tech thursday: 5 apps to tame road trips with toddlers

Summer road trip season is upon us. Luckily for all you tech-savvy parents out there, your smart phone will give you a few tricks to hide up your virtual sleeve that makes road travel with toddlers just a wee bit easier. Here are five apps I'm currently loving (and you will too!).

Road Trip Bingo
Get your kids looking out the window! Sure, you can play the low-tech version of this game, but you gotta admit, it's kinda fun to shake the phone to create your bingo card. The app contains more than 40 items to find and displays them in image format. Perfect for toddlers! Note, there is mildly annoying music with this app. Don't worry - you can turn it off. Developed by Bright Bunny, you can play this app on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. (99 cents)

Where Do Kids Eat Free Today?
Yeah, you heard me. An app that uses your current location to find the nearest restaurants hosting 'kids eat free' nights. Save a little green on your road trip, too! You can also submit restaurants with kids eat free nights via the app, which helps expand the database. Available for iPhone and Android, from Youniversal Apps. Don't want the app? You can use your phone's web browser to search their website database by zip code. (99 cents)

My Little Suitcase
The last time we went on a trip, the Bug put three t-shirts and her blanket in a suitcase and said she was ready to go. My Little Suitcase begins with a bright menu of choices for a beach trip, snow trip, camp trip, or sleepover. Kids get to pack their own mittens, camping lanterns and beach balls. One by one, they choose items into the suitcase until packing is complete. Designed for kids ages 2-6, this is a great app to start teaching your kids about travel. So when they arrive at their destination, they're ready to PLAY. Available for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad from My Busy Kit. (99 cents)

Sunday Drive Scenic Route
Wanna travel 'like a local?' Download this FREE app, which highlights ideal tours for families, adventurers and explorers featuring the best of America's back roads and hidden treasures. Simple & easy to use, just click ‘Options’ at the to right side of the screen. Click Drives to view a listing of routes sorted by distance from your location. Impromptu road trip or need to make an unscheduled pit stop? You're covered. You can even suggest routes/destinations within the app using the 'share' button. (FREE)

Sit or Squat
You betcha. It's exactly what you think it is. An app to help you find the nearest restroom. As a mom about to embark on my first potty training adventure, this is going to be super handy. There isn't too much more to say about this one. Developed by Densebrain and 100% FREE. (FREE).

What apps are you swearing by? Would love to hear about them! Just leave a comment.

Tech Thursday is a join project of (cool) progeny and Classic Play. Each week, both blogs will take on a family-tech related topic. Want to read a past tech thursday post? Just visit either blog and search 'tech thursday.'

tech thursday: when tech does 'good' {{did you see it?}}

With the barrage of emails, facebook posts, tech messages and tweets I get every day, sometimes messages get lost in the noise. 50% off here! A fabulous deal!! Vote for me? Do you 'like' this?

I checked today - - I'm a member of 18 deals sites and personally 'like' more than 350 pages on Facebook.

Yeah, information overload.

But in all of those tech-based messages flying around, good things are happening. Social media has tremendous power to do social good. Here are two ways local Charm City organizations are making use of it:

Deals for Deeds

Deals for Deeds started in Washington, DC and recently launched in Baltimore. (Expansion plans are in the works for Philly next!). The basic premise? Using deals -- which drive traffic and create customers for local businesses -- to reinvest in the community. A consumer (that's you or me) purchases a deal from the website and then a portion of the proceeds benefits a local non-profit foundation. There's a little gift back to the consumer in terms of a price break, the local business attracts new loyal customers, and a non-profit gets a little financial boost. A win-win for everyone in my opinion.

I chatted with co-founder Harrison Miller on Tuesday about the websites expansion into the Baltimore market. He stressed that the deals through his website won't be as significant a discount than let's say, a Groupon or Living Social deal. Rather than a 50% discount, a consumer will receive something more akin to a 20% or 30% discount. For small businesses (which most of our local businesses are!) this is critical to helping them attract repeat customers rather than one-time deal seekers, and helps protect their viability. Often times small businesses participating in the large scale discount websites end up losing money on the promotion. Plus, are consumers are making a contribution to a terrific cause in the process of purchasing a deal.

