By now, most parent know and understand the term ‘sexting’, and the potential seriousness of the matter when teens are caught with compromising pictures on their computers or phones, not to mention the fact teens aren’t known for discretion and a sexy photo sent by a girlfriend to her boyfriend will often make the rounds of his friends – and vise versa. (more…)

Talking to other parents I sometimes I think that ‘helping with homework’ is a thing of the past. So many parents seem to rely on the Internet as the new homework helper while they’re off doing whatever it is busy parents have to do.

Call me old-fashioned, but I always try and find the time to help my kids with their homework.

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We recently discussed how a study revealed how many apps share collected personal information about our children with third parties – without our consent.

Since the apps in the study weren’t named, it’s hard to know which ones to watch out for. However, we can all do something to help protect our children. Not only from unwanted sharing of personal information (as much as we can), but from apps that have hidden costs – the app might be free, but the ‘purchasing’ of magic coins, or opening up new levels may not be – as well as from apps that allow your child to connect and play with adults over the phone or the tablet.

Parents do have a reason to be concerned with the things their children do on their smartphones, but it seems we have an even bigger concern with what the apps are doing with your children’s personal information.

The US Federal Trade Commission released a study this month on children’s apps, and the findings are very unsettling.

For those of you who were following it, it was a weird case, a suspicious case. For those of you who weren’t following it, it’s still a weird and suspicious case. Casey Anthony, a young mother of a 2 year old daughter first of all took 31 days to report her daughter Caylee’s disappearance, which happened on June 16, 2008.

This report followed a whole heap of lies, including accusing the babysitter of taking the child. Caylee’s body was found, decomposed, not far from her home.

Casey then behaved very coldly, oddly and callously following her child’s death. Odd to the extent of partying it up with friends and her boyfriend, and acting happy and free.

Finally it came to light that, according the Ms Anthony and her father, a former police officer, Caylee accidentally drowned in the family swimming pool, so they panicked and hid the body.

Is this strange? Well, the prosecution obviously thought so, but due to lack of  forensic evidence, no witnesses and a body so decomposed it was difficult to pinpoint cause of death, the jury found her not guilty.

Click here to read the whole story in the NY Times.

I must say, guilty or innocent, my blood runs cold at a parent being so seemingly uncaring. Perhaps it was shock, denial, or something more psychological, but I cannot fathom hiding the fact your child died for a whole month – especially if that death was accidental.

Whatever happened I don’t think we’ll ever know. But this case does drive home the fact that protecting your children is of paramount importance, and I am thankful most of us are good parents.