Six Safety Tips for Teens Travelling Abroad

Teen travel is a booming industry. Shopping, friends and travel are all on a teen’s list of top priorities. How high is safety on that list?

You may have seen the movies “Hostel 1 & 2” and “Taken.” Is it horror at its worst or a glimpse into the potential problems teens may face when traveling abroad? Sure, these movies are a lot scarier than teen travel and you probably laughed at the reference, but safety is no joke.

Passport Safety

Does a traveling teen know about passport safety tips? A passport should always be on your person. True, many European hotels and hostels require you leave your passport at the front desk, whether you are checking-in or leaving the property for the day or evening. Make several complete copies of your passport prior to leaving home…in color if possible.

Leave a copy of your passport at home with family or friends, pack one in your suitcase (which you can carry with you as you sight-see abroad) and, if possible, a copy with a traveling companion or tour leader.

Know Your Rights

As a citizen of the United States, you have certain rights when you travel abroad. A United States Consulate, in the country where you travel, is where you need to seek help if you find yourself in trouble or if your passport goes missing.

Phone Calling Tips

Dialing abroad is slightly different from domestic calls. Learn the international phone dialing code, as well the particular country code of the area. You should also learn how to call your home numbers from the specific countries visited.

Know the Culture

You will want to do some research on the country you are planning to visit. Know the location of the US Consulate, and be aware of any peculiar laws you may accidentally find yourself challenging. This is especially true of Eastern Europe and the Middle East. To avoid unnecessary trouble abroad, remember that what we generally consider fun and games at home may cost you some headaches when traveling.

Safety in Numbers

Always try to stay together when out for the night. Walking in a strange city, at night can be dangerous enough. If you add alcohol or partying to the mix, you may be opening yourself up unnecessary harm when taking a short cut down a wrong alley, for example.

Watch for Crime

There are so many tricks and frauds, to be aware of when traveling. A common trick involves one person lingering at one end of a street who sends a signal to another person on the next block, indicating you are a good target for harm or theft. Another good example is Italy, where pick pocketing is an art form

Following a few guidelines can make the difference between a fun trip and a frightening brush with danger. By traveling smart, teens can have a truly memorable gap year and enjoy their time away from home.

 

Jessica Bosari writes blogs and articles for AdventuresCrossCountry, a site that helps teens and young adults find teen camps and gap year programs.

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Internet Safety for Parents: Three Top Tips

Internet safety for parents is something you should not ignore and doesn’t have to be too much of a burden. If you follow our simple steps you can rest assured that your family’s use of the internet will be safe and secure and you can avoid at least one of the many headaches that come with parenting.

Supervision (tip one)

Whilst there are many tools out there to make internet supervision easier for you, children should be supervised 100% of the time when it comes to their digital world. With so many pitfalls around every corner; even the best parental control programs are not able to block every potential area of inquiry so it is worth having the added security of your direct supervision. This is the only real way of guaranteeing 100% internet safety but should be nevertheless done alongside these other options.

Parental control software (tip two)

Parental control software is an absolute wonder for anyone scared of letting their children view the internet for fear of what they might be exposed to. As we’ve mentioned, no software can block 100% of illicit material online but parental control software can block so much adult material from search engines and links that you should definitely invest in it as your first line of defence. Even the most cautious searchers can be exposed to things they’d much rather not uncover.

Talking to your child about the internet (tip three)

This is often the most overlooked but certainly one of the most important of all precautions parents should take. Whilst supervision and software will work, you have to bear in mind that at some stage these ‘parental controls’ will have to be removed. When that happens it is much better if your child is prepared adequately to deal with the internet in a mature and responsible way. A few key areas you should consider covering with your child are:

