Infographics | The Wired Homeschool

5 Ways to Control a Facebook Wild Child

John — March 14, 2013 — Leave a comment

If your children are online using Facebook after midnight, not only are they losing sleep but they’re also at greater risk of being cyber-bullied.

23% of children (age 10-15) are online after midnight and that means they’re using social media when they’re tired and their judgment is impaired.

There are some simple things you can do to prevent this from happening:

1. Remove all gadgets and computers from their bedroom. When your child turns in for the night make them give you their device.

2. Enable time limits on computers. Windows and MacOS both have parental control features that allow you to configure times when an account cannot login.

3. Review your child’s online activity. An occasional spot-check of your child’s phone and social media accounts will help you find any after-hours activity.

4. Reset your child’s account password. This is rather extreme but sometimes necessary. You reset their account password and they must have you login for them.

5. Use filtering and monitoring software. Software like Covenant Eyes, NetNanny, and SafeEyes will go a long way in curbing a child’s late night surfing.

Show me the infographic!

In Infographics, Internet, Security, Social Media

A Cheat Sheet for Getting App Reviews [Infographic]

John — March 14, 2013 — Leave a comment

I get a lot of request to review apps. I can’t review all of them. How do I choose the ones that make the cut?

First, a developer’s chances are greatly improved if he uses my app review submission form.

Second, I look for a good pitch. What makes up a good pitch? Here are some things to include in your pitch:

Name of the app
Link to iTunes (important, not only the app website but the iTunes product page)
Video (a link, not an attachment)
Description (Say what your app does, why it is different, how does it pertain to homeschooling?)
Price
Upcoming sales or promotions
Contact information (add multiple options, email, Twitter, Skype, telephone)

If you’re an app developer who wants me to review your app, take a look at the infographic below to see how to make a good pitch.

Show me the infographic

In Infographics

The Digital World of Teens

John — March 12, 2013 — Leave a comment

75% of teenagers use social media. Of those, 89.5% are on Facebook. It’s a good idea to know what’s going on in the digital lives of your teens…

Infographic via Quib.ly

In Infographics

How to Play a Game With Your Kids [Flowchart]

John — March 7, 2013 — 2 Comments

There’s an art to playing games with your kids. You have to have very specific skills to be a good dad while playing games. Here’s a flow chart that will help you:

via How To Be A Dad

Hey dads, do you have any strategies for playing games with your kids?

In Fatherhood, Infographics

We’re surrounded by screens and use one everyday. Our kids use computers and handheld devices more than our generation and the ubiquity of these devices continues to grow. It’s important that we teach our kids to use these devices in a way that will reduce any sources of eye strain. The Vision Council recently released a report on digital eyestrain that provides practical tips for reducing the risks to our eyes.

We are living in an extraordinarily digital age. Thanks to technology often small enough to hold in one hand, we can video chat across oceans, stream lectures online to thousands and read entire books on one screen. It’s all shaping the way our world works, learns and socializes. But this digital world poses a potential risk to our eyes.

The issue is digital eye strain, which is caused by the overuse of digital devices. Because computer tablets, smartphones and other hand-held products are designed for reading and close range use, eyes must constantly refocus and reposition to process content like graphics and text. Over time, such efforts can lead to fatigue, irritation and vision problems.

Many of the suggestions contained in the report Screens, Phones, Tablets and More: Keeping Your Eyes Safe in a Digital Age [PDF] will also reduce neck and back strain.

Computer “Eye-gonomics”

The Vision Council recommends the follow for safe “eye-gonomics”

Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away
Enlarge the text on your computer and handheld devices
Clean your screens to remove dust and glare
Blink often, don’t stare at your screen
Adjust environmental variables such as lighting, the height of your desk, chair, screen
Consider purchasing computer eyewear

Smartphone “Eye-gonomics”

Some days I find myself suffering from eye strain a little more than normal. I work in front of a computer all day so I’ve learned to recognize when I need a break or I need to correct my posture or habits.

Have you tried any of these suggestions? Do you make sure your kids are seated properly when using the computer?