Archive for the ‘For Kids’ Category
Tell Your Teen Why Indoor Tanning Is OUT!
March 16th, 2010
by Guest Blogger
[Today's guest blogger is Janet from the Federal Trade Commission]
It’s the depths of winter. It’s been overcast for weeks. The local tanning salon is advertising an all-you-can-tan deal for $30, and your teen wants to get a tan before the prom. Is it safe?
You can tell your teen the answer is a resounding no. According to the Federal Trade Commission, indoor tanning can cause melanoma and squamous cell skin cancer. In fact, the FTC recently settled charges that a major player in the indoor tanning industry misrepresented the risks of indoor tanning.
The FTC is not the only agency warning about the risks of indoor tanning. The Food and Drug Administration and the National Cancer Institute both advise that you avoid tanning beds entirely. The FDA cites a recent study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer finding that the use of tanning beds before the age of 35 increases the risk of melanoma by 75%. What’s more, the FDA site provides a real life example of the potential consequences of indoor tanning. It features the story of a former Miss Maryland who was diagnosed with melanoma at the age of 20, after years of indoor tanning. Since her diagnosis, surgeries have left her with about 25 scars. Visit the FDA site to learn more.
Tags: cancer, kids, tanning, tanning beds, teens
Posted in For Kids, Health | 1 Comment »
What about Teen Drinking Parties?
March 12th, 2010
by Guest Blogger
[Today's guest blogger is Janet from the Federal Trade Commission.]
I was surprised, recently, when a good friend told me she was going to host a drinking party for our teens. Our kids were sixteen.
“I know they’re going to drink anyway,” she said, “so I’m just going to keep the car keys. They’ll be safe.”
I had to speak up, and fast! As gently as I could, I laid out the facts: “It’s not your decision to make. Letting other teens drink in your house undermines other parents, and in many states, it violates the law.” I added, “Drunk driving isn’t the only danger associated with teen drinking, and you can’t guarantee that the kids won’t drive after they leave your house. How about offering the kids non-alcoholic choices, instead of another place to drink?”
My friend was surprised at my insistence. I recommended that she check out the FTC’s website, DontServeTeens.gov, for more information.
“It’s a good resource for information about the rates and risks of teen drinking,” I said, “and it answers a lot of common questions about underage drinking.”
What about teen drinking parties?
I was surprised, recently, when a good friend told me she was going to host a drinking party for our teens. Our kids were sixteen.
“I know they’re going to drink anyway,” she said, “so I’m just going to keep the car keys. They’ll be safe.”
I had to speak up, and fast! As gently as I could, I laid out the facts: “It’s not your decision to make. Letting other teens drink in your house undermines other parents, and in many states, it violates the law.” I added, “Drunk driving isn’t the only danger associated with teen drinking, and you can’t guarantee that the kids won’t drive after they leave your house. How about offering the kids non-alcoholic choices, instead of another place to drink?”
My friend was surprised at my insistence. I recommended that she check out the FTC’s website, DontServeTeens.gov, for more information.
“It’s a good resource for information about the rates and risks of teen drinking,” I said, “and it answers a lot of common questions about underage drinking.”
Tags: drinking, parties, teens, underage drinking
Posted in For Kids | 5 Comments »
Are You Distracted While Driving?
March 11th, 2010
by Guest Blogger
[Today's guest blogger is Celeste from the FCC.]
As the mom of a teenager who will be driving soon, I naturally want to make sure my son stays safe. I want him to keep his eyes on the road. I don’t want him to get distracted and accidentally hurt himself or someone else.
According to AAA, nearly 50 percent of teens admit that texting while driving is dangerous. However, Students Against Destructive Driving (SADD), along with Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, also released data that 37 percent of teens continue to send and receive text messages in their moving vehicles anyway. Even though state laws increasingly deal with texting and talking while driving (for example, by legislating the use of hands-free sets), there’s still a ways to go in educating drivers of all ages about the dangers of these habits.
And education is, indeed, a key step to reduce distracted driving. There are articles, web sites, and videos that can assist you in becoming more informed and passing this information along to your children and others in your life. Check out the Federal Communication Commission’s Distracted Driving Page to learn more and get information you can use in your community. The web site also provides links to other agencies – including the Department of Transportation – and organizations that are involved in reducing distracted driving.
Changing behavior is not easy, but it starts with each of us. As for me, I’m striving to set an example for my son by putting away my cell phone and paying closer attention to the road when I’m behind the wheel. It’s a small but critical step in making the road safer for my son and those with whom he shares it. After all, kids may not always listen to their parents; but they do watch what we do.
