This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

“1 in 4 boys who bully will have a criminal record by age 30.” – American Medical Association

Bullying is a big problem. The United States government even built a website (Stop Bullying) filled with resources that help children, parents, teachers and others learn more about bullying and how to stop it.

Learn the high level facts and statistics about bullying below:

Infographic source: MAT@USC

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

It’s no secret – we’re a society that relies heavily on the internet. As our technology becomes more advanced, we also increase our reliance on being connected to the internet 24/7. While this in itself isn’t a bad thing, it has introduced a unique issue – internet addiction.

If you ask the average person, they wouldn’t admit to being addicted to the internet. However, how much time do you really spend online each day? If you’re without access for a period of time, do you begin to feel anxious and disconnected? You might not realize how dependent you’ve become on having access to the internet on a regular basis. Here are some tips for dealing with internet addiction.

Start Timing Yourself.
The most important part of dealing with any addiction is recognizing that you have a problem. To do this, start timing exactly how much time each day you spend online. You can do this with a regular kitchen timer, or you can keep a running tally of exactly how much time you spend in front of your computer. Have an internet-enabled cell phone? Don’t forget to count the hours you spend on your mobile browser as well!

Make Time for Disconnection.
A good habit to get into is to set aside designated time each day (or each week) when you won’t spend time online. It’s best if this is a time you can stick to, since a routine is extremely important when dealing with internet addiction. This time away from your computer (and phone’s browser) can be a great way to let your brain “rest”, and realize that you don’t need constant internet access to be entertained.

Make Time for Other Activities.
I’m sure our children and grandchildren will be asking us, “What did you do in the days before internet?”. How will you answer this question? There are still a lot of fun (and entertaining) activities that you don’t need the internet to enjoy. You could organize a popcorn and movie night with your family. Or, you could plan a family camping trip for a weekend when you don’t have to work. Even a day spent outdoors hiking, kayaking or playing sports can be a great way to get your mind off of the constant need to be connected online.

Spend More “Face” Time.
Sure, you talk to your best friend on Facebook, but when’s the last time you talked face-to-face? Take some time out of your week to visit all of your local friends to have a “real life” conversation. You’ll be surprised at how much more fulfilling it is to interact with someone in person.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

A few years ago, a group of hikers left on a day-long excursion to the mountains. However, when a storm hit, they weren’t able to return home. During the storm, they lost the trail, and became completely stranded in the woods. Without any supplies, food or water, the hikers had to figure out how to survive, especially since one of their party had been seriously injured during an accident. Though the group was rescued a few days later, the injured member nearly died during the experience. Experts agreed later that if one member of the group had been trained in first aid, they could have provided better care during their survival experience.

First aid training has become widely available to the public over the past few years. It’s also become extremely affordable, especially from public organizations like the American Red Cross. First aid training might not be your top priority right now, but there are many good reasons why you should think about taking a first aid class.

Natural Disasters
During a natural disaster, you might be cut off from medical care, at least for a short time. By obtaining training in first aid, you can rest easy knowing that you’ll be able to provide a basic level of medical care for your family. Also, being trained in first aid can allow you to assist others that may become injured during a natural disaster.

Family Emergencies
On the chance that someone in your family becomes injured at home, how long are you willing to wait for medical care? By having first aid knowledge, you can have a much better chance of providing care until certified medical help can arrive. If someone in your family has a medical condition (such as diabetes) it’s best to know how to treat complications of their condition. First aid classes can go a long way towards helping you understand how to take care of your family during an emergency situation.

Camping or Hiking Trips
Most families take a vacation during the year, often to a campground or hiking area. If you’re taking your family to an area that won’t have readily available medical care, it’s better if you have at least a basic level of first aid training. You might only have to treat sprained ankles and skinned knees, or you might have to deal with a real medical emergency. Wouldn’t you feel better if you were prepared to deal with any sort of medical situation?

Personal Safety
Knowing how to treat even basic injuries can go a long way towards improving your personal safety. Do you know how to treat a puncture wound? How to deal with a poisonous snake bite? What to do if you think you’ve broken a bone? By taking control of your own personal safety, you can improve your chances of a quick recovery from any injury.

