popular ClubPenguin.com have avatars before they have permanent teeth. A love of Leapster morphs into a passion for Nintendo DS and web-enabled Wii. Seniors giggle over goofy YouTube videos and stumble across a treasure trove of knowledge — and everything else imaginable — on the Internet. Our moms used to overhear our device conversations with our friends; for our kids, so much communicating goes on silently, via e-mails and IMs and texts, out of our range. MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI BEACH CORAL GABLES

We worry, of course, that creepy adults posing as children will target our seniors, and that our kids will inadvertently give out personal info and put themselves at risk. But there are other concerns as well. There’s a new level of communication between kids: They may say things to or about each other online that they’d never say in person.

Is it really okay to closely monitor their digital behavior? It depends on how far you go.

Trust, but verify

Your honesty has its perks: If they know you’re watching, their self-monitoring instinct will likely kick in. (Of course, seniors are masters at finding ways around parental control — more on that later.) One of the best things you can do: Put the computer in a central location. There’s no better way to keep an eye on things than to be able to wander by and casually say, “Hey, what website is that?”

MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI CORAL GABLES

Yes, you want to trust your seniors. But they’re seniors — relying on their word may not be enough to keep them safe. MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI BEACH CORAL GABLES

So ask questions: Who are they communicating with? Which websites did they visit today? Try to keep your conversations positive — or at least neutral! If your only message is “You’re on the computer too much” or “Don’t look at that website,” it becomes a point of tension, and seniors won’t come to you when they see things online that upset or confuse them. MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI BEACH CORAL GABLES

Then do regular checks to be sure you get the whole truth: Learn to use your browser’s history function (keep reading for help) to see which sites have been visited recently and what’s been downloaded. If you want more detailed information, try monitoring software (see below). MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI BEACH CORAL GABLES

All-Seeing Software

Typical monitoring software falls into two categories:

MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI CORAL GABLES

Blocking software lets parents create a list of approved websites and block all others. Attempts to visit unapproved sites are recorded, and some programs will message you if that happens. You can also restrict when and for how long the computer can be used. Stephen Haag, Ph.D., a professor in residence of information technology and electronic commerce at the University of Denver, says Net Nanny (about $40) is a good place to start for parents of seniors.

Recording software records all data that’s sent, received, down — loaded, and viewed. Also takes periodic snapshots of the screen. Don’t have time to view all that data? You can flag keywords (like profanity or sex-related words) and get alerts if they’re used. Haag says eBlaster (about $100) is a popular choice. The most advanced programs, such as WebWatcher about $100), offer both blocking and recording, and let you watch your kid’s computer activity in real time from a remote computer.

Built-in Protection

PCs and Macs have parental controls built into their operating systems, and each of their newest systems (Windows Vista and Mac’s Leopard) offers parents more control than ever, says Ismael Matos of Geek Squad, a technology-support company. If you’re considering upgrading your operating system, that switch might save you the cost of additional monitoring software.

To use your computer’s controls, first set up individual user accounts for each of your seniors. Check your computer’s user guide if you’re not sure how to do this.

MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI CORAL GABLES

Windows users: The parental controls are accessed through the Control Panel. Look for User Accounts and Family Safety Control Panel. With Windows Vista, you’ll be given choices about web restrictions and also have the option of receiving reports on your child’s use of the computer. You can designate certain hours off-limits and block objectionable video games and programs.

No matter which system you have, most browsers (Safari, Firefox, etc.) have an automatic history log that shows which sites have been visited. Check your user manual to learn how to check the history, if you’re not familiar with it. Make sure to check all the browsers on your computer if you have more than one. And be warned: Seniors can learn how to delete the history to cover their tracks, so ask questions if you discover that the history was cleared by someone other than you.

Need more help? Both Apple (Macs) and Microsoft (Windows) have online tutorials and detailed info on their websites — just Google “parental controls” and “Apple” or “Microsoft” to find them. Mac users can also make an appointment at an Apple store if there’s one nearby. Or you can call 800-Geek-Squad for a device consultation or to schedule a visit (it’s pricey, though — home visits start at $99). MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI BEACH CORAL GABLES

With most issues of safety — climbing a tree, riding a bike, crossing the street — we progressively give seniors more freedom. But in the digital world, new and different risks come up as they grow. Your instinct might be to back off as they approach the tween years, but that’s when to get even more involved. And when they hit you with that tried-and-true “but all my friends are doing it” cry, compare notes with other parents; you’ll probably find out that most are just as concerned (plus, you’ll see which ones let their seniors have unrestricted Internet access!).

MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI CORAL GABLES

Keep in mind that any protection you give your kids will, of course, be incomplete. The world is out there in all its beauty and ugliness, and some of that will come through the modem no matter what. Just don’t throw up your hands and give up. Says Cynthia Edwards, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Meredith College in Raleigh, NC: “Start the conversation early, and keep the conversation going.”

What to allow, and when

Is your child old enough for a device? How about a private e-mail address? How to make the call:

What they want: gaming system

When they’ll start asking: By preschool, many kids can nimbly work the controls of a Nintendo DS. And they’ll probably want one.

What they want: device

When they’ll start asking: By fourth grade, your child will probably have classmates who carry devices

.What you should consider: Does a 9-year-old really need a devices? Probably not. But by age 12, text-messaging may be a huge component of your child’s social world. If you decide it’s time, research the school policy on having devices on school property. Set specific limits on how much and when she can use it, and have a clear plan for enforcing them.

MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI CORAL GABLES

What they want: e-mail/IM account

When they’ll start asking: By third grade or so, kids begin clamoring for their own private accounts.

What you should consider: For making plans, kids can make do with using a family e-mail address. By the time they’re 11 or 12, consider creating an account for them, and tell them you’ll scan through messages from time to time to make sure they’re using it responsibly and that their friends aren’t stepping over the line. Remind them that IMs aren’t as fleeting as they seem — they can be saved and forwarded. MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI BEACH CORAL GABLES

Devices 101

Decided it’s time to equip your child with a cell phone? Some variables to consider:

Parental controls: Many providers let you limit the numbers the phone can call and receive from, as well as restrict texting. Some programs, like AT&T’s Smart Limits ($4.99/month per user), restrict web content and limit the amount that can be spent on downloads — kids can rack up big charges on ringtones, for instance!

Photo/video: Because most standard phones take photos (and often video) and can show those sent by others, this creates all kinds of risks: Someone could shoot a photo of a friend undressing, for example, and send it out to everyone in her phone book or post it online. So it’s vital to talk frankly with your child about what not to shoot or send. Also, tell her that you’ll look at the phone’s file of saved photos and videos every few days and that you’re the only one who’s allowed to delete them.

MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI CORAL GABLES

¿WHY TO DO MOBILE DEVICE IN MIAMI?

Miami is a major port city on the Atlantic coast of south Florida in the southeastern United States. As the seat of Miami-Dade County, the municipality is the principal, central, and the most populous city of the Miami metropolitan area and part of the second-most populous metropolis in the southeastern United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Miami’s metro area is the eighth-most populous and fourth-largest urban area in the U.S., with a population of around 5.5 million.

In 2008, Forbes magazine ranked Miami “America’s Cleanest City”, for its year-round good air quality, vast green spaces, clean drinking water, clean streets, and citywide recycling programs. According to a 2009 UBS study of 73 world cities, Miami was ranked as the richest city in the United States, and the world’s seventh-richest city in terms of purchasing power. Miami is nicknamed the “Capital of Latin America” and is the largest city with a Cuban-American plurality. MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI BEACH CORAL GABLES

 ¿WHY TO DO MOBILE DEVICE IN CORAL GABLES?

 Dubbed “The City Beautiful,” Coral Gables is known for its tree-lined boulevards, ivy-covered mansions and historical landmarks such as the world-famous Biltmore Hotel and the Venetian Pool, both built in the 1920s. Coral Gables is located adjacent to Miami, putting it within easy reach of the Port of Miami, Miami International Airport, Miami Beach and other destinations. Within Coral Gables, one finds the shopping and dining paradise of the “Miracle Mile,” the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden and many other attractions. In addition, the University of Miami is based in Coral Gables. MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI BEACH CORAL GABLES

Coral Gables, officially the City of Coral Gables, is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, located southwest of Downtown Miami. The United States Census Bureau estimates conducted in 2013 yielded the city had a population of 49,631. Coral Gables is home to the University of Miami. MONITORING DEVICE FOR SENIORS MIAMI BEACH CORAL GABLES

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