Are you able to translate OMG, LOL, TMI, F2F, B4N? These are the easy ones but do you have the whole online texting vocabulary mastered? Print our ACRONYM TEXTING LIST with some of the most commonly used.

SBParent.com of course is all about embracing technology. I turned forty last week and I celebrated it with my first iPhone and a Nook from Barnes and Noble. Now I can have up to 1,500 books on one small gadget that I can take anywhere. I have apps on my cell phone that give me everything from recipes to subway maps when I travel to a full list of local movies (and yes I love that there are games to keep my kids entertained when I am in a meeting). It is so much fun to explore all of this technology. The challenge as parents in this day and age is where do we limit it for our kids so that they still learn to appreciate the simple things like picking up a book or building a fort in the back yard.

Today's technology is a far cry from what existed when we were growing up. Over the last couple of years I have talked with so many parents about computers, the internet, internet safety, cell phones, digital cameras, facebook, etc. and although many of us have different views on what type of access to technology is appropriate at what age, the one thing that we all seem to agree upon is that technology can open up many doors and opportunities, some good and some bad.

When asked for a cell phone at an age when you can't imagine them needing a phone of any kind, what parent hasn't described to their child what it was like when we were kids? Perhaps the most fascinating part is that our kids truly can't imagine a time before cell phones, let alone the internet! Most children are better at operating cell phones and computers than their parents.

The irony with social media is that it can really make us more anti-social. It is much safer to sit behind our computers giving our opinions and sharing our lives than being face to face. Our kids still need to understand balance. Cell phones can be fun and of course convenient but do we want our kids entire relationship with their friends to take place through texting? I am a huge fan of social networking as an adult and for business and I use Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and have found many great benefits including re-connecting with friends from the past. I still think my kids can gain more though as pre-teens from playing in the back yard and learning to nurture friendships than they can sitting in front of a computer screen. There has been a lot in the news this past year about cyber-bullying. Children still do not realize the full scope of how damaging the internet can be when you choose to post something negative about another person, forward one another's emails or even share a photo online. Create a list of internet house rules as a family. Include the kinds of sites that are off limits, internet hours, what information should not be shared online, and guidelines for communicating with others online, including social networking.

What age is appropriate to let kids use the internet? Again, this is something that must be decided upon for each family. Interestingly, many of our kids are online by the age of 3 or 4 playing games on the internet. This may be their gateway and first experience with the computer so it is a good time to start setting the ground rules for using the internet. You can use internet safety tools to limit access to content, Web sites, and activities. You can be actively involved in your child's internet use by insisting that your children not share personal information such as their real name, address, phone number, or passwords with people they meet online. If a site encourages kids to submit their names to personalize the Web content, help your kids create online nicknames that don't give away personal information. As your kids get older, and more internet savvy, keep Internet-connected computers in an open area where you can easily supervise your kids' activities. Continue to keep family communication as open and positive about computers as you can. Keep talking about online lives, friends, and activities, just as you would about other friends and activities. Encourage your teens to tell you if something or someone online makes them feel uncomfortable or threatened. 

What about cell phones? How old were your kids when they started asking for one? One of the biggest selling points kids use for needing a cell phone is so that they can get in touch with their parent(s) at any given time, not to mention that "everyone" already has one. If you decide it is the right time get your child a phone, remember to talk to your kids about why you have given them this privilege, explain the safety concerns you have related to cell phone use, let them know you may be monitoring their usage and/or texts, and any additional rules that are relevant to your family.

Finally, where do you stand on social networking and allowing your kids to have a Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, or other type of account? This has been one of the biggest battles we have faced with our child in the current technological age. It is amazing to me the number of kids in elementary school that have Facebook accounts. The types of drama and cyber-bullying that can happen between "friends" on Facebook is alarming. We have set 15 as the age when we will re-visit the Facebook request with our pre-teen; I am really hoping by that time Facebook will have lost it's novelty - although I am sure something else will pop-up to replace it by then!

Wherever your family stands on technology and the amount you allow into your home is your choice. Whether a little or a lot, keeping the lines of communication open between yourself and your child is an essential piece of navigating our cyber world. The key is balance... technology will always be a part of our kids lives so we just need to make sure that they are also learning to appreciate the simple things that encourage them to use their imaginations and be creative.

A special request... Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family of six month old Andromeda Grace Whitney who died on July 7th of SIDS.  Her mother Annie Whitney is the director and head teacher at Seasons Preschool. A memorial fund has been set up at SB Bank & Trust. Please consider contributing to support this local family during this difficult time >>

FYI... Did you hear about the new toy store opening at La Cumbre Plaza? Read more...

Below is only a partial list of upcoming events and activities so be sure to click on our EVENT CALENDAR so you do not miss anything >>

Use the PARENT PLANNER to click on events and resources you are interested in and click PRINT MY PLANNER to print or email your list.