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Some experts estimate that around 14% of homes in the United States are protected by monitored security systems. However, a burglary occurs every 15 seconds in the US. When asked why they don’t have a monitored security system, many people often cite one (or several) popular home security misconceptions. Here are five common home security myths.

Myth #1 – Home Security is Expensive!
Surprisingly, home security doesn’t cost as much as you might think. Some security companies offer a basic level of monitoring for around $40 per month. However, you also have to factor in the discount that having a monitored security system gives you on your homeowner’s insurance. Most insurance companies will give you around a 20% discount for having a monitored security system installed. However, some companies offer up to a 40% discount! In some cases, you might find that having a security system pays for itself in insurance discounts.

Myth #2 – I’ll Always Have to Pay for Monitoring.
If you’re tech-savvy, you can design your home security system without requiring it to be connected to a monitoring station. Some people don’t like the idea of paying monthly for home security, and that’s completely fine. Instead, you should focus on designing a system of sensors that sends you alerts (email, text, call, etc) when the sensors are triggered. You can even set up a video surveillance system that you can view remotely while you’re away at work.

Myth #3 – My Pet Could Set Off the Security System.
Most monitored home security systems are now designed to accommodate for at-home pets. The sensors can be placed in an area above the pet’s height, or they may also be put at a setting that detects movement over a certain size. For example, some motion sensors can be set to only go off if they detect motion of an object over 50 pounds, which is more than most pets weigh. If you have a pet, talk to a home security company – there are probably many options available to you!

Myth #4 – I Won’t Get Burglarized.
Tough financial times are making more people resort to desperate criminal measures. The average person will lose from $1000 – $5000 from a burglary. Are you willing to take that chance? Spending money improving your home’s security is like buying “insurance”. Even if you don’t get burglarized, it’s impossible to put a price on peace of mind.

Myth #5 –  Installing a Home Security System is Difficult and Expensive.
If you purchase a monitored home security system from a company along with a monitoring package, in most cases you may be able to get the system installed free of charge. Free installation has become a standard for many home security companies. If you don’t plan to pay for monitoring, you still don’t have to be an expert to install a home security system in your home. Stick to wireless systems, which are much easier to set up and install. Most stand-alone systems come with detailed instructions that will walk you through the installation process.

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

As the financial system in the United States becomes more unstable, it seems that more people are being affected by burglaries. Burglaries are now becoming an issue even in reputable neighborhoods, or communities that have never had previous issues with crime. Raleigh, North Carolina is no exception, as the city has seen a marked increase in the number of burglaries over the past several months.

Jessica (who asked that her last name be omitted for privacy reasons) never thought she’d be the victim of a burglary. Her neighborhood is very close-knit, with most of the nearby residents being good friends. Every other Saturday, someone in the community has a barbeque, and most families from her street will attend.

Several weeks ago, Jessica was picking her two children from day-care, after a long day at work. She’d only been gone from 9am – 3pm. She usually worked short days so that she could pick up her children before the day-care charged her for extra time. After pulling her car into the driveway, Jessica removed her children from their car-seats, and made her way up to her front door. Here’s her recounting of the events, from an email interview.

*******

It was so weird. I could tell right away that something wasn’t right, kind of a strange feeling. I was carrying Amy, since she was tired, and needed a nap. Joshua immediately ran up to the door. “Mommy, our window is broken,” he said. As soon as he said that, I stopped, and called for him to get back in the car. I put Amy back in her car seat, and then walked up to the front door.

The glass on the door was broken. I didn’t even think – I went inside. I know you’re not supposed to go inside, but I wasn’t thinking straight. My home was a disaster. All of our electronics were gone – television, dvd  player, our Wii, stereo… even all of our dvds, including our home movies. Why would they have taken our home movies? I went into my bedroom, and the little ceramic container I keep my jewelry in was smashed on the floor. Nothing was left. The television from my bedroom was gone as well. They even took the baby monitor – which had a video screen, so I guess they thought it was valuable.

I ran outside, and drove to my neighbor’s house with my kids. I finally called the police. They came, and I filed a report. Not one of my neighbors remembers seeing anything unusual. I don’t even know how the burglars carried out two televisions and so many electronics without someone noticing something. I’m still working on the insurance claim, but it’s so hard explaining this to my kids. They don’t really understand the whole concept of “theft” yet, or where all of their movies went. The police told me that there’s a very poor chance that any of our belongings will ever be recovered. I don’t really care about the other stuff, we can always buy a new TV. But our home movies are irreplaceable.