Here are the current local charities working with Deals for Deeds: Back On My Feet of Baltimore,
Baltimore BORN, Baltimore Child Abuse Center, Baltimore Humane Society, Community Law in Action, Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance, Hand in Hand, Parks and People, Park Heights Community Health Alliance, Project PLASE, The Literacy Lab, and Wide Angle Youth Media.

To receive weekly deals for deeds in your inbox, just head over to their website. This week's deal is $15 for $30 worth of YUM at Cazbar.

Baltimore Child Abuse Center and Chase's Community Giving Program

Chase has $10 million to give away - - and is using Facebook as a means for the public to direct where the money goes. Any registered Facebook user can log and vote for their favorite charity. This has made quite a difference for the Baltimore Child Abuse Center -- who placed in the top 100 causes for round one and will receive $25,000. They have a chance to win $500,000 in round two, but need your help!

They have a BIG IDEA: No child should be a victim of sexual abuse. They aim to educate every Baltimore City kindergartner, kindergartner's parent and kindergarten teacher. They also want to provide support - - through an innovative arts program to empower survivors . Lastly, they'll develop free online tools for adults to work with children to develop safety strategies and family plans.

Want to help? Give them your vote.



How else has technology enabled social good? Tell us your story!

Tech Thursday is a project of (cool) progeny and Classic Play. Each week, both blogs take on a family-tech issue. We invite you to join the conversation!

NOTE: (cool) progeny is now an affiliate of Deals for Deeds. We love that they're giving back to the city we love -- and 100% support them in this initiative. We'll keep our readers informed of any family-friendly deals too. But we want to be transparent with everyone and thought you should know we're working together. {{We're super picky about who we work with -- and Deals for Deeds fit our criteria!!}}

tech thursday: the iPad and early literacy development (from the archive)

In honor of Learning Touch's 1,000,000th download celebration, we're re-running our perspective on the iPad and early literacy development for this week's Technology Thursday post. Weigh in. We want to hear from you!

This is the post where I confuse you about my background.

You all know that I'm an educational technologist. My 'official' job title is Manager of Educational Services... which is a rather nondescript description when you think about it. What either term may mean to you probably means something completely different to someone else.

But my master's degree is NOT in technology - - it's in literacy development. Watching the intersection of the two has been a wild ride as the Bug has developed into a full-fledged, card carrying toddler and started developing language skills.

In my opinion, there is a place for purposeful technology in all of our lives and tuning out the technology completely does a disservice to our kids. My personal parenting philosophy is everything in moderation. While we need to give our kids freedom to develop their creativity and imagination through play, we also have to teach them how to use technology in meaningful ways.

You've all read the debates about exposing our children to technology at an early age. For example, last October ABC News ran a piece titled Toddlers & Tech: Are All Screens Created Equal? Parents, Pediatricians Debate Over Technology Use Among Young Children. The story examines the difference between television/key-based cell phones and touch screen devices like iPads and iPhones. The American Academy of Pediatrics argues that screen time is passive viewing and not developmentally appropriate for toddlers who need stimulation through play. Warren Buckleitner, editor of the Children's Technology Review and one of several advisors to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, argues that touch screens are developmentally appropriate for sensory-motor learners, and can let kids simulate everything from cooking to popping bubblewrap to finger painting.

I don't believe there is enough evidence-based data to support a household ban on touch screen time for toddlers. Touch screens and apps have literally saved my sanity some days. {{Admit it! You've handed over the iPhone to your about-to-have-a-meltdown kiddo in the grocery store to avoid produce aisle scene, too!}} But no, we don't let the Bug play on the iPad for hours on end. Hello, moderation!

While there may not be enough data supporting a ban, there ARE plenty of anecdotes supporting exposure. (Again, in moderation).

Here's a snippet of Lila interacting with the First Words: Animals app developed for the iPad by Learning Touch. Note that I did not download the app for her - I was reviewing it for a job-related project. Her curiosity must of gotten the better of her one day and she simply launched the app while browsing the iPad. I spotted what she was doing, had easy access to my iPhone and could capture her first encounter with the app.

You all know I'm not about killing and drilling with flashcards. This is pretty much a digital version of flash cards. But watch how she's interacting with it and constructing knowledge of pattern (letter) matching. It's pretty amazing.