Camp Calendar | School Schedules | Movie Showtimes

Cupcake Camp Santa Barbara
Cupcakes for Cancer

Date: 07/25/2010 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Details: Join us for the BIGGEST Cupcake tasting on the Central Coast! YUM! This is a family-friendly event to raise funds for Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara! In addition to Cupcake Tasting, activities include Frosting Bar, Cupcake baking competition (Professionals/Amateurs/ Youth), Cupcake eating contest, Old Fashioned Cake Auction, Betsy Johnston Party Dress Fashion Show, Enter our "Cute as a Cupcake" Fashion Runway Parade, Cupcake Craft Boutique, Whole Foods serving ice cold hormone-free milk, Raffles & Kids area!
City: Santa Barbara Phone: (805) 448-7336 view all details >>

Submitted by Evan Asher of TechEase Computer Solutions

Social media has gone mainstream, yet many people have yet to take the plunge. Particularly since many children are more involved with it than their parents, it's important that we educate ourselves about it so we understand how to set limits. I encourage you to sign up for these free accounts in order to understand the tools your children are using, and along the way you may very well end up a convert.

Facebook has become very popular among school-aged children as a way to keep informed on the activities of others, and particularly as a very easy picture sharing tool. Because of concerns you may have about your children posting pictures for others to see, I highly recommend you sign up for an account and experiment with the many security settings Facebook offers. You can limit what people see based on whether they are your friend, a friend of your friend, within a network like co-workers or schoolmates, or publically viewable to anybody. For more information, check out this NY Times article. While security settings can help, it's important to remember that anybody you allow to view your pictures is technically capable of downloading them and sharing them however they like. A good rule is never to post anything online that you wouldn't feel comfortable posting publically.

Twitter is another popular social networking tool which is based on the premise that messages are limited to 140 characters. This means you can get updated about a lot of things quickly without investing a lot of time. Twitter is much more public by nature, and encourages the discovery of others with similar interests. You may make your Twitter updates ("Tweets") private if you wish to avoid this. Here is a great guidebook on Twitter that covers basics for beginners. Twitter tools such as TweetDeck can greatly enhance your use. Here are a few great Twitter tutorials on Youtube. If you want help finding local Twitter participants ("Tweeps") to follow, these tips can help.

I hope you sign up for Twitter and Facebook accounts to better educate yourselves, but once you do you may find that they can be indispensible tools in your professional and social lives. They have helped our company TechEase to become more involved in the community and meet people we never would've otherwise. As a direct result, we sponsored Twestival Local. Twestival is a Twitter Festival fundraiser which is held each year (for more info on Santa Barbara Twestival click here). During Twestival Local we choose one local non-profit and use the power of Twitter to raise awareness and dollars for them. Last year we chose Direct Relief International, a Santa Barbara non-profit. We sold out the rooftop of the Canary Hotel and raised $10,000 for DRI using the leverage of our social networks. Who says social media is a waste of time?

Setting limits, supervising use, and educating your children about privacy issues are great steps toward fostering responsible social media usage. Come find TechEase on Twitter and Facebook if you have questions, we're happy to help!

Submitted by Make It Work, Inc the Neighborhood Computer Support company.

Having an online presence is almost necessary nowadays. But with such a huge online world frequented by so many, there are inherent risks that you, the parent, should know about. Here are some simple ways to be safer on the internet.

1. Be Aware! The nature of the beast is a shape shifting one, so keep yourself informed and educated.

2. The internet is no longer optional. The internet is relevant and necessary for school, homework, and social interaction and development.

3. The Internet is everywhere. The internet is accessible through cell phones, ipods and public computers. Video gaming is now meshed with online social networking, chat, and texting.

4. The internet is forever. Once you post something to the internet like pictures or videos it is there to stay, anyone has access to it and can save it for future access.

5. Rules and Limitations- Talk about what kind of hours and supervision expectations you have.
Use this great Internet Usage Contract found at poogling.com

6. Consider special software. Software for blocking or filtering content prevents children from accessing inappropriate websites. We recommend Net Nanny. Monitoring software records every key stroke made on a particular computer. We recommend Spector Pro.

7. Social Networking- Facebook and Twitter have millions of users that can make direct contact with your children. There are 500 million users on Facebook alone. Just because they aren't your child's friend, doesn't mean they can't contact them. Photos and personal profile info included. Look at your child's security settings to establish appropriate boundaries.

8. Cyber-bulling is real. Cyber bulling is easy for predators to do, it is energy-less, and victims are easy to find. It can cause real distress to your child!

9. Be a part of your child's online activities. Show your child that the internet is a great and handy tool. Be a friend on their Facebook or Follow them on Twitter, contribute and be a part of their online life.