INTERNET SAFETY 101 Technology surrounds us now more than ever. There are always new apps in the app store, new games, and countless social media posts. Today, we also see children spending more time on the internet. But using these platforms comes with risks and responsibility — is your child ready to navigate them? TALK TO YOUR CHILD ABOUT ONLINE DANGERS. Before giving your child permission to use the internet or buying them a smartphone, they must understand the different types of online dangers. There are many harmful things on the internet your children do not need to see. Talk to them about phishing, piracy, obscenity, online predators, cyberbullying, revealing personal information, and how people may not be who they say they are. SET STANDARDS AND BOUNDARIES FOR INTERNET/PHONE USE. What sites are they allowed to get on? Which social media programs are they allowed to visit? Is there any information you would want them to keep private? How long or often can they be on the internet? Don’t wait until something terrible happens to begin implementing online safety rules. Make guidelines proactively for your children to follow so they know what is expected of them. Are Your Kids Ready to Go Online?
ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO TALK TO YOU. Unfortunately, around 60% of kids claim they hardly talk to their parents about what they’re experiencing online. Therefore, your children must know they can come to you instead of hiding their concerns. Remember that your child may fear you’ll be angry with them if something questionable happens, so keep an open mind and understand your child’s situation. This will encourage them to come to you more often if a problem occurs. By implementing an open line of communication, informing them about the dangers of the internet, and setting boundaries, your child will have all the tools they need to safely use the internet and social media. Be aware of what they are doing and check their phones periodically. However, if you would like more resources on how to teach your child about internet safety, you can find tons of information online!
Tasty Spinach Artichoke Dip
YOUR MONTHLY NEED-TO-KNOWS
Inspired by DinnerAtTheZoo.com
INGREDIENTS
• • • •
8 oz spinach leaves
• • • •
1/2 tsp salt
WHICH ANIMALS EAT POISON IVY? While contact with poison ivy can cause rashes, swollen skin, and severe itching for humans, some animals eat the plant as a food source. White-tailed deer, muskrats, and eastern cottontail rabbits eat the leaves and stems. Crows, bluebirds, and turkeys eat the fruit, and some insects will chew on the leaves. DO SHARKS HAVE TONGUES? A shark’s tongue is called a “basihyal.” It’s small, thick cartilage at the bottom of their mouths. The basihyal is useless for most sharks, though there are some exceptions, such as the cookiecutter shark, which uses its tongue to capture and consume prey. WHAT MAMMAL HAS THE MOST TEETH? The giant armadillo has as many as 100 teeth — the land mammal with the most teeth. However, the spinner dolphin is an ocean mammal with as many as 252 teeth. DO PURPLE CARROTS EXIST? Originally, purple carrots were ordinary. However, yellow and white carrots appeared in the wild. During the 17th century, Dutch carrot growers cultivated yellow and white carrots to create orange ones, though purple carrots still grow in central Asia!
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
3/4 cup chopped marinated artichoke hearts
•
1 tsp minced garlic
•
Sliced bread, crackers, or tortilla chips for serving
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Coat a small baking dish with cooking spray. 2. In a medium pan, steam or sauté spinach until wilted. When spinach cools, ring out excess water, then chop coarsely. 3. In a large bowl, mix cream cheese, sour cream, spinach, artichoke hearts, garlic, salt, pepper, Parmesan cheese, and 3/4 cup of mozzarella cheese. 4. Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. 5. Bake for 20 minutes or until the dip is
bubbly. Turn the oven to broil and cook for an additional 2–3 minutes so the cheese will begin to brown.
6. Immediately serve with bread, crackers, or tortilla chips.
513-438-8152 • 3
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator