Notes from the Wired Kids Summit, Washington DC February 25, 2009

This week I was Wired. A social networkers dream. I found myself in a room filled with people from Facebook, MySpace, MyYearbook, Nickelodean ( iCarly ), Disney, Imbee, KidZui, Build-a-Bear, Webkinz, LG, Xbox, and agencies like the FTC, dept.of education, and many more. And lots and lots of teen angels. The event was the Wired Kids Summit sponsored by WiredSafety.com and it was amazing.

The biggest thrill of the day was having a chance to finally meet Parry Aftab in person. Parry founded WiredSafety back in 1997 and published one of the first books on Internet safety which is to this day still the best guidebook for parents who are concerned about keeping their kids safe online. Some of the lingo in the book is outdated and there have been some big changes online since the book was published but the ideas found in it are still as solid today as they were in 1997. As editor of Stayathomemom.com I had the chance to interview Parry in an online chat back in 1997 so it was a real treat to see her in action.

Parent’s Guide to Protecting Children in Cyberspace

The room was filled with people from the industry and teens angels who presented their research on several aspects of Internet and tech safety.

The program started at 9am and was seriously non-stop until almost 4pm. Too much good info for one blog entry so I have broken it down into separate sections. Keep coming back here for a week long series on a one day event.

Next: Getting There

Today is Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras. Today is actually the last day in the Mardi Gras season although some cities keep celebrating on through lent. If you want to be a purist you party up a storm from Twelth Night or Epiphany through Mardi Gras ( Fat Tuesday ). Then tomorrow you modestly observe Ash Wednesday and begin the 40 day observance of Lent. This leads up to the Easter celebration where the candy festivities begin again.

One of the ways to observe Lent is to fast. Growing up we always gave up one or two things to symbolize the 40 day fast. Typically, I give up having any licorice or ice cream during lent. This is usually pretty tough for me because I love a good piece of licorice. This year though I just can’t seem to find any stores anywhere around that have good black licorice. I still get points for giving it up even if I can’t find any around anyway.

Last year my son gave up talking about TV. He thought this was going to be pretty easy. As it turned out it was much tougher than he thought. He didn’t give up watching tv – just talking about it. So, this morning he looked at the calendar and looked at me and said “It’s Fat Tuesday? Does that mean it is time to give up something again this year?” I told him yes it was to which he replied he was going to have to think about this first before he makes his decision this year.

One thing I am definitely going to give up this year is having to work so hard to brush my teeth. My annual checkup was yesterday and every year my dentist recommends that I get an electric toothbrush. This year they said it wasn’t a recommendation it was a requirement. So, I came home with my new toothbrush, charged it up and brushed my teeth. It’s amazing! It is sooooo much better and sooo much easier. I can hardly stand that I have put it off this long.

Here is the link to my new toothbrush. Philips Sonicare Flexcare RS980 Toothbrush With UV Sanitizer Dental Professional Model

Here is a great link that explains Mardi Gras and Lent.

So, if you fast this season I recommend giving up plaque and working so hard to get your teeth clean. You really feel great after brushing your teeth this an electric toothbrush. Here’s smiling at you kid.

One of my favorite lines from the movies is Dustin Hoffman saying “I’m walking here”.  In the scene that this famous line is said Dustin Hoffman’s character is crossing a street at a crosswalk and a taxi is trying to turn into the same lane at the same time and the two meet.

Now it has come to the attention of some legislators that some people are not able to walk and talk at the same time – at least not on their cell phones. Also, jogging with earphones on has become a problem too. Distracted walking has become a real problem.

In a recent article posted on NPR there have been a number of people that have walked into the way of oncoming cars or not heard trains coming because of talking on the phone or wearing headphones. In NY the response was to legislate.

What happened to the people in the article was very tragic but do we really need more legislation. We have legislated using cell phones while driving but have done nothing about screaming kids in the back seat or people who are eating in their car. Some states are now proposing that we get taxed by our mileage and that we have gps systems installed in our cars so that they can keep track of that.

In response to the distracted walking deaths the state of NY is proposing penalties and fines.

The question is when is enough enough? Wouldn’t a public awareness campaign be enough? A campaign like we have for smoking or for heart health or tolerance. More people die from heart disease each year than distracted walking but we are legislating heart disease.

Read the article and decide for yourself.

Under the category of “you only live once”.

Today my kids decided that they wanted to go out and play tennis.  This would not have been a totally crazy thing to do on any given Sunday but on this particular Sunday it was snowing.

Yes. Snowing.

But the only thing the kids love more than tennis is snow.  So, we bundled up and off we went.

Just to fill you all in – we are not amazing tennis players.  In fact, none of us has ever had a lesson.  We also do not have a membership to an indoor tennis club.  What we do have is two tennis racquets in the back of the car and some tennis balls.

Since we only have two tennis racquets that means that two of us get to play at a time and anyone else gets to be the ball boy or ball girl.  Today Tom and I were the ball boy and ball girl.  When we got to the courts at the local middle school the snow was coming down sideways but not really sticking.  As we were asking the kids if they still wanted to play tennis they replied “Snennis!   Tennis in the Snow!” 

It was actually pretty fun and even though the kids are pretty good tennis, ur I mean snennis, players this ball girl still got in alot of running – this was ok because it kept me a little bit warmer than just standing there in the snow.

So, rain or snow or almost too hot – you never know.  Get out and play with your kids or your friends.  You might have more fun than you thought you would.

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