So what does this tell us about how our kids - - the true digital natives - - learn? And how do we balance technology with the critical play our kids need?

Technology Thursday is a joint project of Classic Play! and (cool) progeny Each week, both blogs will be taking on a family-technology-related issue. We invite you to join the conversation!

tech thursday: when junior's website is monetized

It's Thursday! That means it's time to talk families and technology with our friend Jen from Classic Play. Today's question is an interesting quandary:

If your child can become an entrepreneur through internet technologies, what does it mean for your basic household ecosystem? Does a $5 a week allowance hold up to making five times that a week in ad revenue?

The discussion is being hosted over at Classic Play today. So hop on over there and join the conversation!

Technology Thursday is a joint project of Classic Play! and (cool) progeny. Each week, both blogs will be taking on a family-technology-related issue. We invite you to join the conversation!

Previous discussions in this series:

smartphone smarts and the 411 on geotagging
In the Year 2011
iPads in schools
Rules for Facebooking
How much is too much?

and more… just search Tech Thursday on either blog

tech thursday: smartphone smarts & the 411 on geotagging

If you've read my blog log enough, you know that I'm not one to fear monger. But this is something you may not be aware of - - and really should be.

We all love our smart phones. Me especially. My iPhone4 takes gorgeous photos and video. Apps like facebook and twitter for iPhone make it easy for me to share photos and video in real time, from wherever I am.

But... (there's always a but, right?)….

Did you know that every piece of data (that is video or photo) that you take on your smartphone has a bit of geographic data attached to it? In short, this processing (called geotagging) attaches GPS coordinates of where you took the photo to the data associated with the photo. This makes it easy for your iPhoto program to sort by location, but it could also pose a potential safety hazard for your family.

That picture you tweeted out of your child (finally!) peacefully sleeping in his or her room? Yeah, the GPS coordinates were probably attached. That means someone can easily find your house, or your child's room.

{{Cue Hitchcock music...}}

Here's what I'm NOT saying: "OH MY GOD. DON'T EVER USE YOUR SMART PHONE AGAIN!!! I can't BELIEVE you'd put your child in jeopardy!"

What I am saying: Use your smart phone thoughtfully.

Although it sounds ominous, the website ICanStalkU.com has a lot of great information about about smart information sharing. Here's what they're saying about smartphones and geotagging:

Most people don't realize that the action of automatic geotagging takes place on their smart phones, either because it is enabled by default, not exposed the user as an option, or was asked and then forgotten. As a result, individuals often share too much information about their location, right down to the exact Latitude and Longitude when snapping photos with their smartpphone and posting them online.

The easiest way to stop inadvertent geotagging? Simply disable geotagging on your smartphone. ICanStalkU has step by step instructions for how to do this for most smart phone platforms (iPhone, Andriod, Blackberry, etc).

Want to read more about this topic? Check out what the New York Times has to say about it, or this NBC News Article.

Do you have other safe smart phone tips?

Technology Thursday is a joint project of Classic Play! and (cool) progeny. Each week, both blogs will be taking on a family-technology-related issue. We invite you to join the conversation!

Previous discussions in this series:

In the Year 2011
iPads in schools
Rules for Facebooking
How much is too much?
and more… just search Tech Thursday on either blog

Image Credit: Wired Magazine.com

tech thursday: iPads in school

Growing up, we'd always receive a list of school supplies that needed to be purchased. It included things like notebooks, folders, crayons, pencils. As I progressed through the school system, the list expanded to include calculators and then the oh-so-expensive graphing calculator. And I wasn't even good at math.

The iPad may be the next supply on your kids' school supply list.

Last month, Converge Magazine ran a piece on iPads in K12 schools -- examining various pilot projects. The article outlines uses, strengths and limitations of the tool as a learning device. Advantages? Touch screen, predictable user experience, long battery life, no cords needed and fabulous for browsing/book reading. Some of the disadvantages? It's not a tool that really can be shared simultaneously between students, and it's not a great tool for typing long documents.

{{Insert sarcasm: when did it EVER occur to someone that an iPad was an appropriate tool to type a long document?}}

Admittedly, some times new technology is purchased and integrated before we fully know how to harness it effectively -- and purposefully -- in the classroom. We oftentimes get tangled up in the "cool" factor. Or we try to adapt new tools to old methodologies (i.e. using the iPad to write long narratives).

This ed tech mom believes that we need to develop technology tools that engage our kids in deeper learning -- core content skills and knowledge with complex cognitive skills like critical thinking and problem solving.

We all have used our iPads or iPhones to entertain our kids (admit it, if you've got one - - you've done it!). Here are a few ways the iPad can engage our kids in deep learning:

• iThoughts: Have you seen this fabulous little tool that allows you to concept map (or mind map) with your iPhone or iPad? Being able to organize and visualize thought processes is a critical strategic thinking skill. The iPad can bring that to life -- and allow our kids to save, store and digitally retrieve them.
• Multimedia Creation/iMovie: No one disputes that the iPad is THE perfect browsing solution for digital video and photos. The iPad is a perfect way to create multimedia. I believe that multimedia creation is an excellent way to synthesize thoughts, which allows children (well, all of us actually!) to construct meaning and share that knowledge in an authentic context.
  
• On-Demand Video Browser: If your child is interested in a certain topic, they can browse and view videos right from the device. Virtually anywhere.
• E-Books/Interactive Books: The iPad allows for educational developers to create learning tools that are interactive. So rather than just reading a text book (I'm not a complete convert -- still love to crack open a book myself!), our children can be fully immersed in a learning environment that lets them click on hyperlinks to more information, access data in real time, manipulate 3D illustrations and more.
  
• Tactile development: You all know I have a toddler at home. The iPad allows her to simulate activities like finger painting or letter tiles because of it's touch screen capabilities. I'm definitely NOT for giving up the messy art activities, but sometimes it's not always practical to have a painting free-for-all (which it inevitably ends up being). This is a great tool for those times!

So - - weigh in. Do you want your child bringing their iPad to and from school?

Technology Thursday is a joint project of Classic Play! and (cool) progeny. Each week, both blogs will be taking on a family-technology-related issue. We invite you to join the conversation!

Recent discussions in this series:

It's all in the Apps
Rules for Facebooking
How much is too much?
Do you take your coffee with a splash of Smart Phone?

... and more! Just search "tech thursday" on either blog!

Image Credit: Today's iPhone

tech thursday: there's an app for that...

It's Thursday! That means it time to talk tech with Classic Play. Head on over there today for our discussion about apps... we want to hear about your favorite ones!

After all, life's like a bunch of apps...

Ok, nevermind. :)

- - -

Technology Thursday is a joint project of Classic Play! and (cool) progeny. Each week, both blogs will be taking on a family-technology-related issue. We invite you to join the conversation!

Past discussions in this series:

Rules for Facebooking
How much is too much?
Do you take your coffee with a splash of Smart Phone?
What Would Nana Say?
Can Gaming Make you a Better Parent
Boys and Gaming
Cyber Civility

image credit

tech thursday: rules for facebooking

Sometimes, social networks can be frustrating. This week is no exception.

Kimberly, a local blogger who maintains the craft blog The Muddy Princess recently released a statement on her blog:

I'm a small blog, and I blog for fun, so I never thought it would be necessary to run down the rules of copyright law. But after a fellow mom alerted me to the fact that someone else was using my children's photos on their FB page, I found that this matter needed to be taken care of immediately.

All photos on my blog are my own, unless otherwise noted. Which means, you are not allowed to copy my photos for your personal use. Unless you are a fellow craft blogger linking to one of my projects, you have no right to my photos. If the children you see in these photos are not your children, please do not copy and use them for your personal use.

Facebook is a social utility. It's an opportunity for us (as parents, but also as individuals) to connect and interact with our family members and friends. It's also an opportunity for those of us who run businesses -- large or small -- to connect with existing and potential customers, partners, and vendors.

But it's a tool that purposefully blurs the lines between "personal life" and "business." Are your business colleagues your 'friends' on Facebook? What about your business partners and vendors? It's one thing to show your administrator a cute photo of your kid that's on your iPhone. It's a whole other animal for him or her to have access to your entire online family album and 11:52 PM stream of conscious status updates.

It goes without saying that Kimberly should have never been in a position that her forced to write a public statement indicating images and content posted on her facebook page were her property -- especially images of her own kids. You might remember our first Tech Thursday post on cyber civility. Rule number eight? Don't take things that aren't yours.

That said, the whole idea behind Facebook is that it's a sharing tool.

Which leads me to today's question regarding tech and families: what are your rules for what goes up on you page?

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Technology Thursday is a joint project of Classic Play! and (cool) progeny. Each week, both blogs will be taking on a family-technology-related issue. We invite you to join the conversation!

Past discussions in this series:

How much is too much?
Do you take your coffee with a splash of Smart Phone?
What Would Nana Say?
Can Gaming Make you a Better Parent
Boys and Gaming
Cyber Civility

tech thursday: how much is too much?

It's Thursday! That means it time for our weekly dose of tech talk with our friends at Classic Play! Today's topic focuses on parents. Your online time. And when connectedness becomes too much.

The average person spends 35.3 hours online each month. Wowza. That's almost 1.5 days a month online. Being wired is great... but when you quantify time, it gets a bit scary.

How much is too much when it comes to technology? At what point do you walk away? Are there any tips or rules you’ve put in place to avoid getting sucked in?

Hop on over and join the discussion, which is being hosted on Classic Play today.

Technology Thursday is a joint project of Classic Play! and (cool) progeny. Each week, both blogs will be taking on a family-technology-related issue. We invite you to join the conversation!

Past discussions in this series:
Do you take your coffee with a splash of Smart Phone?
What Would Nana Say?
Can Gaming Make you a Better Parent
Boys and Gaming
Cyber Civility

tech thursday: do you take your coffee with a splash of smart phone?

When Jennifer Cooper and I first discussed the whole idea of Tech Thursday, we wanted to be sure we stuck with discussions that looked thoughtfully at the intersection of technology and family.

So today, I want to talk about your morning coffee.

Say what? How is that remotely related to technology and family?

Mornings, at least when I was growing up, was a time to catch up with the other inhabitants of my house. We'd crack open a box of cereal, chat about what was on tap for the day, and pack our lunches. Before you get too nostalgic about the good ole, wholesome 80s (did I really just say that?), I should also include that these mornings included a lot of yelling up the stairs at my brother to get a move on, and frequently ended with rushing out of the front door and some much-needed object inevitably being left on the kitchen counter.

Fast forward to today. My mornings include a facebook check, email check, text message check, usually some multimedia forward of photo or video via my iPhone to a family member or friend, weather.com or Foot's Forecast perusal, and scan of the major newspapers on my laptop while throwing down one or two cups of liquid caffeine. Plus getting the Bug up, ready and fed. Mix in a brief stint of educational programming - - say Sesame Street -- that I stream through netflix or comcast on demand.

Has technology ruined our morning family time?

Two years ago, the New York Times ran a front-page article on the "new" morning routine of families:

This is morning in America in the Internet age. After six to eight hours of network deprivation — also known as sleep — people are increasingly waking up and lunging for cellphones and laptops, sometimes even before swinging their legs to the floor and tending to more biologically urgent activities.

Yes, that's an accurate depiction of my post-alarm clock activities. Of course, my mornings become a lot more complex and less tech-focused after the Bug wakes up, but I'm still attached to my iPhone.

So, back to coffee. Do you take yours with a splash of tech or a whole heaping helping? Has technology impacted your morning family time? What does the 'typical' family morning routine look like in the digital age?

I'll be checking my smart phone for your comments...

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Technology Thursday is a joint project of Classic Play! and (cool) progeny. Each week, both blogs will be taking on a family-technology-related issue. We invite you to join the conversation!

Past discussions in this series include

• Is technology bringing back our grandparents' values?
  Tech Thursday: What Would Nana Say?
  
• A family that games together stays together?
  Tech Thursday: Can Gaming Make you a Better Parent
• Should schools turn to gaming to teach our boys?
  Tech Thursday: Boys and Gaming
• Cyber lessons to pass onto next generation
  Tech Thursday: Cyber Civility

tech thursday: what would nana say?

It's Thursday! That means that it time to chat technology and family. Today's discussion is hosted by my family-tech partner-in-crime Jennifer Cooper at Classic Play!, and we're talking social media and its impact on your family values.