Tags: driving, mobile phone safety, safety, texting, texting while driving
Posted in For Kids, NCPW | 5 Comments »
National Financial Capability Challenge
February 23rd, 2010
by Nicole
A Message from U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan
A few weeks ago, my colleague Colleen wrote about the challenges of her first credit card. Many of us have had similar experiences—when we realize we won’t be able to pay off our debt as quickly and easily as we thought. More than ever, it’s important that kids and young adults learn practical financial skills, so they can avoid costly mistakes.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S Department of Education have teamed up to launch the National Financial Capability Challenge for 2010. The Challenge is an awards program designed to increase the financial knowledge and capability of high school students.
During February and March, educators who accept the challenge will teach students the basics of personal finance. Then, students will take a voluntary online exam. In April, educators and top-scoring students will receive award certificates, and schools and states with the highest participation rates will earn special distinction.
All educators working with U.S students (ages 13-19) are encouraged to register for the Challenge, download the free Educator Toolkit, prepare their students, and administer the online exam.
Registration ends on March 14, so please spread the word to high school educators in your local community!
Tags: budget, children, education, financial literacy, high school, kids, teaching
Posted in Credit and Debt, For Kids, Money | No Comments »
Online Safety for Kids and Parents
February 5th, 2010
by Julia
Kids are using all kinds of platforms and tools to communicate and connect online: social networks, photo and video sharing sites, IM, email, blogs. But is your computer wiz kid whizzing around the web safely? Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online is a new free guide from OnGuardOnline.gov that helps parents, teachers, and other mentors navigate this landscape and start the conversation with kids about living their lives online. It’s available in Spanish at AlertaenLínea.gov.
Since the booklet’s release in October 2009, schools, PTAs, police departments, and libraries across the country have ordered over a million copies of Net Cetera to use in their online safety programs. There are lots of ways you can share the guide with your community, too. Here are just a few:
- Order free copies for friends and family, or for a school, scout troop, or soccer team. Hand them out at a PTA meeting, or pass them on to teachers in time for parent-teacher conferences. Visit bulkorder.ftc.gov to order as many free copies as you can use.
- Grab the Net Cetera button from OnGuardOnline.gov to use on your own website.
- Include information from the guide in your blog or newsletter, or send it to your list serv.
- Co-brand it with OnGuardOnline.gov – there’s even space on the back for a sticker with your organization’s logo or seal.
Net Cetera is in the public domain.
Have other ideas for outreach? Leave them in the comments! And if you’ve used the guide, let us know.
Tags: children, community outreach, computers, internet, kids, outreach
Posted in For Kids | 5 Comments »
Privacy Today
January 28th, 2010
by Nicole
When I was a kid, my definition of privacy was keeping my diary hidden from my brother. I didn’t think much about the value of my personal information, like my home address or phone number, and I didn’t have any passwords to keep safe.
My twelve-year-old niece already has a much more complex understanding of privacy than I did at her age, and she’ll need that as she begins to use social networking sites, smart cell phones, and the latest interactive games and technologies.
Because the notion of privacy is changing for everyone, the FTC is hosting a series of privacy roundtables to explore the privacy challenges posed by 21st century technology and business practices. The goal of the roundtables is to determine how best to protect privacy while supporting the beneficial uses of these new technologies.
It’s quite appropriate that we are hosting the second roundtable today, January 28, which is recognized as Data Privacy Day in the U.S., Canada and 27 European countries. To learn more about Data Privacy Day and to find resources to help you better protect your privacy, visit DataPrivacyDay.org.
One goal of Data Privacy Day is to promote privacy awareness among teens and young adults, and one resource that can help is Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids about Being Online. It’s a guide that provides practical tips to help adults help kids navigate the online world – whether they’re dealing with social networking and cyberbullying or sexting and file-sharing.
For more tips about how you can protect your privacy and stay safe online, visit OnGuardOnline.gov, where you can play games, watch videos, and read more about social networking sites, phishing, and kids’ privacy.
Happy Data Privacy Day!
Tags: children, data, identity theft, kids, privacy, teaching
Posted in For Kids, Identity Theft and Privacy | 2 Comments »
Memories (and what I learned) About Getting My First Credit Card
January 27th, 2010
by Colleen
Ever heard the phrase “If I knew then what I know now”? Well, some of us can relate that phrase back to getting our first credit card. You know what I’m taking about…buying the latest electronic gadget, tickets to a must-see concert, or a new outfit for a special date, certain you can pay off the balance rather quickly. But of course, that’s when the unexpected happens: your car needs a new battery, your TV [or computer] gets fried during a thunderstorm (note to self: use a surge protector), or your hours get cut at work. Suddenly, making payments on, let alone paying off, your credit card isn’t going to be as easy as you thought.
Being out on your own can be fun and exciting, but it also means taking on new financial responsibilities. The decisions you make now about how you manage your finances and borrow money will affect you in the future – for better or worse.
Did you know that there are companies that keep track of whether you pay your debts and if you make payments on time? They’re called credit reporting companies, and they sell this information, in the form of a credit report, to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a place to live.
