photo credit: Tanya Ryno

I recently had to send this email message to my normally well-behaved 12-year-old:

Hey, Cheechooguy (or whatever your screen name is these days),

You seem to be circumventing (that means “going around”) parental controls lately by asking permission to add people to your instant messaging list, then signing into my email and giving yourself permission. This is NOT how parental controls are supposed to work. Please don’t do this anymore,

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If you’re like me, the thought of buying a new piece of recreational hardware (even when it’s just sanctioning a purchase by your child) is often accompanied by the thought, “How long before this becomes obsolete?” This article from Fast Company answers that question for everything from the Wii to GameStop to Halo with the inside scoop on what will be new in 2009 (and beyond) for consoles, games and distribution.

photo credit: craigmdennis

 The New York Times reported yesterday that cyberspace may not be as threatening to children and teens as we’re led to believe:

A task force created by 49 state attorneys general to look into the problem of sexual solicitation of children online has concluded that there really is not a significant problem.

The findings ran counter to popular perceptions of online dangers as reinforced by depictions in the news media like NBC’s “To Catch a Predator” series. One attorney general was quick to criticize the group’s report.

The panel, the

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We have a new house rule: No scary movies for Alex after noon (he’s five). Otherwise, we all suffer. Trust me. It’s the same screen version of my own “No caffeine after 3 pm” rule. It may feel so good going down, but you’re gonna pay for it later. And we all need a good night’s sleep. So for now, we’re all agreed. Harry Potter is confined to morning in our house.