It's an interesting thought: is social media bringing back our grandparents' values? Check out this op ed piece on Mashable and see why this concept struck us.

Is Facebook just a new-age version of the travel slide show (um - did you upload photos of your latest trek to your fb page?), family bonding (keeping up with that second cousin twice removed in Omaha?), or becoming a "regular" (how often do you check in or swing by the bricks and mortar location or online real estate of your 'liked' businesses?).

As I said, interesting perspective.

So swing by Classic Play! and let us know your thoughts.

Technology Thursday is a joint project of Classic Play! and (cool) progeny. Each week, both blogs will be taking on a family-technology-related issue. We invite you to join the conversation!

Past discussions in this series include:

• A family that games together stays together?
  Tech Thursday: Can Gaming Make you a Better Parent
• Should schools turn to gaming to teach our boys?
  Tech Thursday: Boys and Gaming
• Cyber lessons to pass onto next generation
  Tech Thursday: Cyber Civility

tech thursday: can video games make you a better parent?

Welcome back to Technology Thursday, where Jennifer Cooper from Classic Play and I identify a family technology issue and offer up one of our blogs for discussion. It's (cool) progeny's turn to host!

Today we're looking at video games. But this is not your mama's traditional screen time vs. outside play debate. It's not about dissecting the amount of time our kids spend playing games (note - - we're not suggesting that's not a related issue, it's just not one we're tackling today). We're looking at the positive impact of video games on the whole family -- kids AND adults. Actually, mostly adults.

Can video games make you a better parent?

In the spirit of full disclosure, I am NOT a gamer. Trying to navigate the PS3 menu to get one of the Bug's DVDs to play frustrates the bejeezus out of me. But I may start to embrace gaming...

In her new book Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World, game maven and guru Jane McGonigal suggests that skills develop in video games can translate into real life. This doesn't mean that if you play an aviation simulation game, you'll be able to land a lear jet in 'real life' with zero training (sorry, Hollywood). Instead, McGonigal focuses on skills/traits that can be honed in a virtual environment such as cooperation, teamwork and self confidence.

In an interview with Josh Dzieza at The Daily Beast, McGonigal shares her thoughts for how video games make us better -- better citizens, better neighbors, better business people. If McGonigal's theory holds water, I'd venture to include better spouses and better parents.

In what ways do games make us better, and is that something all games do, or are some games better at bringing out certain virtues in players?

There are lots of studies that show how the kind of optimism and altruism we get in games spills over into real life. And people who play music games like Rock Band or Guitar Hero are more likely to pick up an instrument in real life, even if they’ve never played an instrument before. Surveys of thousands of gamers have shown that they’re more likely to play real music if they play a music video game. So it’s an interesting relationship where the games aren’t replacing something we do in real life, they’re serving as a springboard to a goal we might have in real life, like learning to play an instrument.

There’s also research that shows if you play even for just 90 seconds with an avatar that is powerful or attractive in a virtual world, that that changes our confidence levels for the rest of the day, that we’re more confident and therefore successful in flirting with members of the opposite sex or negotiating contracts or difficult workplace situations, that we bring that sense of confidence and power into the real world with us.

Also, I mention in the book that great nine-university study that playing a game where you help another character, just playing it for 30 minutes, makes you more likely to help a friend, a neighbor, a stranger—for the entire week. Those are just some of the ways you can see how the games we play impact our real lives, so you can start to figure out what are the rules for the best games to be playing. Games that make you feel good about yourself are good games to be playing.

So, what do you think? Do video games make us better? What does better mean for you and your family? For your kids?

(cool) tip: Want more? Check out Jane McGonigal's TED talk video.

tech thursday: teaching boys through gaming

It's Thursday! That means it's time for our new weekly family-technology related musing. This week's discussion is being hosted by my family tech partner-in-crime Jen Cooper over on Classic Play. We're looking at gaming. Specifically, boys, gaming and school. Hop on over there and tell us what you think.

The conversation continues next week on (cool) progeny as we look at the themes raised in Jane McGonigal's Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World. Just in case you wanted to race out, buy it and chime in...