********

Jessica’ s story is a solemn reminder that burglary can be a devastating experience for any family. Also, it occurred in a very close-knit community, with no history of burglaries (as far as Jessica can remember). It also shows just how little power the police actually have when it comes to theft. Only a very small percentage of burglaries ever resolve with the items being returned. In Jessica’s case, no amount of insurance money could replace the home videos that were taken from her home.

The best way to deal with a burglary is prevention. Once you’re a victim once, you’ll probably want to make sure that it never happens again. Having to walk into your home after it’s been burglarized can be a very traumatic experience, one that will leave long-lasting emotional scars.

That’s why it’s so important to make sure that you take steps to burglar-proof your home. Install secure deadbolts, and buy a home security system (even a basic, inexpensive model). Install window break sensors that will detect any unwanted intrusion into your home. Make windows inaccessible by planting thorny or dense decorative plants. These steps will help you to make sure that your home (and family) will remain safe, even when burglary statistics are rising.

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

If you have a credit card, one of your biggest fears is probably that your card might be stolen. However, since many of us now make purchases online, there are now more ways for credit card thieves to gain access to your personal info. If your credit card information has been stolen or compromised, there are a few ways you can reduce your chances of suffering a devastating financial loss. Here are some tips about what you should do as soon as you believe your credit card info is at risk.

Call and Report Your Card Stolen

This should be the absolute first thing you do when you think your credit card has been compromised. Immediately call your credit card company, and report that your card information may have been stolen. This way, you can avoid any future fraudulent charges that may be posted to your account. Most companies will immediately deactivate your card, and may even stop any pending charges that have been posted since the time when you believe your information became compromised.

Place a “Fraud Alert” on Your Credit Report

Just in case, it’s always best to place a “fraud alert” on your credit report if you think your credit card information may have been compromised. Despite what you might think, cancelling your credit cards doesn’t ensure that a thief won’t be able to make fraudulent charges in your name. They may have gained access to other personal data through your credit card, which means your identity could be at risk. A fraud alert will mean that no new accounts can be opened in your name until the alert is removed from your account. To do this, you’ll need to contact all three credit bureaus individually.

• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 (www.transunion.com)
• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 (www.equifax.com)
• Experian: 1-888-397-3742 (www.experian.com)

Get A Copy of Your Credit Report

You’re entitled to receive a free copy of your credit report from all three credit bureaus once per year. In some cases, you may also be able to gain an additional free report after activating a fraud alert. It’s best to have documented proof of your credit report before any potentially fraudulent charges or accounts are opened in your name. Print out a physical copy of your credit report, and file it for future reference.

File An Identity Theft Report

If you want to be completely sure that your personal info will remain safe, you might want to consider filing a full identity theft report. These reports are usually in two parts, which may be time-consuming to complete. The first part of the report should be filed with your local or state authorities, such as the police. The second part of the report will be filed with a consumer reporting company, and will depend on your situation. Be sure to have detailed information available when filing your report. This should include the date that your information was most likely stolen, as well as information on any fraudulent charges or accounts that have been opened since the alleged theft. You might also have to provide documented evidence of the theft, if you can.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Ever thought about hiding your spare keys in plain sight? Here are four cool gadgets that can be used to hide your spare keys (and valuables) in style.

Note – It’s always best not to leave a spare key around your home, car or other vehicle. Though it may be convenient, most security experts strongly suggest that you always keep your keys in your possession. If you have spare keys, it’s best to leave them with a trusted friend or family member, in the event that you need them.

Fake Rock Hide-A-Key
This interesting little device is designed to look, feel and “act” just like a regular rock. The difference is that it can be opened, and a key can be hidden inside.  These rocks usually have a sliding panel, which has a small compartment just large enough for a spare key. Some of these types of “key hiders” are more realistic than others – Have you ever seen a blue or green rock? If seriously considering a fake rock to hide your spare key, you should probably stick to one that looks as ordinary as possible. Avoid any stylized or “meteorite” fake rocks, since the point of hiding your key inside a rock is so it can’t be easily found.