  • Social networks and social interaction – at a young age this is incredibly important due to the potential risks of online grooming, cyberbullying and sexual predation. As you’re children get older they need to be made aware of appropriate and inappropriate posting, comments and other things. In much the same way as we aim to foster our children’s emotional development, you also need to foster their internet development and having frank and open conversations about these subjects will help.
  • Adult sites and pornography – Once your children are older they are bound to encounter adult material online and to be perfectly honest you really can’t stop this happening unless you remove internet access from them entirely. A better way of discouraging them to engage with this material is to explain the hazards, moral and social problems associated with this kind of material and to honestly talk about the exploitative nature of the content. Many parents will not be comfortable with this but there are 3rd party sources online who can help so don’t be too worried.
  • Browsing safety and downloading – explaining the risks of downloading illegal material, such as games and films containing spy ware and viruses is the best way to ensure that this material is not viewed. However you will need to make your children aware of the alternatives such as iTunes and Spotify so that they are not tempted nonetheless.

These are undoubtedly the best internet safety tips that you should be focusing on. Using all three will help keep your children safe and also help them develop a strong awareness of these online dangers, making them better adapted for use in their adult lives.

 

Jane writes about internet safety for children in order to help raise awareness to parents about the potential dangers of the digital world.

 

 

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Top 10 Ways to Keep the Kids Safe at a Theme Park

A family day out at a theme park is supposed to be fun, but with little ones it can be a bit daunting.

Stressing and panicking is no good for anyone, however, so here are top ten ways to eliminate the worry and keep your cherubs safe.

1. Dress in bright, anonymous clothing
One of the best ways to keep your children safe at a theme park is to dress them in brightly coloured clothing, so you can see them at all times. You really want them to be highly visible, so dig out the brightest attire you can find (if they will let you) and make a note of what they are wearing. Bright, block colours work best, as can be seen from afar, so don’t get carried away and keep it simple. If you have kids not yet old enough to care, you could even dress them all the same to eliminate any confusion.

2. Don’t Wear Slip On Shoes
On the morning of your trip, make sure you don’t put your kids in shoes which could easily fall off. On many attractions feet don’t have anything to rest on and are left to dangle down, so if shoes are not done up properly they could easily come off. Funky sandals and vibrant flip-flops may look cool, but if they end up hitting a passer-by in the head, you will definitely not be laughing.

3. Stranger Danger
Before setting off, remind your children of stranger danger and enforce that they must not talk to, or go off with anybody they don’t know. Keep younger children on a child leash and tell the older kids to always stay in your view. Reassure them that they can do all the fun things they want, but it must be at the pace of the family.

To protect your children further make sure you do not dress them in any clothes which display their name in an obvious way. Avoid personalised football strips, t-shirts, caps and even named key rings on bags. Children are more likely to follow someone who knows their name, so simply be aware.

4. Wear identity bands
When heading to a theme park it is very good idea to place a discreet identity band around your child’s wrist stating your telephone number. That way, if they do get lost hopefully someone will find them and they will be reunited with you in no time. Even older children can forget a telephone number in a moment of panic, so if they don’t want to wear a band, always give them a bit of paper with it on just in case.

5. Agree on a meeting place
Arriving at a theme park can be extremely exciting, however, it is very important to keep control and organise everyone as there is nothing worst than losing a member of your group. Decide upon a meeting point you must all return to if someone gets lost and make sure everyone knows where they are to come. It is advisable to select the biggest, brightest attraction in the park as this can often be seen from a great distance.

6. Never leave your child alone
Never, ever leave your children alone while you go on a ride. Always make sure there is a ride you can enjoy together or that there is a friend or relative to look after your little ones. It sounds so simple, but in the chaos of the day, communication may break down and your youngsters may end up alone. What’s more, make sure if you pop to the loo or go to buy food, that someone knows they are looking after the kids.

7. Chose appropriate rides
Theme parks usually have a whole range of rides and attractions to suit everyone from the bravest of thrill seekers to timid little ones. It is highly recommended you watch a ride before taking your children on it as it may not look scary at first but might do something unexpected. Many rides also have height restrictions, so make sure you read all the information boards or ask an attendant to save unnecessary queuing.

