Tag Archives: Alex Merton-McCann

Social Media in the Classroom – What Do You Think?

As a parent, you may have mixed view about social media. You may LOVE it when checking out fashion or recipe boards on Pinterest but HATE it when your teen refuses to get off Facebook at 10pm on a school night. But regardless of your opinion – there is no denying that social media is Read more…

The Annual Social Media Clean-Up

My four boys detest cleaning up. The groans, grunts and comments come thick and fast: “No-one else’s mother makes them clean up like you do”. “I’m sure the UN would consider this illegal – it’s forced child labour”. Well, too bad boys – clean-ups are here to stay!! But with school holidays just a few Read more…

HELP – My Child is an Online Bully…

Some days my children make me proud and other days, well – let’s just say they give me palpitations! But after 16 years in the job, I have resigned myself to the fact that the big highs and big lows are just part of the parenting rollercoaster ride. But as far as lows go – Read more…

Is Facebook Making You Feel A Little Down?

Now – it is essential that you are totally honest with me. Promise! So, tell me – do the Facebook photos of your friends’ holidays and ‘fabulous’ social gatherings make you feel a little down or de-energised? Does the talk of restaurants and over-achieving children ever make you feel jealous? Well, if your answer is Read more…

How To Keep Your Teen’s Private Data Safe When They Are ‘In Lurve’!!!!!

Teen love can be all consuming. And don’t say you don’t remember – we’ve all gone through it! The world stops. Nothing else matters (particularly not school work). Love takes over… You are Sitting On Top Of The World (to use Delta Goodrem’s expression!) When you are in love (and not particularly worldly) you may Read more…

Should Schools Teach Social Media Skills?

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Now, I am not a risk taker, but I would challenge anyone to find an Aussie teen who hasn’t embraced social media. Whether it is Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, the digital world is the teens’ playground. Our teens are often described as digital natives – they’ve never known life without the online world. They seem Read more…

Oops – Have You Forgotten to Secure Your Devices?

Isn’t Christmas and the school holidays a whirlwind? Between holiday ‘catch-ups’, the very intense family schedule and New Year’s celebrations, it can be a wonderful yet often exhausting time. Sometime it is hard to find a moment to think! But now school has begun and the dust has settled. Phew! So, I have to ask Read more…

Cyber Education: The Buck Stops With Us Parents!

Teaching my kids to cross the road safely has taken many years. And to be honest, I am not completely convinced they all have it down pat just yet! I don’t know how many times I have said: ‘Look right, look left and then right again’ or ‘Don’t cross until you see the green man Read more…

Healthy Harold and McAfee to teach Aussie Primary Students how to bCyberwise

As you would have guessed by now, cyber education is a passion of mine. I am a big believer in education and preparing our kids for life’s path (as opposed to preparing the path for them!) So, I am delighted to tell you about bCyberwise – a new cyber education module, developed by McAfee and Read more…

Getting Down With The Kids – Internet Slang for Dummies!

Whenever my boys come home with a new buzz word or saying, I instantly feel like a dinosaur. Whether it is ‘noob’ or ‘epic fail’ (all said with a huge dose of attitude!) the linguistic chasm between us just seems to get wider. But when it comes to kids’ online vocab, I am a big Read more…