Sprinkler Hide-A-Key
This cool device is sold by ThinkGeek, a company that has always specialized in interesting (and fun) security devices. This key hiding device looks just like a sprinkler head, and can be pushed down into your lawn to appear “hidden”. However, you might only want to use this key hiding device if you already have an installed sprinkler device. If a potential burglar notices that you have just one sprinkler head in your entire lawn, they might start to get a bit suspicious.

Trailer Hitch Hide-A-Key
The awesome thing about this key hiding device is that it often comes with a combination lock. This means that  your spare keys will be relatively secure, and not easy for a potential car thief to access. The main limitation of this gadget is (of course) that your vehicle will need to be compatible with the hidden hitch safe. Many trucks and SUV’s have a compatible 2-inch hitch receiver which can be used with the trailer hitch safe. Installation of the hitch safe is actually very easy, requiring about two minutes of your time (and minimal tools).

Magnetic Hide-A-Key
This is one of the least expensive key hiding devices currently available for purchase. When these little key hiders were first released, many people purchased them for hiding their spare keys. Since this type of key hider is magnetic, this theoretically means that you can hide your spare car keys simply by sticking the compartment underneath your car in a hidden area. However, as was soon discovered, there are several problems with this. First, the magnet on these key holders isn’t always strong enough to withstand heavy motion. This means that the magnet could fall off the underside of the car during driving (which means you’d lose your spare key altogether). Also, hiding your spare key ON your car isn’t exactly the brightest idea. Many criminals caught on to the magnetic hide-a-key, making it more of a security risk than was worth the convenience.

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

You might have seen the news lately – the Midwestern United States is getting hammered by strong storms. Even if you don’t live in the Midwest, it’s still extremely important for you to know how to prepare your home (and family) for a severe storms. Weather conditions can be volatile, which means the severity of a storm could change at a moment’s notice. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for a severe storm.

Prepare for a Power Outage
In many cases, a strong storm might cause the power to go out in your area. Since power outages may occur even with “weak” storms, this should always be your first priority. If your water supply runs on an electric pump, fill up the bathtub with water. This water can be used for flushing the toilet, washing dishes and other tasks. You should also store some drinking water in safe containers, especially if you don’t have any bottled water stored. If the power does go out, it’s usually best to tape your refrigerator and freezer shut, in order to make sure that they stay cool for as long as possible. You should also prepare candles, flashlights and a battery-powered weather radio.

Secure Your Home
Close any shutters, put away garden tools and make sure your yard is free of debris. Strong winds can cause debris to damage your home and property. You should also make sure that your windows are closed for the storm. Despite information suggesting otherwise, it’s usually best to keep your windows shut during a storm that also has strong winds and/or rain.

Be Prepared to Leave
If a severe storm turns nasty, you might be advised to evacuate your home. Have a “Go Bag” ready with everything your family might need in the event of an evacuation. Have at least a three day supply of food, water, warm clothing and toiletries in the bag. If you have children, you should also bring books, toys or familiar items to make the evacuation less stressful. You might be evacuating to a shelter, and may need to stay in the shelter until the storm passes.

Stay Updated On Weather Conditions
Many strong storms also have the ability to spawn dangerous tornadoes. You need to know as soon as a tornado has been sighted in your area if you want to keep your family safe. Keep watching your local news, since it will allow you to stay updated on the weather conditions and advisories in your area. If your power goes out, turn on your weather radio and continue to listen to any warnings and updates.

Stay Calm
Perhaps one of the most important pieces of advice for severe weather conditions is for you to stay calm. Though it’s always frightening to be caught in bad weather, if you’ve made the preparations listed above, you have a much higher chance of staying safe during severe storms. Also, if you have children, it’s important to reassure them that your family will be safe during the storm. Staying calm will also allow you to think clearly in the event of an emergency.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Internet addiction is a relatively new concept for many people, since (believe it or not) we’re still in the very early stages of our technological era. The idea that we could become addicted to easy access to information seems almost laughable to many people. However, how much time do you really spend online? The internet has become such an integral part of our society, which we’ve adapted to incorporate into our daily routines. Are you, or a member of your family addicted to the internet? Here are five key warning signs that will help you identify an internet addiction.

