Internet Safety...Helping Your Kids Avoid Internet Predators
Anyone who is online is exposed to contact with strangers. Those who have a page on social networking sites like MySpace and FaceBook are even more likely to be contacted by unknown people who are unethical or dangerous. Sadly, it is children who are at greatest risk from these Internet predators. These online ‘bad guys’ seek out children that are lonely, vulnerable, or rebellious. Many of them have learned exactly what to say when they are corresponding with the young person, and they are adept at making the child or teen feel like they understand them and care for them.
Penny Saved, Penny Earned: Teaching Your Teens Good Spending Habits
In today’s age where consumerism is at an all-time high and it’s easier to spend money than it is to save, children and teens witness bad spending habits. Americans live in a world of “wants” and “I have to haves,” and the effect on the younger generations could be staggering if they are not taught about good financial practices.
Back-to-School Safety Tips for Parents and Children
The transition from months of summer vacation to the structured school year can be difficult for many children and parents. On returning to school, many of your children could be very enthusiastic and energetic or distracted as they see and talk to many friends that they have missed over the summer. No doubt the furthest thing from their minds is safety and caution. But all it takes for an accident or tragedy to occur is one quick lapse in attention.
Greening the Cleaning
We keep hearing this term, “green.” Think green, live green, be green. Whether you believe that global warming is happening / is a real problem, we can all agree that our future generations can only benefit from us taking care of our planet and preserving precious resources.
Protecting Your Credit Score
Questionable lending practices, identity theft and rising interest rates have affected the financial health of many Americans, and protecting yourself and your credit score is a key factor in surviving economic ups-and-downs.
Identity Theft – Dos and Don’ts
The age of information has had a few mixed blessings, including the fact that everyone’s personal information, from a Social Security number to your birthday or address, is relatively accessible to someone who wants it unless several precautions are taken. Once thieves have obtained private information, there are several types of fraud that can be committed: credit card fraud, phone or utilities fraud, bank/finance fraud, or government documents fraud.
New Credit Card Reforms Aim to Protect Consumers, Lessen Debt
The rising debt of the average adult in the United States is no secret, and paired with the mortgage crisis and credit crunch, the economic outlook is less than rosy. Lending practices by credit card companies have enabled consumers to spend beyond their means, and many people have fallen into the fine-print trap as these companies raise interest rates and change the terms of the credit contract, further increasing the debt.
2007 The Year of the Recall
The year 2007 will be remembered for many things. But one thing that stands out is the high number of recalls throughout the year. We could even deem 2007, “The Year of the Recall”. From toys to automobiles, pet foods to cribs, hundreds of consumer items – many of them from trusted names in consumer products like Mattel, Nissan, Fisher Price, Iams Pet Food, among others, were found unsafe and recalled.
Internt Drug Purchases...Consumers Beware
It’s tempting to purchase drugs (medications) online. They can be substantially less expensive, and you don’t need to get in the car and go anywhere. A few clicks, and they are shipped to your front door. However, consumers who purchase and use drugs from the Internet are taking a chance, and putting themselves at serious risk.
Protecting Consumers...The Future of the Consumer Products Safety Commission
Lately it seems that you can’t turn on the news without hearing about a product recall. From power tools to children’s toys to household appliances, consumer product recalls have been particularly prevalent as of late. In fact, over 7 million children’s toys, all manufactured in China, have been recalled in the last six months due to lead poisoning hazards. Additionally, millions of other products have been recalled in 2007 due to fire and choking hazards, among other risks. These frequent recalls have left many wondering who is behind all of these unsafe products, and what these recalls mean for the consuming public.
Unsafe Toys! Be Aware, Be Safe
MATTEL. FISHER-PRICE. THOMAS THE TRAIN. ELMO.
Common names in America’s households and also warm, safe, trusted names. Not any more. A rash of toy recalls over the past few weeks should make parents sit up and take notice. Just because a toy is from a well known manufacturer doesn’t mean it couldn’t be unsafe. And if you need proof, you can go online and do a search for toy recalls or specifically ‘china toys recall’ and you’ll see personal stories of parents and families whose children have been harmed, primarily by lead paint used by some Chinese toymakers.
Backovers...A Real Threat And A Real Danger To Children
We are less vigilant in our driveways than when we are out on the streets or in public lots. That's because our driveways are so familiar to us, and we pull in and out several times a day, every day of the year. But driveways are dangerous places, injuring thousands each year in the U.S. due to backover accidents, and killing hundreds of children, possibly more.
Child safety seats in vehicles: Their correct use, Consumer Reports findings
There’s no contesting this fact: When correctly installed and used, child safety seats decrease the risk of injury and death to children riding in motor vehicles. So the first challenge is getting all parents everywhere to use a child restraint seat every time.