8. Use sun cream
Many theme park attractions are located outside and therefore it is extremely important to bring sun cream along with you — and use it. The weather may not look particularly great, but if you are outside you can still catch the sun, so be sure to protect yourself and your children from harmful rays. The last thing you want is to be caught unprepared and for you kids to get burnt.

9. Keep hydrated
A theme park adventure is thirsty work, so make sure you all stay hydrated. Bring bottles of water with you, buy some at the park’s shops, or stop for regular refreshments. Kids often get so excited they forget to eat or drink, so be forceful and make sure they keep take in regular liquid. Dehydration can be very serious but can also be easily avoided.

10. Bring plasters
Bringing a mini first aid kit along with you, is a really, really good idea. Day trips often avoid lots of walking and so plasters are usually essential. Shoes can rub, especially during hot days or if they get wet and it is a very good idea to be prepared. Children also love to run around and may fall and cut themselves, so having a pack of plaster will soon put a smile on their faces once again.

So, there you have it, day trips with the family really don’t have to be stressful. Simply be sensible, stay alert and enjoy a fun-filled adventure together.

 

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Home Security: A Familys Best Friend

We’ve all heard the stories, read the police logs and watched Law & Order SVU: Women and children are prime targets for any attacker. This doesn’t mean that women should bulk up and start training for the heavyweight Olympics – it just means families should consider taking the necessary precautions to protect themselves. One of the simplest and most basic ways a family can do this is by updating their home security system.

Massachusetts resident Chelsea White was 17 when she walked into her house, and for the first time, realized something was wrong.

“I came home from school and got a call from my mom asking if I had taken her computer,” Chelsea explained. “I hadn’t, and it was then that we both realized we had been robbed during the day.”

Chelsea is a resident on the North Shore, one of the safest areas to live in Massachusetts.

“I got this horrible feeling of violation. It was very strange knowing someone had been in your house and had gone through your things. They had gone through my drawers, my mom jewelry box and my brother’s closet,” she added.

Reported incidents of violent crime decreased in all four regions of the country in 2010. However, reported incidents of burglary rose 3.9 percent; Chelsea’s family being one of them.

Buying a security system is the safest way to prevent any unwelcomed guests into your home. In fact, intruders look for homes without alarm systems. Unfortunately, one of the two reasons homeowners consider purchasing a home security system is because they already experienced a robbery or break-in.

Don’t wait and let this happen to you and your family.

A standard residential alarm system includes: control panels, security keypads, motion detectors, door and window contacts, glass break sensors, sirens and signs.

Additional features include: backup system, two-way monitoring, remote control and more.

Leave Fido Out of It

Homeowners often consider purchasing a dog for home security. Although effective, a guard dog is not the best idea for a “family” environment. For example, in the unfortunate event that a break-in does occur and your security dog saves the day, if the dog got injured or was killed, how would you explain to your children that it was just doing it’s “job.”

Such was almost the case for Chelsea’s family.

“We had 2 dogs, two Golden Retrievers,” Chelsea said. “We think one of our dogs, Rockie, was hit by one of the robbers based on his behavior after that day.”

To Chelsea and her family, realizing that her pets were traumatized was more upsetting than finding out that the robber stole her mother’s laptop, brother’s Xbox and over 50 videogames.

Most families would agree that a pet is considered “part of the family.”

The price of safety

If you do decide to purchase a home alarm system, make sure you research the best home security companies out there.

Typically, a home security alarm system includes an installation fee ($100 to $1,500), and a monthly monitoring contract ($9 to $40). Other charges depend on the particular plan or package you choose.

Money is always an issue, especially in today’s economy. However, because of today’s economy, people are also getting more desperate and resort to crime. Protecting your family should be priceless.

About the author: Sylvia Rosen is an online writer with a background in newspaper journalism. She enjoys writing about dating, family patterns, and healthy and happy lifestyles.