1 – A “Need” to Be Connected
What happens when you don’t have access to the internet? Do you feel anxious, nervous or disconnected from other people? Do you try to finish your current activity as fast as possible, just so that you can get back online sooner? These behavioral traits are the sign of a serious internet addiction.

2 – Loss of Interest in Offline Activities
When was the last time that you did an outdoor activity that you previously enjoyed? Did you previously love to read, or draw – activities which you find yourself no longer interested in? This is another very important sign that you might have developed a dependence on online communication. Essentially, your internet time has become a replacement for other “offline” activities.

3 – Less “Real” Social Time
Of course you spend time interacting with your friends online – who doesn’t? However, the question is – do you spend time with them off of the internet as well? Most of us have become very accustomed to simply communicating via online messages, which requires us to spend less time actually “talking” to someone face to face. If you find that you’re avoiding actual social encounters in favor of chatting online, you may need to acknowledge that you have a serious problem.

4 – Others Have Commented About Your Internet Use
If other people are beginning to notice that you’re spending a lot of time online, it might be time to listen to their analysis of your behavior.  While all of us spend at least some time online, if it’s becoming noticeable to others, you might want to take a step back. Are your friends saying that they never see you anymore outside of chatting online? Is your family complaining about spending less time with you? Do you find yourself constantly checking your social media accounts? If any of these are true, you might want to stop denying it, and actually listen to the feedback you’re receiving about your online activities.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

With one of this year’s data disasters involving the leak of sensitive information over the Playstation Network, many people are looking for new ways to secure their gaming consoles. For parents, this often means restricting what information their children can have access to while gaming. Using parental controls on gaming consoles is a great way to ensure that your children will have a safe gaming experience. Here are a few tips for adjusting the parental controls on your children’s gaming consoles.

Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii is one of the most widely used gaming consoles in homes with young children. Fortunately, it also gives parents the most control over what content their children are exposed to. Here we will show you how to restrict content based on a game’s ESRB rating, as well as how your child interacts with online programs.

The first thing you’ll need to do is access the Wii System Menu, and then select ‘Parental Controls’. If this is your first time entering this menu, the Wii will ask you to create a 4-digit PIN and a security question to protect your changes. Once this is complete, you will be given a variety of options. You will probably want to focus on restricting the ‘Highest Game Rating Allowed’, which will allow to prevent your children from playing games with a higher ESRB rating than is appropriate for their age.

If your Wii is connected to the internet, you can also place limits on online features. Click on ‘Other Settings’ in the Wii system menu. Here, you can block your child from using the Internet or News Channel. You can also block sending and receiving of online messages, as well as “user-created content” (pictures, videos, etc). From here, you can also restrict the use of Wii points, which are used to purchase games from the Wii Shop Channel.

Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 is an extremely popular video game console manufactured by Microsoft. Microsoft has created an entire section of their console dedicated to parental controls, which is called the ‘Family Center’ or ‘Family Setting’ (depending on what time of membership you have on Xbox Live). In this section, you can control which games can be played, which movies/TV shows can be watched, how long the console can be played on a daily/weekly basis, and whether or not your children can log on to Xbox Live.

All of these options can be manipulated in the ‘Console Safety’ section of the ‘Family Center’.

If you need step-by-step instruction, consult Microsoft’s official Xbox support page: http://support.xbox.com/en-us/pages/xbox-live/how-to/parental-control.aspx

Playstation 3

Like the previous two consoles, Sony has also incorporated parental controls into the Playstation 3. Before any parental controls are changed, you will need to create a password for yourself, which can be done in the ‘Security Settings’ submenu under ‘Settings’. The default password is ‘0000’, which you will need to enter before you can change it. After you have successfully created a password for yourself, proceed to the ‘Parental Controls’ menu under ‘Settings’.

Under ‘Parental Controls’ you will be able to restrict games by ESRB rating, as well as playback of DVD’s and Blu-ray discs. If you would like to block the usage of the Internet Browser, you can set this option as well, under ‘Internet Browser Start Control’. If you need to restrict Internet chat, or set a monthly spending limit for the Playstation Store – log into your master account and select ‘Playstation Network’ -> ‘Account Management’ and then ‘Manage Sub Accounts’.

For more information, refer to Sony’s official documentation: http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/3_15/basicoperations/parentallock.html