 Welcome May! For the first time this year, it feels like spring is here to stay. In Louisville, we just enjoyed another "most exciting two-minutes in sports" with the 137th Kentucky Derby and families all across our nation spent Sunday honoring the love, patience, sacrifice and beauty of mothers. As a mom about to watch another child graduate from high school, I know how fast kids grow up. It can literally seem as if only "two minutes" has passed since we brought them home from the hospital. During that "exciting" time (or terrifying, frustrating, ... depending on the day) it can be difficult to steer our children away from trouble and train them up to become productive and giving citizens in the world. That's one reason I'm personally thankful for FAMILY SPARK. Our staff is dedicated to providing you the most up-to-date resources to help families thrive in what can seem at times an increasingly complicated and perilous age. Read more from ROCK President MaryAnn Gramig. |
| The Wonderful World of Social Networking |
|
What you need to know to keep your child happy and safe
We've all seen the shocking headline: a teen goes missing, running away with someone she met  online. This kind of terrible news makes the front page, but does it paint an accurate portrayal of the world? Are all teens online threatened by s*xual predators? Are they in any special danger on facebook or other social networking sites?
The good news is that researchers believe youth face no particular danger of s*xual crimes while on social networking sites, but common sense, basic safeguards and a loving relationship are still necessary to keep social networking safe for children. The following link gives some basic information about social networking and a few things parents need to be aware of. Read more. |
| ROCK Resources |
| Rules for Social Networking Sites
 Researchers conclude that apart from high-risk youth who routinely engage in problematic behavior online, most youth are not at particular risk when using social networking sites. Parents can help ensure social networking is an enjoyable and safe experience for children by becoming familiar with social networking tools, interacting with their child online and setting reasonable limits for online activities. Here's 6 tips to consider when discussing social media with your tweens and teens.
|