Technology Thursday is a joint project of Classic Play and (cool) progeny. Each week, both blogs will be taking on a family-technology-related issue. We invite you to join the conversation!

civility in cyberspace: lessons to pass on to the next generation

Earlier this week, a post I wrote about Kneebouncers sparked lively dialogue on their facebook page. While many comments provided constructive feedback to the developers, there were an unfortunate number of inappropriate or down right mean ones that well, stung. Profanity. Name calling. Piercing accusations. Some were just numbing - - and they weren't even directed at me or what I wrote. Many of the comments had to be deleted.

The sad part? It wasn't the first time I've seen adults {{parents}} go rabid on a social network site.

I have a little 19-month-old mini-me at home. She mimics everything I do, from teeth brushing, to 'washing' dishes, to the words I say. It stands to reason that she's absorbing my online behaviors as well, before she can even type.

How I handle myself -- in person and online -- impacts the person my child becomes. What are your online behaviors telling your child?

Today, Jennifer Cooper (Classic Play) and I are taking on social network etiquette. Truthfully, our kids are not ready to jump in to the social media web just yet, so we have time to refine the list below. But we want to lead by example. And we think these are rules of social engagement that everyone should consider living by:

• Behind every username, there is a person. Treat them like you would your best friend, work colleague, or grandma. They have a face. They have feelings. **No one's getting rich on the web. I mean I guess maybe one or two people are, but generally speaking, behind the blog or fan page, there's someone who's just trying to either connect with others or make a living to put food on the table.
  
  
• Social media is about interacting. Do so respectfully. Debate is encouraged, and difference of opinions are expected. But make sure your comments are well thought out and remember your words can do harm. **Here's the thing, no one expects everyone to agree on everything. But if we all go around screaming and shouting at each other, what happens? You'll end up needing a hearing aid and a throat lozenge.
  
  
• Don't say anything that undermines your integrity. If you think you have to say something anonymously, don't say it at all.
  
  
• Comment fair. Choose your words thoughtfully. Emotional ranting makes you look, well, fill in the blank. **Take a second to read through what you typed before you hit the comment button. You don't have to obsess, but you should ask yourself, what am I projecting here?
  
  
• Once it's out there, you can't take it back. So think twice before you post, upload, or comment. Even if you delete, someone has seen it. They'll remember. And someone else will still be able to find it. Including Mom or Dad. A future employer. Your best friend. **I once had a speech professor from Africa say this: "Words are like arrows, once you release them, you can't get them back." It's something I think about to this day.
  
  
• Remember, you're a guest. If you're reading someone's blog, it's the same as if they've invited you into their home. It's their internet real estate. Don't do or say anything that would embarrass your mother. **You want to be the guest that gets invited back, not the one everyone says, "Oh I thought she'd NEVER leave." as soon as the door shuts.
  
  
• Find another way to vent. (AKA don't post angry). Everyone gets angry. That's ok. No one wants to read your virtual temper tantrum or tirade. Tearing someone else down on a facebook page? That just makes you a bully. If you're feeling hot, take a walk. Think about what upset you. Still feel a need to post? Ok. Write about it tomorrow when your emotions aren't so high and you can focus your energy into a constructive comment. **Some of the worst moments I've had were when I said something stupid because I was angry. We all make mistakes but lashing out in anger does nothing but come back to bite you, ahem, in a very unpleasant spot.
  
  
• Don't take things that aren't yours. Attribute everything. If someone shares a link with you and you like it, give them credit. NEVER copy someone's words and give an impression they are your own. **This is just good practice.
  
  
• When you venture into the social web, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together. Everything you need to know you really did learn in Kindergarten. You'll talk with people you've met in real life, and those you'll never meet in the "real world" on the social web. Be an online friend to all of them. Listen. Respond. You'll be amazed what kinds of friendships will emerge. And with whom. **Here! Here!
  
  
• Be safe. Your personal details are just that - - personal. You can share yourself without divulging your location, phone number, birthday or social security number. **Yes, just like you don't give out your phone number to the creepy guy who asks you out, don't give it out here either.
  
  
• Always be yourself. Literally and figuratively.
  

What would you add to this list?

Technology Thursday is a joint project of Classic Play and (cool) progeny. Each week, both blogs will be taking on a family-technology-related issue. We invite you to join the conversation!