A bad credit history can haunt you for a long time – seven years or more. That’s why the best thing to do is learn how to maintain good credit before there’s a problem. While this might seem complicated at first, it gets easier once you understand the basics of credit and how it works.
So rather than getting your credit education through the “school of hard knocks,” let the FTC help – for free: Getting Credit: What You Need to Know About Your Credit and Focus on Finances: Preparing for Your Future provide tips on budgeting, shopping for credit cards, using cards carefully, and keeping your credit record clean. They also explain credit reports and credit scores, how to protect your identity, improve your credit record, and what to do if you are a victim of identity theft. Focus on Finances also navigates the ins and outs of buying a car, new or used. Both publications are good sources of information for people like you who are just learning about credit and making your own buying decisions.
And as they say, “pay it forward.” Share this information with your friends – and your parents. They may learn something, too.
Tags: children, credit, credit cards, kids, teaching
Posted in Credit and Debt, For Kids | 4 Comments »
Today’s Fortunate Youngsters
January 14th, 2010
by Nicole
The kids today have it so easy. When I was kid, we couldn’t just google something to find information. We had to walk to the library and use the card catalog. If we wanted to watch cartoons, we had to wait until Saturday morning—there was no Cartoon Network. And if we wanted to learn about avoiding frauds and scams, we couldn’t visit the FTC’s online mall.
If the internet had existed, I’m sure my friends and I would have headed to the East Terrace to learn how to spot and avoid frauds and scams. We could have started at Maggie’s Miracle Cart, where visitors examine the claims of several “miracle” products and learn that they don’t live up to the hype.
Then, we could have wandered over to the Clothing Co, where Isaac nearly falls for a modeling scam. With the help of his friends, he realizes that he shouldn’t be fooled by flattery and shouldn’t pay for the promise of success.
At Kablamo! Comics, we could have commiserated with poor Keno, who tells visitors how he lost twenty bucks to a job scam. Across the store, we could have helped Captain Noscam by blasting keywords and phrases that are used frequently in scams.
Finally, at the vacations kiosk, we could have won a free vacation only to learn that there’s a catch. We wouldn’t have gotten that free trip to Smithington Castle, but we certainly would have been wiser after our trip to the mall.
Tags: children, internet, kids, scams, teaching, YouAreHere
Posted in For Kids, Scam Watch | No Comments »
You’re So Competitive
January 13th, 2010
by Jennifer
It’s a competitive time of year. As anyone who even flips on a TV knows, it’s countdown to the Olympics time. And, I’m told, it’s nearly Super Bowl Sunday. So it’s all about the competition among highly trained and/or highly-paid athletes, coming soon to a screen near you.
But at the FTC, it’s all-competition, all the time. And, handily enough, the agency’s work on competition is laid out in cartoon form on YouAreHere.
Walk this way for a visit to the Food Court, where guides Isaac and Emily explain how competition gets you more for your buck. The question is: pizza, pizza or pizza for lunch? Find out how businesses compete for kids’ dollars by giving them some combination of better prices, bigger selection, higher quality, or better service.
At Tripple Cold Creamery, find out how a possible merger of the only two ice cream places in town might tragically threaten dollar scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. It’s serious business.
In the Candytooth Kingdom, you can learn about supply and demand…
while playing a game, so it’s not all those graphs of demand curves that you may remember from Econ 101. (Seriously, which makes more sense: the game or the graphs? I know my answer to that question.)
Finally, a quick visit to the Cinema will give you an old-timey-style overview of the FTC’s history, and the low-down on whether Isaac and Emily are dating. (I’m thinking yes.)
Tags: children, competition, economics, kids, merger
Posted in For Kids, NCPW | 4 Comments »
Be an Info Defender: Visit the YouAreHere Security Plaza
January 11th, 2010
by Julia
The internet offers a world of opportunities to access and exchange information. You can find a local mechanic or pastry shop in a matter of seconds, purchase a plane ticket to Paris with just a few clicks, and stay in touch with your friends and family across the country and around the globe.
The sharing of personal information happens offline, too – when you’re getting a library card, for example, or signing a cell phone contract. But these opportunities come with certain risks, and – especially as kids start to interact with the broader world, online and off – it’s important for every member of the family to know how to keep their personal information safe.
The Security Plaza of the FTC’s online mall uses engaging dialogue and fun, interactive games to teach kids how to protect their personal information. At Mall Security, kids learn what ID theft is and how to help their families avoid it. In the fast-paced Arcade game Info Defender 3, players can try their hand at protecting 
the planet against Cyclorian invaders hungry for Earthlings’ identities. Relaxing in the Book Café, Emily demonstrates the importance of thinking before posting on social networking sites and elsewhere. Finally, Jim at Network Security walks kids through how to stay safe online.
To help kids use the site – and maybe even learn something yourself – check out YouAreHere’s information for parents and teachers.
Tags: children, computers, identity theft, kids, privacy, teaching, YouAreHere
Posted in For Kids | 1 Comment »