Last night LeapFrog sponsored a talk with Larry Magid on internet safety. (We also had some excellent food at the Four Seasons Hotel, including a to-DIE-for mashed potato bar - YUM!) Mr. Magid is the co-director of ConnectSafely.org and founder of SafeKids.com.
Surprisingly, the talk meshed well with my own beliefs about risk (not nearly as high as my parents or many others would believe) and how to approach privacy. I had been expecting a scare-fest, but instead the advice was realistic and practical.
The Cat (age 8) has an email address, but he knows I see what is on it (and I delete SPAM off it.) He knows not to give out personal information, although I admit I worry if he is anyway. Spliggle doesn't yet have an email address and doesn't yet really know his own information well enough to give it out. But, of course we will talk to them both as the need arises.
We've considered putting a filter on the Cat's computer because he's pretty Google-savvy, but Mr. Magid explained a filter is mere "training wheels" since the real world isn't filtered. We all know that an overprotective parent actually ends up hurting a child because he cannot fend for himself. But then of course a too-permissive parent ends up putting their child at risk. As with parenting in general, internet safety is about striking a balance.
If you are interested in online safety tips and advice how to talk to your children and teens about internet safety, please head on over to Connect Safely.
After Mr. Magid's talk, the kind folks at LeapFrog - Jaeme and Erin - introduced us to a new online LeapFrog feature that won't be unveiled until mid 2010. Let's just say I'm really excited, and my kids will be too. Meanwhile, the kids are quite pleased that we received a goodie bag with a Leapster2, plus Jedi Reading and Princess and the Frog games. As a reminder, I've reviewed Leapster2, and my boys are huge Star Wars fans, so I happily promoted LeapFrog's Star Wars Sweepstakes. And, of course, Spliggle is totally into princesses, so he was super-happy to get a princess game for his brand-new Leapster2! (The one I reviewed earlier is now solely the Cat's.)
Thank you LeapFrog and Larry Magid for a fun and educational evening! (Of course my kids thank you too...)
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Disclaimer: I received a mimosa, a great buffet dinner, and an opportunity to hear Larry Magid's talk courtesy of LeapFrog. LeapFrog gave us the aforementioned goodie bags - plus a bottle of wine for the adults to enjoy - with no strings attached. I've had a relationship with LeapFrog in the past (just search "leapfrog" on this blog to get plenty of posts starring them) and so they knew I'd probably post about my experience; however, I did not agree specifically to post about them or mention ConnectSafely.org. I did so out of my own desire to spread the news. I will receive no monetary or additional compensation because I did post. I will continue to gush about LeapFrog because I've been a long-time fan. Thank you LeapFrog!