Sex Offenders Registry Indiana

Sex Offenders Registry Indiana

State of resident sex offender checks may not be enough to find out if someone you are hiring or someone living in your neighborhood is a registered sex offender. The Supreme Court ruled today that a sex offender from Alabama did not need to register in Indiana after a relocation because his conviction predated the passage of the law that requires sex offenders to register. Thomas Carr was arrested in 2004 in Alabama on first degree sexual abuse of a minor but the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) wasn’t passed until 2006. He … Read more at Sex Offenders Search

Sex Offenders Registry Indiana

State of resident sex offender checks may not be enough to find out if someone you are hiring or someone living in your neighborhood is a registered sex offender. The Supreme Court ruled today that a sex offender from Alabama did not need to register in Indiana after a relocation because his conviction predated the passage of the law that requires sex offenders to register. Thomas Carr was arrested in 2004 in Alabama on first degree sexual abuse of a minor but the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) wasn’t passed until 2006. He successfully argued that the law doesn’t required a sex offender who moves from one state to the next to register in the new state when his conviction occurred prior to the passage of the law.

The decision of the court came down to a single word, ‘travels’. By using the present tense of the word in the law instead of a past tense like ‘traveled’, the legislature left an exception open for those convicted prior to the law who move across state lines. Now it becomes necessary to check past state residences for sex offender status to ensure that a prospective employee is not a sex offender in another state. Hope remains that congress will modify the law at some time in the future to close this loophole discovered by Thomas Carr and his attorney.

Carr was sentenced to 30 months in jail for violation of the SORNA law and the Obama administration had hope that the Supreme Court justices saw the administration’s interruption of the law as correct and would let the sentencing stand. Carr is now free and dissension by 3 judges was a warning to many that thousands of sex offenders do not need to register in their current state of residence because of the court decisions.

Are You Doing Some Detective Work?

Are You Doing Some Detective Work?

Many times, we as parents are forced to play the role of detective in our lives.  Most parents at some point in time feel that their child is concealing something or is not willing to tell the truth about which they have been spending their time with. Then a parent’s sixth sense starts working, sparking an intuition that something fishy is going on with their child. There are multiple reasons for this– your child’s excessive hours on the phone, staying away from home for long periods of time, Numerous complaints sent home from the school and other sources. Whatever the reason may be, just know something isn’t right, and feel the need to take control of the situation. Being a parent, it’s important to do something, but you want to avoid nagging your child with endless questions.  So, what’s to do?

There are many parents who don’t feel its right to interfere in their child’s business. This does not mean they don’t worry however, constantly thinking about their child’s safety.  The worst thing is part is being unsure of whether or not any threat exists, yet being unable to stop yourself from worrying about it. When you find yourself in this situation, often there is very little anyone can do to help you. However there are options out there that can help alleviate your fears.

It is always best to attempt to gain this information from speaking to your child directly. While usually your child will be honest, as we all know this isn’t always the case. It is important to remember that there are some things a child will naturally be hesitant to share with their parents.   This hesitation can make parents even more anxious. This may cause them to look for answers on their own. With all the technological advancements in this era, we can find much of the information on people whom seem suspicious to you. Do you want to know, how?  Visit the website www.CivilRecords.com, type in the name of the person, and you will have access to all of the person’s current information, including detailed background checks.

You can’t afford for your child to be spending time with a person who has a shady past. The scariest thing is your child may not even be aware of their true past.  You can even find out if the person has ever been sued in a civil case.  In the circumstance that you do find negative information about the person, your fears of them taking advantage of your child are a completely natural reaction. That being said the greatest advantage to using this method of finding information is the person in question will be none the wiser.   It offers you complete privacy, and no one will come to know whose information you searched for through the website.

The website even provides personal information on the person – whether he or she is married, divorced or has kids.  Many parents prefer to allow their children to live their lives in their own way.  Keeping that in mind there are still situations when the interference in your child’s life could be critical to their safety.  So when the day comes that you are concerned about your child’s safety, visit www.CivilRecords.com.  You may find the results surprising.  The information you get will either assure you that your child is safe, or confirm your fears. In either case your child will eventually appreciate how concerned you were about them.